“It’s the uniform,” she sighed but was looking straight ahead now. In this, she was like so many other debutantes.
“Was it you who invited him?” He scowled.
“My brother did.”
“Ah…” Lord Greystone glanced over toward the soldiers. “I suppose we’ll want to make the most of the evening then.”
* * *
Diana wriggled her shoulders,her enthusiasm deflated by her conversation just a few minutes before.
“How can you pretend to court me when Lady Isabella is expecting you to court her?” The younger lady had just informed Diana, Collette, and Posy that she would be betrothed to the Marquess of Greystone in a few weeks. And then the marquess, himself, had joined them, looking incredibly handsome even in comparison to Captain Edgeworth and the other military gentlemen.
And he had singledDianaout.
“Dash it all. Can no one in all of Mayfair be trusted with a confidence? Who told you this?”
“Lady Isabella herself. Is it true? She is the lady you intend to court?”
“Emphasis on intend. I’ve spoken with the lady’s father but made no promises as of yet.” The marquess looked more annoyed than usual, which was saying something considering he seemed at least partly annoyed most of the time.
Diana wondered at the sort of buzzing in her chest. It had begun as a low hum when he’d arrived and grown louder as he’d drawn her aside to speak—just the two of them.
Rolling her lips, Diana pondered his explanation. “I never realized the importance of gossip until I met Bethany. I knew it existed. My father mentioned it often, in fact, but I didn’t realize society was literally built on something so disingenuous,” Diana grumbled and then tilted her head back to study his eyes. “I don’t want to make trouble for you. If you wish to take back your promise, I won’t hold it against you—”
“I am not a man who goes back on his word.” Silvery specks stood out in his eyes, which tonight, appeared more charcoal than grey.
“But if you like, I can be the one to release you from our agreement. I’m more than happy to do so. Isn’t that why you wanted to talk to me?”
“Not at all.” He took her hands in his and leaned down. “I wanted to speak with you before you did anything that might set back your campaign to land your captain.”
“Oh,” Diana muttered, distracted by the sensation of the heat from his breath near her ear. And that buzzing feeling? It was even louder now—stronger.
“Good idea,” Diana added. “Seeing as we failed to discuss our plan in any detail at the party this afternoon.” And with a glance around the Marquess’s shoulder, she ducked and dipped her chin. “He’s looking now. What should I do? What if he comes over here?”
“Excellent.” Lord Greystone’s voice sounded low and satisfied.
More buzzing. More vibrating.
“Smile,” he ordered. He dipped his chin and ever so slightly brushed his jaw along the side of her head. The touch was brief, so much so that she could almost believe he’d done so on accident. It wasn’t so fleeting, however, that she didn’t feel the tug of his whiskers catching in her hair.
Was her inability to inhale a full breath due to her proximity to the marquess, or was she suffering it because she knew Captain Edgeworth was watching?
What if their scheme didn’t work? What if it did?
“Take one step backward,” Lord Greystone instructed.
“But—” Wouldn’t that relay the opposite of what their pretend attraction was supposed to convey?
“Trust me.”
Not understanding his reasoning but also conceding his superior expertise in this circumstance, Diana took a half step back but couldn’t go any further as the wall was directly behind her.
And rather than maintain the slight distance she’d added between them as she’d expected, the marquess took a half step forward. A little light-headed now, she was grateful to lean against the wall, caught between it and his astonishingly masculine chest.
She dare not look up at him. He was too close—too overwhelming. At the same time, she reminded herself that this was all for show.
How was it possible that she felt the heat of Lord Greystone’s body without him even touching her?
