Page 21 of Undercover Duke

Mr. Juncker smiled ruefully at her. “I only wish that were true.”

“Will you promise to keep my secret anyway?”

“Absolutely. I happen to enjoy annoying Saint Sheridan, who has always seemed to feel an active dislike toward me, for no reason I can see.”

Dare she hope it was out of jealousy over her supposed infatuation with Mr. Juncker? It certainly lightened her heart to think it.

To her surprise, their dance ended just then. It had proved more pleasurable than expected.

“Tell me something,” she said as he led her to where her uncle stood chatting with some people. “Why did you ask me to dance?”

“I’m turning over a new leaf.” He patted her hand where it lay on his forearm. “Your cousin Grey no longer joins me on my adventures, and neither does my friend Thornstock. So I’m shifting my priorities to a more respectable realm. I’ve even begun a novel, with Thorn’s encouragement. If I succeed in gaining a publisher for it, not to mention an audience, I may actually settle down and get married.”

“Not to me, I hope.”

He laughed heartily. Apparentlymencould laugh heartily without reproach. “Surely your mother would never approve of me as a suitor.”

“True.”

“But I must start somewhere, and you seem as good a place as any to begin practicing how to please a respectable lady.”

“You probably shouldn’t use me as an example of respectability. Mama claims I voice my opinion far too readily to be called that.”

“Well, I wouldn’t want to marrytoorespectable a lady,” he said, smirking at her. “I may be settling down, but I still prefer a bit of pepper in my fare, if you know what I mean.”

“I do, indeed. I like pepper myself.”

“I fear you won’t find much of that in Armitage.”

“You’d be surprised,” she muttered as she saw Sheridan take his leave of Flora.

Vanessa and Mr. Juncker had now reached her uncle. With a bow, Mr. Juncker headed off to find some other female for his foray into respectability.

She had scarcely joined the small group when someone came up behind her with all the stealth of a wolf on the hunt.

“Save the supper dance for me, will you?” the man whispered in her ear.

She jumped and turned to find Sheridan there. “Are youtryingto give me heart failure?”

“Merely trying to secure you for supper.”

“I will see what I can do. If Mr. Juncker wants it—”

“You will damned well turn him down,” Sheridan muttered.

It took all her will to hide her delight. “And why would I do that? Heisthe man I’m pursuing, after all.”

Sheridan’s lips tightened. “Be that as it may, you don’t want to tip your hand too early or you’ll lose him.”

“That does make sense,” she said. “Very well, I’ll save the supper dance for you.”

“Good. Thank you.” He walked off.

My, my, but this party was going well so far. Two dances with Sheridan, a demonstration of his jealousy, and the gain of an unexpected ally in Mr. Juncker. What more could a woman ask for?

Uncle Noah noticed her standing on the outskirts of the small group. “There you are, my dear. Why are you not dancing?”

“I was, Uncle, but now I need punch. I’m parched, I swear.”