“You, nice?” Zach scoffed. “Unheard of.”
The duchess cackled, sounding like a witch, and then jabbed him in the thigh with her cane.
“Come now, move it along.”
“Sorry, Lord Blake,” Zach said as the man tapped him on the shoulder. Something made him glance at the fingers of the man’s right hand as he lowered it. The band of his gold ring drew Zach’s eyes. Their gazes locked briefly. Then with a regal nod, Lord Blake moved on.
Zach shot a look at Gabe. His eldest brother had seen the exchange. How had they not known that Lord Blake was a member of Alexius?
“Isn’t this wonderful?” Phillipa said, stopping beside him. “I would love to go for a row around that pond.” The look she gave him told Zach she thought he should be the one to take her.
Not bloody likely.
“Extremely chilly day to take to the water,” Nathan said, rescuing him.
Zach ignored Phillipa and looked for her sister. Mary was talking with the Deville women. Good. He’d avoid her and then whatever the hell this was going on inside him would ease, and they could get back to insulting each other.
It was a faint hope at best.
CHAPTERFOURTEEN
“Come, ladies, we shall wander,” Dimity said. “It’s cold, so movement is imperative for warmth.”
“I’ll stay with the men folk then,” Gabe said, kissing his wife’s cheek. “I have no wish to be surrounded by so much beauty. It unsettles me.”
“And I want food,” Abby said, “so I will join you soon. Come, Daniel, let us find something delicious.”
More than happy to put as much distance as she could between herself and Zach, Mary left her sister and mother to wander with Ruby, Dimity, Beth, and Freya. She loved these women. They were strong willed and funny. But more important than that was the fact they called her friend.
Real friends, Mary thought. The day they’d gone shopping they had shown her that again. They cared. Wanted her to be happy. Looking down at her skirts, she thought this dress had gone a small way to achieving that. Yes, it was only a dress but after what she’d been wearing for years, was it any wonder she was excited.
“Mary, I know you need to button your coat up now, but the glimpse I had of that dress told me how stunning it is on you,” Beth said.
The other women agreed.
“I had Aggie, my maid, do my hair too, instead of Mother’s maid. She was not pleased.”
“Good for you,” Ruby said.
“Don’t look now, but Mr. Caldwell and that sharp-faced Frenchman who seems to keep company with him are making eyes at you, Mary,” Freya whispered.
“Mr. Moulin is his name. He’s very nice actually,” Beth said. “Nathan and I had a conversation with him at the Hatton ball.”
“Neither man is making eyes at me,” Mary said. Men didn’t look at her that way. Not that she minded. Mary had far more important things to do than pursue a husband. Of course, she’d never tell her mother that, since she’d have conniptions, as surely a woman’s entire focus in life was to find a wealthy husband.
“He is, because you are finally showcasing your beauty,” Dimity said. “But he will not do for you at all.”
“I am not interested in finding a husband at the moment, but out of curiosity, why will he not do?” Mary asked.
“He has no fire inside him,” Dimity said.
“He’s bland,” Freya added. “And—”
“Boring,” Beth cut in.
“As I have no plans to wed, it matters not,” Mary said. “Come, shall we row?”
“We know who is the right man for you,” Beth said, looking smug.
