Arianna’s eyes narrowed ever so slightly, and she shook her head.
“Perhaps that’s for the best. So now we do what we can to help you catch his eye.”
“I need to learn about passion,” she insisted in an urgent whisper. “I want him to know that I am his match, someone who can keep up with him in all ways, even...” She blushed, unable to finish her sentence.
He lifted her chin with his fingertips. “You can keep up with any man, and that’s a good thing. Never be a delicate, fainting creature, for that is not in your nature. Be a man’s equal.”
Her lashes fluttered. “Even yours?”
“Even mine.” He lowered his head, and his lips covered hers, gentle, slow, sweet. He took his time stroking his tongue against her until she opened for him, and he made love to her mouth with his for several long seconds before pulling back.
“What kind of kiss was that?” she asked.
He brushed the backs of his knuckles over her cheek. “An apology kiss. Now, let us finish hanging these.”
He collected the wicker basket of the very dangerous kissing boughs and tried not to think about all the other kinds of kisses he wanted to introduce Arianna to. He definitely did not want to think about the ten or so gentlemen under this roof and how one held Arianna’s heart.
Six
“What’s your opinion of sea bathing, Seabright?” Freddie asked him as they stood by the fireplace. They had finished dinner, and many of the guests were now enjoying the evening in the drawing room. Several of the men had opted for billiards to allow the women to converse without interruption, and that was where Derrick and Freddie ended up. He wanted to better assess the men Arianna was interested in and most of them had decided to play billiards.
“Sea bathing?” Derrick wasn’t fully paying attention. He had decided, against his better judgment, to ferret out the identity of Arianna’s gentleman.
“Yes, I’m thinking of taking Mama and Pepper there for a brief holiday. Father is in France seeing to business, and I think the ladies could use a diversion.”
Derrick attempted to focus more on Freddie now. “Er... I suppose it would be good for them, but whatever you do, don’t let them drink the seawater.”
“Drink the seawater? Would have to be dicked in the knob.” Freddie chuckled. “Drink the seawater, what nonsense.”
“Well, there are quite a few fools in Brighton who will insist you must drink the water prior to bathing. As a coastal man, I can happily say that choking down briny water isnotnecessary.”
Freddie stroked his chin. “Well, I suppose I could go with them, see how the ladies fare in the bathing machines.”
“Just be sure they don’t put the machines too deep in the water. Check it yourself—keep them only waist deep unless they are proficient swimmers.” Derrick had seen more than one person take those enclosed carriages deep into the water to enjoy some relative privacy, only to sink like a stone when they took that last step off the small ladder at the back.
“Noted.” Freddie’s voice grew quieter. “Now, what’s put the crease in your trousers? You look ready to pin down every man in the room and interrogate them.” Freddie had his quizzing glass out and was moving his focus from one man to the next, trying to discern what was bothering Derrick.
“I... Well, it’s just...” He supposed he could tell Freddie. After all, there was no chance in heaven or hell that Freddie Poncenby was the man Arianna fancied. And if hewasthat man, well, Derrick would resign all hope for the woman for choosing someone clearly not a good match for her.
“I swear my silence on my best waistcoat. You know, the one with the embroidered peacocks.”
Derrick’s eyes widened. “Good God, man. Not the peacock one!” He was teasing, but Freddie didn’t seem to notice and instead nodded with the utmost solemnity.
“On the life of the peacocks,” Freddie echoed.
“Very well, I accept. The truth is, Arianna fancies she is in love with one of these men, and I need to know who it is.”
“Ah, so we can corner the man and give him a good dressing down for stealing her away from you?” Freddie tucked his quizzing glass in his pocket and flexed his hands in a surprisingly menacing way, as if he truly meant to throw a punch or two for Arianna’s honor.
But then his words sank in, and Derrick said, “Oh, she’s not... I mean, he, whoever he is, wouldn’t be stealing her from me. I do not think he even knows of her feelings toward him.”
“Oh?” Freddie’s brows arched. “I thought you and she... Well, no matter. So we do this for Lucas, then? Damned noble of you, Seabright, to protect her for her brother, even though you had a falling-out.”
“Right, yes,” Derrick agreed. That did seem noble, given that his true intentions were to scare the fellow off, even though his head warned him that such a possessive action would be unwise and would likely result in Arianna’s unhappiness. But honestly, how could she picture herself with any of these men?
“Let’s have a look at them, shall we?” Freddie crossed his arms and began to critique the other men, but only loudly enough for Derrick to hear.
“That fellow there, the one in the gold-and-blue waistcoat—his name is Hadley. Not too bad a chap, but do not play any games of cards against him. He’s sharp with any game of chance, really. Nice tailor, too—the man can really put together a proper outfit.”
