“You mentioned a Dowager Duchess,” Lady Bridget said, turning to her sister.
“Yes,” she said.
Was that Lady Bridget’s game? Did she know of the rumors circulating about Lewis’s grandmother and his treatment of her? He clenched his jaw.
No, that could not be it. If Lady Bridget had known something so damning, she would have mentioned it already among her litany of protests.
“My grandmother,” Lewis said smoothly. “Evelyn. She is a woman like no other.”
That was not the entire truth, but it was certainly undeniable.
“Is she your only family?” Lady Bridget asked.
“Of course not,” he said. “Now,yourfamily is alsomyfamily.”
Lewis tried to match her sugary sweet smile, but given that he had never been a man who smiled all that much, he doubted he achieved more than a pained grimace.
“Oh, how kind of you to already think of them as your own!” Lady Bridget exclaimed.
Lewis narrowed her eyes. Lady Bridget gave him a look of wide-eyed innocence and ate a small piece of her apple tart. His eyes lingered shamefully long on the sight of her plump, coral lips. Her tongue darted out just the smallest amount to lick a little sugar that she had missed. Lewis shifted uncomfortably, for he suddenly had a treacherous thought of how he could put her mouth to better use.
Eventually, of course. Lady Bridget had much to learn about being a wife before he could indulge in that manner of behavior.
“It is a good family to join,” Gerard said.
Lewis could not determine if the man was oblivious to Lady Bridget’s odd behavior or if he was making a valiant effort to spare them all from further discomfort.
“And it will be all the better with you a part of it,” Lady Bridget said.
“Thank you,” Lewis said tightly.
Lady Bridget smiled like an angel, but her eyes shined with a devilish delight. She enjoyed his torment. But why? Was Lady Bridget just vexing him because she had no other choice but to marry him? Or did she have something more planned?
Whatever it was, Lewis would find out. This sweet, compliant bride would not last forever.
“Well, shall we go to my study?” Gerard asked.
There was his moment.
“And the ladies to the parlor,” Lewis said smoothly. “I do hope that you are not too bereft without my company, my lady.”
“I shall try to be strong,” Lady Bridget said. “And I hope you will also.”
They slowly rose from their chairs, and Lewis’s eyes darted to Lady Bridget. If he was going to unravel her plans, he would need to meet her alone. But how was he to accomplish such a task? His eyes narrowed.
“I shall have to manage,” Lewis said.
Lady Bridget met his gaze evenly, as if in anticipation of his next move. She averted her gaze with a demureness that appeared entirely forced to his eyes.
It would be difficult to separate Lady Bridget from her sister. That was, unless they decided to part ways early in the night. It would not be too difficult to find her bedchamber, would it? Lewis had not been invited to stay the night, but he dared indulge in the delightful fantasy of engaging in a secret, amorous encounter.
“I have a truly marvelous brandy, which you may delight in trying,” Gerard said.
“Wonderful,” Lewis muttered.
He had never before detested the practice of lords and ladies going to their separate rooms following dinners, but Lady Bridget presented much more fascinating company than the other two men.
They gathered in Gerard’s study. It was an unremarkable room, filled with all the expected trappings of a gentleman’s study. Lewis’s eyes darted to the doorway, as he planned his escape. He would have a drink or two, and then, he would simply insist that he needed a little air.
