“Which one is he, Mother?” Caroline asked, hoping to dissuade her from pushing him toward her despite having danced with him again that night.
“Stop teasing! You know very well he’s that sturdy, solid viscount.”
With the single eyebrow, Caroline added silently. In truth, she was getting used to it, like a friendly caterpillar crawling across his forehead.
“I’m sure Lady Hollidge has a guest list in mind, Mother. We cannot start inserting our own guests into her party.”
“I shall certainly add Lord Mangue to my guest list,” Daphne promised, doing a better job of appeasing Caroline’s mother than she could do herself.
“What a generous hostess and a respectful young lady,” Lady Chimes said, piercing Caroline with a look that said she wished she were more like her friend.
Caroline didn’t care. She’d been given permission to go to a dinner party, and she would be therewithouther mother. If Lord Diamond agreed to go, she would be satisfied Fortuna had turned her wheel.
Chapter Eight
Lord and Lady Hollidge’s home on Grosvenor Square, shared by Daphne, her beloved Thomas, and their young son Alexander was not far from Caroline’s parents’ own townhouse on Upper Brook Street, practically around the corner. Regardless, her mother had their carriage brought around from the mews, and she rode with Caroline to deposit her upon Daphne’s doorstep.
“Good night, Mother. I shall see you anon.” For Daphne would make sure she got home in her own carriage in the wee hours after the party.
In seven minutes, she waited excitedly in the drawing room with a glass of wine in hand, waiting for Geoffrey Diamond. Not that her friend would willfully go against the wishes of Lady Chimes. However, since Daphne could claim ignorance of any ill feelings between the Chimes and the Diamonds, she had simply included him with the other eligible men.
“But why did you actually invite Lord Mangue?” Caroline asked, when she saw him enter.
“When your mother finds out Lord Diamond is here, she won’t think I did it on purpose if her favorite is also attending,” Daphne explained.
Caroline supposed her friend was correct, but with Lord Mangue peering at her from under his brow, she wondered how she would be able to speak freely with Geoffrey.
“The place cards on the table will undoubtedly please you,” Daphne told her with a wink before she went to greet other guests.
Before Lord Mangue could move into the vacated space, Geoffrey appeared in the doorway. Caroline waved him over, unable to contain her enthusiasm.
“Good evening, Lady Caroline. You are looking especially breathtaking tonight.”
She liked the term he used, having dressed in her favorite shade of green, hoping to please him.
“You are no more handsome than usual,” she returned. Lowering her voice, she added, “And yet you are still the most attractive man here.”
It hardly seemed possible that every other gentleman in the room paled in comparison, but they did. She especially adored the rich raven-color of his hair and how his blue eyes contrasted with his dark lashes.
Suddenly, Lord Mangue was at her elbow. “Good evening, Lady Caroline.”
“Good evening, my lord. I didn’t know you were acquainted with the Hollidges.”
She wished Daphne hadn’t thought it necessary to be cautious in this instance and to please Caroline’s mother.
“I am not, except for meeting Lady Hollidge at Vauxhall. Apparently, one of the young ladies here tonight asked for me particularly to be invited. I wonder whom it could be,” Lord Mangue mused with a cock of his head.
Her stomach twinged. She hoped Geoffrey didn’t think she’d had anything to do with it. All she could do was nod politely.
Then Lord Mangue turned to Geoffrey, and his greeting was less pleasant. “It seems you keep cropping up wherever Lady Caroline and I happen to be.”
“I don’t think that’s the case,” Geoffrey answered lightly. “Merely a happy circumstance.”
“Happy?” Lord Mangue frowned, causing his single eyebrow to crease in the center. “Hardly. And do you know what, Diamond?”
“No,” Geoffrey said, not asking the question Lord Mangue wished him to.
“Well, I’ll tell you. My sister was most definitelynotat Vauxhall. I meant to let you know when I saw you again, but you were always on the other side of the room at the last ball.”
