Free Twice the Temptation by Suzanne Enoch Page B

betrothed.”
    Clenching his jaw, Connoll faced the slender, raven-haired chit seated beside Ivey, her arm wrapped around his. “Of course I do. Good afternoon, Daisy.”

Chapter 6
    Daisy. Evangeline looked from the lovely young lady to Connoll, standing there looking calm as anything, except for his hands, clenched so tightly into fists that his knuckles were white.
    She cleared her throat. “Aren’t you going to introduce me, Connoll?” she asked, forcing a smile and choosing not to question why she felt the need to step in.
    Black eyes gazed at her, assessing, curious…and jealous? She wasn’t certain. But little as she liked the idea of being a bit player in someone else’s theatrical production, at the moment her foremost thought was that she wanted Connoll Addison to kiss her again.
    He stirred. “My apologies, Gilly,” he said easily, taking her hand in his and gently squeezing before he placed her fingers on his sleeve. “Gilly, Lewis Blanchard, Lord Ivey, and his fiancée, Daisy, Lady Applegate. Lewis, Daisy, Miss Munroe.”
    â€œHello,” she said, with a nod and a smile.
    â€œMiss Munroe.” The large Lord Ivey grinned. “Nowonder you didn’t want my services as a matchmaker, Connoll. You might have said something.”
    â€œI don’t gossip, even about myself,” the marquis returned. “Lady Applegate, best wishes to you on your betrothal.”
    â€œThank you, Lord Rawley. I hope you and Miss Munroe will come to our engagement ball.”
    â€œI can’t speak for Evangeline, but I would be honored.”
    â€œAs would I,” Evangeline echoed, rather surprised to hear herself volunteering. It had been a very exceptional kiss, however, even better than the first one. And to herself she could admit that though it wasn’t supposed to matter, the kiss from Lord Redmond had repulsed her.
    â€œSplendid.” Ivey chuckled again. “Very well. We’ll leave you to your picnic, then.” He doffed his hat. “Good day, Miss Munroe, Conn.”
    â€œIvey, Lady Applegate.”
    She watched them down the path. “So that was the famous Daisy, eh?” she asked, facing Connoll again.
    He grabbed her shoulders and kissed her hard on the mouth. “Thank you,” he murmured, running a finger along her lips as he straightened.
    Good heavens . “Don’t trouble yourself. It was a small matter.” She blinked, trying to pull her mind back to the events at hand, and to what exactly she was doing there. “Did you kiss her the same way you kissed me?”
    â€œWhat kind of question is that?” With a quizzical look at her, he returned to the back of the carriage and lowered Doretta and the picnic basket to the ground.
    â€œIt’s a very pertinent question,” she returned, taking the blanket out of his hands and spreading it on the grass. “The first time you kissed me, you thought Iwas her. Daisy, Lady Applegate. Now you seem to be courting me or something, but I have to wonder whether you might merely want to have some other female on your arm so your lady won’t think you miss her.”
    She sank onto the blanket, congratulating herself on figuring out his motives, and pretending that she didn’t want to be absolutely incorrect.
    â€œYou are very wrong about me, you know,” he commented, setting the basket beside her and dropping onto the blanket opposite.
    â€œHow so?”
    â€œI wish Daisy well, and I suppose I do miss some things about her.” He scowled, shredding a piece of grass in his fingers. “She was amiable, and convenient. And honestly, I didn’t think her capable of forming a deep attachment to anyone. I realize now that she could—just not to me. Which may have been my fault, because I wasn’t interested in a deep attachment with anyone.”
    Hearing that, her heart thudded harder. Evidently his interests had changed. Did