“Apparently quite badly, if you ask my children. However, I think I am doing well. And you?”
“I am managing, mostly because of the kindness of good friends.” She now turned to Cherish, who had remained beside her despite her wish to run away from these daunting men. “Lady Cherish Northam is my neighbor and dearest friend. You might have known her late father, the Earl of Northam? He was a lovely man and not to be mistaken for his toad of a brother, who recently inherited the title. Well, he is a half-brother who can only be described as despicable.”
“Fiona,” Cherish said in an urgent whisper, wishing her friend was not so vocal in her opinions.
She tried not to blush as each duke in turn bowed over her hand, the Duke of Bromleigh being the last to greet her and somehow neglecting to let go of her. “Lady Cherish, it is an honor,” he said in a husky rumble that shot tingles through her. “None of us were well acquainted with your father, but he was reputed to be an excellent man. Seems you are cut from the same cloth. My cousin speaks very highly of you.”
Dear heaven, this Silver Duke was devastatingly handsome and quite dangerous. What had Fiona told him about her? Why had she told himanything?
“Thank you, Your Grace.” She held her smile, waiting for him to release her hand. When he did not, she finally slipped it out of his grasp. “I ought to leave you to catch up with each other. I am only in the way.”
“Stay, Lady Cherish,” the Duke of Bromleigh said, his gaze lingering on her with enough heat to melt her insides. Was this duke eyeing her for a meal? Well, she had no intentionof becoming the latest gullible lady to satisfy his appetite. “My cousin is obviously busy, so why don’t you take me around to make introductions?”
She swallowed hard. “Me? You must forgive me, Your Grace. I do not know most of these guests. You see, I have not been to London in quite a while. Not since I was a little girl.”
He frowned. “Were you never presented at St. James?”
“No.”
Fiona took it upon herself to embellish Cherish’s response. “Lady Cherish had her hands full managing her father’s estate when she ought to have been making her debut. My dear Albert and I offered to sponsor her at the time, since her parents were not in good health and could not manage the London whirl.”
His frown deepened. “Did they refuse?”
Cherish cleared her throat. “No,Irefused. I am an only child and all they had. They were my heart and my life. I could not leave them in their time of need.”
His expression softened. “I see. And what of now? Will the new Earl of Northam sponsor you?”
“No,” Fiona cut in, her tone incensed. “He is an ogre, Gawain. Utterly detestable. Why he—”
“Fiona,” Cherish whispered once more. “Please.”
She did not need her dirty linen exposed to these strangers. Besides, she was too old now to make a debut. Standing among all the fresh young partridges would only make her look ridiculous.
“Lady Cherish, I see your throat is parched. So is mine.” The Duke of Bromleigh held out his arm to her. “Come onto the terrace with me and we shall have a lemonade.” He gave her no chance to protest, wrapping her arm in his and then placing a hand over hers to make certain she did not dart away. “My friends will not be here long, and I am sure they would prefer to chat with Lady Shoreham without us.”
Cherish thought his excuse was utter nonsense, but did not protest, since others were on the terrace and there was a refreshing breeze off the sea. She had to admit, the odor of sweating bodies and stale perfume was a bit overpowering in the parlor. Even though the doors and windows had been thrown open, there were too many guests packed in here to allow the breeze to properly circulate.
As for this duke, despite his having just arrived after a long ride, his scent was divine. A mix of bay spices and male heat. A bead of sweat trailed down his neck. Cherish blushed as she watched it slowly slide along his skin.
She wanted to put a finger to it. Perhaps take out her handkerchief and gently dab it dry.
Or put her lips to it and taste it.
Dear heaven.What would he think of that?
Probably nothing at all, since he must be used to women fawning over him. He had to know how the fairer sex responded to him. He was tall and powerfully built, somehow managing to look exquisite despite his long journey and the heat of the day.
She groaned inwardly, hating to think she was no better than the mob of silly ladies who simpered over him. But she could not blame them, for there was a ruggedness to this man she found irresistible.
Everyone turned to watch them as he escorted her onto the terrace. What did he want with her? The other ladies surely were wondering the same.
He motioned for one of the footmen to bring them lemonade and then led her to a bench under a shade tree just beyond the terrace. They were now in Fiona’s garden surrounded by a soft breeze that carried the lemony scent of roses from a nearby arbor.
There was nothing improper about their sitting together, since others were strolling on the grounds and they were in fullview of the parlor, yet it all felt exceedingly improper because she was withhim. “Tell me more about yourself, Lady Cherish.”
She pursed her lips, not liking this one bit. “Your Grace, I am sure this will sound impertinent, but why do you wish to know anything about me?”
He arched an eyebrow and laughed. “You do not like that I am paying you attention?”
