Deflecting was her only option. “You almost sound like you envy him.”
He laughed. “Maybe I do a bit. But I love this country. I love my estates and looking out for our tenants.” He paused. “And I love you. I’m sorry if I’ve been the overbearing big brother. It will not be easy to stop, but I promise I won’t force a marriage on you. It’s just what happened to Lady Ashley…”
“She was much younger than I am now. Besides, we ladies talk. Ashley’s experience has helped all of us. I don’t understandwhy they didn’t tell us about these things when we were younger, so we could have been prepared.
“We men think we know best and are protecting you, but I’m seeing the so-called fairer sex has some backbone. You are smarter than we give you credit for.”
She inwardly smiled. If only her brother knew. He had no idea that in a few months’ time, he was about to be beaten in an investment wager by a bunch of women. She pressed a kiss to his cheek and said, “I must get on and finish some last-minute tasks before the opera tonight. Would you care to attend with me?”
“As much as I’d love that, I’ve been away so long, the correspondence almost fills my study. Shall we have a late breakfast tomorrow?”
She loved that he’d asked, not commanded. “I’d like that.” At the door, she turned to him. “By the way, I’m taking over the running of our household. Mrs. Thompson and I shall work well together. At least that’s one burden I can take off you.” She sailed out the door before her brother could respond.
Chapter Eighteen
The Royal OperaHouse glittered with candlelight, the air thick with anticipation and the heady scent of perfume. In the Wolfarth box, Farah sat rigidly, acutely aware of the tension surrounding her. To her left, Rockwell lounged with deceptive casualness, his knee occasionally brushing against hers. To her right, Ivy sat occasionally talking with Tiffany on her other side. Wolf sat behind them with Lucien and Courtney. Courtney sat like a statue, waiting to be knocked over.
“Can you remember attending the opera?” she heard Wolf ask.
“I’m sorry to disappoint you all, but I don’t,” Lucien replied. The silence was deafening. Then he gave a loud sigh. “My apologies,” he said, then looked at Courtney, who simply smiled at him, but she saw the worry deep in her eyes.
Wolf replied, “No. It’s I who should apologize. It was a silly question. But I suppose we all live in hope.”
This time, Lucien looked directly at Courtney. “I suggest everyone forgo the idea of a miraculous remembrance. I can’t and won’t remember.”
Farah squeezed Courtney’s hand but she merely shook it off. Her friend’s opera glasses were trained on a box across the way and she appeared not to be listening to the men.
Ivy tapped her fan on Farah’s arm to get her attention, and Farah leaned in to hear her words. “Tiffany’s hunch about theArmley shares has paid off. Our investments are booming. I can’t wait for the next meeting of the club. I’m sure we will beat the men.”
“Valora is hosting the meeting, isn’t she? She used to prefer to head to Claire’s townhouse to see if she could catch a few minutes with Claire’s brother, Fane. I wonder if this means she’s given up the dream of taming the rake.”
Ivy nodded. “I even saw her flirting with Lord Norton at the ball and look—” Ivy pointed across the theatre to the box across from them. “She’s sitting in his box with his mother. Claire’s with them.” Ivy waved and watched Claire wave back.
“That is interesting. Do you think this is Claire’s doing? She’s tried to get Valora to understand her brother is not the man Valora thinks he is for a long time. Claire has always opposed Valora’s infatuation with Fane.”
“Well, he is a rake of the first order,” Farah said. “He goes through mistresses like he goes through handkerchiefs. But I’m not sure who Claire is protecting, Valora or Fane.” And the two women laughed.
“Valora doesn’t need any protection. She always does as she pleases. She’s theton’sdarling, breezing through society like an exotic butterfly, all of her sins forgiven due to her beauty. Perhaps Claireismore concerned for Fane. I think that’s what makes them a good match, if Fane would only stop and take notice.”
Farah laughed in agreement. “Valora will make him take notice. You wait and watch.”
“Either way, I can’t wait for our next meeting so we can learn what is afoot. Surely Valora is not so cruel as to lead Lord Norton on. He’s a nice man, although his mother seems to have him under her tight control.” Ivy shook her head. “She’s turned down numerous proposals and is getting quite the reputation.”
Before Farah could reply, the music began, and soon the ladies were engrossed in the story unfolding before them.
As the opera progressed, the skin at the back of Farah’s neck prickled. She glanced behind her to find Lucien sitting ramrod straight, his gaze flickering between the stage and her with unsettling frequency. Worse still, Courtney appeared to notice Lucien’s stare.
Rockwell sat up straighter and seemed to sense the tension. “How did Blackstone take your refusal to marry Lord Franklin?” Rockwell’s question made her relax.
“We had a pleasant talk. He’s accepted that I wish to select my husband and he will help me if I need it.”
“That’s wonderful. No need for you to create a scandal now. What persuaded him?”
She smiled at him. “Speaking up. It sounds so simple, doesn’t it? But I didn’t have the confidence before to challenge him. Our trip helped me. You helped me. I guess I grew up.”
He pressed his thigh against her leg. “Youhavegrown up. Into a beautiful woman.”
She looked away. Why did he keep confusing her? But at the moment, she’d accept his attention because Courtney was looking at her and Lucien.
