Page 88 of How to Fall for a Scoundrel

“Yours,” he murmured. “Just call me yours.”

The music came to a rapturous end, and Ellie smiled up at him, breathless. He released her right hand reluctantly, but kept his left hand at her waist as he escorted her off the dance floor and back toward Tess and Daisy, who were watching them with undisguised interest.

Ellie was sure they could discern her happiness even from across the room. She felt like she was glowing with it.

“Do you think your father will agree to you marrying me, now I’m the Earl of Cobham?” he murmured. “As opposed to a nameless ne’er-do-well.”

She deliberately bumped his hip with hers. “He and Mother always wanted me to find my perfect match, whoever that was. They’ve never pressured me to marry a man with a title, or to settle for someone I didn’t love.”

“I’ve got a good chance, then.”

“I’d say so.”

Daisy was practically hopping from foot to foot with curiosity. “That seemed a veryintenseconversation you two were having out there.”

Ellie sent Harry an amused, questioning look. “Would you call it intense?”

He tilted his head and pretended to consider, and she almost burst out laughing.

“A spirited negotiation,” he said solemnly.

“Regarding what?” Daisy pressed, trying—and failing—to keep her voice to a low screech.

“Another joint collaboration,” Ellie said, delighting in being deliberately evasive.

“A mutually beneficial arrangement,” Harry added.

Tess raised her brows, clearly intrigued but not daring to read too much into their loaded words. “Business? Or Pleasure?”

Harry glanced at Ellie and his eyes darkened as his pupils expanded. “Oh, most definitely pleasure,” he drawled.

Daisy let out a tiny, muffled squeak of excitement and clapped her hands over her mouth.

Tess’s lips curved into a smile and she turned to address Harry. “In approximately ten minutes my husband is going to ask you to go to his study to discuss a business venture,” she said softly.

Harry raised his brows. “He is?”

“Yes, because I’m going to ask him to.Youare going to accept, but when you get to the study, you’re going to open the door that’s concealed in the wall in the corner next to the large globe.”

“Interesting,” Harry smiled, clearly intrigued.

“That door leads to a servants’ passage, and a staircase that goes up to the third floor. Wait in the first room on the right.”

Harry took her hand, bowed low over it, and kissed it. “Thank you, Your Grace.”

Tess sent him a gracious nod watched as he took his cue and walked away without a backward glance.

Daisy turned to Ellie, and raised her voice just enough to carry.

“Ellie, my love, you’re looking extremely hot.” She fanned her enthusiastically.

Tess pretended to look equally concerned. “Oh dear, yes. Perhaps the dancing was too much? Why don’t you go upstairs and cool down for a moment?”

Ellie caught the wicked twinkle in their eyes, and a wave of gratitude for her wonderful, devious friends swelled inside her.

“Indeed, Idofeel a little overheated. I think I’ll take your advice.”

Chapter Forty-Five