She formed a tight smile. “You haven’t wrung my neck yet.”
He chuckled. “Give me time.” She was about to kick him for that rejoinder when he added huskily, “You might want to try it out on the way home tonight, being both wife and lover.”
Brooke was shocked by what he was suggesting, but the thought of kissing him again and maybe doing more in the coach was incredibly exciting. But she blushed just thinking about it.
A tall man tapped on Dominic’s shoulder to stop them. “I’m glad to see your humor is back, so this is a perfect time for me to insist on one dance with your lady. Give over, old boy. I promise not to abduct her tonight.”
“Go away, pest,” Dominic replied.
“Not this time.” The pest grinned. “Or do you really want all the cupids in town rejoicing and spreading the word about the greatest love of the century, et cetera, et cetera. It really will be a scandal tomorrow if you continue to monopolize her the entire night. And I’m not going away, so you might as well be gracious about it and let me save you from scandal this time.”
Dominic tsked and led Brooke and the pest to the edge of the dance floor, telling Brooke, “Archer is a friend, though tonight I’m beginning to wonder,” and asking Archer, “Why isn’t Benton keeping you occupied tonight—elsewhere?”
“Because he’s already hied himself back to the duke’s daughter. The poor sod must truly be in love!”
“You’re lucky this dance is almost over, and don’t even think of not returning her to me the moment it is,” Dominic warned.
Archer grinned again. “Absolutely!” He twirled Brooke back out onto the dance floor.
“Was any of that true, about a scandal?” she asked her new partner.
“Course not. You are affianced, after all, so not required to dance with anyone but him. Now if he had refused to hand you over just now when I obviously wasn’t taking no for an answer, that on-dit might have made the rounds.” Then with a nod of his head to simulate a bow, he added, “Archer Hamilton, third son, not that it matters since I got stuck with a title anyway.”
He was grinning again. Quite an unusual fellow. Taller than Dominic, maybe even as handsome. Golden hair in the current flyaway fashion, deep emerald eyes, an outdoorsman to go by the tan that was nearly darker than his hair. She would have had a wonderful crop of young lords to choose from this year—if she’d got her Season.
“I assume you know Dominic well to have pulled the stunt you just did?”
“Too well. I daresay I’m his closest friend... well, at least he’s my closest. I am delighted to meet you, Lady Brooke. As for the rest of my credentials; boringly rich, wonderful family, delightful mistress. All I lack is—you.”
“I beg your pardon? I could have sworn you just said you were his friend.”
“But friendship can’t stand in the way of fate. Elope with me. I promise to love you for eternity. And Prinny can’t very well drop the ax if a third party absconds with you.”
“So you know about the Regent’s ultimatum?”
“Certainly. Dom is my best friend, after all.”
She snorted. “Or you’re his worst enemy to even suggest it. But the Prince must love you. Quite a strategy that will let him steal from the coffers of both families instead of just one.”
“You don’t think it would work?”
“I think the Regent put you up to this.” She noticed the laughing eyes too late and rolled hers. “You’re being facetious, aren’t you? I’m not amused.”
He sighed. “I’ve been hearing that a lot lately. Very well, what can I do to help you prod the beast? I daresay he only needs a little nudge.”
“You’re on his side. Don’t pretend otherwise.”
“Exactly!” Archer exclaimed. “D’you think I don’t want him to be happy?”
“There’s no such thing in his household.”
“But you’re going to change that, aren’t you?”
It was a good thing the rest of that dance had been short. Music ended, she made her way back to Dominic’s side without Lord Hamilton’s assistance. She didn’t have an answer for Dominic’s friend, any more than she did for his mother.
Dominic hadn’t rejoined her mother, was waiting alone on the sidelines for her. When she reached him, he asked, “Did Archer behave himself?”
“He was... let’s say obnoxiously whimsical. Is he always like that?”
