The little imp crossed her arms with a mischievous smirk. “I would suppose a brute may be more desirable than an angry old goose.”
“I never once said you were an old goose. Only an angry one.”
Her head tipped back as she laughed, her eyes shining as she looked back at him. “I will not have any geese when I am married. I could not possibly spend my life competing for the title of the angriest goose there ever was. It would be too much.”
Felix snorted and was about to respond when he saw Stanford leaving the house and heading their way. “It looks like the guests have arrived for dinner. There will be several young women in attendance with whom it would be good for you to build acquaintanceships.”
“I have little want to be around those young women if they are like the ones I have already encountered.”
Still, she walked back to the house with a slight nod of her head to Stanford.
Felix turned to his friend. “You are early, are you not?”
Standford smirked and leaned against the tree that Isabelle had just vacated. “I thinkyouare late because you are too busy talking with your charge. Tell me, are there to be wedding bells in the future?”
“No. Not for me, although if you are searching for a wife who will keep you entertained, she has now agreed to look for a husband.”
“I have little use for a wife and you know it. Also, I have told you before that I would not dare risk our friendship. Not when you watch Miss Alden as if you are about to procure a marriage license and cart her away on a honeymoon.”
Felix rolled his eyes and began the trek back to the house. “There is nothing between Miss Alden and myself. We have formed an alliance to see her married by the end of the season and she was simply giving me her instructions.”
“Instructions on what?” Stanford asked as he fell into step beside Felix.
“Simply what she is looking for in a husband.”
“And somehow you are going to sit to one side while she falls in love with another man? You watch her with stars in your eyes.”
“You are making things up.” Felix glared at his friend before looking back at the house.
If he was forced to admit it, he would admit that he was trying to get a glimpse of Isabelle. He found that he already missed her company. For once his mind wasn’t on the finances or what would become of his sisters if he wasn’t able to save the duchy.
Each time he was alone with her—as improper as it was—he felt like he was reclaiming a little bit of the man he used to be.
Stanford dug his elbow into his side. “You are watching for her.”
“You should be concerned with minding your own business.”
His friend scoffed and hauled open the door to the house as the sound of soft voices gathering in the drawing room greeted their ears. “If you can get through dinner without looking at Miss Alden once, I will give you a hundred pounds.”
Felix glowered at his friend. “And this is why you will end up destitute. You are frivolous with your money.”
“Last chance at taking the bet.” Stanford grinned when Felix shook his head. “Suit yourself.”
Even though he was tempted to take Stanford’s bet, his pride wouldn’t allow him to do so.
Isabelle entered the room as everyone was sitting down at the table. Felix cleared his throat and nodded to the chair beside Victoria. Her dark blush and smile of thanks had the people around the room whispering.
“Tell me,” Lady Fitzroy said, leaning over the table and reaching for a piece of bread, “what is America like? Are the people there as uncivilized as I have heard and seen?”
Felix gripped his fork tightly and speared the piece of meat on his plate. “I do not know. From what I have heard, it can be the mothers of debutantes that are rather uncivilized.”
Edith gasped, trying to cover it by taking a sip of her wine. Her cheeks were bright red and her gaze blazed with anger as she looked at Felix. He skimmed past the dirty look she gave him, arching an eyebrow at Lady Fitzroy.
Lady Fitzroy buttered her bread. “I would think that the Americans are quite wild. I have seen stories of the brutal murders they commit.”
Isabelle looked down at her plate, her lips pressed tightly together. She didn’t say a word as Victoria leaned closer to her and whispered something in her ear.
Why does she not stand up for herself?
