A pause.
“Why can’t I?”
His eyes widened. “My apologies. You may. But if I may ask, doyou… like him?”
“I donot.” Not yet. But she could. If he made an offer. If he rescued her from the life her mother had planned. Hah. Though, there did live a little doubt in her heart.
“Little liar.”
She sucked in a sharp breath. Did he truly just call her that? “What cruel twist of fate seated me next to you?”
“If you must know,” she hissed, “the Duke of Paisley is the perfect male specimen.”
He scoffed. “Perfect?Paisley?”
“He is calm, composed, and yes, handsome.” Not honorable if her friend, Ashley, was questioned about Paisley’s character though. And suddenly Maddie realized that it was important to her what her friends thought of her potential suitors.If only he could already be a friend…
“He’snot thathandsome.” The marquess combed a hand through his hair, which was denser, darker, and altogether rather invitingly a little messy.
“More handsome than you.” Why on earth had she just said such a thing? Honestly! Well, at the moment, anyone would be more handsome than the stuffy, red-nosed marquess.But not as wonderfully disheveled?
His eye twitched. “I beg your pardon?”
Still, itwasrude to point out his reddish nose if he was ill. “Nothing.”
“Is it because he’s a duke?” He folded the napkin in his lap into halves, then quarters, then eighths, and then twisted it into a bullet that Maddie could have sworn was meant for Paisley.
She gave him a tight smile. “Do you think me that shallow?”Yes.A little bit. However! If it were to be him, she did hope to still find love.
He said nothing.
Truthfully, she had followed her mother’s wishes and aimed high. But not just for the title.For safety. For freedom.
“All ladies want a duke or an earl,” he muttered. “Wealth. Status.”
“Well,” she replied sweetly, “youjust admitted he’s wealthy. That makes him a catch in society’s terms, does it not?”
His jaw clenched.
“You have me there,” he said flatly. “If you think money can buy love, passion, and a happy family, help yourself to him.” He looked down as if she’d vexed him.
Maddie took a sip of wine and tried not to look smug. Still, something inside her twisted. A strange sort of pressure. Why did he unsettle her like this? Why, when he spoke, did her heart beat the way it did when her mother caught her sneaking a novel under her bedcovers?
All around them, cheers and congratulations echoed. Ashley glowed. Thomas beamed.
And Maddie—Maddie sat frozen.
She didn’t know if she felt betrayed by the surprise or left behind. Then again, that was also not her friend’s fault or burden. But now was not the moment to dwell on the fact. She forced a polite smile to her lips and sat straighter. She meant to look back at Ashley, but her gaze darted instead toward the head of the table.
Toward Paisley.
No. No, don’t look.
She forced her eyes sideways.
And met Cambridge’s stare.
Heat rushed to her face. Of course, he’d noticed.
