“Where will we meet? I’m certain my father will want to take me home.”
Vincent shrugged. “Not unless you convince him that I should take you home. After all, I drove my own vehicle this time.”
“But the wedding announcement hasn’t been made yet, so we shouldn’t be seen leaving together.”
“True, but in your father’s mind, our wedding will take place in a few days anyway.”
She grinned out of the side of her mouth. “You have really been thinking about this, haven’t you?”
“Ever since our last kiss,” he said softly as he lowered his focus to her mouth. “I cannot stop thinking about it.”
Her throat jumped. “That pleases me to know. I was hoping you’d say that.”
“I was hoping that you were hoping I’d say that.”
She laughed, and her eyes twinkled. His heart leaped. Finally, she’d given him that look she had bestowed on Lord Calvin Drake. But it was different. She appeared more genuine with him.
Why was he allowing this woman to twist his heart? He didn’t want to analyze his feelings right now, but he hoped she never stopped making him smile.
*
Ellie’s nerves jitteredinside of her. Dare she convince her father to have Vincent take her home? Never had she been so bold. But then again, this was the first time in her life she’d put herself in this predicament. After what had happened with her stepmother yesterday, she knew this had to be done. Marriage to Vincent was the only way away from Augusta and Edgar Stone.
Inside Ellie’s gloves, the palms of her hands moistened as she walked toward her father. Thankfully, Augusta was on the dance floor with some gentleman, and the duke was hobnobbing with one of his friends while sipping a flute of champagne.
She took a deep breath for confidence, and silently told herself that everything would work out fine.
As she came closer to her father, she placed her hand on her belly and tried to appear as though she was sick to her stomach. When her father saw her, he frowned and quickly excused himself from his friends. He took hold of her shoulders and peered into her eyes.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
“Father, I don’t feel too well.” She groaned to add emphasis.
“But you were feeling fine not too long ago.”
“Not really. Slowly, over the course of this evening, my stomach has grown worse. While dancing with Lord Trenton, I nearly swooned. He bade me to come inform you.” She swallowed hard. “I really feel the need to go home and lie down.”
Her father cupped her cheek and then placed his hand on her forehead. “You do feel warm, and your cheeks are redder than normal.”
Ellie held back a laugh. Shewaswarm and her cheeks were red. Vincent made her feel things she never thought she’d experience.
She nodded. “Lord Trenton did say I looked under the weather.”
Her father stretched his neck as he gazed over the crowd. “Let’s find Augusta, and we’ll leave—”
“No, Father. I don’t want to ruin yours and Augusta’s evening. She is having so much fun that I would never forgive myself for ruining it.” The lie came easy enough. “What if…Lord Trenton took me home?”
Her father met her stare and arched an eyebrow. “Vincent? With no chaperone?”
She rubbed her forehead and squinted as though she had a terrible headache. “There’s nothing to fret over, Father. We will be engaged any day now.”
“That doesn’t matter,” he snapped. “If someone saw—”
“Then we will make it so that nobody sees. You can walk me out to the coach, and Vincent can sneak out and meet us there.”
He shook his head. “I would feel better if someone else went with you.”
Inwardly, she groaned. “Fine, then ask our host if we can borrow one of his maids.”
