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He studied my face. ‘Yes, you probably don't, at the moment. But what about your sister? I’m sure she would.’
I hesitated. He was right. Besides… I had never actually killed anybody before. I might not get it right the first time.
‘May I suggest an alternative solution?’ he said.
‘You don't mean that silly plan of yours to just select a random blonde and throw her in his way?’
‘It’s not silly.’
‘It is!’
‘It’s not. And I’ll just have to prove it to you - if only to keep you out of prison.’
Grabbing my hand, he started pulling me towards one of the raised niches that overlooked the ballroom, on the opposite side of the room from the large windows.
‘What are you doing?’ I exclaimed, as he pulled me through a throng of noble ladies, who gazed after us with interest. It was not common for a man to hold a lady’s hand at a ball, still less to pull her through the crowd.
‘Helping you,’ was his cheerful answer. ‘We need to take up a position from where we can inspect our possible recruits. Then we can discuss candidates and pick the unlucky lady whose fate it will be to save your sister’s life, love and honour.’
Before I could free myself, he had pulled me up the steps into the raised niche he had been heading towards. We could see over the heads of the guests and had a good view of the entire ballroom.
‘Now, do you see any likely blue-eyed lady?’ he prompted, sweeping his arm across the crowd.
Was he honestly asking me to look for someone I thought could replace my sister?
‘No,’ I growled, crossing my arms in front of my chest. I wasn’t going to play this ridiculous game!
Even though it might be fun? asked a little voice in the back of my head. I ignored it.
‘Not one, Miss Linton?’
‘Well…’ His smile was so coaxing, so charming… Reluctantly I pointed to one random lady. ‘There’s one over there.’
‘No,’ he decided. ‘She has brown hair. Didn’t I tell you Flip likes to fall in love with blondes? Don’t ask me why he does it, I find brunettes much more interesting.’ He winked at me! He actually had t
he nerve to wink at me! ‘But for Flip, the ladies have to be blonde.’
‘Any other requirements?’ I asked, as sourly as possible. But I was hard-pressed to keep a grin off my face. ‘Should she have a tiny waist? Or two noses, perhaps?’
‘Well, one that isn’t over eighty would probably have a greater chance of engaging his affections.’
Against my will, my lips twitched.
‘What about her?’ He pointed to another young lady.
‘She has a face like a horse.’
‘So does Flip. They should suit each other admirably.’
‘In case you hadn’t noticed, Captain Carter, ugly men are no less fond of pretty girls than others.’
‘True,’ he sighed. ‘What a shallow sex we are. Now… what about her?’
‘She looks nice enough, there is only one problem.’
‘Which is?’
‘The ring on her finger. She’s married.’
