What could she do but shake her head?
Then her stomach grumbled loudly.
His eyes widened.
“You are dressed for dinner,” he pointed out.
She nodded, hopefully.
“I could have another place set at my table,” Hargrove offered.
She detected a little hesitancy.
“Were you eating alone?” she asked, settling back farther into the chair, with the promise of not having to leave for hours.
“Indeed, I was. I mentioned Lord Payton before. He was to dine with me, but he had a better offer at the last moment.”
“A female?” she surmised.
“Indubitably,” he agreed.
“Frankly, I am glad,” she confessed. “You are my only friend in town, and I couldn’t bear returning to my hotel after ... after what happened.”
Her stomach rumbled again.
“Moreover, as usual, you’re hungry.”
“Famished,” she declared. “Naturally, I had saved up my appetite for Lord Dodd’s dinner table. The food was good at his home last time, don’t you think?” And she drained her wine glass, becoming pleasantly relaxed.
“Yes, he did put out a good meal. I hope my own Cook can do as well.” He paused, then added, “You realize this is simplynotdone, a single man and woman dining together in private.”
She shrugged, deciding not to mention how she’d been going to do the very same with Lord Dodd without Miss Montrose as chaperone. The ridiculous notion of that woman as a chaperone made her smile.
“I won’t tell anyone,” Glynnis promised.
“Not even your fiancé?” Hargrove asked.
“Especially not him,” she said, recalling how she had to start over tomorrow with finding a new one.
“And you’re not going to leave here later screeching to the world how I debauched you and then force me into marriage?”
Glynnis sighed, saddened that he still feared she might trap him into marrying her. “Still gnawing at that bone, are you?”
“It was a shockingly sneaky thing to do.”
“I suppose.” Regardless, she would have to try it again soon with another man.
“Very well,” Hargrove said, relaxing a little. “Let’s hope I can satisfy your endless appetite.”
As soon as he spoke, she locked her gaze with his, and the meaning of his words changed to something altogether different, some suggestive innuendo she didn’t entirely understand but which made her skin feel prickly.
After seeing Isabelle on top of Lord Dodd and how they’d reached a satisfying ending, she could only imagine how it would be if it were she and Hargrove.
Glynnis swallowed.
He cleared his throat.
“More wine?” he offered, and poured it from the crystal decanter.
