Catching Danbury’s eye, with a quick tilt of his head, he gestured for his friend to follow him so they could speak privately. Slipping into an empty room, just off the foyer, Michael made certain it was vacant and then shut the door firmly.
“What the devil was all that about?” Danbury asked him. “And why was she so out of sorts with you for assisting her? You realize who partnered her, don’t you?”
At his friend’s questions, Michael nodded. “Hawthorne.” And then shoving his hands into his pockets, he turned his head in the direction from which they had come. After a moment or two of contemplation, he shook it, perplexed. “Hawthorne said something to upset Lilly. He frightened her somehow.”
“Lilly?” Danbury asked with raised brows. “NotLady Beauchamp? Are the two of you reconciled then? What of Lady Natalie?”
Brushing off the notion, Michael made an irritated grimace. “Have a care, Danbury. She is an old friend for whom I am concerned.” Then, to change the direction of Danbury’s thoughts, he said, “However, I need a favor, if you will.”
Hugh Chesterton took a few steps toward the settee and dropped into it. Leaning back, he raised one leg up and rested his ankle upon his other knee. “I am at your disposal.”
Michael rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “I am concerned for Lilly’s safety. Unfortunately, she is intolerant of my company tonight. Will you attach yourself to her, and her aunt, for the remainder of the evening? And then see they arrive home safely? I realize this may pose something of an inconvenience. I would do it myself if I could, but…”
“Oh, I understand. Very unusual behavior for the lady, if I say so myself.” Danbury placed both feet back on the floor and stood up. Brushing at his trousers to remove an imagined piece of lint, he looked back up at Michael. “Just an old friend, eh? A very beautiful widow, though.” A gleam in Hugh’s eyes disquieted Michael.
But Danbury knew how Michael had once felt about Lilly. Surely, he would not do anything to jeopardize their friendship, such as poaching on an old flame? “Perhaps you could encourage her to tell you all that Hawthorne said. Use some of that charm for which you are so famous.”
“Absolutely.” Danbury winked. Walking toward the door, his friend stopped a moment before turning to look back at Michael once again. “I’ll see you in the morning then? Rotten Row at sunup?”
Michael nodded, and the viscount exited and closed the door. What the hell was Hawthorne up to now? The image of Lilly, fallen to the floor in pain came unwittingly to mind. Michael had been dancing with Lady Natalie, trying not to watch Lilly from across the room. He’d been doing a lot of that lately…trying not to watch Lilly.
Lady Natalie had been watching her too. And she had told him Lilly looked upset. Alarms had gone off inside of him for he’d known with whom she was dancing, but he’d thought himself paranoid. Lilly had seemed standoffish with the earl, but nothing more than that.
But when he’d glanced over at Lady Natalie’s comment, there had been shock and revulsion in Lilly’s eyes. And then,yes, she had looked frightened just before she’d fallen. And the more he recollected the moment, the more certain he became that she had been attempting to pull away from the bastard. And then she’d fallen.
Wild horses could not have stopped him from rushing to her side. He was beginning to believe it would always be this way.
Ah, she had looked so beautiful this evening. She’d sparkled again just as she had that first season.
She had not dressed as a chaperone. She was dressed as a beautiful woman, one who had had every intention of enjoying herself.
Michael dropped wearily into the spot Danbury had vacated. Placing both feet firmly on the floor, he leaned forward and rested his elbows upon his knees.What the hell was he going to do about her?
With Lord Hawthorne’sthreats echoing in her thoughts, Lilly fought to keep panic from reducing her to tears.
Glenda wasn’t an affectionate girl, or respectful even, but Lilly and Aunt Eleanor were the only family she had left. Glenda needed her.
And in a strange way, Lilly needed Glenda. And she needed for Glenda to find the happiness that had eluded herself. Lilly must make certain Glenda found a good match, somebody kind.
Coming to London, Lilly had hoped Glenda might find somebody with a sweet temperament and a gentle spirit—a man who cared for her but also had thewherewithalto care for her. And Joseph Spencer seemed to fit this requirement to a T. If scandal were to attach itself to Glenda, merely by her association with Lilly, would Mr. Spencer remove his attentions?And if these unfortunate circumstances occurred, could that eliminate other opportunities her niece might be presented for making a good match? If so, it would be Lilly’s fault!
Not because she’d married the baron in the first place. She would not berate herself for that. But rather that she had discussed her past in a very public place where any person might overhear. She ought to have protected such information dearly. Overcome by her emotions where Michael was concerned, she had been careless.
Having invested most of their funds on this season for Glenda, it could not all be for naught! She must prevent Lord Hawthorne from carrying out his threats. But how?
As the orchestra took a break and the murmuring of the guests broke into her consciousness, Lilly realized she had been watching the entrance to the ballroom where Michael and Lord Danbury had exited.
And now Lord Danbury was returning. Alone.
A roguish smile crossed his face when he caught her gaze, and he exaggerated his already confident swagger. Although known about town as something of a rake, he’d never said or done anything improper while in her company. He was similar to Michael in stature and coloring, but their likenesses ended there. Whereas Michael’s eyes shimmered blue, Danbury’s were nearly black. Lilly loved the creases she’d noticed recently around Michael’s eyes. They hadn’t been there before. They must have formed from smiling and spending time out of doors.
Danbury’s dark eyes contrasted vividly against his paler skin. While Michael had been away at war, Danbury had been finishing his education at Oxford. Their differences, perhaps, were part of what strengthened their friendship.
Danbury was a very attractive man, but she’d never had any romantic interest in him whatsoever. She’d always thought Penelope carried a bit of a torch for him, however.
Smiling up at him, she would have chuckled at his wink, had she not been so upset by the evening’s events. She’d developed a rather sisterly affection for the scamp.
Placing one foot forward, the viscount executed a courtly bow as though she were the queen herself.
