Page 7 of The Moonstone Pirate
She returned his smile with a glower. “Oh? Do you think so?”
“Yes,” he said between clenched teeth. “Forgive my delay in returning to you, but I had pressing matters that could not be avoided.”
“I noticed you and thepressingyoung matters flinging themselves at you.”
All right, he deserved the set-down, since he had neglected her for the first waltz. But she was not going to dance with that slimy snake now circling closer.
“She is taken for the rest of the evening, Driscoll. Slither back to your friends and leave her alone.”
“She does not appear happy to be taken by you, Woodley. Step aside and let me have a turn.”
“No.” Draco took Imogen’s hand and drew her up beside him, tucking her close to keep her out of Driscoll’s grasp.
“Are we to fight over her? That can be arranged,” the dissolute snarled back. “Victor claims the delectable spoils.”
“No fight. Turn around and leave. Touch her and that is the last thing you’ll do before you draw your last breath.” He took a step toward Driscoll, but the coward darted several steps back. Draco suppressed a grin of satisfaction. “If I catch you or any of your friends near this butterfly, I shall hurl you off the cliff walk. What’s it to be?”
Driscoll held up his hands in a sign of surrender. “You would do it, too.Bastard.” He turned and strode away.
Imogen was shaking beside him, trying to pull her hand out of his grasp, but he would not allow it before he gave her some sort of explanation. “Imogen, I am sorry. I did not mean to frighten you. But you need to keep away from that man.”
She eyed him warily, those gorgeous blue-green eyes taking all of him in as she tried to determine whether to trust him. “He might say the same about you.”
“I am not a danger to you. Upon my honor, I would never hurt you.”
“But he would?”
Draco nodded. “Lord Driscoll and I have a long-running animosity. He has a cruel streak and thinks nothing of… Well, just stay clear of him. His toady friends, too.”
“Is this why you ordered Parrot never to leave my side? Was this your way of protecting me?”
He nodded. “I knew your uncle and aunt would watch over you, but I dared not have you alone even for a moment. Driscoll has had his eyes on you all night and was waiting for his chance to approach as soon as your family stepped away.”
“I suppose I should be grateful, then.” She glanced down at Parrot, who had dutifully remained by her side, and her expression softened into a smile. “He is a big, lazy lump of a dog, you know. He’s been stretched out across my feet for the past hour.”
Draco’s tension eased, and he chuckled. “Yes, I often have to drag him out for long walks. But had Driscoll set a hand on you, he would have leaped into action and chased him away. I mean it, Imogen. That man is never to be trusted. I’ll have to speak to my uncle and Deandra about who invited him and his friends here. I certainly did not, nor did I notice them on any invitation lists. Well, it will all be sorted out later. As it is, I am having the devil of a time circulating among my guests while keeping an eye on those scoundrels.”
“You could have fooled me. You seemed to be eyeing the young ladies rather avidly…and Lady Dowling, too.” She finally tugged her hand out of his grasp. Not that he was holding on to her tightly, but he had been reluctant to release her while Driscoll was anywhere nearby.
The arse was gone now, probably back with his friends in order to plan some other mischief. Draco had footmen passing drinks around indoors and outdoors. He had warned his staff to be on the lookout for any problems from that group and immediately report them to him.
He sighed and held out his hand to her. “Forget those ladies, will you? They were too brazen even for my liking. I have no interest in any of them. Nor will I ever. As I mentioned earlier,women accost me all the time because I am an earl. Dropping handkerchiefs at my feet. Feigning swoons. Feigning twisted ankles, as Lady Dowling did. If I ignore them, I am considered rude. If I attempt politeness, I am accused of being a hound. What would you have me do, Imogen?”
“Exactly what you have been doing,” she admitted. “I’m sorry I doubted you.”
“No apology required. It is all part of the game, isn’t it? They do not care anything about me or who I really am. But you are playing no games. You are trying to get to the heart of who I truly am. What’s your opinion? Have you formed one yet?”
“Oh, yes. Quite a certain opinion.” Imogen cast him a charming smile and placed her hand in his still-outstretched one. “You are a pirate. Anyone can see that.”
He grinned and glanced down at himself. “This is merely a costume.”
“An appropriate one for you.”
“Is that a compliment or an insult?”
She smiled again. “A compliment. You are brash and exciting, but with a strong sense of honor. There is hope for you yet.”
Since she had not removed her hand from his, he knew he had won at least this round. “Are you ready for the supper dance?”
