Page 39 of The Duke of Kisses
“I promise we’ll do it next week. I hadn’t thought of it yet.” Felix held up his hands in surrender, and Beck laughed.
Anthony was nearby and also laughed. He looked at his sister. “Who are you offering a favor to, Sarah?”
“No one. And don’t taunt me about it,” she said sternly.
He blinked at her in mock innocence. “I would never dream of that.”
“I’m sure you already have.” Sarah sped up her pace, and Fanny rushed to keep up.
Several women had come to the starting area and were approaching the gentlemen, many of whom were married, and so it was just their wives making the offer.
Fanny took her arm from Sarah. “What should I give him?”
Sarah appraised her from head to toe, chewing her lip in thought. “A flower from your hat.” She reached up and plucked a silk flower from the band of Fanny’s bonnet. “Here.”
A mix of anticipation and anxiety skittered along Fanny’s nerves as she took the flower. She turned and found David, who stood alone. Gathering her courage, she strode toward him with purpose as she thought of what to say.
Arabella Stoke intercepted Fanny just before she reached David. “Good afternoon, Miss Snowden.”
“Good afternoon, Miss Stoke.” Fanny slowed her pace to be polite, but she was also afraid someone would beat her to David’s side.
“I’m on my way to offer a favor,” Miss Stoke said brightly. “That’s my earl.”
The direction of her nod could not be disputed. Fanny stopped cold and turned her head toward the other woman. “St. Ives?”
Miss Stoke nodded.
Shewas going to marryDavid?
Fanny felt as though the ground beneath her was shaking and about to open up and swallow her in one piece. And for a moment, she wished it would. Then she looked at David and decided it should devour him instead.
“Are you going to offer one?” Miss Stoke asked, starting toward David once more.
Fanny fell in beside her, quickening her pace. “In fact, I am.”
They arrived in front of him together, but it was Fanny who spoke first. She extended her hand, with the now-crumpled silk flower—she’d apparently crushed it in anger—toward him. “I’d like to offer you a favor, my lord, and so would Miss Stoke.”
His eyes widened briefly, and his gaze moved from her to Miss Stoke.
Fanny dropped the flower into his palm, careful not to touch him and stepped aside.
Miss Stoke gave him a rose-colored ribbon, clearly taken from the sleeve of her gown. “Here is my favor.”
Holding a favor in each hand, David looked between them, and Fanny nearly laughed at the conundrum clearly pronounced in his features. She would have felt sorry for him if she wasn’t so angry.
Forcing a smile, she batted her eyelashes at him and asked, “Whom do you choose?”
