After a great deal of introspection, Delilah came to the conclusion that she wasn’t jealous. No. She was not. She’d examined the feeling a hundred different ways and decided resolutely that jealousywas notthe emotion she was experiencing. She still didn’t know what the emotion was, exactly. But it couldn’t be jealousy. That would be preposterous. It was more like… offense. Yes. That was it.She’dknown Thomas was a wonderful person and an excellent man for years, why were other ladies only noticing now? Besides, she’d been spoiled all these years by having his company to herself, essentially. As for Lady Rebecca, Delilah simply didn’t appreciate being told that her closest friend was more eligible than the man she’d set her sights on. That was all. Nothing more.
Delilah stared out the window into the gardens behind Lucy’s house, plucking at her lip while such thoughts churned over and over in her mind. As if she’d conjured him, Thomas came strolling up next to her, his script in his hand. He glanced over both shoulders before grinning at her. “I don’t see Branville here.”
Delilah’s hand dropped to her side, and she turned to face him. “He, er, he said he’d be here. It’s not yet eight o’clock.”
Thomas leaned a shoulder against the wall and stared down at her. “Ah, is that the hour of his stately arrival?”
“That’s when Lucy invited him.”Mon Dieu. Why couldn’t she stop sniffing Thomas’s cologne? It was madness.
Thomas nodded. “He’s playing Hermia’s father, eh? I suppose he’ll be especially handsome with a long, white beard.”
Delilah pursed her lips. “Don’t be smug. It doesn’t become you. Besides, how did you manage to extricateyourself from all those ladies last night? I feared I’d never see you again.”
He sighed. “Itwasdifficult, but I managed.”
“Meet anyone you fancy?” She couldn’t stop herself from asking. “Lady Rebecca, perhaps?” She hated herself for asking that last part.
His smile softened a little. “Not to worry, my lady, you’ll be the first to know if I meet anyone I fancy. By the by, I brought Lavinia with me tonight as Lucy instructed.”
Delilah glanced around. “Where is she, then?”
Thomas shoved a hand in his pocket. “Last I saw her, she was in the foyer, rebuking one of the servants for stepping on the hem of her new gown.”
Delilah nodded. “That sounds like Lavinia.”
One moment later, the woman in question came sweeping through the doors of the library. She wore a gorgeous yellow silk gown that was obviously expensive, and her dark hair was piled high atop her head. She glanced around the room until her blue eyes lit on Thomas, then she marched over to him.
“Good evening, Lady Lavinia,” Delilah said as she loomed closer. She’d done her best throughout the years to keep her distance from Lavinia, but they’d met upon occasion. Lavinia had never been particularly nice to Delilah, but then, she wasn’t particularly nice to anyone.
“Lady Delilah,” Lavinia intoned. “My brother tells me you and the Duchess of Claringdon are sponsoring a play.” She sneered the wordplayas if it were a curse word.
“We aren’t only sponsoring it. We’re acting in it. It’s entirely for charity, of course. Lucy and I were hoping you would join us, actually,” Delilah added, hoping she had made the offer sound enticing enough.
One haughty eyebrow lifted. “Join you? Are you mad? The daughter of an earl, in a play?” Lavinia stared at her aghast.
Delilah did her best to squelch her smile. “I’m the daughter of an earl, and I’m doing it,” she pointed out.
“I suppose there’s no accounting for taste.” Lavinia tilted her nose in the air. “Time was when birthrightmeantsomething.”
Delilah pressed her lips together and glanced at Thomas who merely winced and shook his head behind his sister’s back. They’d had many conversations about Lavinia’s waspishness. The woman was beyond preposterous and insulting, but from living with her mother, Delilah had plenty of experience dealing with angry women who said mean things. Besides, Delilah had forgotten the most important aspect of dealing with Lavinia. One must always let Lavinia know whatshestood to gain.
Delilah shared another quick commiserating look with Thomas and turned her attention back to Lavinia. “We also have three dukes and a duchess in our performance. I’d say you’d be in excellent company if you’d join us. There are several eligiblegentlemenin the performance as well.”
Lavinia glanced around as if sizing up the company. “Well, I do try to do what I can for charity, of course.” She turned in a circle and crossed her arms over her chest. “And thereareseveral members of the Quality here, I see. What part would you have me play?”
“We thought you’d be an excellent Hippolyta,” Delilah replied.
The barest hint of an actual smile tugged at Lavinia’s thin lips. “Hmm. The duchess? That sounds like me.”
Delilah was about to open her mouth and agree withLavinia when Lucy swept into their circle. “Lady Lavinia, there you are. It’s lovely to see you.”
“Your Grace,” Lavinia intoned, nodding regally toward Lucy.
Lucy glanced over both shoulders and lowered her voice. “Thomas tells us you’re in the market for a husband this Season.”
Lavinia raised one dark brow. “Did he?”
Thomas cleared his throat and glanced away.
