She was startled by the question. Was she allowing her emotions to be so obvious? That wouldn’t do. Finn was too clever, and too protective, for that.
“Of course,” she said. “I’m only concerned about the gathering going well. The welcome ball is so important to your connections both in London and in the local area.”
“You’ve never let me down, Marianne. You never could.” He took her hand and squeezed gently. His expression was filled with love for her as he said, “I know this isn’t always easy for you.”
She blinked at tears at that admission. Finn couldn’t truly understand how she felt about her position in life. He, unlike her, was golden, so he had been untouched by all the gossip caused by their past. But she appreciated the effort nonetheless. She smiled at him for assurance. “Well, perhaps one day soon you’ll find some lovely young lady to make your countess and then I’ll have a friend in the planning. Or she’ll take over entirely.”
His cheek twitched as he turned his attention back to the arriving parties. “I’m sure at some point I’ll wed. Duty and all.”
They refocused their attention on the increasing number of arriving guests and for a long while there was no break in their duties. When the groups began to thin, she glanced over her shoulder toward the hallway. “What do you think of Mr. Lanford, Finn?”
Finn had been staring off into the distance as if distracted, but now his attention snatched to her. “Lanford, eh?” he pressed, though his tone was noncommittal. “He escorted you down, I saw.”
She nodded. “We merely bumped into each other at the top of the stairs. But we’ve spent a little time together since the Brighthollow ball a few weeks ago.”
“Yes. I noted that.” He shifted slightly. “He seems a fine enough fellow. Sebastian insisted I invite him along to shoot this afternoon and he was companionable enough.”
“Sebastian did?” she said softly, wondering why he would do so when it was evident that Sebastian thought little of the man. Unless it was to keep Lanford from her. But that was silly. “Well, I’m glad to hear you have nothing bad to say about him.”
Another set of guests passed through the foyer, saying their greetings, shaking hands. As they were escorted by servants to the parlor, Finn sighed. “Rather boring, though, isn’t he?”
“Lanford?” She looked at him. “I would guess most people would label me the same way.”
He pivoted now and faced her full on. “You? No,youare brilliant and witty and insightful.”
She blinked at that sharp defense of her character. “I…thank you, Finn.”
He took her hand. “Mari, if anyone thinks you are boring, they don’t deserve you. And if you think they are, the same is true. You needn’t ever settle. I would always take care of all your requirements so that you can retain whatever level of freedom is best for you. I’d rather do that than see you in a miserable marriage. Than see you wither on the vine like our poor mother did.”
She pursed her lips. She and her brother had long ago stopped talking about their mother. About their father. Those topics were too sharp. Too painful for each of them and somehow they had never allowed themselves to lean together through that pain.
Which put her to mind of Sebastian. As much as she knew he needed her brother, Finn needed him just as much. If she loved them, as she so very much did, she couldn’t separate them by demanding something from Sebastian. Not that she was bold enough to do so.
A last couple entered the foyer and they welcomed them. Then Finn nodded to their butler and said, “If there are any more late comers, escort them to the parlor. We’ll take a quarter of an hour there and then be ready for supper.”
“Certainly, my lord. I’ll ensure the kitchen is aware and let you know if there are any issues with the timeline.”
As Bentley slipped away, Finn took her arm and smiled down at her as he led her toward the parlor and its laughter and music within. “I think you and I have both been out of sorts lately due to various troubles,” he said. “And I want you to swear to me one thing tonight, Marianne.”
“What is that?” she asked with a smile at his light tone and playful wink.
“That you’ll havefun,” he said. “You deserve that.”
Then they entered the parlor where all their guests were gathered and separated to mingle amongst them. But as Marianne drifted into the crowd for the duties she never felt quite equipped for, she couldn’t help but look for Sebastian and think that if she was going to truly have fun, it could only be with him.
And likely in ways her brother would never approve of.
Sebastian hadn’t been able to take his eyes off Marianne all night. He tried to mask his interest, tried to continue talking to the other guests and responding when appropriate, but it felt like a losing battle. They’d been seated at opposite ends of the table at supper. That was usual, he always sat beside Delacourt at these events and Marianne took the place at the other end of the table that would one day be occupied by his friend’s countess.
But tonight Sebastian had kept watching Marianne. Watching who she spoke to, whether she laughed. Did she look engaged by the gentleman to her left? Was he flirting with her?
And now, with the ball in full swing around them, he still couldn’t take his eyes off of her. She hadn’t missed a dance yet and she’d begun the night in the arms of Lanford. They’d smiled at each other, chatted throughout their turn, she’d laughed like the man was a talented bard.
And then she’d followed with another man and another and another. The men had become faceless, nameless to him, but Marianne had almost begun to glow. She transformed into this unreachable thing he wanted so much that he could almost feel his pulse in every part of his body.
This unreachable thing he had refused for both their sakes. She never looked at him. She never sought him out.
“You look sour, my friend,” Delacourt said as he sidled up to Sebastian and handed over a drink. “I got you one that isn’t watered down like the punch.”
