The Mad Lord's Daughter by Jane Goodger Page B

if this were the most important of questions. “While I do adore sausage, I look at my dance card, which is already nearly full, and tell him the first waltz is already taken by my cousin.”
    His eyes sparkled with good humor. “Very well. But what if it is not taken?”
    “Then I graciously thank him and agree to the dance.”
    “Or?”
    “Immediately seek you out to be certain we dance the first waltz together.”
    He clapped his hands together. “Brilliant.”
    Melissa curtsied very nicely and said, “Thank you, sir.”
    “My lord, to you, underling.”
    “My Lord Conceit, how very sorry I am if I have inadvertently discounted your rank.”
    John rubbed his hands together and paced back and forth a bit before stopping. “All right. Scenario two. A very handsome, very rich young man who dances like a master and to whom you are quite attracted in a very improper way . . .”
    “You!” she said gleefully.
    He gave her a dark look. “Not me. Now pay attention. This stunner has asked you to take a walk in the garden with him.”
    “Hmmm. How rich?”
    John growled. “Be serious, miss.”
    Melissa let out a puff of air. “I immediately seek out Miss Stanhope and advise her of my plans.”
    “Precisely. Now, what if you cannot find Miss Stanhope?”
    “I regretfully decline.”
    “Ah,” he said, raising one finger. “This man, this Adonis, is very persuasive. And he convinces you that it is perfectly proper to go out to the terrace and look at the stars. You’re within sight of an entire ballroom. What could possibly be wrong with that?”
    Melissa narrowed her eyes. “This sounds like something you may have done.”
    John shrugged, but pressed her. “What do you do?”
    “Honestly?”
    “Honestly.”
    “I’d probably go.”
    John didn’t look happy about her answer, but he didn’t say she was completely wrong either. “Not the best choice, but I’ll allow it this time. Now, what if he should try to kiss you?”
    Melissa’s face immediately heated. “I wouldn’t allow that,” she said, shocked.
    John tilted his head. “Why ever not?”
    Was he tricking her? Trying to have her believe such a kiss would be within the realm of proper behavior when it was not? Or was a simple kiss from a handsome man, given freely, acceptable?
    “Do I want to kiss him?” she asked.
    His eyes drifted to her mouth, then shot back to her eyes. “Yes,” he said, sounding slightly annoyed.
    “Well, he is handsome. And rich. I’m assuming he has a wonderful title. He wants to kiss me, and I desperately want to kiss him. . . .”
    “I did not say desperately.”
    “. . . and I desperately want to kiss him,” she repeated, just to needle him. “So, yes, I do. I kiss him.” She nodded as if certain she had the right answer.
    “No. You do not kiss him,” he said, sounding horrified. “You don’t even know the man! If someone saw you, you’d be marching down the aisle with a complete stranger within a fortnight. Good God, Melissa.”
    Melissa pouted good-naturedly. “But he’s so handsome,” she said wistfully. “And you’ve told me it doesn’t matter really whom I marry, as long as he is wealthy, doesn’t beat me, and can give me children.”
    “I apologized for saying that.”
    Melissa lifted her eyebrows. “But if it’s what you truly believe, I’m afraid I cannot accept that apology.”
    “You,” he said, pointing an accusing finger at her, “are insufferable.”
    Melissa shrugged to tell him that his opinion of her didn’t matter in the least. She was having far too much fun at the moment to get into an argument with John.
    “I would never allow a man to kiss me for the simple reason that I would foul it all up, so you needn’t worry.”
    This, apparently, got him curious. “Foul it up?”
    “As you so succinctly pointed out not five minutes ago, I am rather long in the tooth. A man would certainly expect a woman of my advanced years to know how to do such a simple thing.” To her