“Perhaps he won’t show up?”
“Was that a hopeful note I just heard? Alas, I must disappoint you. I believe he lives in this residence permanently, while his parents spend most of the year in the country.”
And then the cur was there, at least, she guessed as much when she saw a tall, formally dressed man kiss Lady Rathban’s cheek and the lady hooked her arm through his and started leading him around for introductions.
“I think you need to return me to my mother’s side,” she said in a nervous tone.
“Yes, I can see that,” he fairly growled, confirming her guess that Daniel had arrived.
He did return her to Kathleen, who stood with two other ladies, and he immediately slipped away, but not far. And after Kathleen introduced Vanessa to her friends, she pulled her aside. “Are you ready?”
“You know the heir is here?”
“Yes, Lord Albert just caught my eye and nodded toward his son. Smart of him to let his wife do the introductions. Apparently the boy goes out of his way to do exactly the opposite of what his father wants him to do—sound familiar?”
“Not now, Mother,” Vanessa hissed in response to the slipped-in scold. “And if you spotted him, you know bloody well he’s no boy, so stop calling him that. You lied to me.”
“Don’t be obtuse, you must know it was an honest mistake. I was sure the boy with Albert that day at the races was his son. Without actually speaking to them, I couldn’t know Albert was there with his nephew. But at least the real Daniel is handsome.”
Too handsome. Vanessa wouldn’t be wrapping this man around her little finger. And she had agreed to the match because she thought she could!
“He’s too old,” Vanessa said, wishing she didn’t sound apprehensive.
“Don’t be absurd. He doesn’t look a day over thirty. And you have nothing to be nervous about, darling. You’re bound to win him instantly.”
Vanessa had no such confidence, but too much was riding on Kathleen’s being right. And then the two Rathbans were there before her, giving her a close-up view of the man she was engaged to, although he didn’t know it yet.
He had drooping eyelids as if he’d just awoken from slumber that gave him an aura of sensuality. He was older than she would have liked, no longer a young buck exactly, and older than most of the other gentlemen who frequented debutante balls, but he certainly wasn’t too old to join the marriage mart. Because of his family’s wealth and titles, and his looks, he would actually be considered a prime catch. But he was also imposing, a big handsome bear of a man, with black hair in the short, wind-blown fashion, and light brown eyes that were almost amber.
His drooping eyelids suddenly made her think of snake eyes, and she choked back a nervous giggle as they were introduced to each other by his mother. But he looked so bored as Lady Margaret said all the right things and he said not a word! He couldn’t be bothered to be the least bit cordial. In fact, with a rude flick of his hand he walked away after the introductions, apparently concluding that he’d met enough guests for the night. He left his mother red-cheeked and uttering apologies. Vanessa, despite her hopes that she’d find her fiancé tolerable, couldn’t deny to herself that what she felt at that moment was relief. She was still going to have to do something to win him, but apparently, not tonight.
Chapter Thirty-one
“ISEE THAT WENT WELL.”
Monty said it so drolly Vanessa rolled her eyes. They were dancing again, and again, Monty had stolen her away right before a number of hopefuls converged on her.
“It appears he’s not interested a’tall,” she remarked candidly, then sighed.
“You’re disappointed?”
“Not yet, though I don’t doubt I will be.”
“Why?”
“Because the match still needs to happen.”
“The devil it does, and besides, now you know he’s too bloody old for you.”
Monty’s sudden outrage made her want to smile, but she didn’t. He seemed jealous.
“Are you incensed on my behalf because he snubbed me? Yes, I do realize that’s what he did.”
“No, I’m incensed that you would still consider him as a marital prospectafterhe snubbed you. I assumed you would come to your senses once you met him.”
“I believe I mentioned that I want this match for more than the usual reasons?”
“Which are?” When she didn’t answer, he growled, “I’ve a mind to call him out for the insult he just dealt you. You can’t marry a corpse!”
