“Uh…well, I don’t think Miss Faraday is quite ready—”
“Your Grace, please come in and join us,” Judith interrupted.
Trey swung his gaze to her. Instead of hunched shoulders and elbows on the table, the young woman sat with a straight back as she patted her linen napkin to her lips.
“How is your headache, Your Grace?” Judith inquired sweetly.
“Much better, thank you.”
Trey pulled out a chair for his mother. “Are you hungry?”
“Just a bit.”
Holding his breath, he waited for Judith’s holler for service. Instead, she subtly motioned for the servant to bring his mother a plate.What the devil?
Aghast, he watched the next little while as a different Judith emerged. Instead of the uneducated girl he’d witnessed since they’d entered the room, Judith was doing everything perfectly. After the servant brought his mother’s plate, Judith picked ather food like a proper young lady, and never once spoke with food in her mouth.
What was her game? Was she purposely trying to make a fool out of him?
Obviously. But he was on to her now.
He grinned. Taming her would be a chore, but an enjoyable one, he was certain.
Chapter Ten
Judith smiled withtriumph as she climbed the stairs, her steps light and confident, heading toward her bedroom. Tonight had been a resounding success, and she reveled in the satisfaction of her splendid performance. After dinner, the marquess had even remarked that it had been quite some time since he had been so thoroughly entertained. The evening had indeed been amusing, even if she had to admit it to herself.
The thought of her own antics brought a chuckle to her lips. She hadn’t been able to watch Trey the entire time, which was probably for the best. If she had, she might have lost her nerve and faltered in her performance. Several times, she caught Lord Hawthorne trying to stifle his laughter, his eyes twinkling with mirth. She was certain Trey had been mortified, his expression a mix of embarrassment and exasperation. She could almost feel the heat of his glare, knowing full well he was likely cursing her under his breath.
Despite this, Judith couldn’t help but feel a surge of victory. She had managed to captivate the audience and, more importantly, to unsettle Trey just enough to keep him on his toes. It had been a night to remember, and as she reached her bedroom, she felt a thrill of excitement for what the future might hold.
When the dowager arrived, Judith had to change her initial plan to prove how well she could host a dinner party. It had beenworth it. The few times she’d glanced at Trey, he resembled a large mouth bass while he stared dumbfounded at her. Things couldn’t have gone better.
Chuckling, she reached her room and opened the door. By the number of pieces of bread Trey had shoved in his mouth, she knew the amount of pain he suffered. She stepped inside, and as she pushed the door closed, it swung open and smacked her knuckles. Surprised, she grabbed her throbbing fingers and gasped.
Trey strolled in. His waistcoat was absent as well as his cravat, and his high collar white shirt lay unbuttoned at the throat. Within seconds, her palms became clammy while her heartbeat sped up a notch.
“Trey, what are you doing barging into my room without an invitation?”
He arched a brow. “Would you have offered me one?”
“Absolutely not. It’s improper.”
“Then forgive me for entering, regardless. What I have to discuss with you is highly important, and I felt it needed to be aired in private. Unless of course, you want my mother to hear about the wicked plans you had concocted for tonight’s entertainment.”
Instead of giving him a verbal answer, she glared at him.
He closed the door with his boot heel before leaning against the hard wood. He folded his arms across his wide chest.
“Speak, then leave,” she snapped.
His gaze skimmed over her, from the top of her ringlet hair down to her slippered feet. The corner of his mouth lifted in a mock grin. “I must say, you were quite entertaining tonight.”
“I thank you for noticing.”
“But I must know what you thought to gain by that little performance?”
She chuckled as she walked to her vanity table that sat by the far window, slipping off her elbow-length white gloves before laying them on the table. “I wanted to show you exactly what I do know about hosting a dinner party.” She gave him a glare over her shoulder. “I donotneed instructions or a tutor.”
