“I wish we could hit him on the head again, and this time, do it right,” Dara answered, frowning.
Her family gasped their surprise, but Dara was unrepentant. This man was a threat. “Smile,” she ordered. “He is almost upon us. Stand tall. We are Lanscarrs.”
“The bravest of the brave,” Elise echoed. They used a motto their father had taught them.
Except Dara didn’t feel brave. This man could denounce them for their attack in front of everyone... and the Byrnes... and Mr. Brogan.
She reached for Gwendolyn’s hand. She had protected her once, and she would do so again.
And then he was right in front of them. “Miss Lanscarr,” he said, his greeting easy as he bowed to Gwendolyn. “I am happy to see you here. Lady Royston told me you had arrived.”
Gwendolyn stared, unmoving as if she’d been frozen.
Apparently he didn’t need her input. “And this is your aunt, Dame Eleanor?” He gave her a bow. “I’m Beckett Steele. It is my pleasure to finally make your acquaintance.”
Tweedie stared up at him, apparently as stunned as Dara was by his manner.
“And these are your lovely sisters?” he continued. “Those who lauded their beauty were very much on the mark.” But as he spoke, his focus never left Gwendolyn.
She cleared her throat. In a very small voice, she managed, “Hello, Mr. Steele. I’m surprised to see you here.”
His smile widened. “Are you now, Miss Lanscarr? You needn’t be. After all, I’m the one who had you invited.”
Chapter Six
Make amusing conversation while dancing.
The Rules (according to Dara)
How can one be amusing while hopping up and down?
Tweedie’s response
Beck was enjoying this meeting with the Lanscarr sisters immensely. Gwendolyn appeared ready to swoon over the news that he had orchestrated their invitation, a sign that the sisters had wondered about it. They were quick ones. Female pirates setting themselves up to plunder thetonfor husbands.
He found them delightful.
At this point, there was very little he didn’t know about the Lanscarr family, even Dame Eleanor. Those who had warned him the sisters were very close had not been wrong. They practically held Gwendolyn up so that she could meet Beck’s eye.
Gwendolyn.He liked the sound of her name. The numerous syllables were like music to him, and far superior toBunsaway.
Physically, she was stunning. Once he’d recovered from the blow to the head, he’d wondered if he had remembered her correctly. After all, the only light had been a streetlamp.
He was pleased to realize that his memory had not lied. She was indeed a brunette beauty. Black lashes framed the gold in her concerned brown eyes. Her lips were full and enticing, even as she unconsciously pressed them together as if summoning her courage.
Beck grinned. He’d surprised her. That had been his intent.
In fact, he had caught all of them off guard with his announcement. Elise, the youngest and loveliest, had let her lips form a perfectly round O of surprise. Those who had claimed she was a golden goddess had not been wrong, although Beck’s tastes ran more toward her older sister.
Then there was Dara. She regained her composure first. While her sisters struggled with his presence, she announced, “I should have hit you harder.”
It was a shocking statement from a very proper young woman. Lady Royston’s mouth dropped open in shock, but Beck tilted back his head and laughed.
“They warned me you were forthright,” he said.
Miss Dara’s brows came together. “Who warned you?”
He didn’t answer. Let her wonder.
