Maisie was suddenly on her other end, frowning worriedly. “You look upset. You’re grinding your teeth, and we could always tell that you’re trying not to be upset when you start grinding your teeth.”
“Oh, nonsense,” she said dismissively with a forced laugh, one she was certain her sisters saw right through. “I am quite fine, I assure you.”
Ava and Maisie shared looks of incredulity.
Eager to change the topic, Catriona asked, “Where is Uncle Frederic?”
“We don’t know,” Maisie answered. “He disappeared almost instantly upon our arrival. I would not be surprised if he is hiding in a parlor or library somewhere.”
“Where is His Grace?” Ava asked before Catriona could answer.
“Somewhere,” she answered in an offhanded manner. Only after did she realize that her answer might have only made them more suspicious of her, so she quickly tried to change the topic again. “So, Ava, where is your gentleman?”
To Catriona’s surprise, Ava only rolled her eyes, rather than blushed like she usually did. “I believe my gentleman is currently trying to gain favor with the Marquess of Harroway so that he may marry her daughter.”
“I beg your pardon?”
Maisie linked arms with Catriona with a sigh. She gestured discreetly with her fan, showing Lord Wentworth laughing with an older gentleman just a few paces away. Catriona immediately recognized Belinda, the dark-haired lady who had tried to torment her with Cassandra before her marriage to Joseph.
“It appears he does not have interest in Ava any longer,” Maisie murmured sadly.
“And I daenae—” Ava broke off, squaring her shoulders. “I don’t care. It only means that his apparent love was false all along.”
“Oh, Ava.” Catriona wasn’t fooled by her sister’s nonchalance. She took her hand. “I’m sorry.”
“There’s no need to be,” Ava told her. “I was never in love with Lord Wentworth. And there is enough time in the season to find another worth my time.”
“That’s the spirit!” Maisie chirped. “What about him?”
Again she gestured with her fan at a gentleman across the room, dangerously close to where Catriona had left Joseph. She didn’t dare look that way.
“What about him?” Ava asked.
“Don’t you think he is rather adorable? Perhaps we could have Catriona arrange an introduction.”
“I’m afraid I do not know him,” Catriona guessed though she was fairly certain that she didn’t. She didn’t know anyone in London. As Duchess of Irvin, she supposed that was something she would have to remedy soon.
“Then we can ask His Grace to introduce us,” Maisie suggested instead. “I’m sure he would not mind, would he?”
“I’m sure he wouldn’t,” Catriona murmured.
Silence met her words. Catriona could feel the weight of their eyes, felt the heavy dawning realization that her answer had only made them more suspicious of her mood. She prayed they wouldn’t question her.
“Your Grace.”
Catriona turned away from her sisters just a little, blood roaring in her ears, knowing exactly who Ava had just greeted. She’d hoped that he would follow her, a tiny piece of her heart wishing that he would chase her just a little bit. Now, she wished he had just left her alone.
She didn’t know if he acknowledged Ava in any way. All she heard was, “Catriona.”
“What is it?” she asked in a mild tone, at odds with the apprehension coiling around her chest.
“Would you like to dance with me?”
She had no reason to decline him. She didn’twantto decline him. But she also knew that accepting his request would only make things worse. It only make her fall harder, even though she knew how stupid it was.
But he didn’t give her the chance to respond. He simply took her hand and began guiding her towards the center of the ballroom. Even though she knew others were watching them go past, that whispers followed in their wake, Catriona could only focus on him. On his broad back, the curling hair at the nape of his neck, and the intensity of his storm-blue eyes when he turned and pulled her into his arms.
“I do not like it when we fight,” he murmured at her ear. Her knees nearly buckled, and she was suddenly grateful he decided to have this conversation while supporting her body.
