“I did not lie to you.”
“I did not say lie. I said deceive. Do you think you are too clever for me, Brentworth? You knew the whole story, but you kept the best part from me when you asked for your favor.”
“I do not agree my involvement is the best part. Rather it is the worst. However, it was my hope no one else would ever know of it.”
Langford edged into their conversation with one shoulder. “You look too ravishing to bear tonight, Duchess.” He flashed his seductive smile. His new position meant that Eric could no longer see Miss MacCallum out of the corner of his eye.
Clara speared him one impatient glance. “Go away, Langford.”
Yes, go away. At least move. It is Miss MacCallum who looks ravishing tonight and you are now in the way of my seeing her. She wore blue tonight. Pale blue, like an iced pond. Not primrose, but it still flattered her.
The duchess aimed her dark gaze back on Eric. “Imagine my astonishment, Brentworth, when a friend confided to me the very information I had promised you to keep silent about. Only she knewmorethan I.”
“I expect that in the competition for gossip, such a development would be disheartening.”
“Are you mocking me?”
“Not at all, Clara.” Langford finally shifted enough for Eric to see beyond him. A young man who looked fresh out of university had engaged Miss MacCallum in conversation while he expertly blocked the other swains from intruding.You go away too, boy.He hoped Hume had apoplexy when he learned how the suitors were lining up. Served him right for feeding the beast of gossip.
Clara was saying something. He saw her mouth move, but he heard nothing other than Miss MacCallum’s laughter.
“Duchess, send for me at your pleasure and I promise to come so that you can upbraid me to your heart’s content. Langford, do whatever it is you do to make vexed women smile. Now, excuse me, please.” He pivoted and walked the few paces that took him to Miss MacCallum. The young man noticed him first. The pup flushed, as if he had been doing something wrong. Which he had. Eric just looked at him until he took his leave.
“That was an interesting display of silent power, Your Grace.” Miss MacCallum’s lips pursed. “At my age, it is not usual to have men warned off like that.”
“He is a fortune hunter. They all are.”
She laughed, and her eyes turned to sparkling gemstones. “I have no fortune.”
“They hope for the best on the question. Eventually, one will propose and take the big gamble. When disappointment comes, you will pay a bigger price than the fool you married.”
“I do not see how. I never had a fortune and will not miss the one I don’t have.”
“You will be married forever to a man who planned to receive that which he never did. And you will be at his mercy.”
“Unpleasant, to be sure. How good of you to look out for me again.” She turned and flashed a few smiles at gentlemen hanging back but looking hopeful. “If I promise not to marry any of them tonight, will you allow them to amuse me?”
No. “Yes, of course.”
“Thank you. It is a rare treat to be the object of all this attention.” She gazed past him again and flashed another smile. He all but heard her mind thinkGo away, Duke.
He took his leave. Langford intercepted him as he went to the box’s door. “That seemed to go well,” Langford said, sardonically. “It is understandable that she can’t stand the sight of you. I half-expected you to get the cut direct.”
“She would never give me the cut direct.”
“She wouldn’t dare, you mean. A pity, though. If she had tonight, I could have dined on the story for a month.”
“Shouldn’t you be attending to your wife? You have left her alone for a long time.”
“She won’t mind, because I’ll have stories to tell when I return.”
“I am so glad I could be your entertainment tonight.” He aimed for his own box, hoping the music would provide the distraction he had sought when he came here tonight. More likely, he would mostly hear the music of a woman’s laughter.
Please meet me in Russell Square at three o’clock.
To receive such a note was odd enough. She was not the kind of woman to receive requests for assignations.
The signature made it stranger yet. The letter had come from Mr. Haversham.
