Page 19 of A Duke's Unwanted Bride
He let the man fall to the ground and turned around to survey the room. A steward was lurking by the door, and several of Lord Henry’s men were looking at him while other gentlemen were surveying him from their tables.
“Let me remind you, gentlemen, that slander against Lady Adelaide is slander against my family, and I will not allow it to go unpunished.” Warner strode from the room without saying another word.
His blood was still thundering as he emerged into the bitingly cold night. His heart hammered against his ribs.When did I last lose control like that?
Though he deserved it. The man is a cad.
He heard someone calling his name and turned around in time to see one of his men running after him, waving a note. He stopped walking and took it from the man.
Tonight. Have your man meet me at the Fox and Hart at 6 o’clock. I will go alone if he is late.
The letter was not signed, but Warner knew it could only be from Lady Adelaide. Her handwriting was surprisingly messy. “Looks like I need to get myself to the Fox and Hart.”
“Of course, Your Grace.” The man’s slightly raised eyebrow was the only indication that he questioned Warner’s judgement, and Warner saw no reason to explain himself.
Not that I even could.
The clock chimed 6 as he arrived at the Fox and Hart. It took him only a moment to spot Lady Adelaide in the crowd. She was sitting at a table with a half pint in front of her. She had her russet hair tied up and hidden beneath a labourer’s hat. The moustache and artfully applied grime on her face did nothing to hide her beauty.
“I did not thinkyouwould be the one to join me.” Lady Adelaide frowned, the movement making her fake moustache twitch.
“And a pleasure to see you too, Lady Adelaide.” He grinned at her as he slid into the seat opposite her.
“Keep your voice down.” Lady Adelaide cast a look over her shoulder as though worried she would be overheard. “I am supposed to be Mr. George Cartwright.”
He scoffed. “You look as much like a ‘George’ as I look like a ‘Susan’.”
Lady Adelaide canted her head at him, her lips pursed thoughtfully. “I suppose ‘Sarah’ might suit you better.”
“Such wit. Those jokes will not keep you safe at the King’s Arms.” He leaned towards her.
She mirrored his movement, eyes dancing in the light. “Then it is a good thing I have you.”
“Lad—” he began, but she cut him off with a low, gruff growl.
“George.”
“No amount of me calling you ‘George’ is going to convince people that this is anything other than a disguise.” He gestured to her, running a hand across his jaw as he took in her outfit. “I suppose the shirt and waistcoat will do well enough. And you have the tweed coat which will hide what those cannot. Your trousers…”
He trailed off as his eyes drifted downwards. He felt a rush of blood to his face and was sure even his ears were scarlet. He had known she was wearing trousers, of course she was, but he had not realised just how close they would cling to her. His mouth went dry as his eyes traced the shape of her calves, her hips.
“Have I left you speechless?” There was an amused note to Lady Adelaide’s voice, mixed with something else that he could not quite place.
Warner tore his gaze away from her legs and found her looking at him with a half-smile on her face. “I look fine. Just becauseyou watch me more closely than a sparrow hawk watches a mouse does not mean everyone sees what you do.”
“It is not just your dress that will give you away. Even the way you drink screams that you are a woman.” The irritation in his voice was somewhat undermined by the slight hoarseness of it.
“How?” She frowned at him.
He gestured to the small tankard in front of her. “Well, for starters you are drinking a half pint.”
“I need to keep my wits about me.”
“So order a pint of small.”
“A pint of small?”
“You know, the weak beer we serve with meals?”
