A Reckless Promise by Kasey Michaels Page B

terrible morning and finding the letter John had slid beneath her door.
    â€œGood, then that’s settled.” He tilted his head slightly, saying, “Do you know, Sadie Grace? No matter what, I believe I’ve gotten the better side of our agreement. The chance to give little Marley a happy, secure childhood, something that matters to me more than I would have suspected...and marriage to her beautiful aunt.”
    â€œI’m not...”
    â€œAh-ah, we agreed, no more lies.”
    He was going to kiss her now. She may never have been kissed in her three and twenty years, but she knew she was going to be kissed now. Perhaps to truly seal their bargain. Perhaps so that he could prove himself to be her lord and master. Perhaps—and wouldn’t that be lovely—he actually wanted to kiss her.
    Sadie looked down at his mouth, and saw no smile there. She looked into his eye, that beautiful eye, and saw no wry humor in its depths.
    There was only an intentness she could feel all the way through her as he held her chin steady and came closer, even closer...
    â€œWell, that turned out to be a fine mess,” Clarice announced from the hallway. “Just as he finally had the hoop going, poor Rigby got tripped up in Goody’s leash and went sprawling onto the cobbles, putting paid to his pantaloons and scraping his knees and hands like some little boy who—oh! Good Lord, Rigby, it seems we’ve interrupted something. See, I told you if we left them alone they’d be just fine. Better than fine, I’d say.”
    Darby and Sadie had moved apart hurriedly, with Darby just getting to his feet as Clarice fully entered the drawing room.
    He looked down at Sadie with a smile and a what-can-you-do shrug of his shoulders. “That will teach us to leave the children unattended. Sounds as if your skills might be needed, Sadie Grace.”
    â€œWhat?” Sadie blinked, attempting to regain her focus, as she’d been about to have her first kiss, and she felt rather bereft to have missed it frankly. “Oh! Oh, yes, I should think so.” She took Darby’s offered hand and stood up just as Rigby came limping into the drawing room, Marley holding tight to his arm and looking very nearly frantic.
    â€œSadie, Sadie! Uncle Rigby fell down and broke his crown. You must save him!”
    â€œNot my crown, sweetheart,” Rigby corrected, grinning sheepishly. “I’ve told her I’m fine, save for a few scrapes. Darby, you’ll never guess who saw me take my tumble. Lady Appleton. It will be all over Mayfair by suppertime, how that bird-witted Jeremy Rigby made a proper cake of himself in Grosvenor Square. My knees are beginning to sting. I think I might want to sit down.”
    â€œI know this seems unfeeling of me,” Darby said, helping his friend to a chair, “but where are the dogs?”
    â€œOne of the footmen took them to the kitchens for something to eat. They’re very sorry, really they are, and have promised not to do it again,” Marley said as she sat at Rigby’s knee and looked up at him. “Does it hurt very badly, Uncle Rigby?”
    â€œYes, Uncle Rigby,” Darby said, shaking his head at the sight of the ripped and bloody pantaloons. “Tell us where it hurts, other than your pride.”
    â€œOh, stop,” Clarice scolded, taking Rigby’s hand in hers. “You’re just out of sorts because we walked in on the two of you. They were kissing , Jerry,” she told her betrothed. “I told you it all would work out. You owe me a new bonnet.”
    Sadie shot a quick look toward Marley, but the child was fully occupied in stroking Rigby’s arm and telling him Sadie would fix everything.
    â€œWhere are you going?” Darby asked her, following as she turned for the doorway and the stairs.
    â€œIt’s you who pointed out my skills are needed. I brought John’s medical bag with me, the one thing