It was the woman standing with him.
She was an older woman, but there was something graceful about her. Her father lookedveryengaged in the conversation, as though he was hanging onto every word of it.
Rachel had never seen her before.
Marina looked equally confused. “I do not know. Perhaps Father has plans for marriage of his own,” she joked.
“God forbid.”
As if sensing their gaze, the woman turned.
“Oh, no,” Rachel averted her gaze immediately. “She’s caught us staring.”
“And worse, she’s making her way over here!” Marina announced. The two sisters quickly busied themselves in pretend conversation, as though they had not been observing her just moments ago.
“Good evening,” the woman said smoothly, dipping into a small curtsy. “Christopher, you did not introduce me to your daughters before. Such a shame. But finally, I’m getting a chance to meet them.”
“Yes, well,” Christopher grumbled under his breath. When in public, he liked to keep this distance from his ‘daughters’. Letitia was the only one whom he had any interest in introducing to anyone.
“You must be the Duchess of Everly,” the woman turned to Rachel, surprising her.
Rachel had spent most of her life being comfortably in the background. Getting approached like this was something she was not quite used to, but perhaps it was the new normal. She was a duchess now, after all, and that was not a small title.
“I am.”
The woman’s gaze swept over her with mild interest before she smiled again. “It is a pleasure to finally meet you, Your Grace. I am Lady Langston.”
“I don’t think I have heard anything about you,” Rachel replied, though she noticed Christopher rolling his eyes—as if he was irritated by the fact that Rachel was even speaking to her. He no longer had any power, of course.
“Oh, consider me a friend of your father,” the woman supplied, glancing toward Christopher briefly before returning her gaze to Rachel.
A friend of my father.Strange, Rachel thought. She must either be influential or very rich. Christopher did not makefriendsfor any other reason.
Lady Langston’s smile remained intact. “And this must be your sister?”
“Marina Montrose,” Marina answered, curtsying.
Lady Langston regarded her for a moment, then nodded approvingly. “You both are even lovelier than I had imagined. Very nice daughters you have raised, Lord Montrose.”
“I, well…” Christopher said awkwardly.
“Do you reside in London?” Rachel asked, keeping her tone even though the woman had piqued her curiosity.
“I travel often,” she replied vaguely. “But I do enjoy the ton when it suits me.”
“So, are you travelling now?” Rachel couldn’t help but ask, for the answer had been evasive. It almost reminded her of Simon.
Before Rachel could probe further, her gaze flickered past the lady toward the other end of the ballroom.
Rachel turned just in time to see Simon emerging from the crowd.
His dark gaze scanned the room, sharp and assessing, before landing directly on them.
And then, on the woman.
The lady curtsied once more, suddenly in a hurry. “It was a pleasure, Your Grace. I do hope we meet again.”
“Ah, there is your lovely wife,” Rowan murmured to Simon, who had not left his side ever since he had gotten to the venue.
