Danny gritted her teeth. Her sister’s passion for inciting discourse was not what this evening needed. “Don’t mind her. She’s to be institutionalized as soon as I can forge Mama’s signature.”
Denise blew her a kiss and linked arms with Percy as if they were old friends, and something ugly settled in Danny’s stomach.
“Such an eyesore, those gardens at Grandfellow. Unkempt, confusing.” Denise pulled him along the edge of the dance floor, forcing Danny to take Percy’s other side like an additional wheel on an already full axle. “Wouldn’t you agree, Your Grace? The sculptures in the maze alone are positively gruesome.”
“And she’s off,” Danny muttered.
Percy’s mouth quirked, but his gaze captured Danny’s on his other side when he replied, “I can’t say I agree, Lady Denise.Athena’s Justice, for instance, has become quite a favorite of mine after consideration. The figures alone arestimulating.”
Danny’s body heated at his silken tone. Yes, the sculpture was quickly becoming her favorite as well, but it had less to do with craftsmanship and more to do with the memory of fevered kisses and a threat to take her virginity on the fountain’s edge.
“What a coincidence; Danny finds the sculptures more whimsical than savage as well.”
Danny cut her sister a glare as if to say,“You promised you wouldn’t interfere.”
Denise’s responding smile said,“You wouldn’t want me to be rude to our neighbor.”
“Yes, I would.”
“Did you say something, dear sister?” Denise asked.
Having realized she’d said her last words out loud, Danny smiled sweetly at her sister and repeated, “I would love to find the refreshments with you, Denise.” Extricating her sister’s arm from Percy’s, she offered him an apologetic look. “Excuse us, Your Grace.”
Percy’s lip twitched again, but he bowed his head. “Wouldn’t want to overheat in this crowded room.”
Denise tugged at her arm. “Actually, I—”
“Am famished?” Danny towed her sister away and out of earshot. “What is wrong with you?”
“What? Heishandsome.Andinteresting.”
Danny stopped them next to a table laden with tarts and sweetmeats, concern turning the sugary scent bitter. After her conversation with Percy last night, she now understood how dangerous it was to ask questions. “Forget whatever you learned.” She’d need to take Don aside as well before someone took their family’s inquiry as a liability. From what she’d surmised from her conversation with Percy in her bedchamber, his role as a man of the Crown didn’t stop at the battlefield. Percy the agent wasn’t out of the question. She believed the Home Office had their country’s best interests at the forefront of policy, but the shadows in Percy’s eyes weren’t from patriotic pride.
The secrets he kept, whatever they were, ate at him.
Her own curiosity reared its cat-like head, but she pushed it away. Percy would tell her when he was ready if they could get a second alone. “Promise me, Denise. You will tell no one?”
Denise considered her in that maddening silent predator way she had, her gaze hard and focused, gauging how far she could manipulate the situation before her prey lashed out in self-defense.
“I’m serious, Denny,” Danny said.
Denise’s brow cocked at the childhood nickname. It had been years since the siblings had outgrown the trio of cute names: Donny, Danny, Denny. “Clearly.” She waved her hand back and forth, dispensing with the posturing. “If that’s what you want.”
Far too easy. “I mean it.”
Denise rolled her eyes. “Don’t be so suspicious, sister. It will sour your complexion. Even I can acknowledge not every secret needs airing.” Her gaze flicked to where Percy shook hands with the Duke of Lux across the room. “I like him. He’s hard to read but composed.”
Her sister’s approval was strangely reassuring, though Denise’s assessment was all wrong. It amazed her how no one else saw how Percy kept straightening his cuffs and running his hand through his hair, clearly uncomfortable with wearing his real face.
“You should marry him.”
Danny startled at her sister’s words. “What? He’s afriend.” Who happened to bring her to shattering orgasms with his tongue. Marrying would ruin everything. Gentlemen wanted docile and placating wives.Innocent wives.Not that Percy seemed the kind of man to turn his nose up at a woman with darker tastes.
Denise didn’t miss her flushed cheeks. “You’re attracted. Plus, he’s rich, handsome.” She shrugged. “Doesn’t flinch when teased.”
“Your ideas of what makes a man desirable baffles me.” Danny crushed her racing heart. “Anything else?”
“Yes.” Denise gave her a pointed look. “He makes you smile and blush and”—she scrunched her nose—“I don’t know, glow, maybe.”
