The Ugly Duckling Debutante (House of Renwick #1)(29)

Her eyes shone with delight as she smiled his way. The sight made him want to kidnap her immediately and take her straight to Gretna Green. Surely she knew what a stunning portrait she made, how utterly exquisite. Half the ton would be saying it to her face this evening, so he needn’t add to her embarrassment by lavishing his admiration on her now. But it wasn’t until she was directly in front of him that he realized how scandalous her dress truly was. When he realized the thin material clung effortlessly to her legs, he instantly broke out in a cold sweat. He struggled to break his gaze from her but felt drawn like a moth to flame. In the front her dress dipped so low he would probably spend the better part of the night making sure she didn’t fall out of it, and the remaining part of the night keeping the other gentlemen from feasting on her with their eyes.

Her eyes were dark and lazy; she had the look of a seductress down perfectly. Any man would appreciate the woman in front of him, but Nicholas was distraught. He didn’t want to go to Almack’s with a girl who looked like this. Not only would he again be the focal point of much gossip, but she would, too. His reputation did nothing to aid hers. He cursed silently before offering her his arm. “Shall we?” he choked out, noting that his voice sounded strained.

Sai looked down at her dress then back at him as if she had expected him to say something different. The look on her face revealed hurt feelings, and he noticed her break eye contact quickly, nervously. He opened his mouth to speak, but found the words did not come as easily as he would have liked. Finally he clumsily muttered something like, “You look nice.” He made a concerted effort to keep his tone level, but it came out sounding bored. Her arm stiffened beneath his, but it was beyond him how to fix it. Nicholas knew she would get her fair share of compliments tonight, and for now it was all he could do to manage his own impulse to carry her back up the stairs and help her out of the gown. He definitely was going to have a word with Lady Fenton about Sai’s apparel (or lack thereof); she would be wise not to make a habit of dressing his fiancée in such a fashion. It was not good for her reputation, and honestly, it was even worse for Nicholas’s fury. He didn’t want to have to duel a man tonight just because the gentleman found his betrothed irresistibly attractive.

Another long night awaited him; he could feel it in his bones.

Nicholas spent the better part of the carriage ride reciting Scriptures. It was the only thing he could think to do, so he wouldn’t make an absolute fool of himself. Sai had the unfortunate talent of not only rendering him speechless but also of turning him into a lovesick school boy, barely old enough to ride his own horse. It was unnerving and upsetting to say the least. He was just getting ready to recite John 3:16, when he heard her clear her throat.

“Is there something you wish to discuss, my lady?” he asked in a surprisingly calm voice, nearly fooling himself into thinking he was capable of concentrating on anything other than her bewitching form. Then he made the mistake of looking up into her eyes. Suddenly their confines felt warm and cramped and he had the urge to jump clean out of the moving carriage.

He fingered his cravat nervously, as he waited for her to respond.

Sai quickly shifted to the other side of the carriage where he was sitting, their legs now in definite contact with one another. Looking into her perfect eyes, his heart threatened to beat out of his chest. He prayed for strength.“Has anyone ever told you how improper it is to sit next to a gentlemen while riding?”

She harumphed and crossed her arms. “Has anyone ever told you how improper it is to ignore a lady on the night of the second event of her lifetime?”

“You’re nervous.”

“Of course I am!” Her voice wheedled into his consciousness, and his arms took on a mind of their own and wrapped securely around her body.

“You will be perfect. Everyone will love you. I am absolutely sure of it.” He couldn’t help that each word dripped with venom. He meant it, of course, but she didn’t have to know he meant it or the effect she had on him.

He bent to kiss her cheek only to be met with bristling coldness from her eyes and voice.

“How you find ways to compliment and insult me all in one sentence is beyond me, really it is.” She pushed back toward her seat opposite him and gazed out the window, though it was too dark to see anything.

Curse women everywhere! “What do you mean insult you? I truly mean what I say. They will eat you right up, from the extravagantly low cut of your dress to the way it scandalously hugs every delicious curve of your body. Oh, and let’s not forget the way your lips form the perfect pout as if begging for some lovesick gentleman to take them with his own.” He leaned in. “Oh, I’m sure you’ll do just fine tonight, Sai. Please just remember we are betrothed.”





Chapter Ten



He was jealous, plain and simple. She would have thought someone of his reputation didn’t experience jealousy, or any human emotion for that matter. How could he after doing the things he’d done? Instead of trying to ravish her, Nicholas was scolding her, punishing her for being something she wasn’t. It was upsetting and aggravating all at the same time! Her stomach clenched as she thought of his reaction to her. It was as if the progress she had thought they made in their friendship was for naught.

Her thoughts turned dark, mainly because the only person she really wanted to pay attention to her was angrily staring out the window as if begging God to send lightning to strike the carriage. If body language was in fact an actual way to communicate, Nicholas’s arms were crossed as he leaned his muscular torso against the side of the carriage. His brows were furrowed—his lips in a thin line.