And he would not even be able to console himself with the memory of a pleasant encounter on the road. He could not shake from his mind memories of the lady of the lovely legs.Or the memory of his incredible gaucherie in speaking just when he had the night before.That encounter could have been a very pleasant memory indeed, and he could now be safely tucking it away with other such.Something from the past, something to be recalled fondly while he moved on into the future.
Instead, it was a memory that was gnawing away at his insides. He was not accustomed to feelings of sexual frustration. He could not remember the last time he had been rejected.Especially at such a critical moment.He had never even had to overcome reluctance once he had a female between the bedsheets with him.
Well, he thought philosophically, there was always room in one's life for new experiences. This one was definitely new. But he had the uncomfortable feeling that he would spend the next several years looking around crowded drawing rooms and ballrooms in the hope of catching a glimpse of the lady. But since he had never seen her before and had not had a good look at her face during either of his two encounters with her, it was likely that his search would be in vain.
Damnation, he thought, turning determinedly in the direction of the door and the stairs down to the drawing room. He would just have to hope that Mrs. Diana Ingram would arrive without much further delay and that the fascination of the chase would distract his mind. He hoped she was as lovely as she was reputed to be.
He spent the following half hour bowing and shaking hands and smiling and noting that Beatrice Knowles was handsome while her sister Barbara was pretty and that Paula Peabody was neither. He sat down and took tea with Lady Hannah Knowles and Claudia, the Viscountess Wendell, whom he knew from previous Seasons in London.
His mood brightened perceptibly when the earl and countess left the room very soon after his own arrival in it and returned some time later to announce that Mrs. Ingram had arrived and would join them downstairs as soon as possible.
So she had come. He was going to have ample time to win his wager.Three whole weeks.
"I am so glad that Diana is here," Claudia said. "I have been sad for her since Teddy's death. They were very fond of each other."
"She is young," Lady Knowles said comfortingly. "She will find another husband in time."
Claudia laughed. "Doubtless," she said, "with Clarence's mama and papa to lend a helping hand."
Lady Knowles joined in the laughter. "My sister always was the most dedicated matchmaker," she said. "She chose Joshua for me long before she set her own sights on Rother-ham. Her judgment always seems to be unerring, too."
Claudia was still smiling. "Yes," she agreed. "Clarence and I are still happy together. But then so were Teddy and Diana, yet their betrothal was a surprise even to Mother, I believe. You had better be careful, Jack, if you are not planning to take a wife soon. You may find yourself betrothed and your wedding all planned before this house party has come to an end."
Lord Kenwood grinned, "ithink I can safely promise to go to my grave a single man," he said. "A long time in the future, I hope. Not even the Countess of Rotherham can shake my resolve on that matter."
"Well, I will admit one thing," Claudia said. "There would be a day of mourning declared by the female population of London if you ever did announce your betrothal, Jack."
Lady Knowles shook her head and replaced her teacup in its saucer. "As bad as that, is he, Claudia?" she asked. "And I can well believe it. He has naughty eyes, does he not? Jack, Jack, I do believe you will be a challenge that my sister will not be able to resist."
The marquess was still smiling when the drawing room doors were opened and he thought he must have walked into a dream. She was dressed in pale green muslin, the high-waisted style and flowing skirt doing nothing to hide the slim shapeliness of her body. Her fair hair was drawn back from her face, but was in a riot of bright curls at the back of her head. And her head was held proudly on a gracefully slim neck. Her face quite matched the beauty of the rest of her.
But then of course he had known that. It had been beautiful even when she had been flustered over the disarranged bonnet and tossed skirts. And of course he recognized her instantly even though he had thought he had not looked closely into her face. And he knew far more than her dress revealed of just how slim and soft and shapely that body was.
The Marquess of Kenwood rose to his feet, as did everyone else, and stayed exactly where he was.
So his lady of the lovely legs was Mrs. Diana Ingram. How very interesting. How very interesting indeed!
He watched as she greeted everyone else in the room. She appeared to know them all and to be fond of them all, too— her face gained color and animation as she smiled and hugged and exchanged greetings with each one.
"Ernest," she said, holding out both hands to her brother-in-law when she had advanced almost acrossheroom, and smiling warmly. She was already quite close to the marquess, though she had not yet looked in his direction. "How glad I am that you are here. I have not seen you since Teddy's funeral, have I? Did you have a pleasant journey?"
Lord Crensford took her hands in a tight grip and kissed her on the cheek. "Hello, Diana," he said. "You are looking lovely. Not very pleasant,no. We got stranded in an outlandish inn last night. Not even any locks on the doors. I had to sleep on my purse all night."
"Did you?" she said. "It could not have been worse than the inn where I stayed. Some lunatics almost tipped my carriage into the hedge by overtaking us on the muddy road, and man someone mistook my room for his own in the middle of the night. And Bridget had the vapors—my maid, that is."
"No!" he said, looking down at her fondly."Too bad, Diana.Those impatient drivers should be hanged. But you are safe at home now."
"Yes," she said. She smiled happily into his eyes, squeezed his hands, and turned away. "Aunt Hannah. How are you? Thank you for your letter of last month. I am afraid that I did not answer it, knowing I would see you here." She hugged Lady Knowles. "Oh, Claudia, I have been so looking forward to seeing you again.And that nephew and niece of mine.Have they grown beyond recognition?"Another hug.
"Anthony will never stay still long enough to grow," the Viscountess Wendell said, returning the hug. "How lovely it is to see you in a colored dress again, dear. Have you met Jack?"
"Jack?" Diana smiled. "I think not."
"The Marquess of Kenwood," Claudia said."Such an exalted personage that I cannot speak to him without stammering.But a member of the family, of course, though you must not ask me how. He came down here with Ernest and Lester. Jack, may I present Diana, my sister-in-law?"
The marquess knew as he made his bow to Mrs. Diana Ingram that she was wormy of the chase. The smile and the color disappeared from her face and something flickered far back in her eyes. But there was no other sign whatsoever. And he had been half expecting to have to rush forward to catch her as she fell. She curtsied, looked him full in the eye—her eyes were a dark gray, he discovered—and murmured a polite "My lord?"
"Hello, Diana," he said, and noticed that flicker in her eyes again. But she had been introduced to him by her given name—blessClaudia! "I am happy to meet you at last. I have heard so much about you that I feel almost as if I know you already." And how close he had come to knowing her, indeed!
