What better place to speak her heart and ask for a future with the man who would be hers, if he would have her?
Chapter Sixteen
Ten minutes earlier
Rory poked his head around the curtain and gave the audience a quick scan. It wasn’t until he squinted that he found Juliet standing against the back wall in the farthest reaches of the receiving hall, holding a…
Was that a wind chime in her hand?
And who was that standing beside her?
His stomach lurched. He might’ve groaned, too.
Miss Dalhousie.
The former object of his affection conversing with the woman he was determined to spend the rest of his life with.
That might not result in a positive outcome for him.
A throat cleared behind him. He turned to find Ravensworth giving his tatty, old kilt an amused up-and-down. Rory wouldn’t be living this night down for a good long while, the duke’s single lifted eyebrow said.
“Rory,” said Ravensworth.
“Sebastian,” Rory returned.
The amusement faded from Ravensworth’s eyes, replaced with a purposeful glint. Rory knew that look. His friend had something to say.
At last, he said it. “Are you planning to do right by her?”
Rory didn’t need to ask whoherwas. He supposed it had becomeobvious. “If she lets me.”
That was the truth.
Ravensworth snorted. “Windermeres.”
Indeed,Windermeres.
Ravensworth grew deadly serious. “Convince her.”
Rory nodded and took a step, determined to do exactly that. A staying hand wrapped around his upper arm. “You’re not thinking of going to her, are you?” said Ravensworth.
That was exactly what Rory was thinking.
She had to know they were perfect for each other.
“Didn’t you just say?—”
“Best to wait for a Windermere to come to you,” said Ravensworth, his eye on the stage.
Rory followed the line of his gaze.Ah.“Like you’ve been waiting for a certain Windermere?”
Ravensworth flashed him an irritated glance.
Delilah was certainly a glory both on and off the stage—the sort to be flame to Ravensworth’s moth. The man had an insatiable appetite for art, beauty, and talent, particularly when combined in one female form. And for all her wildness, Lady Delilah Windermere was all those things.
It was none of Rory’s concern, of course, but he wished Ravensworth the best of luck.
He would need it.
