Minx

It was Dunford's opinion that Belle's brother Ned was still a trifle green, but he was nonetheless well on his way to becoming a rake. And then there was the annoying point that he was extremely good-looking, having been blessed with the same stunning blue eyes and marvelous bone structure as Belle. Not to mention the even more vexing fact that he would be residing under the same roof as Henry.

"No, Henry," Dunford said in a very low, very dangerous voice. "I do not think you should practice your feminine wiles on Ned."

"Do you think not?" she asked blithely. "He seems a perfect choice."

"It would be extremely dangerous to your health."

"Whatever does that mean? I cannot imagine that Belle's brother would ever hurt me."

"But I would."

"You would?" she breathed. "What would you do?"

"If you think," he bit out, "that I'm going to answer that question, you are feeble-minded, if not insane."

Henry's eyes widened. "Oh, my."

"Oh, my, indeed. I want you to listen to me," he said, his eyes boring dangerously into hers. "You are to stay away from Ned Blydon, you are to stay away from married men, and you are to stay away from all of the rakes on Belle's list."

"Including you?"

"Of course not including me," he snapped. "I'm your goddamned guardian." He clamped his mouth shut, barely able to believe he'd lost his temper to the extent that he'd sworn at her.

Henry, however, seemed not to notice his foul language. "All of the rakes?"

"All of them."

"Then whom may I set my cap for?"

Dunford opened his mouth, fully intending to rattle off a list of names. To his surprise, he couldn't come up with even one.

"There must be someone," she prodded.

He glared at her, thinking that he'd like to take his hand and wipe that impossibly cheerful expression off her face. Or better yet, he'd do it with his mouth.

"Don't tell me I'm going to have to spend the entire season with just you for a companion." It was difficult, but Henry just managed to keep the hopefulness out of her voice.

Dunford abruptly stood, practically hauling her up along with him. "We'll find someone. In the meantime let's go home."

They hadn't taken three steps when they heard someone call out Dunford's name. Henry looked up and saw an extremely elegant, extremely well-dressed, and extremely beautiful woman heading their way. "A friend of yours?" she asked.

"Lady Sarah-Jane Wolcott."

"Another of your conquests?"

"No," he said testily.

Henry quickly assessed the predatory gleam in the woman's eye. "She'd like to be."

He turned on her. " What did you just say?"

She was saved from having to reply by the arrival of Lady Wolcott. Dunford greeted her and then introduced the two ladies.

"A ward?" Lady Wolcott trilled. "How charming."

Charming? Henry wanted to echo. But she kept her mouth shut.

"How utterly domestic of you," Lady Wolcott continued, touching Dunford's arm—rather suggestively, in Henry's opinion.

"I don't know if I would call it 'domestic,'" Dunford replied politely, "but it certainly has been a new experience."

"Oh, I'm sure." Lady Wolcott wet her lips. "It's not at all in your usual style. You are usually given to more athletic—and masculine—pursuits."

Henry was so livid she thought it a wonder she didn't start hissing. Her hand quite involuntarily clenched, forming claws she really wanted to rake across the elder lady's face.

"Rest assured, Lady Wolcott," Dunford replied, "I am finding my role as guardian to be most informative and character-building."

"Character-building? Pish. How dull. You'll soon grow bored. Come and call when you do. I'm sure we can find ways to entertain ourselves."

Dunford sighed. Normally he'd have been tempted to take Sarah-Jane up on her rather blatant offer, but with Henry in tow he suddenly felt the need to take the moral high road. "Tell me," he said sharply. "How is Lord Wolcott faring these days?"

"Doddering away in Dorset. As usual. He's really of no concern here in London." She gave Dunford one last seductive smile, nodded sleekly at Henry, and was on her way.

"Is that how I am meant to behave?" Henry asked disbelievingly.

"Absolutely not."

"Then—"

"Just be yourself," he said curtly. "Just be yourself, and stay away from—"

"I know. I know. Stay away from married men, Ned Blydon, and rakes of every variety. Just be so good as to let me know if you think of someone else I must add to the list."

Dunford scowled.

Henry smiled all the way home.

Chapter 13

One week later Henry was ready to be presented to society. Caroline had decided that her charge would make her bow at the annual Lindworthy bash. It was always a huge affair, Caroline had explained, so if Henry was a smashing success, everyone would know about it.

"But what if I am a miserable failure?" Henry had asked.

Caroline had given her a smile that said she did not think that was much of a worry and said, "Then you shall be able to lose yourself in the crowd."

Fairly reasonable logic, Henry had thought.

Belle came over on the night of the ball to help her dress. They had chosen a gown of white silk shot through with silver thread. "You are very lucky, you know," she said as she and a maid helped Henry into it. "Young ladies just out are supposed to wear white, but many look hideous in the color."