Page 36 of The Duke on Her List
He laughed. “All right. Can’t it be both?”
“It can. I just don’t feel very good about letting you take the fall,” she said. “But I suppose you’re right that itwaswhat we agreed upon. You’re sure it’s what you want?”
“I’m not going to let you come out of this looking bad,” he said. “Besides, you might not worry about your reputation, but it’s clear to me that you do worry about your brother’s opinion. And I don’t blame you for that.”
In fact, he reflected, it was nice to see her affected by something. It was nice to know that there was something thatdidbother her. It was almost unnatural how easily she shrugged off the idea of having her reputation tarnished, as though she had nevercared what anyone said or thought. He was beginning to wonder whether she everhadcared about anyone.
Now he had his answer. She might not care about society, but she cared a great deal about the opinion of her brother. It seemed as though she was simply very discerning about what she allowed to bother her. That was something he could respect, because he felt the same way. He didn’t like the idea of Helena, for instance, losing her regard for him. He was very careful with the way she perceived him, so as not to give a bad impression. But when it came to the rest of society, he wished they would leave him alone.
I suppose Agnes and I are more alike than I realized. It’s just that I never believed I would meet a lady who shared this quality with me. I didn’t know that it was possible for ladies to feel this way.
She never fails to surprise me.
The music changed. He looked at her. “One more dance?”
“Of course,” she said. “Just like last time, I suppose—two dances, and then we depart.”
“This time perhaps we could really live dangerously and go for three,” he suggested.
She burst out laughing. “You don’t think people would be too shocked?”
“I think we’ve well established that we don’t care whether people are shocked or not,” he said, laughing right along with her. “Unless you’ve suddenly decided that you do care about that?”
“Not a bit.”
“Then dance with me. You know they’re going to talk no matter what we say or do, so let’s give them something to talk about. Two more dances tonight, and then I’ll return you to your brother and his wife.”
She nodded. “I can accept that.”
“Well, I’m so very glad to hear it.”
They moved into the steps of the new dance. It was a little bit slower than the one before had been, and Gabriel found himself relaxing. It was so good to be with her, to just enjoy their time together and not try to think too much about what was going on around them or what the future might hold. How long had it been since he had been so carefree—with anyone?
Agnes bit her lip. “Gabriel?”
“Yes?”
“Before the evening sends us our separate ways,” she said, “I think it might behoove us to discuss the next item on my list.”
“Oh. I was wondering when you might bring that up.” He looked at her. “You know I’ve already agreed to do it, whatever it is.”
“I do know.”
“Where will we be going this time?”
“Nowhere,” she said quickly. “We can do this one right in your house. In fact, in many ways it will be the easiest task we’ve done so far. But…it may require a bit of trust. I know I haven’t given you that many reasons to trust me.”
“I don’t mistrust you,” he assured her. “Not anymore. It’s true we may have gotten off on a strange foot, but I don’t think you’re going to steal from me or corrupt Helena anymore, unless the next words out of your mouth are something so shocking that it forces me to entirely revise my opinion of you.”
“That won’t happen,” she said. “Or rather…it might happen. I might shock you. But I don’t think what I have to say will make you worry I’m going to steal from you.”
“You have my interest,” he admitted.
She drew a deep breath. “Perhaps I shouldn’t say it here.”
“I think this is as good a place as any. Nobody is paying attention to our words,” he pointed out. “They’re watching us, but they can’t hear us. Say what’s on your mind.”
She nodded slowly. “All right,” she agreed.
