“I believe he is quite eager to see you as well,” Lady Westbrook replied with a grin. “He has been enquiring after your arrival since the moment he stepped into the house. One would think he had no interest in dining with his hostess.”
Her laughter rang through the corridor as they approached the drawing room.
Elowen, meanwhile, discreetly edged away from her mother’s elbow, which kept nudging her in silent triumph. She knew exactly what Mama was thinking—and she could not deny she had thought the same.
Had the Duke of Beaushire arranged this evening merely to see her again?
Nonsense,she scolded herself.Do not flatter yourself, Elowen. Why would a man like him go to such trouble merely for your company?
But her mind could not reason her heart into stillness. It beat wildly as they reached the drawing-room doors. Henry pushed one open, and the sound of a deep, masculine laugh spilled into the hall.
And in that instant, Elowen had the unshakable sense that this evening would leave its mark upon her.
Chapter Nine
The only reason he was here was for Elowen Tremaine.
Ten minutes ago, Lucas might have convinced himself otherwise. He had questions, a plan forming in his mind, and William Tremaine might well hold the key to it. But the moment the door opened and the Tremaines entered the room, he realised how wrong he had been.
She was utterly gorgeous.
He did not believe there was a single lady in London—perhaps not in all of England—who could compare. The way she carried herself, quiet and composed, slipping to the rear of her family as if she would rather not be seen, only made her beauty more striking. She ought to have been at the centre of every room, the focus of every gaze. How could anyone look elsewhere when she was present?
He knew he could not—and, if he was not mistaken, she struggled to look away from him as well.
Vaguely, Lucas was aware that he had risen, along with Catherine and his mother, to greet the new arrivals. As head of his family, he was expected to welcome Lord Trenton first, and though he had truly been looking forward to seeing the older man again, to getting the chance to sit down and have a proper conversation with him after so long, he found it hard to focus.
“Forgive my cousin,” Catherine said brightly, stepping forward with a smile. “He seems to have drifted into thought—it happens to the best of us. Good evening, everyone.”
He tore his eyes away from Elowen just in time to catch William leaning toward her, whispering something that earned him a scathing glare.
Lucas cleared his throat, fixing his attention on the baron. “My lord, it is a pleasure to see you and your family again.”
“The pleasure is mine, Your Grace,” Eric said. Even though he looked rather unwell, he did not sound very worse for wear. “It is I who regrets not having been afforded your company these past few days. My wife and daughter tell me how they ran into you and your family at Hyde Park.”
“It was quite the pleasant coincidence, my lord,” Charlotte chimed in with a graceful smile. “I daresay Catherine has at last found a friend near her own age. Perhaps she will stop pestering her cousin.”
“Not likely,” Catherine said cheerfully, earning a few chuckles. Elowen did not laugh. In fact, Lucas thought she took the faintest step backward, as though wishing herself elsewhere.
“Well,” said Lady Westbrook briskly, “shall we begin dinner?”
She led the way, ushering the company from the room. Lucas lingered a moment under the pretence of finishing his drink, allowing the others to go on ahead. In any other house, it might have seemed irregular, but Lady Westbrook’s gatherings seldom stood on rigid ceremony. When he at last stepped into the hall, the party had already arranged itself—the parents leading, Henry and Catherine talking easily ahead, and Elowen a little behind. He fell into step beside her.
“It is good to see you again, Elowen,” he said lightly, doing his best not to look directly at her. He feared that if he did, he would not stop. Across the hall, Catherine cast him a knowing glance over her shoulder, hiding a smile.
“It is good to see you as well, Your Grace,” Elowen replied, her tone perfectly polite—and perfectly bland.
“Come now,” he said. “Surely we may drop the formalities?”
“On the contrary, Your Grace,” she returned evenly, “I think it best we maintain them—so that neither of us grows too comfortable with the other.”
Lucas frowned at that. “Those are very particular words coming from a lady who intends to find a husband this Season.”
“Do you intend to marry me?” she asked softly, eyes forward.
His pulse stumbled. “I—that is, I have no intention of marrying at present.”
“Then you have answered your own question, Your Grace.”
