“We’ve a small gathering on Saturday to celebrate Lord Effington and Lady Emily. You should attend, Your Grace. We’d be honored to have you.”
He heard Minnie suck in a breath. He had to press his mouth together so that he didn’t bark out a laugh at her expense. “Most gracious. I’d be delighted.”
“No,” Minnie whispered under her breath.
He heard her anyhow.
Mrs. Chase’s fan fluttered toward her face. “Oh, how wonderful.” Then she turned. “Please allow me to introduce you to the rest of our family.”
“No,” Minnie said again, louder. “Mother. Don’t overwhelm him. Please.”
He knew what she meant. Don’t make a big deal out of this. Somehow, this was exceedingly amusing. Most ladies of society were eager to parade him around like a strutting peacock. “I’m not overwhelmed. On the contrary, I’d be honored to meet your family.”
Minnie made a choking noise next to him. He reached his arm behind her and thumped her on the back. Then he leaned down. “Don’t die now, it’s just getting interesting.”
“I hate you,” she whispered back.
An ear-to-ear grin must surely be splitting his face, but he couldn’t help it. He hadn’t had this much fun in ages. After having lost so soundly to her in the carriage, winning was exceptionally fun. And honestly, it was refreshing to be with a woman who wasn’t trying to catch him in the marriage noose. But that made his smile slip, just a bit. When had sparring with a woman become so entertaining? And what if this was her plan? Pretend to hate him to draw him in? Women had gone through some elaborate measures to trap him. None had come close since his former fiancée. “Really? I’m quite fond of you.”
“Liar,” she replied as they approached an older couple. “My aunt and uncle. Look lively.”
Forty-five minutes later, they’d completed the circuit. Tag might have admitted defeat, her family was a bit overwhelming. The only thing that kept him going was that she’d nearly melted into his side in her utter embarrassment. Her face was a bright shade of pink and she mumbled most of time.
Her mother had spent the entire time dropping not so subtle hints about a match between them. She spun back to them, having completed the final introduction to Minnie’s great-aunt Edna. “That was exceedingly pleasant,” her mother gushed.
“Says who?” Minnie muttered, her mother not hearing at all.
“I know I told you that you had this season to find a husband. I should have known that you’d deliver the best possible results.”
“Mother!” Minnie’s face turned as bright red as her hair. “Stop at once, I insist.” She Ladymade her charmingly pink cheeks stand out all the more. “I can assure you, Your Grace, that I do not expect you to offer to court me in any fashion.”
Her mother waved her fan again. “Don’t be silly, Minnie. Of course he’ll court you. He just met your entire family.”
The smile he’d been walking about with died on his lips. “Mrs. Chase.” He raised his free hand. “Please understand that I’ve only just met your daughter.”
Mrs. Chase leaned over and patted his arm. “Yes, yes. I know.” Then she gave him a not-so-subtle wink. “But a mother has intuition about these sorts of things.” Then as quickly as Mrs. Chase had arrived, she flounced off.
“What have you done?” Minnie croaked.
“What have I done?” he hissed back. “All I did was climb into a carriage with my friend.”
She shook her head wildly. “You encouraged her.” Then she pulled out her own fan and swatted his arm with it. “I’ll be hearing about this for the rest of my life. Do you hear me?”
He cocked his head to the side. “That might make it worth it then.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. I’ll never live it down that I allowed a duke to get away. Never mind that I didn’t have him to begin with.”
He raised a brow. “I see your point. And what’s this about you marrying?” These were the sorts of nuggets he’d come to discover. Little tools he could use in his campaign to keep her quiet.
She shook her head. “Ada needs to have a season so I must marry or take myself off the market, so to speak. Since my parents can’t stand the thought of that, they’ve threatened to choose a husband for me. When I lose you as a perspective suitor they’re going to be so crushed, they’ll surely choose someone dreadful.”
His brows drew together. “Just because one potential match didn’t work out?”
Minnie shook her head. “You don’t understand. You’re not the first man that…” She swallowed, her mouth pressing into a thin line. “I was very nearly engaged last year and—” Her face spasmed in pain. “My mother is very invested in me making a good match.”
His insides twisted. While he liked sparring with her, he realized he didn’t enjoy actually causing her real distress. Nor did he relish the idea of his charade forcing an unwanted match for Minnie. In fact, he found he didn’t like hurting her at all. He’d come here, not just to protect her but to find any means necessary to keep her quiet. But how was he going to utilize them if he was worried about her feelings? “I appreciate your dilemma but I’ve my own issue to unravel. Some lovely ladies have learned a very delicate secret about me and my friends. We’re attempting to make sure they do not decide to share that information.”
She quirked a brow at him. “If you want to keep me quiet, you’d best leave my mother out of it.”