Lily and the Duke (Sex and the Season #1)(20)

“Do you ride?” Daniel asked. “It’s excellent weather for riding.”

“I love animals, and I’ve always wanted to ride more,” Lily said, “but I abhor riding sidesaddle. It’s dreadfully uncomfortable. I never really understood it, anyway, and frankly, now that I have a keener, shall we say, understanding, of male anatomy, it seems to me that men should ride sidesaddle and women astride.”

Daniel’s laughter rang out like holiday bells. “Lily, I can’t recall when I’ve had a more enjoyable time. I didn’t know it was possible to have this much fun with a woman outside the bedchamber.”

“We’re still in the bedchamber,” she said.

“You know what I mean. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever relished a woman’s company more than I have today.”

“You flatter me, Daniel. You’d better watch out, or I’m liable to take you seriously.”

“I am serious.”

She smiled at him. He was likely feeding her one of his many practiced lines, but her heart thumped anyway. The reasons for Rose’s and Ally’s interest in the opposite sex was becoming clearer. She cleared her throat. “Back to riding. My sister, Rose, is an excellent rider. She doesn’t mind riding sidesaddle. Sometimes I take Thomas’s gelding out and ride astride on his saddle. With his blessing, of course. If my parents knew, they’d probably lock me up.”

“I’d like to take you riding.”

“We’d need a chaperone.”

“We’ll take Thomas with us, or your sister.”

“My twenty-year-old unmarried sister is hardly a suitable chaperone.” Lily laughed aloud.

“What’s so funny?”

“I’m talking about a suitable chaperone whilst I’m lunching, nearly naked, with a duke in his bedchamber. It’s absurd, is it not?”

“Not to me. Now, about riding.”

“Do I have to ride sidesaddle?”

“You can ride any way you want.”

“That’s very kind of you. Of course, you know I would refuse if you made me ride sidesaddle.” She laughed again.

“Damn it, Lily, I don’t care what you do. As long as you do it with me.”

Clearly he was joking, but she decided to ask for the world. “In that case, may I see the rest of your art collection? I’ll need a private invitation.”

“Of course, anytime you wish.”

Even under the heavy velvet, her skin warmed. She was enjoying herself more than she ever thought she could with a man. They shared an easy banter unlike anything she had experienced. Nothing about being with him seemed awkward, which surprised her, given they hardly knew each other. He was very nearly perfect, but for his past. But we only have today. She could live with that. She had to.

She gazed out the window once again. The ladies took their lunch on the white wrought iron tables set up on the lawn. She frowned at the sight of Lady Amelia Gregory. She had to keep that woman away from Thomas.

“Daniel,” she said sweetly.

“Yes?”

“Who prepares the seating charts for dinner?”

“My mother and Aunt Lucy, I suppose. Why do you ask?”

“I was wondering if you could do something for me.”

“Anything.”

“Well, I want to make sure that certain people are seated next to certain other people at dinner tonight. Is that possible?”

“Perhaps. Why do you care? Is there someone you wish to be seated with?”

“No, not me. I was wondering if my sister could sit next to Lord Evan Xavier. She seemed quite taken with him last night at the ball, and he with her. And Thomas seems quite enamored with Miss Emma Smythe.”

“Is she the blond woman he was with last night?”

“Yes, do you know her?”

“I recognize the name. She’s my banker’s daughter.”

“I had the pleasure of meeting her last evening. She’s charming and intelligent. Frankly, my brother’s taste in women hasn’t always been so discriminating. Is there another attractive young woman with a brain who could sit on his other side?”

Daniel smiled and shook his head, but said nothing.

“Well, I’ll think on it,” Lily continued. “I don’t want him seated next to Regina Wentworth. She’s been trying to drag him to the altar for months, and truthfully she’s a ninny. And keep that horrible Lady Amanda Gregory away from him too. She’ll do anything to snag another title. As for my cousin, Alexandra, Lord Wentworth seems slightly interested in her, although she can do better. I’d prefer that he be kept away from me also. He’s been trying to court me for the last year, and I’m not at all interested.” Lily’s mind raced with deviltry. “In fact, put Wentworth next to Amanda Gregory.”

“It’s Amelia Gregory, Lily.”

“I don’t give two figs what the doxy’s name is, Daniel. Just keep her away from my brother. Put her next to Wentworth, and find some old lecherous codger for her other side. Now, for Alexandra, perhaps you could seat Lord Victor next to her.”

Daniel spoke slowly. “Polk seems taken with you, Lily. You spent a lot of time with him last night.”

“He’s very nice and I did enjoy his company, but as you know, I’m not in the market for a husband. I think he and Alexandra would get on well, and she finds him quite attractive.”