Page 31 of A Rogue Worth the Risk

Ten minutes later

Just enough time to sample a few blissful kisses,

but not enough to cause a scandal.

Caspian entered the drawing room with Corinna on his arm. A handful of the other guests had returned, and the few that had remained behind slid inquisitive glances in their direction.

Lady Osborne turned her hawk-like stare upon them, that ever-present lorgnette leveled their way. She wielded the accessory with the skill and the deadliness of a saber.

“Giving up so soon, Strathmore? Miss Brockman?”

“On the contrary, my lady. We have solved the last clue.”

“Ah, excellent. Excellent indeed.” She approached, her expression unreadable, but that deuced twinkle sparkled in her eyes.

Her ladyship was too pleased with herself by far. But then she had reason to be.

She could add another match to her list of triumphs.

Once Caspian asked for Corinna’s hand, that was.

Pray the Marquess of Trentholm was receptive to his suit because if he wasn’t, Caspian fully intended to elope with Corinna. Not that he’d told her as much.

“I rather doubt any of the others read through the list first and realized they didn’t have to solve all of the clues to win.” Lady Osborne gave an approving nod. “Well done, you. I knew you were sharp.”

Caspian swept the room with his gaze.

Lady Sewell’s skin had turned a peculiar shade of gray-green.

“The answer to the last clue is?” her ladyship prodded.

“Love,” Caspian and Corinna said in unison as he gazed into her shining eyes.

“Oh, my,” Mrs. Claiborne sighed from the card table she sat at.

“How romantic,” Mrs. Pennyflower said.

“And have you found love?” Lady Osborne asked with the pugnacity of dog after a bone.

Caspian raised Corinna’s hand and, despite Society’s rules, kissed her knuckles. “We have.”

“I expect a short betrothal,” Her ladyship said with puckish regard and arching an elegantly plucked eyebrow. “And an invitation to the wedding, of course.”

“What wedding?” Brockman asked as he, his wife, and several other guests arrived in a flurry.

“You’ll have to ask your sister about that, Brockman.” Lady Osborne glided to the center of the room. “Ladies and gentlemen. We have our winners. Baron Strathmore and Miss Brockman.”

Polite applause met her announcement.

“What’s this about a wedding?” Brockman asked again.

His wife appeared amused, a knowing smile bending her mouth.

“Well… umm.” Corinna looked at Caspian expectantly.

This wasn’t how he’d planned to announce his intention to marry Corinna. He’d only just confessed his love and hadn’t even proposed yet. A maelstrom of emotions sluiced through him in rapid succession: joy, anticipation, hesitation, concern, caution, all diminished by an overpowering, enthralling love.

Aware of the many pairs of eyes trained upon them—several not entirely congratulatory—he grinned down at Corinna while tucking her hand into the crook of his elbow. “I intend to ask for your sister’s hand.”