Daniel was not done with her, though. He turned his intense gaze to her and said, “And some may fly to forbidden places. What do you think, Lady Lucy?”
“I have yet to test my wings, Your Grace,” Lucy replied, even as her breath hitched. “Therefore, I would not know.”
“Well, I believe tonight is the time to begin testing those wings,” Daniel said in a low voice. He sounded pensive, but his eyes sparkled with mischief.
“Has Victoria arrived yet?” Lucy asked Marianne, hoping to steer the conversation away from birds and their wings. “I would love to see her.”
“She has. I will take you to her, Lady Lucy,” Marianne offered, much to her relief. “The men can proceed with their dull business on their own.”
Joshua looked positively sour, his hands curled into fists as if trying to control himself. He gave his sister a nod.
“Don’t be too long, Lucy.”
The women crossed to the other side of the room. Daniel watched Lucy’s retreating back until he could no longer see her.
Yes, he was teasing her, but it was his way of testing the waters. The girl seemed terrified of getting caught. He had seen how her brother had hovered, and could no longer blame her for wanting some adventure in her life.
“So, how are you settling into your new role, Stonewynn?” Joshua asked, trying to reclaim his attention. “A duchy is not an easy thing to run, and you’ve just settled into your role as the Marquess of Grisham. Most men would have stumbled in their first year, and it would have been understandable.”
“It’s a piece of cake,” Daniel replied. Joshua could think him arrogant, and he didn’t really care. “It’s more numbers on a page and choosing to transact with the right people. I wouldn’t say I just settled into my previous role as Marquess. I was born knowing I would take over after my father. And you’ve seen mysister Marianne. She taught us how to be brave, strong, and principled.”
“I am certain that you are right,” Joshua replied, his eyes boring into Daniel’s. “However, I wonder what you’ve been looking for. I heard you’ve been spending quite some time at the East End, in some areas our kind is not expected to explore without getting hurt.”
“Who,” Daniel corrected him.
“I beg your pardon?” Joshua asked, his body stiffening. It was barely perceptible, but Daniel noticed it.
“I am searching for a particular person,” Daniel clarified.
“How mysterious,” Joshua murmured. “Why are you looking for this person? He must be quite important. Did he owe you something?”
“I don’t think it’s time for me to talk about these things,” Daniel said. “But perhaps one day, when I’ve found him, I will tell you.”
“The places you’ve been exploring can be quite dangerous. I’d caution you against those parts of London. The things I’ve heard happen in those back alleys are alarming.”
“I’ve survived worse, Marsleigh,” Daniel insisted, and he saw Joshua’s knuckles whiten around his glass of brandy. “I believe I can handle myself.”
“All is good, then,” Joshua said, before his eyes landed on something behind Daniel.
Daniel turned to see another man looking their way.
“If you’ll excuse me, Stonewynn. I must go and talk to Lord Beasley.”
As Joshua made his way to his acquaintance, Daniel took it as an opportunity to scan the crowd for Lucy. There she was, with three of his sisters: the twins and Marianne. He smiled.
Not long after Joshua had left him standing alone, Theo approached. Daniel heaved a sigh of relief at the sight of his friend wearing something black for a change. He’d have to avert his eyes to protect them if Theo decided to wear his magenta suit.
“You are doing it again, Stonewynn, and I suspect you don’t even know it.”
“W-what?”
“You are staring at no other than Lady Lucy Coulson, were you not?” Theo asked, arching his eyebrows. “You have been staring at her like a wolf about to pounce anytime. Be careful, your sisters are very perceptive.”
“I was merely observing the room and my sister’s guests,” Daniel lied, glaring at him. “I rarely attend such events.”
“Mmm. Not a complete lie. Lady Lucy is, after all, part of the room. She was with three of your sisters. Now, two more are approaching. That is a difficult blockade to break.”
Daniel shot his friend a death glare. Still, he could no longer deny it.
