As the next gentleman took Cecily out on the floor, she caught Meredith’s gaze, and a huge smile lit up her face. “Thank you,” she mouthed. Meredith realized that Cecily believedshehad been responsible for sending Griffin over. She nodded and smiled in response. She’d tell her the truth later, but for now, Cecily should just enjoy all the dancing.
“Our Society is so predictable,” Meredith said with a lighthearted sigh, giving Griffin a sly smile. “A handsome, eligible duke asks a girl to dance and suddenly she’s the most sought-after girl in the room.”
“You think I’m handsome?” Griffin replied, batting his eyelashes.
Meredith’s mouth went dry. The memory of him kissing her neck last night nearly made her knees go weak. What exactly was his plan? Did he truly intend to act as if they hadn’t done what they did last night? On the other hand, they had both been wearing masks and neither had admitted they’d known the other. Perhaps it was best if they kept up the ruse.
“You know you’re handsome, Griff,” she finally replied. “Your future bride is going to be quite fortunate indeed.” She cleared her throat. Yes. Good. In addition to pretending as if she had no idea it was him last night, she should continue to keep his future wife in mind each time she thought about kissing him again. “And speaking of your future bride, aside from Cecily, I haven’t seen you dance with anyone else tonight.” There. Best to change the subject. It might just serve to help herstopthinking of last night every time she glanced at him.
“Just because you haven’t seen it doesn’t mean it didn’t happen,” Griffin replied with that sly smile of his.
Meredith crossed her arms over her chest and arched a brow at him. “So, you’ve danced with her?”
“No. But I believe you are attempting to keep the subject off yourself,Your Grace.”
“Me?” She gave him a beatific smile. “Whatever do you mean?”
Griffin lowered his voice. “I mean you went to the Onyx Club last night, did you not? I’ve been waiting all evening to hear how it went.”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Griffin eyed Meredith intently as a shy smile spread across her beautiful face. Was she blushing? Meredith didn’t blush.
She lifted her nose in the air. “One shouldn’t kiss and tell,Your Grace.”
“Then one shouldn’t inform one’s friend one is going to a pleasure club,” he easily replied.
Griffin had had all day to think about whether he should ask about her night at the club. He’d finally decided he had no choice. Meredith would find it suspect if hedidn’task about it. He’d brought it up often enough earlier this week when he’d tried to convince her not to go. And it might make him horrid, but the truth was, hewantedto hear what she had to say about her time in room seven.
Meredith tugged at the end of her glove. “You’ll be pleased to know that I was quite safe there.”
“Were you?” Griffin arched a brow. She wasdefinitelyblushing. Hmm. That was interesting. Although knowing what she’d done last night certainly explained why she might blush.
“Yes. Well,afterI dispatched one particularly unwelcome patron it was safe,” she added.
“And?” Griffin prodded.
Meredith bit her lip and glanced at him from the corner of her eye. “And I had a bit too much to drink.”
“And?”
“And I found someone quite…”
His brows shot up. “Quite what?”
“Quite agreeable,” she murmured.
Oh, she was definitely blushing. “Agreeable?” He narrowed his eyes on her.
“Yes.”
Why wasn’t she meeting his eyes?
“He’s tall and dark and oh-so-handsome. He also seemed quite kind. A real gentleman. And?—”
“Handsome, you say? How handsome?” Griffin watched her carefully.
Her throat worked in a swallow, but a sly smile popped to her lips. “Handsome enough that I allowed him to kiss me.”
