off hither and yonder, unchaperoned, unleashed.” He winked at her.
“There are chaperones placed throughout the grounds from what I understand,” Heather replied.
“Ah, yes, but with so much open space interrupted by hedges, mazes, walls, and gazebos, the possibilities for an experience rake are endless.”
Heather bit her tongue to keep a nervous laugh from escaping. She had very little experience with flirtation—if that’s what this was. “I wouldn’t know, my lord.”
“No, I suspect you wouldn’t, though you’re not exactly the target of her ladyship’s schemes given your association with the duke and… his steward.”
Heather looked forward in what she hoped was a casual manner. Something about the set of Mr. Calder’s shoulders made her think that he could hear them. “I suspect you’re right. These games were not designed with me in mind, but certainly an advantage for you and the other eligible guests.”
“What a shame, Miss Everly. I find you quite,” he paused, “ eligible .”
Heather should have been flattered, but she had the distinct impression she was being toyed with. She didn’t know how to respond without encouraging him further. She almost wished she could take her arm from his sleeve. She looked up, surprised to find him looking down at her with a teasing smile as they walked. He was handsome, with his dark hair and unusual grey eyes, elegant but masculine in his clothing and size, but he was not the kind of man she could ever love. He was a predator.
“Why, thank you, Lord Draven. That is kind of you to say,” she said lamely. She could tell by his eyes that his interest dimmed a tiny bit. She didn’t know what else to do. “But you see, I’ve set my heart on a duke, and you’re only a Viscount.” She smiled teasingly to soften the insult.
He smiled wickedly in return, clearly far from insulted. “Touché, Miss Everly. Well done.” They both looked forward and Mr. Calder had offered Lucy his arm.
“Perhaps Lady Lucy would find you eligible?” Heather mocked. She was beginning to enjoy herself now.
Lord Draven laughed. It was deep and raspy. “I am good friends with her brother. Gentlemen have rules about such things, and I don’t think I can sustain two heart breaks in one day.” He looked down at her from the corner of his eye. “You surprise me.”
“How so?” Heather was intrigued.
“You make yourself easy to overlook by blending so well with the demure English lady ruse.”
“Ruse?” It was Heather’s turn to laugh.
“When in fact, you are quite vibrant and lively. It’s a shame your charms will be wasted on a stiff old man when you could enjoy a stiff—” He stopped just as a looming wall of chest was suddenly before them in the form of Mr. Calder.
Heather squeaked in surprise. He had a fierce look about him as he stared at Lord Draven, and he looked very large and intimidating. Heather hadn’t realized he was a few inches taller than Lord Draven. He turned his gaze to her and it softened. “I have news of the duke I’d thought to share with you, Miss Everly.”
“Oh?” It was more of a breathy gasp as she took her hand off Lord Draven’s arm.
Lord Draven smiled, as if he were enjoying Mr. Calder’s intimidating display very much. “Well, I shall take your place with Lady Lucy then.” He turned and smiled at Heather. “It was a pleasure conversing with you, Miss Everly.”
Mr. Calder stepped aside as Lord Draven passed and then presented his arm to Heather. Heather looked back and forth in confusion as Lord Draven offered his arm to Lucy and they began to walk again. Mr. Calder made no move to continue walking.
“I hope he didn’t say anything to offend you, Miss Everly.”
Heather looked up at him, a little startled. For some reason, she expected him to use her given name, as he had scandalously done last night, and she was a little disappointed he hadn’t. “No he didn’t, we were merely chatting.”
“It didn’t
“There are chaperones placed throughout the grounds from what I understand,” Heather replied.
“Ah, yes, but with so much open space interrupted by hedges, mazes, walls, and gazebos, the possibilities for an experience rake are endless.”
Heather bit her tongue to keep a nervous laugh from escaping. She had very little experience with flirtation—if that’s what this was. “I wouldn’t know, my lord.”
“No, I suspect you wouldn’t, though you’re not exactly the target of her ladyship’s schemes given your association with the duke and… his steward.”
Heather looked forward in what she hoped was a casual manner. Something about the set of Mr. Calder’s shoulders made her think that he could hear them. “I suspect you’re right. These games were not designed with me in mind, but certainly an advantage for you and the other eligible guests.”
“What a shame, Miss Everly. I find you quite,” he paused, “ eligible .”
Heather should have been flattered, but she had the distinct impression she was being toyed with. She didn’t know how to respond without encouraging him further. She almost wished she could take her arm from his sleeve. She looked up, surprised to find him looking down at her with a teasing smile as they walked. He was handsome, with his dark hair and unusual grey eyes, elegant but masculine in his clothing and size, but he was not the kind of man she could ever love. He was a predator.
“Why, thank you, Lord Draven. That is kind of you to say,” she said lamely. She could tell by his eyes that his interest dimmed a tiny bit. She didn’t know what else to do. “But you see, I’ve set my heart on a duke, and you’re only a Viscount.” She smiled teasingly to soften the insult.
He smiled wickedly in return, clearly far from insulted. “Touché, Miss Everly. Well done.” They both looked forward and Mr. Calder had offered Lucy his arm.
“Perhaps Lady Lucy would find you eligible?” Heather mocked. She was beginning to enjoy herself now.
Lord Draven laughed. It was deep and raspy. “I am good friends with her brother. Gentlemen have rules about such things, and I don’t think I can sustain two heart breaks in one day.” He looked down at her from the corner of his eye. “You surprise me.”
“How so?” Heather was intrigued.
“You make yourself easy to overlook by blending so well with the demure English lady ruse.”
“Ruse?” It was Heather’s turn to laugh.
“When in fact, you are quite vibrant and lively. It’s a shame your charms will be wasted on a stiff old man when you could enjoy a stiff—” He stopped just as a looming wall of chest was suddenly before them in the form of Mr. Calder.
Heather squeaked in surprise. He had a fierce look about him as he stared at Lord Draven, and he looked very large and intimidating. Heather hadn’t realized he was a few inches taller than Lord Draven. He turned his gaze to her and it softened. “I have news of the duke I’d thought to share with you, Miss Everly.”
“Oh?” It was more of a breathy gasp as she took her hand off Lord Draven’s arm.
Lord Draven smiled, as if he were enjoying Mr. Calder’s intimidating display very much. “Well, I shall take your place with Lady Lucy then.” He turned and smiled at Heather. “It was a pleasure conversing with you, Miss Everly.”
Mr. Calder stepped aside as Lord Draven passed and then presented his arm to Heather. Heather looked back and forth in confusion as Lord Draven offered his arm to Lucy and they began to walk again. Mr. Calder made no move to continue walking.
“I hope he didn’t say anything to offend you, Miss Everly.”
Heather looked up at him, a little startled. For some reason, she expected him to use her given name, as he had scandalously done last night, and she was a little disappointed he hadn’t. “No he didn’t, we were merely chatting.”
“It didn’t
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