Free B006DTZ3FY EBOK by Diane Farr Page B

highly fortunate, ” said Her Grace, with her customary calm. “I am sorry to hear that your mount went lame. So distressing! I shall send word to the stables that they must be more careful. I ’ m glad you were not hurt, my dear. ”
    “T hank you, Your Grace. ”
    Lady Ballymere was still watching Derek through slightly narrowed eyes. “I vow, ‘ twas monstrous kind of you to take my daughter up in your carriage, Mr. Whittaker. ”
    She did not sound grateful. She sounded highly suspicious. Nettled, Derek gave her an urbane smile. A ‘ Twas even kinder than you think it was, Lady Ballymere, since I had no carriage. We had to share a horse. ”
    He had hoped, uncharitably, that his words would annoy her. But the effect was more than he had bargained for. Lady Ballymere ’ s eyes widened in momentary shock — and, he could have sworn, fear. She shot a look at Cynthia that he could not interpret, then turned back to him.
    “I hope my daughter did not inconvenience you, ” she said. Her lips were stiff with disapproval.
    What was the matter with her? He tried to make his smile more convincing. “N ot at all. ” He meant to reassure her. However, he could not resist adding, “I t was my horse that was inconvenienced. I was merely crowded a trifle. ”
    Lady Ballymere plainly did not like the picture that his remark conjured. Her lips compressed into a thin line. “C rowded? I see. But I suppose you could have relieved the crowding, had you elected to lead the animal. ”
    “C ertainly, ” Derek agreed. “T hat would have been easier on the horse. But not nearly as enjoyable for me . ”
    John Ellsworth gave a muffled guffaw, and Lord Grafton ’ s three daughters giggled. But the duke and duchess were not amused, and neither was Lady Ballymere.
    Cynthia ’ s glacial calm seemed undisturbed, but Derek was hyper-aware of her. He se nsed, rather than saw, the anxiety that quivered through her at his jibe. She immediately intervened to break the moment, stepping languidly forward to say — with every appearance of boredom — “I t was a large horse, Mama, and the distance was not great. I believe Mr. Whittaker is joking you. ”
    “I s he? I see, ” said Lady Ballymere tonelessly. “V ery amusing. ”
     
     

Chapter 5                                                        
     
    She could feel his eyes on her. At every lull in the conversation they fell on her, willing her to look up and return his gaze. Resisting their pull took enormous concentration. She longed to meet his gaze. She wished she dared to stare right back at him. She wished he would look away, so she might have the luxury of gazing her fill of him ! But that was unthinkable, of course. Even were it possible to sneak a glance at him undetected, she would not dare to try. She must not. Derek Whittaker was not for her.
    Avoiding Derek ’ s eyes seemed to diminish the rest of her senses. She tasted none of her dinner. She heard none of the pleasantries that flowed around her. When called upon to contribute to the conversation, she answered almost at random. By the time the covers were cleared away, her head ached with the effort to behave normally. Beneath her calm exterior, every nerve was jumping.
    In addition to Derek ’ s burning gaze, she was keenly aware of her mother watching her with accusing eyes. Cynthia felt trapped between the two of them. Derek she could avoid — she hoped — but Mama ’ s recriminations must be dealt with. It was best to get them over with sooner rather than later. When the ladies withdrew from the table, Cynthia deliberately fell into step beside her mother, bracing herself for yet another trial.
    She was not kept waiting. Lady Ballymere took her arm at once, leaning in so they would not be overheard.
    “Y ou did not tell me that Mr. Whittaker shared his saddle with you. ”
    Cynthia shrugged, trying to appear indifferent. “D id I not? I suppose it did