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When she was done, she spoke from the corner of her lips, “Are you going to watch me this closely all evening?”

“You said I was besotted, didn’t you?”

“Besotted, not bewitted.” Her hand moved to his bicep as if to push him away, only…she paused and gave him a small squeeze instead. Then her eyes met his and he winked.

“I think you should excuse yourself during dinner and meet me in the library,” he suggested.

“Why would I do that?”

“Because…” He dropped his eyes to her creamy white mounds. “I need to help you with this dress.” When he looked back up, her eyes were glazed over.

“Someone will notice during dinner.”

“Afterward then. When the men have their port. We’ll both slip away.”

An announcement of dinner being served cut off her answer, but her eyes were answer enough.

Chapter 14

Verity

“Where are you going?” Pru asked subtly as Verity edged closer to the door. Dinner was done, and she was grateful no one had commented on the mediocre meal. They had served one less meat than was usual, presented no elaborate sugar sculptures, and had provided no exotic fruit. Not to mention, some of the garnishes from earlier courses had been reused on the later ones. Isolated, the pieces weren’t quite enough to divulge Alec’s secret, but combined they might be sufficient to the trained eye. Verity could only hope that no one would be so gauche as to say something, if per chance they did notice.

The ladies were sitting down to play cards. One of the guests was about to play the pianoforte, and this was the perfect chance to slip away.

While everyone was distracted and the men had yet to arrive, she could make her escape without detection. Later, she could reenter when everyone came together. No one would be the wiser. Except Pru had noticed, and she needed to deal with that before leaving.

“To freshen up,” Verity answered.

“Really?” Tempy appeared at her other side. Great. Two sisters now. “It doesn’t look like she’s going to just freshen up, does it, Pru?”

“Not at all.” Pru gave her a once over that was on par with a mother giving her teenage daughter an evaluation of her chosen attire. Verity resisted the urge to reassess her gown. She had chosen it intentionally to snare Ash’s attention and had been pleasantly rewarded when he made his invitation earlier.

The fury she held for him was burning her alive. She needed to get to him. Deflect her sisters somehow. “Why are you two acting like your sister’s keeper right now?”

“Because we are our sister’s keeper,” Pru said while watching the card game start in the corner. “Fidelia’s not here to offer counsel, so we’re stepping in.”

“Speak for yourself, Pru. I’m only stepping in to tell her that if she needs freshening up before she returns to this room from freshening up, that I will be there to do the freshening.”

Verity felt her lips twitch into a smile at the offer. “I might take you up on that. Now, Pru. Why are you so opposed to this? Ash is a duke. He’s not the stablehand you thought he was.”

“Why are you not opposed to this? He lied to you.”

“Yes, and I’m upset about that.”

“You don’t look upset about it.”

“I am.” But how could she explain this without going into all the details. “All I can say is that you can be mad at someone and still want them in some way.”

“So you actually like him? You want him to court you? You hated him.”

“I can’t answer any of those questions, Pru. But him and I are both getting something out of this arrangement, so just let it be. I’m a grown woman.”

“I just don’t want to see anyone get hurt.”

“I’ll be fine.”

“What about him?”