A Little Mischief by Amelia Grey Page B

my ears, Daniel.”
    And such beautiful ears.
    “I’ve seen with my eyes Mr. Throckmorten dead twice now.”
    And such sparking eyes.
    “My skin pebbles with gooseflesh whenever I think about that poor man.”
    And such lovely skin.
    “I can’t possibly bow out of this unfortunate situation until it concludes,” she insisted.
    Daniel was enchanted by her. She was the most unconventional young lady he’d ever met. She was as refreshing as she was enticing. He wondered if she knew her appeal.
    Daniel wanted to remain firm, but it was getting harder to deny what he was feeling. “Don’t be ridiculous. I can’t possibly take you with me to Throckmorten’s house.”
    “Why not?”
    He gave her an incredulous stare. “Must I remind you, it’s not proper for a young lady to call on a bachelor at his home?”
    Her smile lingered and he felt as if she were casting a spell on him.
    “Don’t be so stuffy, Daniel. You will be my chaperone.”
    “Me?” He was enthralled by her fresh manner. He moved in closer to her. “I’m a bachelor, too. Don’t be daft, Isabella. You know I can’t possibly be considered a chaperone for you.”
    “Of course you can.” She stepped closer to him, putting them dangerously close. “Do you have any romantic designs on me, sir?”
    “Certainly not,” he lied. He had to. He had to stop the magic she was working.
    “Good. Then I’ll be perfectly safe with you. What time shall I expect you to pick me up for our ride in the park?”
    “The park?”
    “But of course.”
    “What are you talking about?”
    “I cannot possibly tell Auntie Pith that we’re going to Mr. Throckmorten’s house. While I’m quite happy to bend the rules of Society to suit my preference, my aunt is not. She would faint if she even thought I would do such a thing.”
    Daniel shook his head.
    “You can’t be serious about this, Isabella. If you were caught with me at his house your reputation would be in tatters.”
    “We won’t be caught. I’ll secretly borrow one of my aunt’s old bonnets and a cloak. And I know where to find a wig. No one will recognize me.”
    She made him want to say yes to her precarious scheme. “We still can’t risk it.”
    “It’s a chance I’m willing to take.”
    He was too close to her. He felt her breath. He caught her scent of lavender. He needed to back away, but he didn’t want to. She drew him much the way a drunkard was drawn to his ale.
    Their eyes met and held in the shaded light of the gray-swept moon, and Daniel knew without a doubt that he wanted to kiss her.
    “Why are you willing to risk your reputation for something like this?”
    “Perhaps because it’s not that important to me.”
    “It should be. A young lady’s reputation is supposed to be her most prized possession.”
    “Perhaps if she wants to make a good match. I’m not interested in that.”
    He studied her face in the faint light. She seemed serious. “Why not?”
    “I’ve thought about marriage, and some time ago I decided I’d rather stay unmarried like my aunt and one day be free to come and go as I please without the fetters of a demanding husband.”
    Not want to marry? She was a free-thinker. “It would be a shame if you didn’t marry, Isabella.”
    “But it’s what I want.”
    “You’re much too beautiful and exciting to remain a spinster.”
    “And I’ve decided I’m much too headstrong to be married. I want to be free to do the things I want to do and not have to answer to a husband. Now, we need to find out what is going on with Mr. Throckmorten and what his connection is to your sister. This started in my garden. I can’t let it rest until I find out what happened to the man.”
    Daniel realized he didn’t want to refuse her, not tonight.
    “All right, I will call for you around half past noon. We’ll have a picnic lunch in the park and discuss this further.”
    A blissful expression of satisfaction softened her face. “Wonderful. I shall be ready with—”