Chapter Fourteen

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

G riffin eyed Meredith intently as a shy smile spread across her beautiful face. Was she blushing? Meredith didn't blush.

She lifted her nose in the air. "One shouldn't kiss and tell, Your Grace ."

"Then one shouldn't inform one's friend one is going to a pleasure club," he easily replied.

Griffin had had all day to think about whether he should ask about her night at the club. He'd finally decided he had no choice. Meredith would find it suspect if he didn't ask about it. He'd brought it up often enough earlier this week when he'd tried to convince her not to go. And it might make him horrid, but the truth was, he wanted to hear what she had to say about her time in room seven.

Meredith tugged at the end of her glove. "You'll be pleased to know that I was quite safe there."

"Were you?" Griffin arched a brow. She was definitely blushing. Hmm. That was interesting. Although knowing what she'd done last night certainly explained why she might blush .

"Yes. Well, after I dispatched one particularly unwelcome patron it was safe," she added.

"And?" Griffin prodded.

Meredith bit her lip and glanced at him from the corner of her eye. "And I had a bit too much to drink."

"And?"

"And I found someone quite…"

His brows shot up. "Quite what?"

"Quite agreeable," she murmured.

Oh, she was definitely blushing. "Agreeable?" He narrowed his eyes on her.

"Yes."

Why wasn't she meeting his eyes?

"He's tall and dark and oh-so-handsome. He also seemed quite kind. A real gentleman. And?—"

"Handsome, you say? How handsome?" Griffin watched her carefully.

Her throat worked in a swallow, but a sly smile popped to her lips. "Handsome enough that I allowed him to kiss me."

That was interesting. She'd kissed him, of course, but he couldn't correct her. "And…?" He cleared his throat, letting his words drift off significantly.

"And it was quite enjoyable." She cleared her throat.

"So he kissed you? Is that all?" This was excruciating, but if he hadn't been there last night, he'd be asking these questions.

"Not quite." More blushing.

His brows inched higher. "Did you?—?"

She slapped at his shoulder. "Honestly, Griffin. I cannot tell you everything ."

He blinked at her innocently. "Fine. Then just tell me this. Did you…enjoy yourself?"

Her smile was wicked. "Suffice it to say, I am going back Thursday. To see him again. If he decides to return, that is. "

Griffin narrowed his eyes on her. "Why wouldn't he return?"

She shrugged. "How do I know that he enjoyed himself as much as I did?"

"I'm certain he—" No. Better to let that comment go. Instead, Griffin inclined his head. "So, the pleasure club was all you hoped it would be?"

"And more," she breathed.

Damn. There was no doubt he was going to hell for doing this. Here she was telling him about what she'd done with the gentleman she'd met, and Griffin had not only kissed her and touched her, but he still wasn't telling her it was him .

What the hell would happen when she discovered he'd lied to her? This entire charade could not end well. There was no possible way it could. Griffin had been up most of the night trying to think of an efficient way to end it all. But by the time the sun had come up, he still had no good plan.

To make matters worse, even though he'd told himself a hundred times that he shouldn't, he knew he would return to the club on Thursday. What choice did he have? It was wrong, but he couldn't leave Meredith there alone. Marsden and his ilk would be only too happy to swoop in if he wasn't there.

He'd briefly considered taking Ash's advice and telling her immediately that he loved her. But that idea didn't sit well with him either. He still wanted to provide her with the perfect Season, the perfect courtship, the perfect betrothal. She deserved that. Not to mention the fact that he hadn't yet had time to woo her. She might not even say yes if he declared himself so soon. He couldn't risk losing her friendship if the time was not yet right. Damn. Damn. Damn.

"Enough about me," Meredith continued, snapping him from his thoughts. " You need to begin courting the woman you're going to marry. An engagement won't just happen without some effort on your part, you know." She glanced around the ballroom. "So…where is she?"

Griffin smiled and shook his head. "That wasn't even a good try. I believe you're on your fourth guess."

Frowning, Meredith pressed her fists to her hips. "How am I supposed to make a proper guess when you refuse to show interest in any lady?"

He bit his lip. "What if I told you I've already shown plenty of interest in this particular lady?"

Her eyes lit up. "Ooh, a clue? How sporting of you, Griff." Meredith tapped her chin with her gloved finger and frowned again. "But I can't think of anyone…except…" This time her eyes went wide and so did her mouth. " Cecily Grundy ?"

"No," he said simply, staring straight ahead with his hands folded behind his back.

"Oh, you infuriating man! You gave me that clue, knowing I would guess Cecily, didn't you?"

"You cannot prove it." He grinned at her. "That only leaves three guesses, Mere. You may want to be more cautious in future."

"I intend to be, don't you worry," Meredith grumbled. "Now, allow me to give you some advice. You cannot expect to court a lady unless you do things like bring her flowers and take her riding in the park. Have you done either of those things?"

"Not yet, but I intend to do both…quite soon."