Page 44 of Second Duke's the Charm
His bleary gaze slid over her, dropping to her breasts for a long moment before returning to her face.
“I know who you are. You’re the Duchess of Wansford. How come you never introduced yourself before?”
“A shocking oversight. I recently heard tales of your bravery on the battlefield, and I knew I had to hear more.” She traced her finger in a slow scrolling figure-eight pattern on the green baize. It seemed to mesmerize him. “Soimpressive.”
Flirting like this made her feel absolutely ridiculous, but Case seemed to be lapping it up. He didn’t even notice when Ellie appeared at his shoulder and refilled his glass. He just reached down and took a long drink while studying Tess’s neckline with a hooded, sleepy gaze.
Her skin prickled unpleasantly at his lazy inspection.
“Thought you had every man in London panting after you,” he slurred. “Including the new duke.”
Tess gave a dismissive shrug and dropped her voice to a whisper. “Well, between you and me, the new duke’s rather dull. He’s spent his whole life balancing books in a gloomy office in Bristol.”
In between sailing to Canada and back, she added silently. It felt cruel to malign Thornton to another man, but Case was so drunk he was unlikely to remember what she’d said. “He’s nothing but a boring accountant.”
She leaned closer. “I’ve always preferred military men,myself.Realmen, who’ve seen the world, and know how to treat a woman.”
Case took another swig of his drink and eyed her with even more interest. “Like a bit of rough, do you? Tired of those pretty dandies bowing and scraping? Well, well.”
He was practically preening. Tess sent what she hoped was a secretive-looking glance over her shoulder.
“Do you know the best thing about being a widow? It’s the freedom. I don’t have a silly chaperone watching my every move and following me everywhere. I can do what I like. WithwhomeverI like.” She fluttered her eyelashes. “As long as I’m discreet, of course.”
Case hooked his finger in the top of his cravat and tugged, as if it were too tight. He was practically dribbling at her suggestive tone.
“Discretion. Of course.” He took another deep drink of his brandy, as if he needed the strength.
Tess bit her lower lip with her teeth and a bead of sweat glistened at his hairline.
“I’m tired of this ball. Maybe we could go to your house to become better acquainted? You can tell me all about your adventures with Wellington in Portugal.”
He straightened in his chair, his cheeks flushed. “Absolutely. I have lodgings near the Strand. It’s less than five minutes away.”
“Is it private? You don’t have a roommate, do you?”
“Very private. We won’t be disturbed.”
Tess straightened. “Wonderful. Just let me go and freshen up in the ladies’ room. Meet me out the front with your carriage.”
Case’s ruddy face flushed even more. “Ah. I don’t actually have my own carriage at the moment. Had a bad loss at Newmarket a while ago and had to sell it.”
Tess feigned interest. “Oh, really?”
He nodded. “Lost a monkey on a horse called Fool For Love.”
She tried to look commiserating. “Owned by the prince regent?”
He seemed surprised and impressed at her knowledge of the turf.
“That’s the one! My friend Croxton swore it was a surefire winner, but I’ve never seen a more miserable nag in my life. A three-legged donkey could have beaten it.” He sat up a little straighter in his chair. “But you needn’t worry that my pockets are to let now. I’ve had a windfall. I can still treat you to some pretty baubles and fripperies.”
Tess gave an airy wave. “I’m not interested in gifts. But we can’t use my carriage; it has the Wansford crest on the side. We’ll have to get an unmarked hackney. You go and summon one while I get my cloak.”
Case lurched tipsily to his feet, and Tess made her escape.
Daisy and Ellie were both waiting for her in the room set aside as the ladies’ retiring room. Daisy pretended to be repinning her hair until the only other occupant, one of the elderly Montgomery aunts, left the room.
“Case has rooms near the Strand,” Tess said quickly. “He had a recent loss at Newmarket, but says he has funds now.”