Denise clutched her chest, horrified. “Take that back.”
“Shall I inquire about his character at the club?” Don asked.
“He won’t be a member of any club.”
The words came out too fast, and her sister leapt at the implied admission.
“You talked a good deal this afternoon it seems. Tell us, what else did you learn about the new duke?”
Danny took the hit and struck one of her own. “He’s blessed as an only child.”
“Poor fellow,” Denise said. “I know! Let’s invite him to tea.”
“He’ll be far too busy managing his estate,” Danny said, praying it was true. When Denise caught the scent, it took a blizzard to take her off. “And Papa has already offered to make a social call next week. Too much interference from us and the Duke of Grandfellow will avoid us like gnats.”
Don stirred. “Gnats are actually quite fascinating—”
“No, they’re not.” Denise tapped her chin and contemplated her sister long enough to make Danny squirm. “All right. I’ll leave the man be,for now. But I’m still going to inquire in town to hear what is to be said for the man.” She made a face. “I mean, what if helikesherring? Better to know if he will smell like oily sea wastebeforeyou fall in love.”
Love? Ha. No worry over that. Danny smiled and wrapped her arms around her ridiculous sister. “Thank you.”
Don’s babbling about gnats and how their living cycle made them choice prey for the nocturnal predators petered out as he glanced at their embracing forms. “I missed something.”
“We’ve promised not to encroach on our sister’s new suitor,” Denise said. “Except to make sure he isn’t a lover of fish.”
“Herring?”
“Precisely.”
Don nodded. “I loathe the smell of brine.”
“He’s not my suitor.”
Both siblings turned to her, brows raised.
“He’s not,” Danny said.
Denise’s gaze narrowed. “But you want him to be?”
“I...” Danny’s lips and tongue wouldn’t make the proper denial. There was still the business of the Leishires’ ball and the man’s suspicious character. But that hadn’t mattered when he’d kissed her. Expert kissing. Not to mention the respectfulway he’d addressed her papa. Saying she felt nothing for the Duke of Grandfellow would be a blatant lie. The truth was, she had yet to decipher if her feelings were ones of romance or gratitude or curiosity. The connection between them was visceral, overwhelming. Danny recognized the fire his presence set off in her, but whether those flames would smoke out or burn her irrevocably was yet unknown.
“I don’t know,” she said finally.
“Then it’s settled,” Denise said, giving a firm nod. “We will help you figure it out.”
