The military gent scowled at the interruption, but with a jerk of his chin, Greys dismissed the younger man.
“My thanks.” Edgeworth glared but bowed and then disappeared into the trees.
Which left Diana standing where she’d been pinned, leaning against the tree trunk.
Did she realize the picture she made, her hips shoved forward like that, her back arched, and her head tipped just enough so that the moonlight shimmered in her eyes—eyes that were the most magnificent blue…?
“Why did you do that?” she asked.
“Do what?”
“Lie to him?” She raised her brows—too clever for her own good.
Greys smothered the hint of admiration he felt, firstly, that she’d seen right through him, and secondly, that she would call him out for it.
He ought to be annoyed with the cheeky minx.
“Your heroic captain knew very well that he’d gone beyond the boundaries of propriety for taking you off alone, not to mention trapping you in such a vulnerable position.”
“He knew you were lying as well,” she said.
“Yes.”
“But I am in my brother’s garden. The other guests are only steps away,” she pointed out. “I don’t understand why you would say that I am vulnerable.”
Greys exhaled.
There were times when a demonstration conveyed a critical lesson far better than words ever could. Holding her gaze, he stepped through the dirt and rocks. He didn’t stop until he was standing nearly as close to her as Edgeworth had been.
“I’ll show you why.” He raised his hand to the tree, planted it just to the left of her head, and moved even closer.
* * *
Hadshe realized this was what the marquess would do if she questioned his opinion? When she’d pretended not to understand?
Because Diana had, in fact, been uncomfortable when Captain Edgeworth had drawn her off the path. She’d been even more uncomfortable when he’d backed her up against the tree.
And not in a good way.
So why had her heart jumped when Lord Greystone appeared? And why did her lips tingle when the Marquess fixed his stare on them?
“This is not the same,” she whispered.
He moved his gaze back to her eyes and then shifted closer.
That humming—buzzing feeling had returned, possibly louder than it had been earlier, and Diana’s mouth went dry. “When the captain stood this close, I felt caught. When you stand this close, I feel…” She searched her mind to describe the way she seemed suddenly aware of every inch of her skin. Did the right words even exist? Because this was only pretend. Wasn’t it?
“How, Diana? How do you feel?” Warm breath danced over her forehead. How could he sound so controlled and… all-knowing when she could barely put two words together in her own thoughts?
“Like butterflies have been released inside me,” she finally managed. “Or bees.” The fact that she couldn’t tell the difference ought to have served as warning.
He chuckled and then glanced away from her with a frown. “Did he kiss you?” He turned back to read her eyes. Did he think she would lie to him?
“I’ve never been kissed.”
“Good. You should not have been. Has he mentioned speaking to your brother?”
How could he stand so close to her and keep talking about her brother, all the while her chest was being squeezed in a vice and some force of nature had her wanting to press up onto her toes to touch her lips to his?
