Page 13 of The Wrong Duke

“A promenade,” David explained. “Most from tonight will be meeting early tomorrow for a walk of Hyde Park, and Miss Baker here was just making sure that I wasn’t going to drink myself into such a stupor that I wouldn’t be attending.”

“I said no such thing,” she chided playfully, fluttering her eyelashes at him and then throwing a quick glare at Evan.

“It was implied, Miss.”

She rolled her eyes at him, keeping that smile. “I was simply making sure you would attend and confirming now, while I can, that you might share a walk with me.”

“I’m afraid that Lord Malnor isn’t much of a walker,” Evan interrupted. “He had a nasty fall from a horse a few years ago, and it’s played havoc with his back ever since.”

“Urgh, don’t remind me,” David groaned and touched gingerly at his back. “It comes and goes. In winter, on some mornings, I find it nearly impossible to rise from my bed.”

“So, Miss Baker,” Evan interjected, keeping his tone a little too friendly, “I’m afraid that Lord Malnor will have to deny your request —”

“Oh, it should be fine,” David waved him down. “The summer months are when it’s at its best. And seeing as I’ve been requested...” He winked at Miss Baker. “Unless my back breaks in the night, I’m sure I’ll be there.”

“Me too,” Evan said a little too quickly. “Seeing as everyone else is attending, I think I’d very much like a walk. Hyde Park is supposed to be lovely this time of year.”

Miss Baker widened her eyes at Evan, unseen by David as he was fixing his friend with a very curious look — one that suggested he didn’t recognize Evan at all and wanted to know who this imposter was.

“Lord Malnor...” Evan touched David on the arm. “I came over to let you know that Lord Wexley was asking after you.”

“Oh. He was?” He looked behind them in search.

“Who knows why, but you know how that old sod gets when he’s forced to wait.”

A roll of the eyes. “I better not keep him waiting then. Miss Baker...” David stepped back and offered a short bow. “Tomorrow then?”

“I look forward to it,” she purred and offered a curtsey in response.

David finished with a smile, a shake of his head at his friend, and then hurried across the room in search of Lord Wexley. Evan and Miss Baker watched him go, ensuring he was out of earshot before they turned on one another.

“What is wrong with you?” she hissed at him.

“Me?!” Evan balked. “It is I who should be asking that of you!”

“And here I am, starting to wonder what this obsession is that you’re forcing upon me. You seem like a nice sort, Your Grace, but I should tell you now that I am not interested.” She couldn’t have looked more pleased with herself. “But I hope we can still be friends.”

He eyed her coldly. “Do not test me.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it.”

“Then I advise you to remember what I said. If you continue to pursue my friend, then I’ll have no choice but to tell everyone about your transgression the other night. See what Lord Malnor thinks of a woman who throws herself at men when she thinks them drunk.”

Surprisingly, Miss Baker’s smile grew. “You know what, I think you should.”

“Wh — what?”

“Do it,” she said with a shrug. “But if you do, I’ll make sure that everyone and sundry hears my side of the story. That being of the rakish duke who forced himself upon me.” A cocked eyebrow. “And considering your reputation... I wonder who they will believe.”

“Do you now?” he chuckled. “You forget your station, Miss Baker. Yes, people might say all sorts of horrid things about me, but as you kindly pointed out, I’m used to it. I welcome it, in fact. But as to what they will say about you...” He clicked his tongue. “I don’t have to imagine because I know.”

“You really are beginning to bother me,” she hissed. “All I have done —”

“You don’t need to tell me,” he smirked. “I was there.”

“An accident!” she cried a little too loudly. A quick glance about the room to confirm that nobody was listening, and she leaned it. “Are you so cold that you would deny your friend a chance at love simply because nobody is willing to offer you the same.”

Evan reared back at that, struck in a way he hadn’t expected. But a quick shake of the head, and he came into himself again. “Why Lord Malnor? Of all the eligible bachelors of the ton, why is he the one who you’ve chosen to... to ruin.”

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