“Must we?” Her eyes popped open then, and they were full of vibrance. “If we are going to be the source of gossip for the entireton, I feel as though we should at least earn our reputation.”
Richard pulled even further away from her then, letting his fingertips relax on her waist. “I thought you did not wish to be the talk of theton.”
“I don’t, but I think we should try to remember—”
“Yes,” Richard said, cutting off her teasing remarks and dropping the hold he had on her completely. “We must try to remember that our courtship is a fake one. And if we wish for it to remain so, I think it best that we go back into the ballroom now.”
“Fine,” Leticia replied airily. Richard was rather surprised that she agreed so easily, but he did not bother with quibbling when he finally had her preparing to do the right thing.
“Come,” he said, crooking his elbow toward her, so she might take hold. “It would be my great honor to escort you onto the dance floor, Lady Leticia.”
“Oh, Richard,” she said, accepting his proffered arm with one hand and swatting at him with her free hand. “You’re always so stuffy. Don’t you ever feel enlivened after kissing me?”
Richard had to bite his lip from answering her in the way he most wished, for that last kiss with Leticia had not only enlivened him but had also aroused all of his senses thoroughly. Had he not recognized the impropriety in the situation, he never would have stopped kissing her.
“I do not think you wish to know how spirited this kiss has made me feel.” He gave her a wink, and that made Leticia laugh.
CHAPTERTWENTY-THREE
“How do you know when you have met the man you are going to marry?” Leticia whispered. She was walking next to her dear friend, Eliza Hoffingbrooke. The two ladies were out for an afternoon of shopping on Bond Street, and Leticia felt it most necessary to lower her voice as she did not want her aunt and her lady’s maid, Mrs. Phillips, to overhear this part of their conversation.
“Oh,” Eliza cooed as her eyes brightened. “Do you think you have found your match in the Duke then?” Even though Leticia very much wanted to share the truth of her arrangement with Richard with her companion, she knew if they could not tell Harry, she certainly would be prohibited from talking to Eliza about it.
“I’m not sure,” Leticia demurred. “I was only wondering when you knew that you had found the right person.”
“Well,” Eliza said as she straightened the bonnet on her head, “as you know, mine was a marriage of convenience.”
“Right,” Leticia groaned. “Perhaps I shouldn’t have mentioned anything.”
“No, no,” Eliza returned, “I want to hear all about your sordid little affair with the Duke. If gossip is to be believed, then—” She allowed her words to float away on the stiff spring breeze, but she arched her eyebrow knowingly.
“Not you too,” Leticia said, tugging on her friend’s arm. “I feel as though everyone I know and everyone I pass on the street is staring at me and whispering.”
“That’s because they are,” Eliza retorted. “Look at those two over there.” She nodded stiffly toward a pair of ladies who had been walking along the street, coming right toward them, but had both blanched pale as ghosts and pivoted, so they could cross the street immediately. “They can’t get away from you fast enough.”
Leticia grimaced. “Would you care to leave my side, just as all the others have done?”
“Nonsense,” Eliza sniffed. She lifted her free hand and waved it delicately in the air. “Oh, Miss Baker and Miss Roan! So lovely to see you today!” She gave Leticia a gentle nudge in the ribs with her elbow and said between her smiling teeth, “Now you.”
“Yes, of course,” Leticia waved at the ladies who had fled to the other side of the street. “Beautiful day, isn’t it, Miss Roan?” Both Miss Baker and Miss Roan put their heads down and rushed away. While Eliza giggled at their obnoxious behavior, Leticia felt spurned, and she ducked her head in shame.
“Pip, pip. I’ll have none of that out of you, Lady Leticia Hudson.” Eliza pinched the inside of her arm, and Leticia yelped.
“Why did you do that?”
“You were feeling sorry for yourself, and I must not let you feel blue. As your friend, I feel it is my responsibility to make you smile once more, and that’s precisely what I intend to do.”
“But…” Leticia grumbled, “I do not believe I’ve ever felt so miserable in all my life. Everywhere I turn, people either shun me or insult me. Why, earlier today, when we went to see the milliner, two ladies left the store just because Aunt Amelia and I walked into it.”
“Yes,” Eliza said slowly, “I can see how that would trouble you, but you must not let it bring you down, Leticia.” She paused and her eyes lit with a bit of mischief. “Now, before Miss Baker and Miss Roan caught our attention, you were asking me about falling in love. Let’s talk more on that subject.”
Leticia twitched nervously. “I do not so much want to speak of love just now.”
“Fine,” Eliza said, “have it your way, but I flatly refuse to let you out of my sight this afternoon before you give me at least one detail about that handsome duke who is courting you.”
Leticia lifted her free hand and touched it softly to her bottom lip. She remembered the stolen kisses she’d shared with Richard, and a warmth inside her began to glow. “I suppose what I really want to know about is how a lady is supposed to feel when she kisses a gentleman.”
“Have you and the Duke kissed one another?” The words flew out of Eliza’s mouth so quickly, she did not take the time to modulate her tone.