Speech failing her, she nodded once, pulled out of his grip and hurried out into the corridor.

Chapter Two

The next afternoon the guests gathered under a tent outside, and Kit wondered if he’d made a huge mistake.

First, Maddie’s suitor, the Duke of Lockwood, had arrived unexpectedly and Harrison appeared a knife’s edge away from punching the aristocrat in the face. Secondly, today’s outing was an egg hunt, a childish game that would require Kit to engage in small talk with one of the young ladies for the better part of the afternoon.

Third—and worst of all—Alice Lusk hadn’t looked at him once today.

Currently, Alice was staring at her hands, which were placed in her lap, and ignoring the conversation swirling around her. Tiny lines bracketed eyes lined with dark circles and guilt pricked at his chest. He didn’t like seeing her tired and . . . withdrawn.

I am ridiculously shy.

Said the woman who’d paid him a midnight visit and asked for lessons on men. He nearly snorted. Perhaps shy around others, but she hadn’t been shy with him.

Even despite Maddie’s warning to stay away from the young ladies, he’d considered helping Alice. No woman should be forced to endure an unhappy marriage. Wasn’t Kit aware of the potential results of such a circumstance better than most? His father had used his mother’s inheritance for mistresses and gambling, while treating Mama abominably. He’d even committed her to an asylum for a month when she wouldn’t move to Staten Island, as he’d wanted. Mama had led a powerless, unhappy existence until her dying day, eight years ago. Witnessing her sadness had broken Kit’s heart.

Yet, Kit had agreed to keep his distance from the unmarried girls here. Maddie was a good friend and he wouldn’t break his promise to her, even if the shadows in Alice’s eyes twisted something up inside him. He had the urge to go over and make Alice laugh, just so that haunted look would disappear.

They are off-limits, Christopher.

Maddie’s words, uttered just before the guests arrived, echoed through his head. Perhaps he could find a way to offer Alice advice without—

Oh, for God’s sake. Who was he trying to fool? Thick desire had rolled through him last night when Alice had asked so sweetly for instruction. He knew himself. That desire, combined with the nature of her request, would have him flirting, making inappropriate suggestions . . . doing anything he could to tempt adorable Alice into bed.

He really was a scoundrel.

Maddie brought out the egg hunt supplies and Kit smothered a groan. “You owe me,” he muttered to Harrison, who was seated at his side. “I cannot believe I am about to go on a damn egg hunt.”