Free Man of My Dreams by Johanna Lindsey Page B

was the one who, as Tiffany and Tyler’s chaperon, had turned her head away more than once so no one would be looking, so she was grinning when she asked, “But has he put his tongue in your mouth yet?”
    “Megan! However did you learn about that?”
    “Quite by accident, I assure you,” Meganreplied evasively. “Well, has he?”
    “No, but Tyler has mentioned it, to warn me, he said, so I wouldn’t be alarmed if he ever got carried away and did it. He also said that after we’re married, well, that that kind of kissing is part of—”
    “That?” Megan whispered.
    “Yes, that . But it sounds rather disgusting, if you ask me.”
    “It’s not actually.”
    Tiffany’s eyes rounded. “Megan Penworthy, who put his tongue in your mouth?”
    “Did I say—?”
    “You didn’t have to.”
    “Oh, all right,” Megan grumbled. “Devlin Jefferys did, and before you ask why I didn’t mention it, it’s because I get furious every time I think about it.”
    “The horse breeder? ”
    “I told you his behavior was outrageous. And he blamed it on me because I was staring at him.”
    “Were you? Staring at him?”
    “Let me ask you this first. If a man appeared before you half naked, would you turn around immediately?”
    “Are you joking?” Tiffany chuckled. “I’d probably look a bit before I turned around.”
    “Well, I forgot to turn around at all.”
    “You saw him naked!?”
    “Half naked, and I can see I’m going to have to explain everything.” It took a while, but when she’d finished, Megan said, “Maybeyou’re right, that he’s doing it deliberately. Do you think I ought to tell him that he needn’t worry, that my heart is soon to be spoken for?”
    “I think you ought to tell your father instead.”
    “If I do, we’re going to lose that stallion. Father will dismiss him instantly.”
    “Well, that’s a coil, isn’t it?” Tiffany said indignantly. “Damned if you do or don’t. There has to be something that we can do to make him mind his manners.”
    “We?” Megan grinned.
    “Well, now that you’ve told me—”
    “You aren’t to worry about it. I’ve decided to ignore him, and if that doesn’t work, then I will tell him that I’m going to marry St. James. No one in their right mind would dare tempt the ire of an all-powerful duke, even an unprincipled rogue like Jefferys. For whatever reason they began, the insults will stop immediately with that disclosure, you mark my words.”
    “You’re undoubtedly right. You might even get some groveling out of him in his haste to make amends to the future Duchess of Wrothston.”
    “Groveling isn’t necessary. I’ll settle for seeing his shocked expression along with Lady O’s the day I return in the ducal coach.”
    Tiffany suddenly gasped. “I almost forgot my news—which, by the way, is going to get you closer to that day of reckoning. My mother received invites to a pre-Season masked ballfrom her old friend Elizabeth Leighton. And my father’s Times that arrived yesterday had a mention of the very same ball because of the notables on the guest list, which includes—”
    “Him?” Megan squealed in delight. “And here I’ve been agonizing on how I would manage to meet him. Your mother is going to accept, isn’t she?”
    “I believe she can be persuaded.”
    “And I can go with you?”
    “Would I go without you?”
    “There, you see? Fate is pushing me in the right direction. It’s almost as if it weren’t my decision a’tall, but preordained. Where is it? When?”
    “The Leightons live in Hampshire, and the ball is next week—now don’t look so horrified, Meg. That’s plenty time to prepare—”
    “Not for a new gown.”
    “You’ve plenty—”
    “This one has to be special. I’m catching a duke, Tiff, a duke .”
    “You’re right,” Tiffany conceded. “There’s no point in taking chances with this preordained stuff. I’ll race you to—”
    “I’ll meet you,” Megan called over her shoulder