“It must be so lovely to be in the bosom of your family once more, Lady Allegra. Whenever my grown children return home, I rejoice in our reunion. Family brings such joy,” Lady Jarvis simpered, shooting a telling look at Kendall. “Do you not agree, Your Grace?”
Only hundreds of years of good breeding prevented Kendall from rolling his eyes. Moreover, he refused to encourage Lady Jarvis with a reply. He kept his gaze firmly locked on the dancers, as if he hadn’t heard her words.
Unfortunately, a break in the set landed Lady Isolde squarely in his line of sight once more.
The Honorable Mr. Andrew Mackenzie Langston and Mr. James Langston, Hadley’s heir and spare, had joined their sisters. Lady Isolde appeared to be encouraging James to dance with their younger sister.
Bloody hell but the woman was a managing shrew.
Dimly, he noted Lady Jarvis taking leave of his sister.
“You behaved abominably, Tristan,” Allie said on a laugh. “Lady Jarvis will never speak with us again.”
“Excellent. Then my purpose has been accomplished.”
“Tristan! You cannot alienate all of London. Who will be your friend then?”
“I am a duke, Allie. Dukes do not havefriends. I have political associates and societal acquaintances. Most importantly, I have no qualms over dismissing self-aggrandizing, pompous people.”
“Hah!” Allie guffawed. “Said the pot to the kettle.”
Kendall grunted.
Lady Isolde was currently waving cheerfully as James led their sister onto the floor. Naturally, the lady had asserted her will in the end.
Abruptly, Lady Isolde swung her gaze around, brazenly meeting Kendall’s eyes across the crowded ballroom. She raised a solitary eyebrow in challenge, as if to say,What now, Your Grace?
Kendall’s pulse climbed.
The hoyden.
If Hadley had an ounce of spine, he would have corrected his daughter’s worst impulses years—
“So when will we discuss your unhealthy obsession with my friend?” Allie asked conversationally.
Kendall jerked his eyes away from Hadley’s daughter. “Pardon?”
“If you stare any more fervently at Lady Isolde, her gown will likely catch fire.”
“Nonsense.”
“No.Obsessed.”
Kendall nearly flinched as the word reverberated in his ears—obsessed, obsessed, obsessed.
Had he truly stooped to obsession?
No. That would not do.
He closed his eyes, taking in slow breaths and counting out seconds . . .one, two, three. . . forcibly casting Lady Isolde from his mind.
Eventually, his ludicrous physical attraction to her would dissipate. Even in the legend of old, the love potion had worn off in due course. Until then, Kendall merely needed to strive harder to ignore Lady Isolde’s existence.
“I care nothing forthatwoman,” he finally said to Allie. “My sole desire is to see our father’s memory obliterated from history.”
“Still on that, are you?”
“Forever. My own star will shine so bright, the world will forget that our sire ever existed.”
