“Only the noise you made, my lord, like I imagine a bear might sound.”
She did little for a man’s ego. But it was just as well. He’d gotten carried away.Again!And she hadn’t had the wherewithal to stop him.
Where was her blasted chaperone?Mrs. Cumbersome was probably slumped over their table with her belly full of punch.
Was he supposed to be saint, escort, and nanny all at once?After all, he was a passionate man and she was a tempting female.
“Your chaperone must be worried witless. Let us go find her.”
“What of Lady Harriet and her ankle?”
He swore under his breath, then aloud said, “I’m sure someone has found her by now and taken her back to the civility of the Grove.” They walked swiftly to the other end of the Dark Walk where it intercepted the Grand Walk. Turning onto it, they continued toward the lighted area, but soon, he would have to part from her to protect her.
“You must not be seen coming from this direction with a man. Do you understand?”
She nodded.
“Answer me,” he demanded, feeling a tumult of emotions that would have him gladly call out Lady Harriet as a troublemaker and her brother as a libertine of the worst caliber. Undoubtedly, the slippery jackanape had intended to find Miranda alone and defenseless.
“Yes, my lord.” At last, she sounded almost contrite.
“I’ll watch you from here. You must go directly to our supper box, and when Mrs. Cumbersome asks you, you were with Lady Harriet and no one else.”
“And if she asks me about you?”
“Tell her you never saw me. I’ll return shortly having given up hunting for you.”
“Yes, my lord,” she repeated, softly. He watched her make her way to the Grove. He’d defeated the enemy this time, but had almost suffered the dearest casualty of all. Philip would be more careful the rest of the Season.
And he certainly needed to show some restraint around her. She had only to look at him a certain way, and he wanted to devour her.
And then he wouldn’t have to worry about Miss Waltham’s accusations or the Beaumonts’ evil antics. With the magistrate against him, Philip would find himself laid by the heels in Newgate, paying good chummage for a moth-eaten blanket and a bowl of watery gruel, never to see daylight again.
Chapter Eleven
“Icannot believe I was out again last night. At this rate, I shall have worn out all my new slippers like those princesses from the fairy tale.”
Miranda’s father grunted and looked up from his papers.
“Have you found a husband yet? It’s been a month.”
She smiled at him. “It’s barely been three weeks and no, Papa, but I’ve experienced many wonderful things. I am exceedingly grateful.”
Balls and dinners, the theatre, and even twice a ride in Hyde Park — she had met many new people, seen the most wondrous sights, and done all of it in the company of her favorite male.Lord Major Mercer had been a dash-fire escort!
Moreover, she’d chronicled all of it and was turning it into a tidy little tale as Lady Harriet had suggested. Although, she couldn’t help wishing she had a few more adventures like the one from the Dark Walk. Being in Lord Mercer’s arms had been heavenly. He was like a Vauxhall lamp-lighter and his kiss was the flame set to the swift wick of her body’s core.
When his lips touched hers, the sparks of desire seemed to have raced through her blood, igniting it to a fiery pulse. It was a delicious, tempting, frustrating inferno that made her squirm merely thinking of him.
Yet after that night, he’d been nothing but polite, even standoffish, touching her only when absolutely necessary, offering his hand to assist her into his carriage or allowing her to rest her hand on his arm. And never once had he let himself be alone with her again.
Frankly, it had been a little disappointing, even though she knew he was on his best behavior for the sake of his brandy business. Were they to continue to keep company after the Season’s end, Miranda wondered what might happen if she could, in fact, get the baron alone.
“You’re meant to find yourself a husband,” her father’s voice broke into her wicked thoughts. “This might be your last chance to catch a wealthy one, my girl. You might as well snag a rich man as a poor man. Otherwise, you’ll have to make do with some law clerk who comes sniffing around here, hoping to ingratiate himself in my court by courting you.”
Her father paused then laughed at his own words.
“Court and courting, did you hear?”
