His hand fluttered at his side, and for a moment he almost let himself defy all their agreements and touch her. God, how he wanted to do just that. To touch her and then never stop touching her. Not until they both had their fill of pleasure.
But he had to be stronger than that. He stepped back instead. “It must. I’ll see you at Garringford Corners in a few days. Good day, Marianne.”
He pivoted on his heel and strode from the parlor, from her home. He could feel her watching him and when he mounted his horse he gave a quick glance over his shoulder to find her at the window, doing just that. As he rode away he drew a shuddering breath. There had to be a way to overcome this.
There just had to be.
CHAPTER 13
As Marianne stood at the edge of the parlor, watching her brother and so many of his good friends as they laughed and chatted, she felt the keenest sting of missing Claudia. She had invited her dear friend to Garringford Corners for this gathering a few times. She had only convinced shy Claudia to come once and then she had marveled at how Marianne could bear all the loud, boisterous men.
“They hardly see me,” she had responded at the time, and they’d gone to get their tea without anyone even noticing they’d left.
But today it was different. There was no Claudia to cling to, giggling over the other guests. And she was no longer unseen. Several of Finn’s friends occasionally looked her way with a smile or a tilt of their heads.
And there was always Sebastian, who was across the room at the fireplace, chatting with another gentleman. His gaze flitted to her over and over and she tried not to blush every time he did.
“Lady Marianne.”
She jolted as she was approached by Mr. Lanford. He hadn’t been invited to this event by her brother before, so she wasn’t exactly certain why he was here now, but he’d been kind enough to her at the Brighthollow ball and she wasn’t sorry to see him.
“Mr. Lanford, I’m so glad you could join us.”
“You and your brother are kind to invite me,” he said. “Your estate is lovely, as are you.”
She glanced down at herself. Since that night at the ball, her maid, Hannah, had been altering her dresses, making all of them a little more daring. She still wasn’t entirely accustomed to the lack of lace concealing her collarbones yet, but it was becoming less uncomfortable with every day.
“Thank you,” she said, and felt the heat in her cheeks at the compliment. She wasn’t used to receiving those, either. “And we do enjoy it here. We’re close enough to London to make it convenient and far enough away to have some little peace. Not like Delacourt, which is days away by carriage.”
He nodded. “I do agree that this close-in estate is heavenly. We can shoot in the morning and be out to some of the hells by night.” He stopped himself. “Forgive me, I should not speak of such things with you.”
She shook her head. Her ears had actually perked up when he said the hells. Playing faro in one of those mysterious places was on Claudia’s list, after all, and she knew nothing of them. Since she didn’t have Sebastian as a guide anymore, this was an opportunity to find out more in a natural way.
“Not at all. I’ve always been interested in hearing more about those places. They also call it the underground, yes? Are they truly under the ground? How would that work?”
He laughed, but it wasn’t unkind. “No, my lady. Just secret. Well, an open secret, since we all know about them. Clubs where people can wager and drink and enjoy themselves a little more freely.”
“And there is one close by?”
“Many are in the heart of the city, closer to where you live when you’re in Town. But there are a few on the outskirts.” He stepped a little closer. “Are you truly curious?”
She examined him carefully. He had a kind enough face and had not been untoward with her. “I…am,” she admitted. “I don’t suppose a lady such as myself might be invited along.”
He glanced over his shoulder toward her brother. “Delacourt might not like it.”
“I’m sure he wouldn’t,” she said. “But I am an independent woman, you know.”
“You are, indeed,” Lanford said with a sly smile. “I could escort you if you’d truly like to observe such a place.”
Her eyes widened. “Would you? Oh, that would be delightful, Lanford, thank you. When?”
“Tonight?” he suggested. “After supper? If you can slip out, that is.”
“Easily,” she said with a laugh. “I fade into the woodwork here during these things.”
“I doubt that,” he said. “Excellent. Then meet me in the foyer at say, ten? I’ll arrange the rest.”
“I will,” she said with smile before he nodded and excused himself.
