Page 12 of Betting on a Baron
“Yes, you are to assist me in securing a husband for Alice.”
“After speaking to Alice, I have the impression she’d rather be a pauper than a wife.”
“Regardless, we had an agreement.” He stepped closer. “And if it weren’t for the deal you struck with Miss Lennox, Alice would be without a new wardrobe this Season.”
“What in the devil are you talking about?”
“Us courting, of course.” He cupped her face and ran his thumb over her bottom lip.
She inhaled at his touch, the memory of their kiss flooding back. “Courting.” Miss Lennox’s words came back to her,pretend to court Harlowe and I’ll not withhold Alice’s gowns. “But I…I never sent word to Miss Lennox agreeing to her terms.”
“Why do you think I’ve been following you about for the past two weeks? I had to at least attempt to make it appear we were courting in order to have Alice’s gowns delivered.”
Daphne’s jaw fell open. “But…how…” She shook her head side to side. “You couldn’t have…I’m going to strangle your sister when I return to the ball.”
Ambrose bent until they were eye-to-eye. “That’s unfortunate since I’m rather fond of my sister.”
Already rejected once, she should back away from him. Instead, years of fantasies rolled through her mind and she, for a second time, kissed the man. Ambrose wrapped his arms about her, drew her close, and kissed her back until she pulled away to heave a breath to calm her racing heart.
“Please grant me the honor of courting you this Season?” Ambrose’s right brow independently shifted down and then back up as if to sayI dare you to say no.
She wasn’t going to deny Ambrose, but she didn’t want to appear completely compliant. Daphne shrugged out of his coat and shoved it into his chest. “You, my lord, play the role of fortune hunter well.”
Ambrose smirked and said, “I shall take that as a yes.”
Daphne ran her palms down her side before clasping them tightly in front of her. “I’m merely agreeing to a courtship and nothing more.”
He slipped his arms back into his coat and then winged his arm out for her. She placed her hand on his arm and silently repeatedcourtship and nothing moretwice in her head before she inwardly groaned. She couldn’t even lie to herself convincingly. She’s waited years for Ambrose to pursue her, but she wanted him to do so because he loved her, not because she came with a substantial dowry.
CHAPTERSEVEN
Ambrose was no master chess player; however, he had believed himself to be a more than satisfactory strategist. Except over the past fortnight the woman walking next to him back into the overcrowded and stuffy ballroom had humbled him into the realization that he’d never put forward much effort to gain the lady’s attention.
Sidestepping a group of debutantes who were making their debut, Ambrose escorted Daphne back to his sister's side.
“Egad, where did the two of you disappear to?” Alice asked. His sister’s gaze flickered between him and Daphne and landed on Daphne. “Due to your absence, I was forced to take a turn about the floor with Foxton.”
“My apologies. I know how the man vexes you.”
Ambrose searched the room for Foxton. “It appears you successfully dispatched the man…yet again.”
“He’s gone to lick his wounds in the card room.” Alice’s smile disappeared. “At least that is where he claimed to be headed.”
Daphne took a step forward and reached out to clasped both of Alice’s hands in hers. He disliked the space she’d placed between them even if it was a mere foot.
“Let’s adjourn to the ladies’ retiring room for a bit,” Daphne suggested.
Alice nodded and gave Ambrose a weak smile.
Fury at the man who had clearly upset his sister rolled through Ambrose. “I’ll pummel Foxton as soon as I find him.”
“Don’t.” Alice’s reply lacked her normal conviction. “I mean you shouldn’t.”
“Why ever not?”
“I shouldn’t have pried into his affairs. I shouldn’t care a fig if he spent the afternoon with his mistress or at his club. I shouldn’t have...” A tear trickled down his sister’s cheek. She brushed it away with the back of her hand while simultaneously rolling her shoulders back. “You were right, Ambrose, people do treat you differently when you are on the brink of financial ruin. I’ve been naive up til now.”
He waited until Daphne and Alice had exited before he set off to hunt down the man who had upset Alice. Foxton knew the rumors were lies. He let Alice’s words sink in. Mistress. Naive. Ambrose’s hands balled into fists. Foxton wouldn’t have dared to suggest Alice consider a future as someone’s…no…his mistress. Damnation, Foxton was a rake of the highest order. Ambrose caught sight of his reflection in a mirror hung along the hall and froze. He shouldn’t be angry at Foxton. This whole situation was his doing, pretending to be penniless.
