Free Taming A Duke's Reckless Heart: Victorian Historical Romance by Tammy Andresen Page A

turned back to her. “Where did you find him?”
    Piper only rolled her eyes. Her voice would travel right to Ethan, so she was spared answering. Ethan helped her aunt into the carriage, then Sybil. Piper could swear energy crackled between them when they touched. Was that how it had been when she met Barrett?
    Ethan climbed into the carriage and Piper paused. Was she going to have to get herself in? She would have to tell Barrett a new escort was needed. Ethan was not going to keep her safe if all he did was ogle her cousin. But then another figure emerged from the carriage. Barrett filled the door and stepped down.
    Piper gasped, “I thought we agreed you wouldn’t come.” She glared at him.
    He ignored her glare and offered her his hand. “ You agreed. I will not leave you completely on your own but I did hear what you said. Ethan has convinced me to stay in the card room while you are dancing.”
    She placed her gloved hand in his and butterflies danced in her stomach.
    As she passed by him, he leaned over and whispered in her ear, “You look absolutely ravishing.”
    “Thank you,” she replied keeping her voice cool. She would not allow him to distract her tonight.
    Piper entered the carriage to see her aunt, cousin, and Ethan had filled one seat. She was forced to sit on the other and Barrett would sit next to her.
    She scooted as close to the window as she could, but Barrett slid beside her, seeming to crowd her anyway. She refused to acknowledge it however, and instead, stared fixedly out the window.
    She watched New York slip by. A girl in ragged clothes stood on the corner selling matches. Piper bit her lip. Her heart ached for the child. She must keep her life in perspective. As sad as her situation was, her aunt and her cousin would take her in. Barrett would help her the best he could. Not that she wanted it but somehow it was comforting to know help was there if the worst happened. He still shouldn’t have come tonight, she was about that. But to herself she could admit having Barrett in her life made her feel anchored. Since the death of her father, she and her mother had been adrift in a stormy sea.
    The carriage was quiet and her aunt cleared her throat. “My goodness, we are going to a party, after all. If you keep up this silence, we will be sunk this evening for sure.”
    Everyone chuckled and it seemed too ease some of the tension. Piper looked around to see Barrett’s gaze intently assessing her. She sighed. He had to stop doing that.
    Her eyes travelled across the carriage. Ethan was giving Sybil the same look and Sybil was doing her best to look anywhere but at him. Piper suppressed a giggle but Barrett noticed anyway and he followed her eyes. His arms crossed over his chest and he lightly kicked Ethan across the carriage. “What?” Ethan looked genuinely surprised.
    “Don’t forget what you are here for.” Barrett let out a low growl.
    Ethan shrugged. “There really is no pleasing you.”
    The carriage entered the line of people waiting to be dropped off. Piper watched the crowd and wondered if her cousin would pursue Ethan. While English society would not take kindly to an American Viscount, the title was hers. She had no parents to ask for approval.
    If Barrett had no parents, would he marry her? Piper blushed to think it because she truly would not wish for Barrett to lose his mother. It was a terrible thought.
    Barrett must have noticed her pink cheeks because leaned over and whispered, “What are you thinking about?”
    “That is none of your concern.” She did her best to give him a frosty look. He wasn’t supposed to be here.
    “You are always my concern,” he whispered back.
    She turned away again. A slight flush stained her cheeks. She wanted it to be true but she wouldn’t allow herself to read into it too much. It was useless to, again, point out since he didn’t want to marry her, he should just leave her be. The carriage came to a halt and they all stepped out and