Page 15 of The Duke of Daring (The Untouchables)
Her tension became elation, and this time she couldn’t help the smile that crested over her lips. She didn’t even realize until Dartford stared at her, his eyes wide. He moved his head from side to side, slowly, almost imperceptibly. Lucy pressed her lips together and grimaced.
“Well done, Smitty,” Wells said. He pulled the money from his coat and handed it to Henderson before turning to Dartford. “I’ll let you pay Smith.”
Dartford nodded. “Of course.”
Henderson cleared his throat. “Shall we return to Jessup’s?”
“Thank you, but we’ve somewhere else to be,” Dartford said, much to Lucy’s relief.
“Another time, then. Evening.” Henderson and Wells left together.
“Come, we’ll get a hack.” Dartford thanked Manton, who urged Lucy to come back and shoot anytime she wanted.
Lucy was noncommittal. She was just eager to leave. She was weary of playacting, and her throat felt ragged from affecting a masculine voice for so long.
Once they were outside, Dartford let out a whistle. “I see the pistol you carry isn’t just for show. You’re a hell of a shot, Miss Parnell. How do you explain that?”
“My father.”
Dartford hailed a hackney coach and directed the driver to Bolton Street. They climbed inside, once again sitting beside each other.
“Most fathers don’t instruct their daughters on how to shoot a gun or how to gamble. I take it he wanted a son?”
“Probably.” Lucy had come to realize that Gerald Parnell simply didn’t know how to treat a daughter.
He shifted on the seat, angling toward her. “You’re an interesting woman. And wealthier than when we started tonight—I’ll send the funds over tomorrow. Will that satisfy your needs, or are you going to make me do this again?”
She laughed softly, glad she didn’t have to censor herself any longer. “Was it that bad?”
“Not at all. In fact, I rather enjoyed myself. Did you?”
Immensely.“Yes.” Not for the first time, she thought she ought to have been born a man. “Thank you for your help. I, ah, I don’t have quite enough money to stop.”
He folded his arms across his chest and let out a beleaguered sigh. “I don’t suppose you’re ever going to tell me why you need it.”
She rather thought he’d earned the right to know, especially since he’d proven so helpful. Her gaze found his in the dim light provided by the coach’s lantern. “My grandmother wishes to retire to the country, and I need to go with her. Only…there’s not enough money for that.”
“I see. You seem to have at least some money? You had to have started this gambling scheme with something, and I know you’ve won a bit since then.”
Yes, she’d scraped together about twenty pounds to start. But that had been difficult. They didn’t have as much as Grandmama had led her to believe the past few years. Grandmama was nearly down to her marriage settlement, the interest from which she needed to live on. And it wasn’t enough to support them both without living very frugally. Grandmama had made it clear that Lucy needed to marry. Except Lucy didn’t really want to. And anyway, no one had ever shown any interest. She offered her opinion too freely, had a very small dowry—and now none—and to call her beautiful would be an exaggeration.
“We have just enough to finish the Season. But if I can raise the necessary funds, I’ll find a cottage near Bath as soon as possible.” The sooner she could remove herself from the pointlessness of London Society and see Grandmama settled, the better.
He sat back against the squab and was quiet as they wound their way through the streets of Mayfair. They were nearing Bolton Street when he turned toward her once more. “Here’s the problem. I’m not sure you should do this again, and certainly not more than once or twice more, and absolutely not without my company. I must insist that you agree, or my earlier threat will stand.”
“I’m so glad you recognize it as a threat.”
He chuckled, his eyes gleaming in the shadowy coach. “Yes, let’s be direct with one another, shall we?”
Lucy blinked at him. “I am always direct.”
“Unless you’re trying to fool people into thinking you’re a man.” His sarcasm was simultaneously annoying and charming.
“Yes, that. A necessary transgression, I’m sure you agree.”
His brow arched. “I hardly think you care whether I agree.”
He had her there. She grinned. “Maybe a little. I mean, Idocare. A little.” She’d come to like Dartford during their brief acquaintance, in spite of his moments of arrogance and imperiousness. She looked forward to another adventure or two with him. “You have my word that I won’t venture out without your assistance. Shall we set our next appointment?”
