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“Oh nothing. Nothing at all.”
India gave him a warning look. “Where’s Miss Perkins?”
“Probably hiding upstairs from all the gentlemen ogling her. Did you have to exhibit her half clothed like that? Didn’t you have an artist’s model hired?”
“Half clothed? That was nothing! If I’d been true to history, she would have been completely bare-chested.”
Adele and Michel snickered.
Edgar choked on his third canapé. “Good God, woman. I’m not sure I should allow you near my governess.”
“And I’m not sure you should have been staring at her like that.”
“Me and half of London’s lords.”
Lady Blanche and her ancient companion in the towering feathered headdress were approaching from across the room.
Hellfire and damnation. Edgar swallowed his food hastily.
“Why did you invite Lady Blanche?” he asked India.
“Her great-aunt Hermione sent me a request for an invitation.”
“Dash it,” Edgar muttered under his breath. “I knew I shouldn’t have taken her riding.”
“Is that the lady who fainted when she saw Trix?” asked Michel.
“That’s the one. And she’s headed this way. I’ve got to go. Distract them. Tell them I had to go to the stables for a moment.” Edgar knew that gleam in a woman’s eye, the one that said she’d sited her target. Great-Aunt Hermione had that gleam in her eye.
Why did Great-Aunt Hermione have him in her sights?
He backed out the door and into the adjoining salon. He heard India and then Lady Blanche’s tinkling tones.
He needed somewhere to hide.
Their voices grew louder. He reached for the velvet curtain, and ducked behind it, into the waiting darkness, retreating until he ran into something warm and solid.
Something warm, solid and... wriggling?
His goddess masquerading as a governess.
Chapter 18
“Is that you, Your Grace?” Mari groped in the dim light and encountered a solid forearm.
“I’m not here,” he whispered.
“Well as long as you’re not here, make yourself useful. I removed my crown easily enough, but the dratted neck collar is caught—”
“Shhh.”
“Are you hiding from someone?”
“I’m not hiding.”
“Then help me. It’s hopelessly tangled in my—”
He clapped a large hand over her mouth and pressed her against the wall of the small enclosure with the full weight of his body.
