Page 11 of Sinfully Daring

“Yes, I think so. I’m sure he’ll come and see you soon,” Barnaby soothed. “We’ll find someone else for a fourth.” Looking around, he caught the attention of someone behind Rosamund’s back.

“My lord, good evening. Care to play? We need a fourth to partner Lady Rosamund,” he said, smiling with relief as they agreed to come over.

Rosamund waited until their fourth appeared and looked up to discover Lord Hargreaves smiling down at her. Her heart did an odd little flutter in her chest, making her feel suddenly shy, which was most peculiar.

“Lady Rosamund, a pleasure to see you again,” he said, nodding to her.

“Never mind all the chitchat, sit down, young man. Barnaby, deal the cards,” Lady Balderston instructed.

Hargreaves inclined his head politely and did as he was told, though his gingerbread eyes danced with amusement. He leaned towards Rosamund, whispering.

“Young man,” under his breath.

Rosamund stifled a giggle.

“Hargreaves, meet my great Aunt Hester Henley, Lady Balderston,” Barnaby said, looking somewhat apologetic. “Aunt, Viscount Hargreaves.”

“Yes, yes, pleased to meet you, let’s play,” the lady said, and made a sharp gesture for Barnaby to get on with it.

Hargreaves slid an amused look at Rosamund but said nothing as they settled down to their game.

“You lost on purpose,” Rosamund accused him some forty minutes later as he escorted her from the card room towards the refreshments.

Lord Hargreaves frowned down at her. “You are assuming I have any skill with the game? I might be a hopeless player.”

Rosamund considered this. “No. You did in on purpose, you wretch. I suppose someone told you I hate to lose, and so you thought to have some fun at my expense?”

He laughed at that, his expression curious. “Do you really? How fascinating. Well, no, Lady Suspicious. No one told me, though admittedly, that is a bonus.”

“Why, then?” she demanded.

“Because Lady Balderston has not been in society for many years and winning pleased her far more than it would you.”

“Oh. That was well done of you, then,” Rosamund allowed, having to agree that the old woman was looking very pleased with herself. She had begun another game with some old friends, though her nephew had been forced to remain to make the four.

“Besides which, if we’d played well, she would have wanted to play another round, and I need a drink,” he added candidly.

“Fair enough,” Rosamund replied with a smile. “I should like another glass of champagne, but I suppose I had better not. The lemonade is always too sweet or too tart, though.”

“I’ll let you drink my champagne in secret if you like,” he offered. “If you’re certain it won’t go to your head?”

Rosamund rolled her eyes at him. “I am not a child. Two glasses of champagne will not make me silly, I assure you.”

“Then why did you say you’d better not?” he asked, curiosity in his gaze.

“Because,” Rosamund began, and then stopped. She’d been about to give a glib answer, but she knew Hargreaves would understand. “Because I’m the daughter of a duke, and people are always watching me, waiting for me to put a foot wrong. Happily, Mama and Papa do not expect or desire perfection in their children, but society is always so quick to criticise. I shall not give them an excuse to find fault, with… with either of us,” she added quietly.

“Ah.” His expression darkened, and beneath the hand that lay upon his arm, she felt the tension singing through him. “Then you too have heard the whispers.”

“Yes, and I know that’s why you’ve stayed away, but it’s nothing but nasty minded gossips,” Rosamund said, wondering if she ought not have spoken, but it was too late now. “I shan’t avoid someone I consider a dear friend because of their idle tongues.”

“Perhaps you should,” he said softly, glancing at her.

“No! Oh, you can’t mean to say you would turn your back on me entirely?” she said, too horrified to disguise the hurt in her voice.

“Hush,” he said, covering her hand with his own. “I could never do that.”

Rosamund looked up at him, unsettled that their friendship might be spoiled or lost entirely.