As the evening wore on, Reggie forgot her earlier triumph in discomfiting Nicholas. He did not look at her once during the meal. She found it difficult to summon even the briefest of smiles for her companions, and she thanked heaven that Tony was not nearby. If she’d had to endure his snide comments just then, she would have burst into tears.
It was with profound relief that Reggie at last retired from the room with the other ladies. She had only a few minutes to compose herself, however, before the men sauntered into the drawing room. She held her breath, waiting to see if Nicholas would continue to ignore her. He made his way straight to Mrs. Hargreaves without giving Reggie a glance.
It was the outside of enough. Her pride wouldn’t let her stay. And if her uncle said even one word to her about Nicholas, she would explode. She couldn’t do that in public.
When she asked George Fowler to take her home, his limpid green eyes widened in delight. Then he said, “But your uncle?”
“I’m rather annoyed with him.” She was and she wasn’t, but it served as an excuse. “And he has brought a lady with him, anyway. I hate to impose on you, though, George. You have your sister with you.”
“My brother can see to her, never fear,” he declared, smiling.
Well, she thought crossly, it was nice thatsomebody liked her.
Chapter 15
“WHY is it, I wonder, that you notice the minute she leaves the room with someone?”
Nicholas swung around to meet the level gaze of Anthony Malory. “Following me, my lord?” he asked.
“No point in staying now that the entertainment is over,” Anthony replied agreeably. “And a grand show it was too. Only ten minutes gone, and off you go too. Bad effect that.”
Nicholas glared at him. “I’m surprised you didn’t follow her to make sure Fowler takes her right home. Isn’t that what a good watchdog would do?”
Anthony chuckled. “Whatever for? She will do what she wants to do, no matter what I say. And I trust her more with Fowler than I do with you”—he paused and cleared his throat—“even if he was one of the chaps after her last season. If he doesn’t take her right home, well, you can’t very well blame him, can you? You’re doing your best to give these young bucks the impression she’s still available.” He waited a moment. “Aren’t you?”
Nicholas’ eyes flared. “If you take exception to my behavior, you know what you can do about it.”
“Indeed,” Anthony said coldly, all humor gone in an instant. “If I didn’t think Reggie would make a fuss about it, I’d see you in the ring quickly enough. When she stops defending you, we’ll make that appointment—you may depend upon it.”
“You’re a bloody hypocrite, Malory.”
Anthony shrugged. “Yes, I am, when one of my own is involved. You know, Montieth, Jason may think highly of you, but Jason knows only the more positive aspects of your character. He doesn’t know what you’re trying to do, but I do.”
“Do you?”
They stopped talking as Percy came in. Anthony left the scowling Nicholas, and Percy approached his friend sympathetically. “So you’ve had another run-in with him, have you?”
“Something like that,” Nicholas bit out.
Percy shook his head. Nicholas’ problem was that he rarely had any opposition in his life. He was big enough and reckless enough that no one cared to match words with him, let alone fight him. Now he had Lady Ashton’s relatives forcing their collective will on him, and the frustration was doing him in.
“You shouldn’t take it so hard, Nick. You’ve just never come up against anyone as formidable as yourself before, and now you’ve got a whole passel.” When Nicholas did not reply, he went on, “It’ll be better once you’re married.”
“Bloody hell!” Nicholas swore. He left Percy and went to fetch his cloak.
Nicholas took a deep breath of the night air as he stepped outside to await his carriage, which was across the street. Then he took another deep breath. It did not calm him.
“Wait up, Nick.” Percy came down the stairs. “It might help if you talk to a friend.”
“Not tonight, Percy, I’m on the short end of my temper.”
“Because of Malory?” Nicholas grunted. “Oh, it’s because she left with Georgie, then, is that it?”
“Shecan leave with whomever she bloody well pleases, for all I care!”
“Gad, don’t eat me,” Percy protested, backing away a little. “Old George is really…not actually harmless, but…well, dash it all, she’s engaged to you. She—” He saw he was only making matters worse. “I don’t believe it. Can the unfeeling Montieth really and truly be jealous for a change?”
“Of course I’m not jealous,” Nicholas snapped. “I simply hoped tonight would be the end of it.”
