One thing was certain – it wasn’t for Adrian to get involved.If Edward wanted Evie for his wife, he’d bloody well have to figure out how to make that happen on his own.
A melodious tune being played by three violins swirled through the air, mingling with the tapping of feet as dancers moved in time with the music.Later this evening, Evie would dance with the duke – an honor Adrian hoped would encourage other men to write their names on her dance card.
Edward had already done so of course.She would dance with him first.But Adrian would like for her to receive more attention, if only to bolster her confidence.
He was starting to wonder if taking a turn of the room with her would improve her chances, when the maître d’ announced two additional late arrivals.
“Mr.Dorian Harlowe and Miss Samantha Carmichael.”
Adrian’s spirits lifted as soon as he saw the older man.He was tall, with a solid bearing that added a great deal of weight to his studious gaze.Whatever hair he’d once had was now gone, but that did not deter from his striking appearance.
This was someone who wouldn’t be crossed.
Adrian smiled.Although he’d only met him once when Harlowe’d joined Papa for luncheon at White’s, he’d enjoyed the man’s straightforward manner.If they’d been of similar age, he might even have been inclined to foster a deeper friendship with him.The stories he’d told of his travels had been engaging.He’d a knack for making his listeners hang on his every word.
Mr.Harlowe turned to greet someone and Adrian’s gaze immediately shifted toward the woman who stood at his side.He took a breath, not even aware that he held it until his lungs started to strain with the effort.Releasing it slowly, he did his best to keep his expression impassive – to hide the interest that surged through his body.
Miss Carmichael was beyond lovely with light blonde hair piled into an elegant updo that left a few curls to frame her face.Slender of build, she moved with effortless grace, the ivory silk of her gown hugging her lithe figure.
“How odd,” Evie said.
Adrian shifted his gaze to his sister just long enough that when he looked back in Miss Carmichael’s direction, the crowd had closed around her, blocking her from his view.
“How so?”he asked, deciding to humor his sister, though he was a little curious himself as to what she might say.
“Miss Carmichael appears to be of a similar age to me, yet I don’t recall her debut.”
“You wouldn’t,” said Eldridge.He lowered his voice to a near whisper as he explained, “I believe her parentage to be unknown.Mr.Harlowe and his wife brought her and a few other girls to live with them some seventeen years ago.As you can imagine, their questionable backgrounds would make presentation at court and subsequent debuts impossible when bearing in mind the purpose of this tradition.”
“Marrying into the upper class would not be an option for them,” Edward said, putting words to Eldridge’s unspoken point.“The scandal of having a wife whose mother might one day reveal herself as a washerwoman or worse would be hard for most to survive, I should think.”
“To say nothing of the problems that would arise from this knowledge alone,” Adrian said, thinking out loud.“Any number of people might come calling, claiming family ties and demanding some sort of compensation.”
“Quite right,” Eldridge said.“I think we can all agree it wouldn’t be worth it.”
“A pity,” Evie said while staring in Miss Carmichael’s general direction.“She might be perfectly pleasant.”
Silence followed this comment, most likely because there was little to say.She was right, of course, but that didn’t make Miss Carmichael any less risky as a matrimonial partner.
The current piece of music faded and the next set was announced.
“That’s our dance,” Edward said, smiling warmly at Evie before offering her his arm.
Her gaze held his as she accepted his escort.“I’ll see you later, Brother.Your Grace.”
Adrian watched as the pair made their way to the dance floor.Feeling the weight of Eldridge’s gaze, he turned to face him.They were alone now, trapped in the uncomfortable silence of Edward and Evie’s departure.
Although they knew each other reasonably well, Eldridge had always spent more time in Papa’s company than in Adrian’s.Perhaps on account of him being at least two decades Adrian’s senior, or possibly because Papa, as the head of the Croft family, had been on more equal footing with him at the time.
That had since changed.Adrian’s world had shifted.He’d gained the power his father had wielded, only to let it flicker and fade like a burnt-out candle.
The duke cleared his throat, breaking the silence between them.“Tell me, for I am damn curious.Why haven’t you married yet?”
“My mistress provides what I need.”A response that equaled the shocking directness of Eldridge’s question.He followed it with a calm jab of his own, “Where is your lovely wife this evening?”
His comment was bold, bordering on impertinent since it was commonly known that the duke and duchess had been estranged for a number of years.Then again, given the nature of their acquaintance, Eldridge’s own remark had been prying.Adrian watched him closely in anticipation of his response.
A flicker of surprise passed over Eldridge’s face before it disappeared behind a neutral mask.The duke gave a low chuckle and looked away for a moment before turning back to Adrian and saying, “I’m afraid Her Grace favors the countryside these days.”
