Not quite as tall as Jamie, though close, Toby had recently married Lady Liberty Talbot. His friends were happy, and while Jamie found joy in that, there was also a twinge of sadness, knowing such contentment would never be his. The tender touches and secret smiles would not be for him. Of course, there had been plenty of women who smiled at him, just not with love.
“Busy,” Jamie said. In truth, he’d been hunting Jackson, but his friends didn’t know about that, and he wouldn’t tell them. They had lives to live and wives to care for. He would see this through alone.
Toby moved to stand directly before him, blocking Jamie’s view of the receiving line.
“Doing what?”
“Where is your wife?” Jamie asked.
“She has a sniffle and decided it best to stay home, though she insisted I attend. Apparently, she believes I need time in your company. Anthony, too, is coming alone as Evie is visiting friends.”
“And you feel as though you’ve had a limb severed?” Jamie asked.
“Of course not,” Toby lied too quickly.
“You’re pathetic,” Jamie said, ignoring the stab of envy.
“I say, Corbyn, the line is moving!” Captain Dibley roared from behind them.
Jamie smirked as Toby ignored the man.
“God, the traffic is dreadful out there.” Anthony, Lord Hamilton, joined them.
“There’s a line, Hamilton!” Dibley bellowed.
“My friends are holding my place, Captain,” Anthony said smoothly. “How are you, Jamie?”
“Good. And you?”
“Good. How come we haven’t seen you for weeks?” Anthony asked.
“He won’t tell,” Toby said. “But something isn’t right with him.”
Thankfully, the line began to move again, and after greeting the hosts with elegant bows, they stepped into the ballroom.
“So what aren’t you telling us, Jamie?” Anthony asked.
“Nothing. Now, you two, tell me your news.”
Toby and Anthony exchanged a look, and it was Toby who spoke. “How does he know we have news?”
“I haven’t seen you in weeks so surely something’s happened in your mundane lives during that time?”
“Aww, did you miss us?” Anthony teased.
As Jamie glanced toward the dancers, he caught sight of a couple parting, and Lady Alice stepped into view. What was she doing here?
“Jamie!” Anthony snapped his fingers before his face.
“What?”
His friends stood watching him, brows raised.
“What’s going on, Jamie?” Toby asked.
“Nothing.”
“Oh, very well. If you’ve no wish to tell your best friends, then fine. We’ll tell you our news instead,” Anthony said.
