She changed the subject, mentioning, “You and Charley have been conspicuously absent from some of our meals.”
“We decided not to be as much of a nuisance while in London. Besides, you and your sisters will be waxing ecstatically over your conquests whether we’re there or not, so I thought it better if Charley’s hopes did not get so thoroughly dashed.”
She grinned. “You just didn’t want to be bored to tears yourself.”
“Well, there is that—if it’s only your sisters waxing. Did you?”
“Wax ecstatically? No, I restrained m’self.”
“Good,” he said with a satisfied smirk. “As for me waxing, I at least managed to escape notice last night, a definite boon, but then it was an unusual mix of people for a ball. At least Charley had a grand time last night, though now he’s in love with two more women.”
She chuckled. “Perhaps you should explain to your ward the difference between attraction and love?”
He feigned surprise. “You thinkIknow?”
She tsked. “And perhaps you shouldn’t encourage Emily, either. I don’t doubt she has your name on her list of possibilities.”
He frowned. “That won’t do.”
His reaction made her smile, as if she’d just heard delightful music, so she teased, “I thought you rakes were in the habit of spreading yourselves around.”
He laughed. “Never heard it put that way, but I suppose we do—but not with innocents, at least, those of us with integrity refrain.”
“I’m an innocent,” she reminded him, then blushed furiously at having said it.
“But you, sweetheart, will always be to me the bold wench who threatened to shoot two men off their horses and charged her horse into another to prevent an abduction! You are quite the exception. But I should mention we were discussing more’n kissing.”
But her mind was suddenly back in that meadow they had raced across, and tumbling with him on the ground. Laughter and passion was a heady mix, and too often she remembered that delightful day and wished she could have more like it. But these were not the thoughts she should be having when she would be seeing the Rathban scion later today!
Silence wouldn’t do just then, might even tempt him to the same memory, so she broached a neutral topic, asking, “You mentioned it was a boon that you weren’t recognized, but if you don’t want it known that you’re back in London, should you even have attended last night?”
“I’m not a well-known figure at such affairs,” he replied. “But my name possibly is, which is why I snuck in to avoid being announced.”
“Does your friend know you’re back?” she asked.
“You mean George? Absolutely. I went straightaway for a visit the day we arrived. He thought it rather amusing that we are having a go at hiding in plain sight.”
“Which could go awry?”
“It could, but in the meantime I shall continue to enjoy your company.”
She blushed only slightly, more from the sensual look he cast at her than the words. Clearing her throat, she got back to that neutral topic, asking, “So what was unusual about the people invited last night?”
“None of the gossipy grand dames were present. You didn’t notice the lack of older women? It’s rare that most of the young debutantes arrive with brothers or fathers, rather than their female relatives. I wonder if the elder Rathban arranged the guest list specifically with his son in mind.”
“Quite possibly. He may not have wanted Daniel distracted by any ex-mistresses.”
Monty laughed. “You may be exactly right.” And then he gave her a thoughtful look before adding, “You know, it may be that Albert Rathban will take what he can get for his son at this point, engagement or no, which is why he invited so many suitable debutantes last night. If any of those other young ladies caught Daniel’s eye last night, his father will likely let that run its course. It’s no secret he laments his son’s unmarried state.”
As if she hadn’t thought of that? “Are you trying to make me feel desperate?”
“Absolutely not!” he rejoined. “Just prepared for disappointment.”
Joining her family at luncheon, she heard all about the callers she’d deliberately missed. Kathleen said nothing about her absence, but Layla remarked, “You were missed.”
“And asked for,” Emily put in curtly. “I’ve removed Lord Danton from my list, since he appears to be more interested in you.”
“Don’t do that,” Vanessa said. “I don’t even recall dancing with Danton last night, so I wouldn’t add him to my list if I had one, but you already know why I don’t have one.”
