"Few have," April said. "We're quite the oddity, I'm afraid. Mother claims we nearly killed her in childbirth, and Father still looks a bit haunted when anyone mentions it."
The two women from the garden reached the terrace, and Dominic found himself holding his breath. Up close, the third sister was clearly distinct as well—green eyes behind spectacles, a softer manner than either of her siblings.
"Icemere," Theo said formally, "may I present my sisters-in-law: May Blackmore, Duchess of Irondale, and Lady June Vestiere."
June. Her name was June. The knowledge settled in Dominic's mind like a key turning in a lock. He inclined his head to May first, then turned to June, whose expression remained impressively neutral.
"Lady June," he said, taking her gloved hand. "I believe we've crossed paths before."
"Have we?" she replied, her tone perfectly innocent though her eyes flashed with something that might have been anger or amusement. "I'm certain I would remember meeting the illustrious Duke of Ice."
"Duke of Ice?" Dominic repeated, raising an eyebrow. "I wasn't aware that particular nickname had traveled beyond university circles."
"My brother mentioned you," she said with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Quite frequently, in fact."
"August always did enjoy a good story," Dominic replied. "Though I'm sure his tales were greatly exaggerated."
"On the contrary," June said. "I found them entirely believable."
The air between them crackled with unspoken meaning. Dominic couldn't decide if he wanted to laugh or pull her aside to demand an explanation for her abrupt departure the night before.
"I understand you've been abroad," May interjected, clearly sensing the tension.
"Yes, the Continent," Dominic answered, grateful for the diversion. "Though England has its own particular charms that I've missed."
"Such as?" June asked, her challenge barely concealed.
Dominic's lips quirked. "Unexpected encounters that leave one... wanting more."
A faint blush colored June's cheeks, though her expression remained composed. "I've found most encounters in England to be rather predictable," she replied. "Men, especially, tend to follow familiar patterns."
"Then perhaps you haven't met the right men," Dominic suggested.
"Or perhaps I've met too many of the wrong ones," she countered.
April and Theo exchanged glances, clearly puzzled by the barbed conversation.
"We should join the others for luncheon," Theo said after a moment. "Dominic, shall we?"
Dominic nodded, but before turning to leave, he lifted June's hand once more. Instead of the customary brief touch of lips to glove, he turned her palm upward and pressed a lingering kiss to her wrist, just above where her glove ended.
"It truly is delightful stumbling into you again," he murmured against her skin, his voice low enough that only she could hear.
He felt her pulse jump beneath his lips, a small victory that sent satisfaction coursing through him. Then, straightening, he released her hand and followed Theo from the terrace, aware of her eyes burning into his back with every step.
Three
June's pulse thundered beneath the spot where Dominic's lips had touched her wrist. She remained frozen on the terrace, watching his retreating form with what she hoped appeared to be cool indifference rather than the tumultuous storm that raged within. The nerve of the man, to act as though their meeting was a delightful coincidence rather than a deliberate slight to her memory. And yet, something pressed against her palm—something small and hard that he must have slipped there during that indecorous, entirely inappropriate kiss.
She waited until he disappeared around the corner with Theo before uncurling her fingers. Her breath caught in her throat.
"Is that—?" she murmured to herself, staring down at the pearl drop earring nestled in her palm. Her earring. The one she'd been searching for since last night's mortifying encounter in his chambers.
"June?" April's voice broke through her reverie. "What has the duke given you?"
Before June could close her fingers around the evidence, May leaned closer, her spectacles sliding down her nose as she peered at June's hand.
"Isn't that the earring you were looking everywhere for this morning?" May asked, her green eyes widening behind the glass. "Why does the Duke of Icemere have it?"
