Page 29 of The Grand Mistletoe Assembly
Nancy looked at Jeremy. “Where’s Pippa? Weren’t you together?”
“Yes, why isn’t she here mocking my misfortune?”
Jeremy rolled his eyes. “We encountered Dare downstairs. She is receiving him instead of fawning over you.”
Nicholas bolted upright. A nasty curse formed on his tongue. “That libertine hasn’t left yet?”
Nancy and Jeremy shared a brief glance before she said, “Dare helped us today, should he not receive some gratitude?”
Gratitude, my ass.
Nicholas ripped the covers off himself and maneuvered to his feet. This damn heart of his. Going off again. Only Pippa could settle its tortuous rhythm. He needed her. Her scent. Her presence. Her teasing.
“What are you doing?” Nancy demanded.
“To settle a matter.”
“What matter?” Nancy snapped. “Don’t be absurd.”
“Who is absurd? Are you and Pippa not the ones bent on kissing that rake?”
Nancy’s mouth dropped open.
Jeremy frowned.
Nicholas didn’t explain further, done with them. He pushed past the pain and limped from the room with a renewed sense of purpose. She had promised she wouldn’t kiss Dare. But what if Dare kissed her? Underhisroof? Not while he still had the strength to kick the man out on his ass.
CHAPTER 7
Love is the ultimate stage. Seize all its hours.
—From the Diary of Lillian Wright
“You should go to him,” Dare said. “Chatteris won’t rest until you’re in his sight.”
Pippa slowly nodded, but in her heart, she hesitated. How to face the man who had boldly declared he wanted to claim her? Now that her thoughts had cleared, doubt and uncertainty once again made their way into her reasoning.
“He’s right,” a low voice drawled. A large silhouette filled the doorway of the drawing room.
“Nicholas?” Pippa couldn’t quite hide her surprise. She examined him from top to toe. “Why are you not in bed?”
Nicholas’s gaze swept over her. “You didn’t come to me, so I came to you. You weren’t hurt in the fall?”
Gooseflesh broke out over her skin. “I’m unharmed.”
Dare chuckled. “Since you are here, I shall take my leave.” He winked at Pippa. “Take care, my lady.”
“You too,” Pippa said. The moment he left, Pippa scolded, “You should return to bed. Why are you so stubborn? Does your head not hurt?”
“No.”
“Liar.”
“When I think about you, it doesn’t hurt.”
“Impossible.”
The corners of his mouth quirked. “Dare seems quite taken with you.”
