CHAPTERFIFTEEN
“Whoare you looking for?”
“No one,” Leo said, letting his eyes circle the room.
“No,” Grace said, “you are definitely looking for someone, and if it is Beth, she went that way.”
Leo looked down at his best friend’s wife. He saw that pregnancy had Grace glowing.
“Why would I want to find Miss Whitlow?”
“Because you are betrothed, and surely that is reason enough. Or perhaps now that you have spent more time together you actually like her... very much. In fact, it’s my belief that whatever animosity once lay between you has gone, and now you are friends, very good friends.”
“Grace,” he warned. “It has been four days and in that time I have hardly seen Miss Whitlow, so please stop whatever this is.”
“It’s called matchmaking, Leo.”
“And you can stop it right now.”
“Yes, Leo.” She smiled sweetly up at him.
“Don’t meddle,” he added.
“You are betrothed, and while it is a fake one, I believe she will make you a wonderful wife.”
“And I repeat, don’t meddle.”
“Leo, you told society she was yours, it is not I who is meddling.”
He narrowed his eyes at her. “You’re a devilishly clever woman. Tell me again why you married that idiot.”
“Because he is quite simply the best man I have ever known.”
“Carrying that baby has made you soft.”
“Very likely.” She patted his arm. “But I am right, Leo. Beth would make you a perfect wife.”
“I’m sure she would disagree with you.”
“However, you do not?”
“Lord save me,” he groaned.
“Go and find her.” Grace made a shooing gesture.
He gave up and simply left, heading away from the meddling woman, and in the direction Grace had indicated. Of course she’d been right, and he was looking for Beth. The woman was, as always, in the forefront of his thoughts.
Circling the room, he came up empty-handed, so Leo made his way through the open balcony doors. Nodding as he walked, he circled the house, and found her alone, staring out into the night. As he drew near Leo saw the paper crushed into one gloved fist.
“Beth?”
He startled her, forcing her to turn before hiding her thoughts. He’d seen that look a few times lately on her.
“My lord. Have you come to tell me the readings are about to begin?”
“No. Was it bad news?” He could not stop his eyes running over her. She was stunning in the moonlight. Her flaxen hair was bundled high, exposing the elegant line of her neck and shoulders. The dress had an overskirt of soft ivory lace, separated down the middle to reveal an underskirt of rose satin. A band of matching satin also trimmed the bodice, and drew his eyes to the curves of her lovely breasts. She wore ivory gloves and slippers, and Leo thought beautiful was too simple a word to describe how she looked tonight.
“I beg your pardon?” She wouldn’t look at him.
