Twice the Temptation (14 page)

 
The little minx. “I have sympathyfor the French,” he answered, keeping his tone easy. “They will have a great deal of work ahead of them once Bonaparte’s been stopped.”

 
From the flash of her hazel eyes, Gilly realized that he hadn’t answered the question of whether he’d been in France or not. To her credit, though, she didn’t pursue it further. He’d already told her that he would explain his whereabouts during their waltz tonight—and not a bloody second before that.

 
“I don’t envy Wellington that task,” the viscount put in. “Bonaparte’s a popular fellow.”

 
“There is nothing more tedious than politics,” Lady Munroe said airily. “I’ve heard that Lady Howlett actually has a tent erected in the stable yard to accommodate all of the additional servants and supplies needed for tonight.”

 
“Indeed she does,” Connoll answered. “As a result, there is nowhere for the horses and coaches. The entire three streets surrounding Howlett House are jammed solid.”And I will look like a bloody sugar-glazed croissant in front of everyone .

 
“That sounds very exciting.”

 
“It is. Just watch where you step.”

 
Gilly snorted, then coughed to cover it. “Thank you for your advice, my lord.”

 
“I mean to please.”

 
“So you say.”

 
They had to stop the coach six houses away and walk. Connoll offered his arm, and after a barely noticeable hesitation, Gilly wrapped her fingers about his sleeve. He would have had them take the lead, but she pulled against him until her parents moved on ahead of them.

 
“All right, what the devil are you up to, Connoll?” she whispered.

 
“Nothing at all. I wish to be with you, and I’ve realized what you seek in a gentleman. I have become that.”

 
“Just like that.”

 
“Yes, just like that.”

 
“I need to fix my gloves. Carry my reticule for a moment, will you?”

 
Wordlessly, his eyebrow barely lifting, he took the strings from her fingers and held her small blue bag. At least it matched his coat. After fiddling with her white gloves for several moments too long, she sent him an annoyed sideways glance and held her hand out again.

 
“I do hope no gentlemen attempt to crowd in for attention while I’m attempting to greet my friends. I rather dislike being interrupted.”

 
So this was what he was in for tonight. “Am I permitted a space on your dance card?”

 
“What if I say no?”

 
Connoll stifled the urge to grab Gilly and kiss her until her senses either appeared or left her—the opposite of whatever condition she was in now.Patience . He could be patient. That was how he’d acquired some of his most precious paintings and antiques, and it was how he would win Evangeline Munroe.

 
He shrugged. “If you say no, then we shan’t dance.”

 
“Aha! That’s what you want, isn’t it, so you won’t be obligated to tell me about your sojourn to France?”

 
“IfI was in France,” he pointed out. “But I’m not opposing you at all, Evangeline. If you wish to dance, we shall. If you don’t, we won’t.”

 
“And you’ll abandon my parents and me here.”

 
“I will escort you home regardless. That is a matter
of honor. And with that, there is no playing about.”

 
From the look she gave him, he might have spoken too forcefully. But considering how they’d met, the point he most wanted her to understand was that hewas a man of honor. One who didnot make a habit of going about drunk in the middle of the morning.

 
“Very well,” she said slowly. “I apologize for suggesting that you would do other than the proper thing.”

 
Any other night he would have jumped on her apology as a way to prove that she wasn’t infallible. Tonight he smiled and stopped beside her parents to greet Lord and Lady Howlett. As he shook hands with Howlett, he drew a breath. The looks from Gilly were nothing compared to the ones he was beginning to receive now. Lights blazed from every window, and even at this early hour there were easily two hundred guests in attendance.Wonderful .

 
It was for a good cause—or so he hoped. If Evangeline truly wanted a Lord Dapney or a Redmond, then he wanted no part of that misery. What he saw beneath her very stubborn exterior, though—the flashes of humor, the wit, the passion—caused him to believe that one night of dressing like a fop would be worthwhile if it helped him find a way to encourage her to keep those particular charms permanently on display.

 
“My goodness, it’s warm in here,” Gilly said, fanning at her face with her free hand.

 
“Shall I fetch you a lemonade?” he asked, wondering whether he should hunch his shoulders and look submissive.

 
“That would leave me standing here by myself,” she returned.

 
“Ah. Apologies. You were only priming the pump, so to speak, so you could be rid of me more efficiently later.” With a nod, beginning to find her little barbs and
tests amusing, he gestured her to guide their forward progress. “I still have some things to learn, obviously.”

 
“I was not priming anything. Stating the temperature does not equate with trying to be rid of you.”

 
“Then I apologize again,” he said, offering her a slow smile as he realized that she was trying very hard to pick a fight with him. “I would never wish to upset you.”

 
“Why not? That’s never troubled you before.”

 
“Because I’ve learned that you don’t want a man who will—who might—upend your sensibilities.”

 
Her eyes narrowed, but she didn’t seem to know what to say to him.Good . Before she could conjure something, a flock of her colorfully feathered friends surrounded her. That, then, would be his signal to go away and fetch some lemonade.

 
Before he did that, though, he wanted a swallow of something stronger for himself. He signaled a passing footman, then sank back against the nearest wall to watch the proceedings.

 
“I say,” a familiar voice drawled to his left, “I almost didn’t recognize you, Conn.”

 
Connoll straightened, offering his hand. “Francis. I almost didn’t recognize myself.”

 
“You’ll have to give me your tailor’s name,” the shorter man said in an obviously admiring tone. “I’ve never seen a more stunning ensemble.”

 
This from the man who’d tried to start a fashion of pink cravats. “I’ll send you his card,” he said. In truth, this coat and waistcoat were two of the most expensive garments he owned—the consequence of giving his tailor less than forty-eight hours to put them together.

 
“Did I see you arrive with Miss Munroe?” Henning continued.

 
“You did.” He glanced at the abruptly uncomfortable look on his friend’s face. “Why?”

 
“Oh. Nothing. Nothing, of course.”

 
“Francis, save us both the time and bother and speak up.”

 
Henning scowled. “Very well. I had luncheon today with Dapney and his cronies. He, ah, mentioned that he would be offering for Miss Munroe by the end of the month. He seemed to have some confidence that she would accept his proposal.”

 
She probably would, if Connoll couldn’t convince her of what a miserable life she would be letting herself in for. “No worries, Francis. My eyes are open.”

 
Henning rolled his shoulders. “Good, then. Because I—”

 
“Thank you for telling me.”

 
The plump fellow smiled. “Thank you for not killing the messenger.”

 
At that moment Gilly looked in their direction and lifted an eyebrow. “If you’ll excuse me,” Connoll said, handing Francis his glass of port, “I’m being summoned.”

 
“You—oh. Of course.”

 
Francis wasn’t the only one surprised that he’d so readily put himself at someone’s beck and call. More bothersome, though, was that Connoll could see her mother’s mannerisms emerging as he became one of the empty-headed enthralled. If Gilly didn’t learn or at least comprehend the lesson tonight, he would have to consider her cause a lost one. And that would be a damned bloody shame.

 
“Here you go, Miss Munroe,” he said with his brightest smile, delivering her a glass of lemonade.

 
“There you are,” she returned, taking the glass. “I’d begun to wonder where you’d run off to.”

 
Strictly speaking he’d been away from her side for less than five minutes. Since he refused to argue, though, he only dipped his head. “It does seem an eternity since I last stood beside you. My deepest apologies. I didn’t intend to leave you stranded.”

 
Evangeline actually batted him on the arm. “You are too amusing, Lord Rawley. It was only lemonade, after all.” She gestured at a tall, spindly girl standing beside her. “Have you met Leandra Halloway? No? Leandra, Lord Rawley. Connoll, Miss Halloway.”

 
He took the girl’s hand, finding it trembling. “Miss Halloway. Your uncle is the famed mathematician, is he not? Robert Halloway?”

 
She smiled shyly. “Yes. He’s working on a new project at Oxford.”

 
“His economic theories are fascinating. It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance.”

 
“Thank you, my lord.”

 
Gilly cleared her throat. “I thought,” she said, sending a glance from Connoll to her friend, “that as I will be dancing the first waltz of the evening with Lord Dapney, you might partner with Leandra.”

 
That bloody interloper. “I would be honored, if Miss Halloway is available.”

 
“Oh,” the chit squeaked. “I am. Available, I mean.”

 
“Splendid.” As the herd began giggling again, he took a step closer to Gilly. “May I see your dance card?”

 
“Afraid you’ll lose the second waltz?” she murmured, handing it over.

 
“I’m just hoping the curious part of you outweighs the nonsensical one that wants to dance with Dapney,” he
returned in the same tone. The space next to the second waltz remained empty, and he wrote his name there in pencil. “Shall I make myself scarce until then?”

 
“Oh, no,” she returned, taking the card back and then wrapping her fingers around his sleeve. “You may hand me off to Lord Dapney.”

 
He would rather flatten the pup. “Certainly. Whatever pleases you, Evangeline.”

 
“I know you’re behaving counter to your own character,” she said with a sniff, “so don’t bother thinking that you’ve fooled me into believing you to be the least bit amenable.”

 
“Why don’t you ask yourself why, if you prefer an amenable gentleman, you keep attempting to goad me into an argument?” He looked up as Dapney approached, the sallow-faced fool’s expression hesitant. “Ah, Lord Dapney. I believe you’ve won the first waltz of the evening with our Miss Munroe,” he said in his most jolly voice.