“Youcan’t help me learn how to be courted.”
“Why can’t I? I’m a man, aren’t I?”
“For one thing, you’ve never courted anyone,” she pointed out.
“Not yet. But the time is fast approaching.” He leaned closer so that his lips were nearly against her ear and, ina conspiratorial tone, said, “Perhaps we both need practice. Tell me what you want to learn, and we can try it.”
Delilah rubbed her forehead. “This is preposterous, you know.”
He nudged her shoulder. “No, it’s not. Why shouldn’t we help each other? Tell me.”
She took a deep breath and contemplated the matter for a moment. “Very well. I suppose a proper courtship would involve walking in the gardens together at some point.”
“The gardens?” Thomas scratched his chin, wrinkling his nose. “Why?”
She rolled her eyes. “Don’t be naïve. Couples often sneak into the gardens at balls to talk. It happens quite often, according to my friends. It’s called a rendezvous.”
Thomas choked back a laugh. “You think couples sneak into the gardens totalk, and you’re calling me naïve?”
Her brows lowered. “They don’t talk?”
“There might be some talking, but I suspect they, ahem, do other things as well.”
“Like what?” She blinked at him with those big, brown, naïve eyes.
Thomas shook his head. “Your lady friends haven’t told you?”
Delilah put her hands on her hips and eyed him warily. “Do you mean…” She lowered her voice. “Kiss?”
He gave a solemn nod. “That’s exactly what I mean.”
Her eyes widened. “Are you telling me you’ve sneaked into the gardens at a ball and kissed someone?”
“Can’t say I have,” Thomas replied, scratching the back of his neck directly above his cravat. “Suppose I need the practice too.”
She narrowed her eyes on him. “Why haven’t you done it yet?”
“Why haven’t you?” he countered.
She pointed her nose in the air. “I’ve been busy arranging assignations for my friends all these years. I haven’t given a thought to my own until now.”
“And now you want to try it?” he prodded.
“I suppose I must. I refuse to make a ninny of myself in front of Branville again.”
Thomas arched a brow. “Have you asked Branville to take you to the gardens?”
“See? That merely demonstrates how naïve you are. You don’t ask a gentleman to take you to the gardens. You secretlymeethim there.”
“Is that how it works?” His voice dripped sarcasm.
Delilah nodded primly. “Yes, he implies that he would like to meet you in the gardens, and you pretend to consider it for a moment and then agree.”
“And then you meet and kiss?” Thomas batted his eyelashes at her. He teased her even as his heart thrummed in his chest, and perhaps other areas too.
“Well, I’m certain you don’t kiss immediately.” She waved a hand in the air. “There’s bound to be a bit of small talk or some flirtatious exchange.”
“Ah, yes, the flirtatious exchange,” Thomas replied with an irrepressible grin.
