Page 94 of Project Duchess

He rolled his eyes. “Don’t be absurd. I haveneverhad my name associated with an opera dancer.”

“Are you sure?” She tapped her chin. “I could swear you have.”

“Enough.” He gave her a quick kiss. “You’re teasing me again. Which, by the way, no one else, other than my family, dares to do.”

“Only because everyone else is cowed by you.”

“Except you, my love.”

“Which is why you like me.”

He laughed. “Also true.” Then he sobered. “But as much as I’m enjoying this—”

“I know.” She sighed. “We need to get to Armitage Hall, in case Sheridan is there.”

“Precisely.”

She slipped off his lap and worked to repair her clothing. “Are you ever going to tell me how you resolved the Vanessa issue?”

“Oh. Right.” He rose and buttoned everything up. “I forgot.” He explained what he’d had theTimesprint as an errata. “Will that do?”

A beautiful smile broke over her face. “That soundsperfect. Leave it to you to come up with such a brilliant solution.”

The compliment pleased him ridiculously. “I’m glad you’re happy. I wasn’t sure you would be.”

“Itwasrather arrogant of you to assume I would accept your proposal before I actually did,” she said, though her teasing tone relieved him.

“I know. Why do you think I didn’t tell you until I’d secured you?”

“I suppose I shall let it pass this time.” She was clearly fighting a smile. “As long as you don’t do it again.”

“I can promise that easily. Although I must say Vanessa was very happy with my solution, especially since I promised her mother I would double Vanessa’s dowry.”

She frowned. “So you’re rewarding your aunt for being despicable?”

“No. I’m ensuring Vanessa is unaffected by her mother’s bad behavior.”

“Oh. Well, that sounds wise.”

He stared at her. Only Beatrice could see this as a practical way out, without jealousy or bias. Apparently, she loved him for his cleverness and wisdom. For his depth of feeling. For his character.

Considering that she’d turned him down when she thoughthercharacter was in question, he knew she loved him for himself, not for his dukedom. That meant more to him than he could possibly say. “I love you. Do you know that?”

She cocked her head. “I’m beginning to believe it.”

He tried to take her back into his arms, but she wouldn’t let him. “We must go. We have to convince Sheridan that Joshua is innocent.”

“Right.” He eyed her closely. “Is your brother always going to be a problem for us?”

“Dear Lord, I hope not.” She cast him a minxish smile as she headed for the path. “I’m praying that your sister makes him less so.”

“Keep praying,” he muttered as he followed her. “Because that would require a miracle.” He might not know his sister well, but he somehow suspected she wouldn’t fall for the likes of Joshua Wolfe very easily, no matter how much she might flirt with him.

Once they weren’t purposely dawdling, it didn’t take them long to reach the house. But to Grey’s alarm, Sheridan and the constable were already there.

“Where is Joshua?” Sheridan asked without preamble. “I went to the dower house, but he wasn’t there.”

Ignoring the constable, who stood solemnly watching the interaction, Grey shrugged. “He wasn’t there when I arrived either. Beatrice said Joshua had gone to Leicester on business, so I brought her back here. I suppose that’s where he is still.”