For the first time, he realized how a woman could play a man for a fool. A simple kiss had upended everything he’d believed about himself. It had sparked something intense inside of him that he’d never experienced before—and she had walked away.
Anger replaced confusion. Dara Lanscarr thought herself too good for him? Well, he was too good for her. Besides, an attachment was not what he wanted. He had an embezzler to catch. A career to manage.
And yet the silliest little word went through his mind—love—coupled with the unbidden thought that he could love a woman like Dara Lanscarr. And he didn’t understand why. There were other women more suitable for him. Women who didn’t issue ultimatums. Women who werebiddable.
Still, that kiss...
Shaken, Michael left the willow haven. He did not go toward the house. Instead, he found the garden gate and let himself out.
***
Dara fell into step with a group of matrons who had gone out for a turn in the paper lantern side of the garden. She was very quiet, unassuming, and no one commented on her presence. Or questioned where she’d been.
However, inside, she was a tumbled mess.
She’d been kissed before. Pecks on the cheek, and once, Tiernan Enthistle, her second cousin, had kissed her on the lips. But his kiss was nothing like Michael Brogan’s. Neither was her reaction. She’d been disgusted by Tiernan’s lips. That was not how she felt about Mr. Brogan’s.
Even now, as she was regaining some common sense, she had the desire to turn back, to find him, and beg him to kiss her again and again.
And Elise would hate her for it.
The lit path was quite busy. There was a good deal of flirting going on among couples. Dara remembered her original mission to find Elise. She did not see her here.
She did discover a side door that allowed her to enter the house in case Lady Byrne and her daughters were watching the garden doors. She moved swiftly into the ballroom. Tweedie, Gwendolyn, and Elise were huddled together.
Gwendolyn looked up and spied Dara first. The others turned, Tweedie with relief.
Once Dara had joined them, Elise asked, “Where have you been? We looked everywhere for you.”
A bit of justified anger felt good. “I was looking for you,” Dara answered. “I couldn’t find you.”
“I’ve been here the whole time,” Elise said.
“I don’t think so,” Dara responded. “You weren’there when Gwendolyn was dancing with Lord Salcott.”
Elise scrunched her nose. “I went with Lady Abigail and her mother to see the earl’s library. Lady Morrow gave us a small tour.”
Gwendolyn made a sound. “I’m jealous. Is it as fine as we heard?”
“It puts our lending library to shame,” Elise said. “Although Lady Morrow says her husband is not a reader. He just like owning books.”
Tweedie shook her head. “How sad.”
At that moment, Lord Painswick joined them to ask Elise to dance, and off they went. He shot Dara a look over his shoulder as if silently asking if she was jealous. She wasn’t.
Tweedie went to tap a servant on the shoulder for more punch. Gwendolyn took that moment to confide in Dara.
“I believe Elise was actually hoping to run into Mr. Brogan. That is why she left without telling anyone where she was.”
Dara hummed her thoughts. Mr. Brogan was a dangerous topic for her right now.
“She is so focused on him,” Gwendolyn said. “I don’t know if he is good for her, Dara—”
“He’s not,” Dara cut in. She definitely had an opinion on this topic... because she realized that after what had transpired in the garden, she didn’t know if she could see Mr. Brogan with Elise. Or how Elise might react if she knew Darahad kissed him. This was not a good scenario. “We must deter her from encouraging him.”
Gwendolyn leaned closer. “I don’t think he is pursuing her. If anything,sheis pursuinghim. Talk to her. I’ve said something.”
“And?”
