Page 11 of The Duke's Goddess

“One moment, James. Jacob, if I may.” She took Sally’s hands in her and rushed a whisper. “You can’t show James how you feel. He’s a rake. If he sees you wearing your heart on your sleeve, he’ll eat you alive. Be calm. Pay attention to Jacob. That kind of behavior might make James jealous.”

“You are so right, Joan. So wise.” It was a boon how trusting Sally was. And it completely reinforced Joan’s resolve to protect her from James. With how trusting Sally was, it was inevitable that she would find herself out on a terrace with a rake. And then a scandal. Fortunately Joan was around and Sally was willingly putting her trust in her dear friend.

Joan could see that Sally’s eyes seemed to clear from whatever fog had descended upon them when Joan had announced her dance with James. In fact, Sally almost looked relieved, if Joan was putting a label on it. Her shoulders were no longer at her ears. Her voice was back to a normal pitch. And more importantly, her fan had ceased fanning.

And even though Joan half-hated herself for deceiving her friend, she could not—would not—let her friend fall for a rake. This was the only way to save Sally’s heart. Surely if she spent enough time with Jacob she would fall in lovewith him. Joan was praying to the love gods watching this all unfold. Praying that love would take aim—more accurately this time. And then once it had its opening…

Shoot.

Chapter 5

“I am not a book.”–Joan of Arc

JAMES WAS LEADING JOAN onto the dance floor when she tugged on his arm before the music could start.

“Is there a problem?” James asked over his shoulder.

Oh yes. There was a problem. Joan was not about to dance with a rake, if she could help it. Being led to the floor by himlooked bad enough. She hadn’t actually planned to go through with the dancing part.

“We’re not dancing together.”

He laughed. “Not yet, but—”

“No. Not yet or later or anytime. I need a refreshment. I’m feeling—”

With a waggle of his brows, James jumped in— “mischievous?”

Joan just rolled her eyes. “Let’s just get a drink.”

“You don’t have to ask me twice,” he said, leading her away from the dancers. Thankfully they still had time before the instruments reverberated with sound. Still holding her hand on his forearm, Joan and James found a spot where they could stand discreetly together. It was as if he had read her mind in placing them here.

Here. Where they were apart from the crowd enough to discuss the goings on of the evening. Here. Where they could watch their respective friends hopefully find love. Here. Where (hopefully) no one would judge Joan for spending some time in the notorious rake’s presence.

Taking a sip of his drink, James watched as Jacob shone a brilliant smile at Sally. And Sally…well, she reflected a blurry version back at him.

“So,” James didn’t look at her as he spoke, “are you going to tell me what your plan is? Or shall we continue to test our nonverbal communication skills?”

He noticed it too, then, did he? That was an interesting observation to make…if she was making observations about James. Which she wasn’t.

“I can’t dance with you.” Joan decided to take the direct approach.

“So I gathered by the fact that we’re not dancing.” The amusement in his voice was vexing. Was he laughing at her? Didn’t he realize the risks she was already taking?

“You’re a—erhm…well, you know” —the direct approach was not always so easy to take— “you must know…that you’re a rake,”

James's hand flew to his chest, his mouth falling open. “I can’t believe you said that.” His aghast whisper shouldn’t have given her lips a reason to smirk.

Blasted mouth!

“James, don’t be silly. We have only a few minutes to scheme.”

“Scheme? I like thesound of that. If I wasn’t holding a drink, I would rub my hands together and cackle,” he said this with a sideways glance and a wink.

“You can still cackle.”

“I’ll save you the embarrassment of the eyes you don’t want on you. I understand you’re ashamed of me.” He shrugged nonchalantly, but something in his tone made Joan pause.

“I’m not ashamed of you.”

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