“I trust you are better today? That my grandmother explained about the book?” he asked softly as he took her hand and drew it to his lips to kiss the knuckles.
“Yes, but it is for me to beg your pardon,” she said.
“Nonsense—”
“And so I told her!” said a woman who bustled up beside her, dressed in dark blue and all soft and pillowy looking. He guessed her to be in her fourth decade.
“Vanessa! Please allow me to introduce you before you take liberties to address Lord Lakehurst,” Lady Darkford admonished with a gentle laugh.
The woman blinked, then went wide-eyed. “Oh! Oh, yes… Well do go on…”
When the formal introductions were done, the woman went on. “You are quite tall, aren’t you? Taller than Mr. Stillworth, I believe,” she said, waving toward a gentleman who had entered with them.
“I know of Mr. Stillworth; however, I have never had the pleasure of meeting him. Would you do me the honors?” he asked the woman.
“Me?—Yes, of course. Immediately,” she said happily, slipping her arm in his and leading him over to where Mr. Stillworth stood. “Mr. Stillworth is my nephew, you know, through my husband, of course,” she said. “Raymond dear, here is Viscount Lakehurst to meet you,” she said as they reached Mr. Stillworth.
Inwardly, Lakehurst chuckled. The woman had no notion of social niceties. Most of the time he didn’t either, so the fact she introduced him to Mr. Stillworth instead of the other way around amused him.
It surprised him to note that, though slender, Mr. Stillworth stood nearly as tall as he did. His was a long, almost rectangular face with regular features and light brown hair.
After an exchange of pleasantries, Mr. Stillworth encouraged Mrs. Tidemark to return to Lady Darkford’s side. “So she might introduce you to others,” he said smoothly.
She agreed happily and hurried away. “My apologies for my uncle’s wife. She has great enthusiasm but intemperate manners,” he said with quiet dryness. “But my uncle has ever supported her,” he said as he watched her corner the Duke of Ellinbourne in a discussion.
“But can you tell me why I am here?” he asked Lakehurst.
“My grandmother said your name was mentioned by Lady Darkford.”
“It was? I am most certainly gratified; however, I am surprised.”
“Why so?”
“My uncle told me I look too much like my cousin Richard for her comfort. For that reason, he doesn’t like me coming around the townhouse to visit.”
Lakehurst furrowed his brow. “I was not an intimate of the Marquess; however, I would concede you have something of his look.”
“When we were children, we were sometimes confused as one for the other. That did make for some fun moments,” he said complacently. “But growing up, I grew taller and my hair darker.”
“From some things Lady Darkford has said in passing, I gather the Tidemarks have assigned emotions to Lady Darkford that are not true.”
“That is distressing to hear; however, I cannot help but hope that is true. But you said Lady Darkford suggested my name?”
Lakehurst nodded. “After Mrs. Tidemark asked for her brother to attend.”
“Ah. Now I understand. Mrs. Tidemark adores her brother.”
“And you don’t?”
“No, but more to the point, Lady Darkford doesn’t. Around her, he can be a toad, but neither Tidemark nor his wife see it.”
Lakehurst snorted.
The parlor door opened again. It was the Duchess on one arm of Mr. Martin and his sister Gwinnie on his other arm. Beside him, Lakehurst was aware of Mr. Stillworth straightening. He saw him look from Gwinnie to him.
“Is that glorious creature your sister?” he asked, his expression brightening.
Lakehurst nodded. “It is.”
