Gritting his teeth over what could prove to be a most uncomfortable evening, Matthew knocked on the door and hoped no one answered, so he might escape to the club and disappear into a dark corner with a strong drink. But, alas, the steady thump of someone approaching dashed all his hopes.
“Good evening, Lord Ravenglass.” Cadwick, the Knightwood butler for many years, swung the door open wider and bowed as he entered, then held out a white-gloved hand. “May I take your things, sir?”
Matthew shed his greatcoat, hat, and gloves and handed them over, but before the butler gave his things to a waiting footman, he stopped him. “This is asmalldinner gathering, correct? So small it could in no way be defined as a dinnerparty?”
“There is but one other guest yet to arrive, my lord,” the emotionless man said in a monotone that would send the liveliest of souls into a deep sleep.
Still unsatisfied, Matthew blocked the butler’s way again. “And how many guests have already arrived?”
As expressionless as always, Cadwick slowly blinked several times as though emerging from a trance. “Lord and Lady Knightwood await you in the parlor, my lord, along with the dowager baroness and two others.” The barrel-chested man swelled with a deep intake of air. “And a multitude of cats, as I am sure your lordship expected.” He handed Matthew’s things to the footman and headed down the hallway. “This way, my lord. Mind where you step. The most recent litter of kittens delight in tripping the unwary.”
Matthew tried not to laugh. The butler hated the felines that Knightwood’s mother adored. Matthew wasn’t all that fond of cats either, but the dowager baroness was a dear, sweet lady struggling with the plight of losing her hearing, and if cats made her happy, then so be it. As he entered the parlor, the cat-lovingmatron rushed to greet him before he was fully through the double doors.
“Lord Ravenglass, we feared you might not make it.”
He bowed to the lady and kissed both her hands. “Lady Roslynn, how could I possibly miss a dinner with you?”
Her eyes danced with happiness as she tugged him over to the rest of the group. “Just one more to arrive, my dears. Excuse me while I ensure Cadwick has properly fed my babies.”
Matthew didn’t recognize the couple standing with Blessing and Knightwood. He bowed to his hosts. “Knightwood. Lady Blessing.”
“Allow me to introduce Viscount Simon Carronbridge and his sister, Lady Sarah,” Knightwood said, then turned to the pair and tipped his head toward Matthew. “Carronbridge, Lady Sarah, this is Viscount Matthew Ravenglass, one of my oldest and most trusted friends.”
The pretty but somewhat shy lady curtsied, and Carronbridge bowed. “A pleasure to meet ye, Lord Ravenglass,” he said with a faint Scottish brogue.
Members of the Scottish peerage. No wonder Matthew had failed to recognize the two. He bowed. “The pleasure is mine, Lord Carronbridge, Lady Sarah.”
“Lady Fortuity Abarough,” Cadwick announced from the doorway.
Matthew turned to look at her and found it impossible to breathe. Her eyes were even stormier than usual, lending a thrilling fury to the loveliness of her delicate features. Her hair was carelessly swept up into a lively mass of dark golden curls that reflected the candlelight like a dragon’s coveted hoard of coins. Moving forward with her chin up, she fisted her hands, and the soft line of her jaw hardened as if she clenched her teeth. She was angry, but she still floated her enchanting beauty across the floor in a gown of the deepest blue, a contrasting portraitof serenity. She flashed her displeasure at him and her sister, glaring at them both and narrowing her eyes as though sighting a target on their foreheads.
Damn and blast it all.It was impossible to deny that he wanted her like he had wanted no other. What the devil was he to do? They werefriends, or they had been until he had goaded her into hating him. Friends.He suddenly discovered he hated that word.
Blessing hurried over to Fortuity, linked her arm through hers, and escorted her to their little group. “Dearest sister, you must meet Thorne’s friends from Scotland. They are a delight.” With a graceful sweep of her hand, she motioned to the pair. “Lord Carronbridge, this is my sister, Lady Fortuity. Fortuity, this is Viscount Simon Carronbridge and his sister, Lady Sarah.”
Impressive and powerful in his kilt, even in Matthew’s grudging opinion, the ruddy-haired Scot made a leg. “’Tis an honor and a pleasure to meet ye, Lady Fortuity.”
Fortuity dropped a modest curtsy. “The pleasure is mine, my lord.” She offered his sister a polite nod. “It is lovely to meet you as well, Lady Sarah.”
“And yourself, my lady,” the reserved Lady Sarah said with the shyest of smiles.
“Lady Fortuity,” Matthew said with his best bow. “It is good to see you again.”
She glared at him until Blessing nudged her. “Good evening, Lord Ravenglass.”
Lord Ravenglass?He had indeed assumed the role of his own worst enemy, potentially ruining any possibility of friendship or anything else with the exquisite lady.Anything else?Was he brave enough to attemptanything else? If it took the hatred for him out of her eyes, indeed he was foolish and courageous enough to rush in where angels feared to tread, as Alexander Pope had once so wisely written.
He rolled his shoulders and opened his mouth to speak to her, only to find himself cut off by the determined Scot.
“Lady Fortuity,” Carronbridge said, gallantly offering his arm, “would ye think it forward of me if I escorted ye to the dining room? Your fine sister here mentioned we would go in as soon as ye arrived.”
She stared at him for a long moment, as if confused by his ardent attention. “Why no, my lord. I would not think you forward at all.” She took his arm and fell in step beside him.
Matthew clenched his teeth so tightly his jaws ached, but he still found the presence of mind to offer his arm to Lady Sarah. “My lady? Might I escort you?”
She gracefully nodded even though she never lifted her gaze as she lightly rested her hand on his forearm. “Thank ye, my lord,” she said so quietly, he almost didn’t hear her.
Blessing and Knightwood brought up the rear even though they were the hosts. Matthew silently cursed them both for whatever purpose this cruel game of theirs was supposed to serve.
