Rose looked up at her relation hopefully. “Cousin Lucien?”
Lord Kilcairn, his gaze on Belton, lifted an eyebrow.
“For God’s sake, Kilcairn, I’ll be good,” the younger man said, grinning.
“By all means, then. Take your time.”
Alexandra watched the two of them stroll into the crowd. So far, so good. When Rose put her mind to it, she was a fairly quick study.
“That’s one out of earshot,” Kilcairn said. “Now to find someone for Aunt Fiona to chat with.” He gazed about the room for a moment. “Ah, there we are. This way, ladies.”
“Oh, there’s Lady Halverston.” Fiona smiled, waving across the crowd. “I should go see her.”
“No,” Lucien said flatly. “You’ve gathered your quota of gossip for the week.”
The peculiar warm, fluttery feeling began in Alexandra’s stomach again. It seemed Lord Kilcairn’s chivalrous streak remained intact—undoubtedly by now Lady Halverston would know all about her and Lord Welkins.
“Don’t you think we should be chaperoning my dear Rose, then?” Fiona asked, picking at the fingers of her gloves. “She’s all alone, poor thing.”
“I’m more concerned about someone acceptable chaperoning you.”
“Lucien, you are an awf—”
The earl stopped before an elderly, elegantly dressed couple seated at one side of the room. “Lord and Lady Merrick, may I present my aunt, Fiona Delacroix? Aunt Fiona, the Marquis and Marchioness of Merrick.”
Immediately in good spirits again at the sound of titles, Fiona curtsied. “I am so pleased to meet you,” she tittered.
“Ah, thank you, my dear. Do sit with us.”
Fiona gracefully sank down onto the chair beside them. Alexandra stepped forward to take the seat on Mrs. Delacroix’s other side, but stopped when Kilcairn’s warm, gloved hand slid down her bare arm.
“No, you don’t,” he murmured, leading her toward the salon. “I’m not that cruel.”
Alexandra shrugged out of his loose grip, hoping no one else had seen it. “I cannot go about with you,” she hissed. “I am an employee.”
“Then we’ll find Rose for you,” he said, as they made their way through the connected series of rooms.
“I can find her myself.”
“But then I’ll have nothing to do.”
“I don’t require your gallantry.”
“I’m not offering any. I’m trying to avoid boredom.”
She made an annoyed sound. “Who are Lord and Lady Merrick?”
“A pleasant old couple from Surrey. Deaf as stones, both of them. And I imagine they’ll never be more grateful for the affliction than tonight.”
Alexandra repressed the sudden desire to laugh. “You knew the Merricks would be here tonight, didn’t you?”
“Of course.”
“Ah. You can’t expect to find deaf people on whom you can foist your aunt at every soiree, though. She has acquaintances now.”
“Her acquaintances should be grateful for the reprieve.”
He gestured her into a salon. Still more of the glittering nobility stood about chatting in the small room, with Rose and the viscount and a half dozen other young people at the far end.
