The lady by his side was captivating, her features sharp and cat-like. Her blond hair was elegantly curled at the top of her head, kept there with a blue headdress, complementing her vibrant green eyes. She watched Gideon approach with a glint in her eye, boldly tilting her head to the side in her study of him.
“Lewis,” Gideon began eagerly. “I see you have decided not to be tardy this evening. Were you simply excited to congratulate the Duke of Gendway on his eightieth, or afraid you might miss his death?”
Lewis rolled his eyes, sending a sidelong glance to the lady by his side. Gideon didn’t give him much of a chance to answer, swiftly shifting his focus to the lady instead.
“Good evening, miss,” Gideon greeted politely. “I take it by your confused expression that you did not know Lord Janesbury has a penchant for arriving tardy wherever he is expected.”
“That is a stretch of the truth,” Lewis attempted to defend, but Gideon hardly gave him the chance to elaborate.
“Ah, there is no need to be embarrassed, my friend. It is simply a part of your charm, and I have come to enjoy it,” Gideon reassured, before turning his attention back to the lady. “Forgive my lack of manners, fair lady. I did not introduce myself. I am the Duke of Stanhope, and Lewis’ closest friend. To whom do I have the pleasure of addressing?”
“Perhaps you could fetch us a glass of claret, Gideon?” Lewis cut in. He even took a step forward, as though intending to place himself between Gideon and the lady.
“But it would be quite ungentlemanly of me to ignore your company, wouldn’t it?” Gideon replied, his attention undeterred.
It was the lady who had spoken, her voice sultry and commanding. She leaned slightly to the side, away from Lewis’ protective stance, and met Gideon’s eyes with a smile. “It islady, for your information. Lady Harriet Turner,” she charmed. “The pleasure is all mine, Your Grace. I must admit that I was unaware that Lord Janesbury had any close friends at all. Save for me, of course.”
“Is that so?” Gideon arched a brow at Lewis. “Then it seems he has been keeping secrets from us both.”
“Now, now,” Lewis quickly interjected. “Let’s not jump to conclusions. Lady Harriet, it’s been delightful seeing you. I shall seek you out when it is time for the first dance.”
Lady Harriet’s eyes flashed with something Gideon couldn’t understand, but then she blinked and it disappeared. “I understand,” she said smoothly but made no explanation of what exactly she understood. “Your Grace, may we meet again.”
“Perhaps you could save me a dance too,” Gideon suggested, and she smiled, curtsied, and left without another word.
Gideon looked curiously at Lewis. But his friend’s attention remained on Lady Harriet’s departing figure, seemingly unaware of anything else.
“So,” Gideon spoke up, drawing Lewis back to where he stood. “How did you come to know Lady Harriet?”
“Through an event here and there,” Lewis answered vaguely. “Like any other lady or gent, I suppose.”
“Is that… so.” Lewis liked her. That much was obvious. But why he was trying to hide that fact was a mystery to Gideon. He studied his friend, not missing the way Lewis’ eyes kept darting back in the direction Lady Harriet had gone in, and wondered if he should try to press him on the matter at all. “Is there something going on, Lewis? You seem very unlike yourself.”
“Are you worried about me?” Lewis asked with a cheeky grin.
Gideon rolled his eyes. “Interpret it as you will.”
“Look at you,” Lewis laughed. “We have been close friends for as long as we’ve known each other, and yet after all these years, you still struggle to express your affection. It is quite—”
“Don’t you dare finish that sentence.”
“Adorable. I wonder what others would say if they were to learn that the great Duke of Stanhope struggles with showing genuine affection?”
“They would probably think you’ve lost your senses and question why I bother with you,” Gideon grumbled, but that only humored Lewis further.
“Fine, fine, I’ll let it go,” Lewis conceded, still chuckling. “In answer to your earlier question, I am quite well, though I havebeen finding this soiree a tad dull. And what of you?” Lewis said. “Surely you did not arrive alone?”
“Of course not. I brought the Duchess along, though I’m sure she would have much rather stayed confined in her bedchamber.”
“The two of you do not share the same chambers?”
“She rejects me at every chance she gets,” Gideon scoffed. “I’d wager she’d choose the dining room floor over sharing a chamber with me.”
“Truly?” Lewis sounded genuinely surprised by that. “I understand this marriage was not born out of love, but I assumed she would have fallen for your usual charms by now. She is not quite as I’d imagined her to be. And where is your beloved wife now?”
Gideon skimmed the room, searching for the refreshments table. He spotted Amelia instantly, standing to the very end with a glass of what looked like lemonade in her hands. But she was not alone.
A tall gentleman stood at her side, conversing with her. Well,hewas doing all the conversing, while Amelia only nodded along, her eyes sparkling. Something stirred in Gideon, a dark emotion that took hold and began to grow. The room seemed to disappear as his attention honed in on his wife and the man slowly inching closer to her as he spoke. Amelia glanced up into his eyes at something he said and laughed.
