Page 22 of The Duke of Daring (The Untouchables)
And just like that, Andrew’s heart began to pound. Cold sweat dappled his neck. He didn’t want to feel this. Not here. Not now.
He tried to summon a pleasant response but only managed, “Yes, I remember you.” He didn’t really, and now he understood why. He generally shoved everything to do with his family as far away from his mind as possible.
She cocked her head to the side. “It’s quite all right if you don’t.” She took his arm. “Come, walk with me a moment.”
The irony of being rescued from the herd of matchmaking mamas by another matchmaking mama wasn’t lost on him.Wasshe a matchmaking mama? “Where are we going?” he asked.
“I thought you needed rescuing. You don’t come to many balls anymore. Perhaps you underestimated the vulturelike atmosphere.”
He laughed, surprised that his emotions could veer so swiftly, but exceptionally glad. The tension she’d provoked by mentioning his mother eased. Her touch was surprisingly comforting. “Thank you. Ihadforgotten.”
She led him to the edge of the ballroom. “I must confess I’d hoped to introduce you to my ward, but I can see you need a moment to regain your equilibrium.”
He marveled that she’d noticed his discomfort. “I’m fine, thank you.” He was now. “I’d be delighted to meet your ward.” It was the least he could do to repay Lady Satterfield’s kindness, even if she was the one who’d caused his momentary distress.
“All right. She’s over here with her friend.”
They skirted the wall until they came upon a pair of young women. Both were dark-haired, one with corkscrew curls grazing her temples, the other with a more severe style.
The one with the curls was facing him. Her bright blue eyes connected with Lady Satterfield first, acknowledging her, then moved to Andrew. She smiled warmly.
The second one was angled away from him, but now she turned. The familiar moss and earth tone of her luminous eyes shot straight into his chest. His breath hitched.
It washer.
She wasn’t blonde. But she was stunning. Not classically beautiful, but far more attractive than the pale misses who’d clustered around him when he’d arrived.
Lady Satterfield let go of his arm. “May I present Lord Dartford?” She gestured toward Miss Parnell’s companion. “This is my ward, Miss Aquilla Knox, and her friend, Miss Lucinda Parnell.”
Miss Knox curtseyed. “Pleased to meet you, my lord.”
He bowed. “The pleasure is mine.” His gaze moved to Miss Parnell. “Miss Parnell.”
“Lord Dartford.” Her voice was as dusky and seductive as he recalled. In fact, it was even more alluring now that he had her feminine features to go with it.
“May I have the next dance?” he asked. Belatedly he realized he should’ve asked Miss Knox to dance, but he feared Miss Parnell had stolen his wits.
She narrowed her eyes slightly and didn’t immediately respond. Instead, she glanced at her friend.
Miss Knox gave her an easy smile, and Andrew knew she must do so often. Not like Miss Parnell, who kept her emotions very close. At least when she was dressed as a man. Would she behave differently now that she was without her disguise? What was she really like? Andrew longed to find out.
She was utterly lovely, with a strong but feminine jawline and supple lips that made him wonder how she could ever pass for a man. The sideburns, which he didn’t miss in the slightest, completely changed her face, he realized. She’d been smart to don them.
He was glad, however, that she wasn’t wearing them now. And that she’d disposed of her padding and her men’s costume. She was lithe and lean, with subtle curves and long legs. He imagined her riding a horse with ease. If she could shoot like a man, he suspected she probably rode like one too.
“The next set is starting soon,” he prompted. She still hadn’t responded to his invitation.
She continued to hesitate, and her friend delivered an elbow to her side. Andrew stifled a grin as Miss Parnell tossed a glare at Miss Knox.
“Go!”
Andrew couldn’t hear the word but read Miss Knox’s lips, and the glower she delivered Miss Parnell gave the utterance its exclamation point, at least in Andrew’s mind. Miss Knox gave her a little push for good measure.
Miss Parnell frowned but moved forward. Andrew offered his arm, which she took—in a clearly reluctant fashion if the slowness of her movements were any indication.
Andrew bowed to Lady Satterfield and Miss Knox. “Ladies.”
He led Miss Parnell toward the dance floor. “Why didn’t you want to dance with me?”
