Page 41 of Second Duke's the Charm

“Don’t you dare!”

“What ifI’mthe one who’s a huge disappointment? I’m going to have to pretend I know what I’m doing.”

Daisy rolled her eyes. “It’s not hard. Just do what feels nice. Relax, enjoy it, and whatever he does to you, do back at him.”

Tess bit her lip. “That doesn’t sound too difficult. I can do that.”

“Of course you can.”

“He’s going to pretend he’s besotted with me tonight, at Lady Greenwood’s, to start rumors of an upcoming engagement.”

Ellie replaced her spectacles. “Excellent. Because I’ve just heard from Reg that our prime suspect, Richard Case, is going to be there, too. We can wait until he’s deep in his cups, then question him to see if he knows anything about the missing letters. Agreed?”

Tess and Daisy both nodded.

“It’s going to be a busy night.”

Chapter Fourteen

Thornton was the first person Tess saw when she paused at the top of the steps that led down to Sylvia Greenwood’s ballroom, and her heart leapt as their eyes met over the crowd.

Good Lord, he was devastating in evening clothes.

In an excellent impression of a man deeply enamored, he simply walked away from the group he was conversing with without a backward glance, and crossed the room to meet her at the foot of the stairs. His smile of admiration and the warm look in his eyes made her pulse flutter. Even though it was all for show.

She inclined her head as he gave a neat bow.

“I see you look beautiful in colors other than red, Your Grace.” He sent her forest-green evening gown an appreciative glance.

“Tess,” she reminded him.

“Scarlet,” he murmured, for her ears only.

“Don’t call me that!”

His smile widened. “Ready for another adventure?”

“If you mean, am I ready to try to persuade everyonehere that you’re falling madly in lust with me, then yes. I am.”

She offered him her hand and he drew her to stand at one side of the dancers. Daisy and Ellie were already making their way toward the cardroom in search of their quarry.

“It has to work both ways,” he said. “We have to convince everyone you’re succumbing to my wicked charms, too.”

He stared deep into her eyes and Tess felt an instant of disorientation, as if she were falling through space.

“Look at me as if you’re thinking of kissing me,” he said softly. “As if I’m the only one you see in the room.”

“Is that how you’re looking at me?” she countered breathlessly.It certainly felt that way.Her lips started to tingle, as if in anticipation of his touch.

His eyes darkened. “No, Scarlet. I’m looking at you with far more wicked thoughts in mind. I’m counting down the hours until I can make you gasp my name.”

If any other man had said such things to her, she would have burst out laughing. But whenThorntonsaid it, everything inside her seemed to go on a slow boil.

Tess slid a quick glance to the left, where a group of society matrons were watching their every move. “We’re definitely setting the rumor mill flying.”

He offered her his bent arm. “Shall we dance?”

She nodded.