“Do you really think it’s appropriate to drag gentlemen into the bushes? Do you go around doing that sort of thing often?”
She blushed fiercely. “No,” she said. “I was trying tohelpyou. You seemed as though you were trying to get away from her, and I didn’t know if you would think of hiding here. It sounded as if you didn’t even know that lady. I think I would have wanted someone to assistmeif I was in that situation. But perhaps you’re different. Perhaps you’re happy to be caught in a compromising situation with a lady you hardly know.”
“Well, if I’m not, I’m hardly better off now, am I? I’m in another compromising situation with another lady I hardly know.”
“But inthissituation, you’re very unlikely to be caught,” Lavinia pointed out. “As long as we remain quiet, no one will be any the wiser.”
“You shouldn’t have done this. I had the situation under control.”
“Perhaps you did,” she agreed. “I’m not holding you here. But I can’t help but notice you have a lot to say about my behavior when you haven’t even bothered to introduce yourself to me.”
“Seth Carter,” he said, his eyes fixed on the bush, trying to peer through the leaves. “Duke of Loxburgh.”
“Oh,” she said. “I have heard of you. My father has mentioned you to me.”
“And who is your father?”
“The Marquess of Feverton. I understand the two of you have met.”
The duke nodded. “We have,” he said. “I wasn’t aware that he had a daughter.”
“I suppose he doesn’t talk about me much. My sister and I are both here for the party. I’m sure you’ll meet her sometime too. He’s very adamant that I should try to find a match this week.”
“Oh,” the duke said. “So that’s what you’re doing? Pulling gentlemen into bushes in the hope of compelling them to marry you?”
Lavinia frowned and took a step back. “You’re very rude,” she informed him.
He raised his eyebrows. “No one speaks to me like that.”
“That doesn’t mean they aren’t thinking about it,” Lavinia said. “They’re probably too afraid to say it to your face.”
“But you aren’t.”
“I’m not afraid of you, no,” Lavinia said. “My parents would want me to try to win your respect and favor, but I think it’s safe to say it’s too late forthat. It’s clear you don’t think much of me. You’re ungrateful to me for helping you, and you’re even accusing me of doing so for selfish reasons. You’re right. I should have left you out there on the path to deal with that lady on your own.”
She stared him down, expecting that he would say something harsh back to her, but no longer really caring if he did.
But, to her surprise, his expression softened slightly. “All right,” he said. “Whatever it is you want, I suppose you’ve earned it.”
“What makes you think I want anything?”
“I don’t even know you, and you went out of your way to help me. You must want something. Go on. Ask.”
“I don’t want anything.”
“Of course you do. Marriage? Or is it money?”
She sighed. “I hardly did anything at all,” she said. “I pulled you into a bush. There’s no need for a reward. Let’s just go. I’m sorry I intervened. I’m sorry I did anything at all.”
“Wait,” he said.
“What?”
“Well…perhaps I had this wrong. Maybe you really were only trying to help.”
“Maybe? I told you I was only trying to help, and you didn’t believe me. I’m not going to waste my time trying to convince you. You’re worried that it might not go well for us if we’re discovered here together, so I think we ought to leave before that happens. Good day, Your Grace. It was a pleasure to meet you—oh, no, I won’t lie to you, itwasn’tmuch of a pleasure. You needn’t worry that I’m going to try to trick you into a marriage. A marriage to someone who would accuse me of trickery is the last thing in the world I would want. I hope you have a good evening.”
She stepped away from him and out of the bushes, glad that their little interaction had taken place in a location where no one could see them. She knew all too well that if anyone in her family had seen them together, there would have been questions. There would have been suggestions that she ought to try to gain his interest, to make a match with him. If she were to marry a duke, that would shock everyone.
