She studied them. Going from him to Gabe, then Michael. Lastly, she looked at Zach.
“I’ve often thought the mark of a true gentleman is not in loud demonstrative gestures or peacocking about the place.” She shot Lord Plunge a look. He waggled his fingers to her. “Thank you, gentlemen.”
They all bowed as one before her.
“I was just about to come over, Phoebe, when Dorrie broke a shoe ribbon!” Cambridge Sinclair called, which had everyone laughing.
Chapter Fourteen
“Someone do a recap,” Lord Plunge said from his curricle. The seats were lavender with pink trim, and Beth thought it was likely the silliest and most impractical interior she’d ever seen.
The man himself stood on his doorstep, waving his hands about with a silly look on his face. Beth had never had a problem with him—in fact, he often made her laugh when she danced with him—yet knew there were those, especially men, who struggled to tolerate him.
Her eyes went to Nathan, who now stood below the beautiful Lady Levermarch. There was nothing feminine about that man. His eyes were on the woman, hands clasped before him. Beth looked at his brothers who were standing as he was.
He’d called her a liar and then apologized, because he may be angry with what he saw as her betrayal, but Nathan Deville was a gentleman to the soles of his large leather-clad feet.
The brothers all stood in the same stance. Feet wide, arms folded in front of them, their attention focused on Lady Levermarch. They would catch her should she fall.
“In the last book, Captain Broadbent and Lady Nauticus were being pursued by a pack of wild stoats. Lady Nauticus feared they would never reach safety and thus never have a fulfilling life with the man she loved and enjoy her happily-ever-after—which, I will add, is rarely true,” the Duchess of Raven said.
“Oh, come now, love, with four children of varying ages and a horde of annoying relatives, surely you have found your happily-ever-after in my arms?” The duke smiled.
Beth saw the look of love that passed between the duke and duchess and swallowed her sigh. Two beautiful people who shared a deep connection. In fact, from what she knew of the Sinclair and Raven families, each had found love in their partners. An enviable thing, especially considering she would never marry the man who would always hold her heart.
“Wild stoats; must have been terrifying.” Cambridge Sinclair shuddered. “Are there props?”
“Props?” Alexander Hetherington wandered into the middle of the gathering with his twin brother, Benjamin.
More good-looking men, Beth thought, looking around the gathering, and yet not one of them made her heart thud as Nathan did.
“For the readings,” one of the Sinclair twins said. They were beautiful young ladies, with pale skin and black hair.
“Ah, thank you, Somer.” Alexander bowed. “As luck would have it, I carry my wife’s scarf close to my heart.”
“Utter rot,” Benjamin said. “You found that in a bush not minutes ago. I saw you unwind it and push it into your pocket.”
“Oh, but his story was so much more romantic.” Mary sighed.
“Thank you, Miss Blake.” Alexander bowed before her.
“Is there any chance at all that we could begin? I have a pressing need for a peas and kidney pie,” Cambridge Sinclair said.
“From the Speckled Hen?” Mr. Zacharial Deville asked.
“Is there anywhere else with such high standards? If there is, I have yet to locate it.”
“Unlikely,” Nathan said, shooting her a look. Their gazes locked.
One day she’d been in the gardens of her father’s townhouse and Nathan had appeared. In his hands had been a pie from the Speckled Hen. They’d sat on the grass sharing it.
He looked away first, and Beth drew in a shaky breath. He’d remembered just as she had.
“Oh, for the love of god, someone read before they move on to the entire menu!” the Duchess of Yardly snapped.
“Now now, Duchess, there is no need for haste. Like a good pie, a reading is to be savored,” Michael Deville said.
Beth couldn’t be entirely sure, as she was still a few feet away, but thought the duchess growled. The large dog seated in her carriage barked loudly at the little black one, who appeared to be licking his face.
