The Ugly Duckling Debutante (House of Renwick #1)(17)

His pride also took a blow when he realized his apparel didn’t have the same effect on Sai as hers did on him. She merely smiled and followed him to the carriage. He decided he wouldn’t allow her to touch him lest it completely undo him; not that he wasn’t already in that exact predicament. It’s only because he didn’t have a wife, or a mistress, or any sort of spirit stronger than wine in his possession at the moment. At least that’s what he told himself when he looked longingly across the carriage. She wasn’t wearing one of those awful contraptions that women often did when they wore ball gowns, in fact if he were a betting man he would say she wasn’t wearing a corset at all, or was she? He leaned over to her side briefly to determine the answer to the mystery, but she turned and locked eyes with him.

“Find what you were looking for?” she asked mockingly.

He cleared his throat. “I thought I saw a spider," he stammered. His stupidity was nothing short of legendary this evening; never had he been so at a loss for words.

“A spider?” she replied. “Really?” Her tone patronized him like a mother catching her son in a ridiculous lie.

“It was a large spider,” he insisted.

A large spider? He shook his head and longingly looked out the window wishing for any sort of distraction to keep Sai from pursuing the conversation further.

The lips of her mouth turned up into a smile. “Well, that obviously changes things.”

He crossed his arms. “I agree.”

“After all,” she continued, “large spiders need to be captured immediately. How dare they go skittering about in nature? From the bottom of my heart, I thank you for your concern over my welfare; my, if you are so concerned with a spider, just think how you will protect me at the ball!”

He mumbled something inaudible and prayed the carriage would swallow him whole. He seriously needed to rethink the whole perpetually drunk idea.

They arrived at the ball not a moment too soon.

Sai’s eyes were fluttering all over the large house. “Who lives here?”

“The Duke and Duchess of Cavens,” he answered, bored by her question. Everyone knew who Cavens was. Just how far away from society had this girl lived before coming to stay with her aunt this season? He shook his head and helped her out of the carriage, careful to avoid any direct contact with Sai's exposed skin.

“Wait!” She pulled on his coat stopping him in his tracks.

“What is it?” he asked, suddenly concerned. Was she to be ill? Was she nervous?

“What’s our association?” Her skin pinked with embarrassment.

He knew he needed to tread lightly; she had a temper, and he didn’t want to prolong their season. His goal was to find her a match tonight. “What do you mean?” His tone was surprisingly even and affectionate.

She looked at him strangely. “Well, we are arriving alone without my aunt. I know she is just a carriage behind us, but when we are presented…I mean to say, how shall we be announced?” she stammered.

He tried to hold back, but he couldn’t help himself. A hearty laugh erupted from him, and with it drained all the tension he had been fighting since the evening began. She was adorable.

“Sai, we are old family friends. Because of today, people believe I have tried to use my rakish wiles to seduce you. Against my better judgment might I add? More than likely you will hear nothing but gossip about me tonight, along with indignant mothers throwing their more handsome and more innocent titled sons your way.” Not feeling the need to also explain to her that although he hated being used in this way—he would do it all over again if it would keep Lady Fenton from speaking the truth.

She bit her lip in annoyance. “You mean to tell me that you insisted I slap you earlier so they would throw themselves at my feet?”

“As they say, or have said,” he corrected himself. “Not even a married woman would turn me down. And you, my lady, already have; therefore, your reputation precedes you.” He held out his arm to her, which she accepted, and then promptly she stomped on his foot.

He cursed in frustration before pulling her back into his chest. “What was that for? I don’t believe that was a cue for you to kick me!”

“It wasn’t!” Her face was wild with anger. “I’m sorry; I guess I just can’t control myself around you—you—you—” She was stuttering again. He loved her this way. “Rake!” she yelled, tightening her hands into tiny fists. He remembered her slap from earlier and backed up a little. “I can’t believe you would deceive me like this.”

He had no words. What could he tell her? Anything he said would only serve to upset her further, especially if she knew the hardest thing she would have to do was yet to come. She was about to be introduced to society. And he was to be hanging on her arm. An interesting night, indeed.

Both of her dainty hands were still clenched in fury. He would have laughed again had he not already experienced the sting on the receiving end of those hands. His cheek ached on cue.

“I’ll tell you what,” he said channeling his more diplomatic side. “Let’s just survive tonight, and when it’s all over with, if you haven't found a husband—or if you somehow embarrass yourself because of me—I’ll let you slap me and—”

“—and you’ll be my slave for a day,” she interjected, surprisingly cheerfully.