Page 9 of Wallflower Gone Wild

“Yes, I understand,” she said, stroking her hand down his smooth cheek.

“Good.”

Their gazes stayed locked on each other until they heard giggling and the door to the dark room opened. Fear squeezed her heart, and she knew that there would be dire consequences for being discovered alone with Mac.

Mac stood quickly, pulling her with him. She stumbled into his chest; her head dizzy from rising. Nearly knocking him over, Letty gripped at his jacket, preparing herself to hit the floor, but Mac righted them before they could fall and make even more of a scene.

“Oh! Dear!” the Duchess of Richmore stumbled to a stop, her husband behind her with his hand on her waist and his head buried in her neck.

Looking up, he squinted in the dark. “Meriweather, what the bloody hell are you doing in here with Lady Leticia Crane?” Richmore asked, closing the door behind him and his wife.

Letty frantically straightened her gown and appearance, hoping she didn’t look too much of a fright. Her lips felt sensitive from their kisses, and a few strands of tresses fell lose around her face.

Mac straightened his jacket and waistcoat before running his hand through his hair that was gloriously disheveled from Letty’s hands. “Excuse us, Richmore, we were just talking?—”

“Talking?” Richmore walked up to them, his tall frame larger than Mac’s. “Is that what we’re calling it these days?”

“Darling, I’m sure you of all people can understand matters of the heart …” the duchess said, walking to stand beside her husband.

“I can, but I assure you, Pinerose will not be so understanding, don’t you agree Lady Leticia?” the duke asked Letty pointedly.

Huffing out a breath, Letty was unable to hide her annoyance with the question. Her father could not learn of this, any act of impropriety would surely give him a reason to delay her inheritance. All it would take was one word from her mother about her behavior and her plans would be ruined.

“There is nothing for my father to be informed of, Your Grace, as Mr. Meriweather has already said.” Letty turned for the door officially ending the conversation.

She had been gone too long, and surely her mother had begun to notice.

“I’m sure we don’t have to bore Pinerose with this, Richmore,” Mac said, from behind Letty.

She turned around to face the three of them, ready to flee from the room and the situation.

“I wasn’t intending on informing the earl, but if someone else had discovered you two together, you know what would have been demanded of you.” Richmore folded his arms over his large chest, looking very much like the menacing figure most thought him to be.

Marriage.

And it wouldn’t matter if they wanted it or not—in the eyes of the ton she would be ruined.

“I am well aware of the risk, Richmore,” Mac said emphatically, stepping closer to the taller man.

Richmore pressed a finger into Mac’s shoulder and the other man didn’t move. Mac wasn’t short in the least, his height substantial to other gentlemen in the ton, but to Richmore, he was still half a head shorter.

“Then you should know better than to sneak away with an innocent in my home?—”

“Richard, I believe you are being a little unfair. Just last year, it was you who had his own scandal and I believe it was much dire than this,” the duchess said, her small hand on her husband’s chest.

Letty couldn’t help the heat that spread over her face from the duchess words. She knew exactly what the other woman meant.

Oh my.

Taking a step back from Mac, who was eyeing him with distaste, he replied, “You’re right of course, Winnie. I’m just worried for my friend and Lady Leticia.”

“I assure you there is no cause to worry.” Letty gave him a tight smile.

As long as her father, mother, and brother didn’t find out how close she and Mac actually were, everything would be fine.

“Good. Next time you wish not to be discovered, perhaps don’t do it during a crowded ball in someone else’s home,” Richmore told her before walking toward the door. “Come darling, it seems this room is taken.”

“Don’t be an ass, Richmore.” Mac turned to Letty. “I shall escort you back to the ball?—”