He was more than twice her age, with a sharp, aquiline nose, clear blue eyes, and black hair that was peppered with gray. It was rumored that he had sired more than a half dozen children by a string of mistresses.
When she had encountered this silver-tongued serpent in the past, Lavinia had done everything in her power to wriggle away from him. But now, in her parents’ home, she saw little hope of escaping the conversation.
“Who would dare miss a party like this?” Lord Selway replied as he spread his hands wide and gestured to the crowded room.“London will be empty all week because anyone who is anyone will have retreated here, to Crawford Hall.”
“Yes, well…” Lavinia hesitated. She did not know what to say next. Her mind worked to conjure an excuse so that she might slip away, but she could come up with nothing. “My parents have spared no expense. Be sure that they aim to dazzle you and all their other guests this week.”
“Oh…” Lord Selway leaned forward slightly and lowered his voice to a purr. “I look forward to being dazzled, Miss Fitzroy.”
His eyes dropped to her chest, and she was not sure if he was admiring her necklace or looking at her inappropriately.
Lavinia opened her mouth to reply, but was spared the trouble when Charles and another gentleman appeared beside her.
“Selway,” Charles greeted in a voice that was too loud for the setting. “What do you think of Crawford Hall?”
Lord Selway turned his gaze to Charles. “I have not toured the property yet, Mr. Fitzroy. Perhaps your sister would consent to lead me through the grounds before dinner.”
He cast a lustful look in Lavinia’s direction, and she lowered her head, hoping Charles could read her distress.
“Iwould be happy to give you a tour,” Charles emphasized. He clapped a hand jubilantly on Lord Selway’s shoulder. “If you asknicely, I might even show you the best place to fish in my father’s trout stream.” He paused and laughed lightly. “As I understand it, you have a penchant for fishing, don’t you, My Lord?”
His words seemed light-hearted enough, but Lavinia noticed how he kept a hand on Lord Selway’s shoulder. She didn’t think Charles was pinching the man or even giving him a slight push, but he was certainly steering him away from her, for which she was exceedingly grateful.
“I… do enjoy a bit of fishing,” Lord Selway responded in a tone that indicated he was unsure how to proceed. “And I suppose I would like to see your trout stream.”
“Very well.” Charles sidled forward. Because his hand still rested on Lord Selway’s shoulder, the motion placed him squarely between Lavinia and the Marquess.
She mouthed a gentle, “Thank you,” and he winked at her in return.
Then, just as she was sure that he and the offensive Lord Selway would walk away, Charles dipped his chin and whispered, “I came over here to introduce you to my friend, Lord Windham. Do play nice with him, Lavinia. He is a bit bumbling, but overall, he is a good, kind-hearted man.”
Lavinia gaped at her brother. On the one hand, she was grateful to him for intervening on her behalf and escorting Lord Selway out of the room. On the other hand, she was annoyed to findthat he had only joined her so he could introduce her to another gentleman.
Breathe. Just breathe.
She knew she ought not to be angry with Charles. He was not forcing her to marry Lord Windham; he merely intended to make an introduction.
So, she inhaled deeply, lifted her chin, plastered a smile on her face, and turned to greet Lord Windham.
For a brief moment, she was mildly flustered. Lord Windham was a uniquely attractive gentleman. He was tall and slim as a reed. His whitish blond hair was a tad longer than what was considered highly fashionable, but he wore the look well, as the strands curled around his ears. His face was pale, indicating he spent little to no time outdoors.
When Lavinia met his eyes, she was surprised to see a warm blue that blended nicely with his wide black pupils. She was vaguely reminded of her inkwell when she gazed into his eyes, and that made her all the more curious about him.
“Hello,” she said softly, bobbing a quick curtsy. “I am Miss Fitzroy, Charles’s sister.”
“So I have gathered.” Lord Windham bowed grandly. “Charles has told me almost everything about you.”
Unease coiled in Lavinia’s abdomen, but she tried to laugh off the feeling. “I certainly hope not.”
“I assure you that I know a great deal about you, Miss Fitzroy,” Lord Windham said in a most earnest tone. “Your brother says that you enjoy writing lengthy letters, that you do not eat anything for breakfast except a bit of toast and jam, and that you always, always wear flowers in your hair even when you know you will smush the posies once you put a bonnet on your head.” He nodded at the bits of baby’s breath that had been scattered artfully on the crown of her head by her lady’s maid earlier in the day.
Lavinia eyed him skeptically. “My brother told you all of this?”
“Yes,” Lord Windham said slowly, as if he just realized that he should not have rattled off so many details about her life.
“Then you have me at a disadvantage, My Lord, for up until this moment, Charles has failed to even mention your name in my presence.”
“Oh…” Suddenly, Lord Windham seemed agitated. His pale cheeks were flooded with hot streaks of crimson, and he backed a step from her. “I… I…”
