He glared at her.
The viscount laughed.
Lord Sterling glared at them both.
“Why?” Grace asked. “I’m fully aware you wish my swift departure, but you’re being unpardonably rude.”
“You’re being unpardonably impertinent.”
The viscount chuckled. “You sound like her grandfather, Ramsey.”
“You do,” Grace felt the need to add.
Lord Sterling didn’t reply, simply sighed. “If the both of you are done casting stones at my character, I’ll leave you to your tour.” He gave a swift bow and then, without waiting for their answer, departed.
The viscount approached her after he left. “He isn’t angry, just uptight. One day he will learn to release that tension, but today is, apparently, not that day. What else do you wish to see?”
Grace had a long list of things she had thought she wished to explore, but after the departure of Lord Sterling, they held little interest. It was far more fun with him to pester, and some of the polish of the evening was now gone with him. All she wished to do now was see the interior of his office, since that was where she was certain he had retreated. “Where do you suggest?”
The viscount suggested the kitchens for a spot of tea, and they left the ballroom.
As she followed along the hall toward the kitchen, she wondered just how terrible and reprehensible it would be to sneak away and find Lord Sterling. Surely she owed him an apology for pushing him so far, and it really wasn’t well done of her to accuse him of being grandfatherly.
She glanced backward, making a quick map of the area. Certainly the viscount wouldn’t mind if she explored a little on her own.
At least not mind too much.
