Page 50 of The Duke of Seduction
They circuited the drawing room until they found Fanny, and the three of them moved to a corner where they deposited themselves onto a small settee with Lavinia in the center.
“While this has been a diverting evening, it hasn’t furthered my marital prospects,” Sarah said.
“Because there’s no one with potential here,” Fanny observed. “The only bachelors were your brother, Ware, and Northam. Taking your brother out of things, that leaves Ware and Northam, and neither are decent marital prospects.”
Sarah nodded in agreement. “No, and that’s such a shame. Hide-and-seek certainly lends itself to clandestine meetings. If only there’d been someone worth meeting. I should like a stolen kiss.”
Lavinia stared straight ahead into the room even as her heart picked up speed. The imprint of Beck’s lips on hers, the touch of his hand on her neck, the sound of his whispered words weighted with urgency and desire heated her until she wished she’d brought a fan.
“Have you never kissed anyone?” Fanny asked.
Sarah shook her head. “We played some kissing games last fall at a house party, and while Lavinia was fortunate enough to be kissed on the cheek, I received nothing.” She peered around Lavinia at Fanny. “Have you kissed anyone?”
Fanny nodded, and Lavinia turned her head toward her. Both she and Sarah said in unison, “You have?”
“Yes.”
“But you’re younger than us.” Sarah sounded woefully disappointed.
Fanny blushed. “It was just a kiss, though a very nice one.”
“How did you manage that?” Lavinia asked. “I don’t recall you going off with anyone.” Which didn’t mean she hadn’t—neither she nor Sarah knew Lavinia had been alone with Beck.
“I met him at Stour’s Edge—my brother-in-law’s country house—at Christmas. I was out for a walk, and I got a bit lost. He was visiting the neighborhood.”
“Who is he?” Sarah asked.
Fanny’s cheeks colored pink again. “I only know his given name—David. We thought it best to leave our…encounter shrouded in a bit of mystery.” She laughed. “I haven’t seen him since and don’t expect to.”
Sarah’s gaze softened. “Was it lovely?”
Fanny nodded, her eyes shining. “It was magnificent. Not a day goes by that I don’t think of it. Of him. He may have ruined me for future suitors. That is probably why I haven’t been overly interested in anyone so far this Season.”
“Fanny has a secret admirer. Like the Duke of Seduction but not.” Sarah laughed.
“I have a secret,” Lavinia blurted, her voice nearly a whisper. She didn’t want to keep this from her friends, and frankly, she had to tellsomeone. Beck’s behavior was confusing and irritating and she didn’t know what to do.
Sarah blinked at her in surprise. “You do?”
Lavinia nodded. She gave Sarah an apologetic look. “I should have told you sooner. At least the first part—when he kissed my neck.”
Sarah’s eyes widened. “Who kissed your neck?”
“Northam.”
“Aha!” Sarah’s expression gleamed with triumph. “I knew there was something between you.”
“Keep your voice down,” Lavinia urged. “There is nothing between us. I thought we were friends. But then we kissed in the library—”
“Tonight?” Sarah asked, cutting into her tale.
“Yes. During hide-and-seek.”
Sarah leaned around Lavinia and gave Fanny a knowing look. “I told you it was perfectly suited for that.”
Fanny laughed softly. “I don’t think anyone would dispute it.” She directed her attention to Lavinia. “What happened?”
“We both chose to hide in the library. We got, er, close. It seemed the natural thing to do.”
