Obediently she rose to her feet. Then taking a deep breath, she pasted a teasing smile on her lips and slowly crossed the folly in front of him, swaying her hips in a brazen display of coquetry. When she reached one side, she paused to flash him a flirtatious glance over her shoulder before sauntering back across the marble floor.
It encouraged her to see the duke watching her avidly. Throwing her heart into the role, Roslyn tossed her head and made a moue, then primped her hair and smoothed her skirts just as she had seen Sybil do a hundred times.
Arden threw back his head and laughed. “I daresay that’s a fair imitation of the little minx.”
“I am gratified you appreciate my efforts,” Roslyn murmured.
“Now make it much more subtle.”
She made another effort, this time toning down her performance, her movements more hesitant and sensual.
Arden nodded in approval. “Not bad for a novice. Now, come here.”
“Why?” Roslyn said pertly.
He grinned. “Because you need more practice.”
She did as he bid, moving to stand before him. “What next?”
“Look into my eyes. Pretend that I am the only man you could ever be interested in.”
Roslyn locked eyes with him…and promptly felt her breath falter. The deep vibrant green held her spellbound. It was a mere glance, yet time seemed to stop. And just like before, a sizzling spark of awareness arced between them.
Fighting the power of it, Roslyn struggled to catch her breath. The sparks didn’t mean a thing, she told herself. The duke was merely giving her a lesson in dalliance. To construe anything intimate or sexual in it was ridiculous.
Then her gaze dropped to his mouth, that firm, sensual mouth that had shown her such pleasure a fortnight ago. She felt the strongest longing to kiss him-and an even more powerful craving to have him kiss her the way he had that night. The temptation of that warm, sensual mouth was nearly impossible to resist.
Jerking her scandalous thoughts to order, Roslyn tore her gaze away and stepped back. Chastising herself for her inexplicable reaction, she cleared her throat that had suddenly grown dry and made a supreme effort to pretend indifference. “Thank you, your grace. I believe that is enough instruction for one day. You have given me ample ideas to practice on the earl this afternoon.”
Arden’s gaze had turned enigmatic, she saw, but then his mouth slanted sardonically. “I expect a report on your success, sweeting. It should prove highly interesting.”
“Very well. I owe you that much.”
Relieved that he didn’t press her further, Roslyn turned away. She had imposed on the Duke of Arden far enough. It was high time she went home and set in motion her campaign to win Lord Haviland.
Thankfully there were no more chances for intimacy with the duke before Roslyn took her leave of Freemantle Park. By the time she reached home, Arabella and Marcus were gone, having set out an hour before on their wedding trip.
The butler and housekeeper were supervising the servant staff in cleaning up after the ball. After conferring with the Simpkins, Roslyn settled in the morning room to begin cataloging the vast array of wedding gifts the guests had sent to the Earl of Danvers and his new countess.
She had made good progress when a short while later her younger sister entered. A frown drew down Lily’s mouth while her cheeks were unusually flushed.
“Whatever is wrong?” Roslyn asked in concern.
“Nothing that I care to discuss,” Lily replied cryptically. She surveyed Roslyn intently. “What about you, Rose? Tess and I were appalled to get your note this morning explaining why you stayed with Winifred last night. We called at the Park, but you had just left, so Winifred told us all about the highway robbery. It sounds as if you were very brave.”
“I was frightened out of my mind,” Roslyn replied dryly. “But at least no one was harmed.”
“Except for the brigand. I understand Hickling has initiated a search for a wounded man.”
Roslyn nodded. “Yes, although we don’t hold out much hope of finding him.” She eyed her sister again, noting that Lily’s normal high spirits were nowhere in evidence. “Are you certain you are all right? You look as if something has upset you.”
“I am not upset. I merely have a touch of the headache, and having Tess drive me home in her gig didn’t help.”
“Why don’t you sit down and have some tea? Mrs. Simpkin just brought in a fresh pot.”
“You always think tea is such a great restorative,” Lily complained, although she sank down beside Roslyn on the settee. “A dose of Marcus’s brandy would be more helpful.”
“It is far too early for brandy-not that a lady should even be drinking anything so potent.”
“You sound just like Arabella.”
Roslyn fixed a stare on her younger sister. “Arabella is concerned-and rightly so-that you’ve turned into a little hellion.”
Shaking off her dark mood, Lily managed to grin. “I know. But I have no desire to pretend to be a lady.”
“You are a lady all the same. And if I remember, you don’t even like brandy.”
“True. But I am told that it might help with my throbbing head.” Flashing a rueful smile, Lily leaned forward to pour herself a cup of tea. “You see, I got rather foxed last night at the ball. I should know better, since spirits make me tipsy, including champagne. But I drank three glasses of it because I was feeling sad at losing Arabella, and now I am sincerely regretting my indulgence.”
“Is that all that is wrong, Lily?”
Surprisingly, her cheeks flushed a deeper pink. “Well, perhaps not
“I know,” Roslyn agreed wholeheartedly. “I was her target last night and again this morning. You were right about her wanting to pair me with Arden. It was mortifying in the extreme.”
“Well, I don’t intend to remain here to become Winifred’s hapless victim,” Lily said decisively. “I mean to go to London and stay at Fanny’s boardinghouse. She has room, and she has asked my advice in dealing with two of her friends who run the house. I don’t know if I can help them, but I would like to try.”
Roslyn stared at her sister in surprise. “You intend to hide in London in order to elude Winifred’s matchmaking schemes? Are such drastic measures really necessary?”
Lily grimaced. “I am beginning to think so. If I can’t be found, then I needn’t worry about any unwanted suitors, do I? I cannot stay in Chiswick, obviously. And no one will think to look for me at Fanny’s place, including Marcus, thankfully. You know he would not approve of my intimacy with her particular friends.” Lily’s tone suddenly became more cheerful. “I have it! You can tell Winifred and anyone else who inquires that I have gone to Hampshire to visit friends at our old home.”
Roslyn’s brows drew together in a puzzlement. “Why would you want her to think-”
“Please, Rose, just humor me this once.”
Wondering if she should be concerned, Roslyn searched her sister’s face. “Lily…is there more you aren’t telling me?”
“Not at all. Don’t worry about me, dearest. It is nothing I cannot handle.” Lily smiled reassuringly before adding under her breath, “I simply have absolutely no intention of allowing any man to court me.”
Roslyn would have prodded her sister further, but Lily clearly didn’t wish to discuss the subject. And since she was perfectly capable of knowing her own mind and dealing with her own problems, Roslyn decided to focus on her own immediate affairs-chiefly preparing for her three o’clock meeting with Lord Haviland to discuss his upcoming ball.
When Roslyn finally finished her appointed task of itemizing wedding gifts, she started making lists of the countless details that needed to be decided on in order to conduct a ball of large magnitude.
At half past two, she went upstairs to change her attire with the help of their lady’s maid, Nan. Making use of the new wardrobe Marcus had funded, Roslyn donned a stylish gown of blue jaconet that was the same color as her eyes. Then she returned downstairs to the small salon, where she intended to receive her guest, since it was much
