Page 14 of Dare to be Wicked

“Are your parents here?”

“No. They may come later but they were promised to attend some party or other. Dull affair, I think. Duty rather than pleasure. Mama was not pleased.”

Lottie smiled. Ash’s parents, Aashini and Silas Anson—Lord and Lady Cavendish—were rather scandalous and great fun, and Lottie always enjoyed seeing them. Ash and his sister were dear friends, though, so she could hardly be disappointed.

“So, what were you sighing about so dramatically?” Ash asked her.

He regarded her with interest and Lottie returned his scrutiny. She wondered why she had not fallen madly in love with him instead. He was handsome: tall and lithe, with golden skin that spoke of his mother’s Indian heritage, and hair as black as a raven’s wing. His eyes were his father’s, a dark indigo that seemed to Lottie to see directly into her brain, for he was one of the most perceptive people she’d ever known. Some among the ton might refuse to accept his mother, but no one could deny that Aashini was still one of the most beautiful women in the country, except for perhaps her daughter, Vivien. Though Aashini’s father had been an earl, she’d been born out of wedlock to an Indian mother, and there had been quite a scandal when she’d married Viscount Cavendish. Ash and his twin sister had decided at a young age that they may as well enjoy their notoriety, and were generally up to their necks in one scrape or another.

“Well?” Ash pressed, clearly unwilling to let it go. “Why is the sunniest person I know sitting in the shade like some wilting flower, and sighing as if her heart is broken?”

“Perhaps it is,” Lottie said, meaning it only as a teasing comment and looking quickly away from Ash as she realised there had been too much feeling behind the words.

“Lottie?” Ash caught her hand, forcing her to turn and look at him.

Lottie swallowed, suddenly desperate to unburden herself to someone. A glance over his shoulder showed Eliza and the rest of their little entourage walking towards them.

“Not here,” she said, taking his arm.

They hurried away, walking back towards Holbrook at quite a pace until Lottie glanced back and assured herself everyone was out of sight.

“What kind of trouble have you fallen into, minx?” Ash asked her, though with such a gentle tone she knew she would find no judgement from him.

“Oh, Ash, the worst kind,” she lamented, shaking her head. “I’m such a fool, but I promise you I didn’t do it on purpose. Is it even possible to fall in love on purpose?”

“I’ve no idea, but who is it you’ve fallen for, and why do you look so wretched about it? Do I need to draw someone’s cork? For I shall, if he’s hurt you.”

Lottie gave a mirthless laugh and shook her head. “No, no. Nothing like that. The only person behaving badly is me, I’m afraid. He doesn’t love me. I don’t even think he knows I exist… well, unless I’m causing havoc and making things explode in his face.”

She sighed again and then caught sight of Ash’s face, noting the fact he was struggling manfully not to laugh.

“It’s not funny,” she exclaimed, huffing at him.

“No,” he said, his voice strained, his lips twitching. “Only that’s why we love you. Making things explode and causing havoc is what you do best, Lottie dear.”

“I know!” she wailed, throwing her hands in the air. “But this time I shan’t just be making a nuisance of myself I would be ruining everything. I… I… Oh, Ash, I’m in love with Cassius.”

Ash stopped in his tracks, gaped at her for a long moment and then let out a breath. He reached for her hand, placed it carefully on his arm, and they walked on again.

“Who else knows?” he asked.

“No one,” Lottie said in a small voice. She glanced up at him, wondering if he hated her now. “Do you despise me?”

Ash stared at her. “Why the…. Of course not, you ridiculous creature. I’m just wondering how on earth I never saw it before. If I had, I should have helped you.”

“Helped me?” It was Lottie’s turn to stop dead now and Ash huffed, glancing back to see the others were drawing nearer.

“Come along,” he urged. “And yes, why would I not help you? Cassius is one of my closest friends, and you know I adore Eliza, but—”

“But?” Lottie said, knowing she was a bad person to hope what the next words out of his mouth would be.

“But I don’t think they’re suited. Eliza is too quiet for him. Everyone knows Cassius longs to travel and poor Eliza would hate that.”

“Oh, Ash!” She flung herself at him again and Ash made an exasperated sound.

“Good Lord, woman. Must you manhandle me so? You’ll ruin my cravat.”

“What the devil is going on?”