“Absolutely not,” Meredith replied, taking a sip of champagne. “I’m not about to inform you of who we’ve discussed. And I’m not about to be hasty about this matter either. It’s far too important. I intend to take my time and make a real study of it.”
“Do you?” Griffin’s voice was entirely nonchalant. Almosttoononchalant. Was that a clue?
“Indeed,” Meredith replied, watching him carefully lest he give away another potential clue. “I already know she is no one obvious. She couldn’t be.”
“Why is that?” Griffin took a sip from his flute. More questionable nonchalance.
“Because you are not an obvious man. You’re quite nuanced and broody.”
Griffin’s dark brows snapped together. “Broody? When am I broody?”
Meredith rolled her eyes. “You don’t know you’re broody? Honestly. With your dark brows and your unfathomable eyes, you can be extremely broody.”
“Are my eyes unfathomable?” He laughed and shook his head.
Meredith rocked back and forth on her heels. “Sometimes they are so dark I don’t even know what you’re thinking.” She studied his face. Was he even more handsome than usual tonight? Straight nose, high cheekbones, enviable long, dark lashes. Good God. What was happening to her? Had Clare’s words affected her that much? Meredith couldn’t possibly be thinking of Griffin…thatway. It was… Why, it was…indecent.
Griffin took another sip. “I can hardly help the color of my eyes.”
“You’ll never believe who Clare guessed,” she blurted before immediately regretting it. Nowwhyhad she said that?
He tilted his head to the side again and studied her. “Who?”
“Um…me.” She was entirely unable to meet his gaze. She cleared her throat. “Clare said she always thought you and I would end up together.” She forced a laugh and shook her head fiercely, still staring out into the crowd. “Of course I told her that wasludicrous.”
“Ludicrous?” he echoed.
“Yes, yes, of course. Now…does the lady of your choosing have light hair or dark hair?” Meredith continued. Better to focus on the woman he fancied. It kept her thoughts safely off ofhislooks. And his dark, broody eyes, for that matter.
“I never agreed to answer such questions.”
“Humph. I should have negotiated for them.” Meredith scowled and drank more champagne.
“I wouldn’t have agreed,” Griffin replied. “All I agreed to was to tell you a simple yes or no when you present me with a name.”
“Fine. Since I already know it’s not Amelia Barnstaple, I’ll have to think of someone more likely. It’s not Lady Shanna MacGregor, is it?” She glanced at him to see his reaction.
Griffin’s dark eyes widened slightly, and, for a heart-stopping moment, Meredith thought she had managed to guess correctly on her second attempt. But then a smile spread over Griffin’s lips. “Is that your official guess then?” he asked simply before turning back to survey the crowd.
“Yes.” Meredith blew a wisp of hair away from her forehead.
“Then no. It’s not her.” He sounded far too pleased with himself.
Meredith frowned. “This isn’t going to be easy, is it?”
He bit his lip, the picture of innocence. “I certainly hope not.”
Meredith narrowed her eyes and contemplated the matter. She’d been considering a variety of names for days now. Amelia Barnstaple had been her first guess because the young woman was sensible, pretty, and clever. She’d been out for several Seasons and was just the sort of unpretentious girl Meredith could picture her friend admiring. She was also precisely the sort of young woman Meredith would like as a friend, and whoever Griffin married would have to be her friend. She couldn’t bear it if his bride wanted them to stop being close. But now that Meredith was pressing the issue of his betrothal, she’d begun to think more and more about that sad possibility.
“Lady Catherine Montague?” Meredith blurted.
“No,” Griffin replied with a smug smile.
“Blast it.” Meredith expelled her breath. But she couldn’t explain the relief that swept through her both times he told her she was wrong. What would it feel like when she got it right? What would it feel like to watch Griffin pledge himself to another woman for life? Queasiness settled in her middle.
“That’s three guesses. You have four more,” Griffin continued, pulling Meredith from her unwanted thoughts.
“I’m well aware of how many guesses I have remaining,” Meredith informed him. “You needn’t rub it in.” She lifted her nose. “Besides, you’re not the only one with a secret, you know?” There. Perhaps it wasn’t the most subtle way to change the subject, but it would suffice. She wanted to wipe the smug smile off Griffin’s face. Just for a moment. And her news was certain to do it.
