Page 20 of A Duke's Unwanted Bride
“But surely everyone will know?”
“That’s why you alternate your drinks. More to the point, you never drink more than a third of what you order, a half at most.” He rubbed his jaw with his hand.How can she know so little?
She chewed on her bottom lip. “And what am I supposed to do? Throw it on the floor?”
“Throwing it would be a little too obvious. You want something more subtle like this.” He reached across the table and took the half-pint tankard in his hand, trying to ignore the embarrassment of holding such a tiny drink.
He narrowed his eyes and looked past Lady Adelaide’s shoulder. As soon as she looked around, he tipped the rest of the drink onto the floor. It mingled with whatever else covered the straw and sawdust.I had forgotten just how grimy pubs are.
Lady Adelaide turned to face him and looked at the now empty half pint glass and then onto the floor. “I cannot make someone look over their shoulder every time I want to get rid of my drink.”
“It seems I have rather a lot to teach you.” Warner caught the attention of a passing serving girl. “Two pints of small.”
The girl nodded, and as soon as she left, Lady Adelaide leaned towards him and hissed, “What are you doing? We are supposed to be going to the King’s Arms.”
“And there will be plenty of time for that, but I am not going anywhere with you until I am satisfied that you will not be discovered. If you are, no doubt we will both be killed.” He nodded his head towards her, gesturing to the moustache that was now hanging dangerously off her top lip. “Also, you may as well take off that ridiculous thing off. It is sitting at an angle.”
“But—” she began, but Warner cut her off.
“It only draws more attention to the fact that you do not have one.”
“Well, it is not as though I can grow one.” Lady Adelaide pulled the thing off her lip and shoved it into a pocket, leaving a faint redness against her skin.
“Nor can most young boys. No one will expect a boy of fifteen or sixteen to grow a full beard. You are too slender and pretty to be a man full grown, but a boy… Well, that is somewhat more believable.” He nodded to her as the serving girl placed two pints in front of them.
He handed her several coins and took a sip of his drink. He turned to find Lady Adelaide pulling the tankard towards her with both hands.
“If you keep drinking like that, men will at best think you some kind of snob and at worst, French.” He made a disgusted noise and thought he caught the corner of a smile on Lady Adelaide’s face. “Only use one hand.”
“Like this?” Lady Adelaide gripped the tankard with one hand, but it nearly slipped from her grasp as she lifted it.
“No.” Warner shook his head and reached across the table, cupping his fingers around hers.
He heard the sharp intake of her breath as he guided her fingers through the handle of the tankard, pressing them against thecool clay. Her skin was soft and warm against his palm, the feel of it lingered as he took his hand back and grasped his own tankard.
“This is how a man drinks.” He held his drink up and took a gulp, trying to ignore the flutter of his heart in his chest.
He noticed a faint red flush creeping up Lady Adelaide’s neck and cheeks. She drank from her own cup, raising her eyebrow as she did so. “Manly enough for you?”
The corner of his mouth quirked upwards, and he nodded. “That is an improvement, but you still have more to learn.”
“Of course, I do.” She rolled her eyes. “What else do you wish to pick apart? My shoes?”
Warner almost looked down but stopped himself just in time, shaking his head. “I am sure they are fine, men seldom look at a person’s shoes anyway, but we do need to do something about the way you sit.”
“What is wrong with it?” Lady Adelaide shifted, folding her arms across her chest.
He arched an eyebrow at her and leaned back in his chair, slinging an arm over the back of it. “Men take up space. You are far too contained. Lean back, yes, like that.”
He watched as Lady Adelaide imitated him, leaning back in her chair and leaning her head against her hand. His stomach twisted, but he nodded.
“Better, but you need to spread your legs.” He made a motion with his hand.
Her eyes widened as she placed a hand on her chest. “I beg your pardon.”
Warner choked on his drink. “I did not mean like that. I would never… I mean… Men cannot sit with their legs so close together, not without some discomfort.”
“What do you — Oh!” Lady Adelaide’s cheeks were so flushed; Warner could practically feel the heat coming from them.
