Lords of Scandal Volume Two Bundle

“Are we ready to go?”

Jack stepped back, tucking Emily’s hand into his elbow. “Of course.” He started for the door but then back toward her. “Minnie.” He smiled but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “I should warn you that I’ve brought another guest.”

She stalled, scrunching her brows. “Another guest? Who would you…” But her voice tapered off because she knew it had to be one of his friends and which one would Jack feel the need to warn her about? “Daring.”

His smile vanished and his lips pressed together. “Yes. Daring.”

Even as irritation made her straighten her spine, something sizzled just under her skin. “Why?” she asked, her eyes crinkling at the corners.

“I wasn’t sure how many of you ladies were attending. I wanted another man to—”

“You mean rogue. Another rogue to what? Nearly ruin another Chase woman?”

Emily gasped, “Minnie.”

“What? He did…nearly ruin you, that is.” Minnie’s hands were on her hips. “It’s why you’re so frightened.”

Jack straightened up. “Lord Darlington will behave as a gentleman should.”

“Pish.” She waved. “He’s no more a gentleman than you are. But let’s go already. Fortunately for you, I am perfectly capable of handling such a cad and my aunt will ensure that he behaves if I can’t.”

Jack snapped his mouth closed without response and strode toward the door. But Emily was less inclined to let Minnie’s comments go. “Don’t be rude. Jack is not a rogue and neither is Lord Darlington.”

Minnie clicked her tongue. “Of course they are. And why are you calling him Darlington anyhow? His preferred name is Daring. Which only underscores how much he
prefers being a rogue to a gentleman.”

“Minnie is right. We’re not the most respectable of men,” Jack said over his shoulder. Was he attempting to support her? She didn’t need it.

“Well, you should be. Respectable that is. You’re part of the peerage.” They reached the carriage and the door snapped open. “You’re supposed to be leading this
country by action and example. You do neither.” Minnie knew she was taking a great deal of her irritation at Darlington out on Jack. But the one time she’d met the duke, he’d been so pompous. She itched to knock him down off his high
pedestal.

Jack handed Emily in and then reached for her hand as well. She stepped up into the carriage and gasped, nearly toppling back as her eyes met the dark, penetrating
gaze of a hulking man curled into his seat like a waiting predator. Daring was in the vehicle. “You,” she hissed as she took her seat next to Emily.

“Me,” he answered as Jack climbed in. “You didn’t warn her, Jack?”

“I did,” Jack answered.

“You said he was joining us this evening, not that he was in the carriage. I thought a duke would take his own coach and six.”

“It’s wonderful to see you again, Minnie.” He gave her a one-sided grin as he assessed her top to bottom.

Her insides shivered. Surely, he’d used her given name to try and intimidate her. She’d show him. “You too, Darling.” She stared back. She’d called him Darling at their first meeting and he’d positively hated it. It made her heart sing. She already had a ready weapon to use against him.

“I told you the last time we met. It’s Daring if you want to be impish in private, otherwise it’s Darlington. I am not your darling.”

“You’re everyone’s darling.” She sat back in her chair, enjoying his irritation and considering how to strike next. “Look at that face. Angelic.”