“That dress is lovely on you, Duchess. It brings out the jaundice in your cheeks.”
“Evasion is the sign of a weak mind,” she cackled.
“Oh don’t look now, but your dear friend, Lady Crackle is approaching.”
“I dislike that woman,” the duchess snapped. “Do not make eye contact.”
“No. Really?” He waved to the lady who was clearly looking for someone.
“Stop it,” the duchess hissed.
He kept smiling and waving. Old like the duchess, Lady Crackle had the same snarl on her features.
“My dear Lady Crackle. The duchess was just telling me she was hoping to find you, her friend. She has a wish to sit somewhere and chat as standing for over long can be tiring.”
Lady Crackle’s lips tilted slightly as she studied the duchess, who in turn looked bilious.
“I will leave you two alone so you may catch up.” His smile was wide. Bowing, he then started to walk away but not before he heard the duchess hiss, “You’ll get yours, Deville.”
He rose to his toes when he’d moved far enough away from the two elderly viragos and looked for Mary. He found her talking to that fop, Caldwell, and a sharp faced fellow with dark features who he didn’t know. He needed to talk to her and not because the duchess was right and she was his destiny.
He scoffed, and Mrs. Martin gave him the eye.
“Your pardon.” He bowed.
Mary, his destiny? The idea was ludicrous, but he would apologize to her and then he need not visit her tomorrow. He was doing himself a favor really.
Caldwell smiled at her. Surely Mary would not be fooled by the man. He’d made it clear he wanted a wife, and Mary came with a substantial dowry. He was not right for her. Not that Zach cared who she married. The duchess was wrong there. Mary would never be anything more than what she currently was to him.
He’d just about reached her when she moved again, away from Caldwell, who followed her with his eyes. Zach veered left and elbowed him.
“Forgive me, Caldwell. A trifle crowded in here tonight.” Zach then headed in the direction Mary had gone in, his eyes on the sway of her skirts as she walked away.
Her dress was another hideous creation that rivaled the Duchess of Yardley’s.
Mary wove through people with an expertise any who walked in society learned early. Chin elevated, she did not make eye contact to anyone looking her way.
To be fair, not many were. Mary was not popular, and Zach had always wondered why.
She was articulate, intelligent, and passably looking. Perhaps a touch more than passable, if one looked closer and beyond the hideous hair and dress. Not that he thought her anything but a sharp pain in his side.
But he’d seen how pale she was tonight.Was she ill?The thought made his back stiffen.
“I refuse to accompany you again,” Nathan said, moving to stand in front of him, and thus halting his progress and ensuring he lost sight of Mary again.
“What?” He focused on Beth and Nathan.
“If you have to apologize to Mary for being rude, I’m not going with you,” Nathan said.
“I have not been rude,” Zach lied. In fact, he’d said she was jealous because he didn’t flirt with her. Not one of his finer moments.
“What I want to know is why you and Mary are continually antagonizing each other,” Beth said. “Why don’t you just avoid her?”
“I think it’s a game they both enjoy,” Nathan said.
“Do you?” Beth asked Zach.
“Do I what?”
