Page 86 of Doxy for the Ton
“You have my word, Mr. Drayton, that Lady Rex is safe with me—that she willalwaysbe safe with me.”
Mimi lifted her gaze to Alexander’s, and she saw a desire to match her own.
He lifted her hand to his lips once more, and his warm breath penetrated her gloves, bleeding into her soul.
“You have my word, Mr. Drayton,” he whispered, “as a gentleman and a suitor.”
A suitor…
Gripped by fear, she stepped back.
No—that wasnotsupposed to happen. Even if it were part of their charade, he was not supposed to claim her as such, to give her even the tiniest glimpse of what life might be like were she to remain by his side.
He wasn’t supposed to be gallant, or kind.
A soulless duke—that’s what he was. A wastrel who’d frittered away his life and reputation by indulging in drink and debauchery—the perfect customer for a doxy wishing to earn a sizeable enough lump sum to free her from him and others just like him.
But if he gave her a glimpse of a different man—a man of honor, who wanted her for herself—then he placed her in the greatest danger of all.
The danger that she might not have the strength to leave when the time came.
Lady Walton approached, frowning. “Lady Rex, are you well?”
“Yes, thank you,” Mimi said. “But I have a megrim. Would you excuse me? It’s my first ball after coming out of mourning, and I fear I may have overtaxed myself.”
“I can escort you…” Alexander began, but she raised her hand.
“Please, do not trouble yourself,” she said, “and I believe you promised yourself to Lady Portia for the next dance. I wouldn’t wish to see her disappointed.”
“Let me escort you out,” Lady Walton said, before Alexander could respond.
Mimi let her hostess lead her across the ballroom and through the double doors, where she glanced over her shoulder to see Alexander watching her, a mixture of confusion and disappointment in his eyes.
Oh, Alexander—you don’t know how much I’d rather stay and hear, once more, your promise to keep me safe.
But if she could walk away from him now, in a ballroom full of people where he’d declared his claim on her, she could harbor the hope that, at the end of their arrangement, she could survive their parting with her heart unscathed.
Chapter Nineteen
She will alwaysbe safe with me.
It was as much of a declaration as he could muster—yet she had walked away from him.
No, not walked.Run.
But she’d called him Alexander…
His whole body had tightened on hearing his name on her lips. What might it be to hear her screaming it as he pleasured her? He took such pleasure from her—almost the slightest touch of her hand sent him into a frenzy of need. But it wasn’t his pleasure he craved with every fiber of his soul. It washers.
He turned to follow her, then caught sight of Lady Portia, her face flushed scarlet.
Damn.
What had possessed Mimi to declare, to the whole room, that he was promised to Lady Portia?
He held out his hand. “Lady Portia.”
“I-I have no wish to dance,” she said. “At least…” She glanced across the room.
