Free Dare to Kiss by Jo Beverley

butterfly, and though they had been at the same events at times, it had been in company with hundreds. He’d never have noticed her existence.
    But had he attended the trial?
    That would be disaster, but she could do nothing about it, except to hope that Perriam would never connect sober Mistress Gifford with Lillias Dellaby.
    "Thank you, Becky. I'll be right down."
    After fussing over her appearance for a few more minutes, she braced herself and went downstairs, repeating all the reasons Perry Perriam shouldn't recognize her. When she entered the library, however, she saw that he instantly did. It was only by a sharp, intent look, but it was clear.
    Almost, she fled, but perhaps calmness would make him doubt himself?
    Ben introduced his cousin, and she dipped a curtsy. "An honor to meet you, Mr. Perriam."
    "Mistress Gifford is my guest, Perry, but you'll have guessed that she's something more. Shortly to make me the happiest man on earth."
    Perriam's brows rose, but his smile indicated only delight.
    He was a courtier. His smiles could mean anything.
    He bowed. "What delightful news, ma'am. I look forward to learning all about you."
    Nothing in his manner -- nothing -- gave that a razor edge, but it cut anyway.
    Don't spoil this, don't.
    Can't you see how happy Ben is?
    She turned to Ben. "What a pleasure for you to have your cousin here, my dear. I'll leave you two alone."
    "No, no. Sit, love, and help me tell your tale. I was quite the hero, you know, Perry, if it can be called heroic to take a family up into a carriage."
    Ben moved a chair close to the other two, and Perriam deftly took it, leaving the two principal chairs to Lily and Ben. Too clever for his own good. Or anyone else's.
    Lily's heart was pounding, and she was sure she was pale, but she could only do her best.
    "You were a true hero to me, sir, for I fear at least one of my children would have perished on that icy night."
    "Lily has five children," Ben said, as proud as if he'd sired them himself. "All clever."
    Lily found a laugh. "That's doing it too brown, my dear. Susie will never become a philosopher, and I predict Tommy will always be more fond of action than books."
    "An excellent throwing arm for a lad," Ben said.
    "As he showed by almost hitting the glass house from the rose garden." She turned to Perriam. "But we must not bore you with such talk."
    "Not at all, ma'am. It is quite fascinating."
    His amiable face could have been a mask, for all she could read from it.
    Did he not see how beneficial the children were to Ben? Could he not see how innocent they were?
    Ben said, "The eldest lad, Michael, seems likely to go far. Can already converse tolerably in Latin, and what's more, he enjoys it, which I never did."
    Lily glanced around the library. "Surely you jest, sir."
    "Ah, but books about subjects that interest me are a different matter to Greek and Latin texts about wars and civic duty."
    "Then you must not let Michael bore you."
    "He never does. His enthusiasm for learning is enough." He turned to Perriam. "Plays a devilishly good game of chess as well."
    "Perhaps learned from his mother?" Perriam said, looking at her.
    She could chuckle in genuine amusement. "I've never touched a set. He was taught by a tutor at his school."
    "I warrant he gets his devious skills from you, ma'am, all the same."
    "Devious?" Ben objected.
    "Chess is all about deviousness, isn't it, mirroring politics, both of government and court?"
    "I leave all that to men like you, Perry. To me it's simply a game."
    "As government and court politics are a game to men like me."
    "A game?" Lily asked, angered by the cat and mouse game. "Shouldn't the fate of the nation be taken more seriously, sir?"
    "Games can be deadly serious, ma'am," Perriam said. "Contestants can die."
    "You make your life sound like a gladiatorial contest," Ben said with a laugh.
    " Morituri te salutant ," Perriam responded, using the gladiatorial words -- we who are about to die salute you. He said it