Lady Belinda hummed in his direction as she curtsied, as if being polite but disinterested. Lady Joanna curtsied properly, her gaze lingering on Dominic.
“Lady Belinda has recently been praised for her musical proficiency,” Lady Morland boasted, nudging Lady Belinda forward. “In fact, she performed at Lady Hayes’s musicale evening two weeks ago. Heavens, we could scarcely leave afterwards for how many people wished to personally compliment her. Is that not right, darling?”
“It is.” Lady Belinda gave a high giggle that made Lucien tense.
He hated howgratingthe noise was, as if it were forced. Sometimes, he thought that there was no genuine woman in the ton, somebody who was simply themselves, and knew it would be enough for a man.
“I performed Mozart and Beethoven,” Lady Belinda went on, “Do you have a favorite symphony by any of them, Your Grace? Perhaps I can personally perform for you sometime.”
Lady Morland nodded behind her, as if pleased at the invitation.
“I do not,” he answered, trying to be polite about it. “Regretfully.”
Lady Belinda’s face fell, but she quickly composed herself. “Then, you must tell me what composer you do like, so I can play?—”
“I do not really attend musicales, Lady Belinda,” he said hastily, glancing at Dominic, who tried to cover up his amusement.
He would already know that Lucien was trying to find ways to leave the conversation.
“What do you attend, then, Your Grace?” Lady Morland cut in. “Perhaps a gentleman’s club? My son, Baron Henleigh, is a frequent patron of St. Peter’s club. The two of you could become acquainted and then I shall invite you for dinner.”
Heavens, this woman is desperate,Lucien thought, withering.
“I do not really …” he trailed off, shrugging. “I enjoy the balls, of course, but not really quieter settings. Besides, I find myself sparse on time. The duchy is undergoing some … fixing.”
“That must be ever so tiring, Your Grace,” Lady Belinda pouted. “But your efforts are very commendable.”
What would you know of my efforts? he wanted to challenge, but he only nodded a silent thanks before clearing his throat, looking back at Dominic, hoping his friend would somehow get him out of this.
Dominic stepped forward, claiming the focus. “Speaking of your children, though, Lady Morland, I do believe you have a third daughter through your marriage to Lord Morland. Lady Elinor?” He made a show of looking around. “Is she not here tonight? I have seen you several times tonight, but not her.”
Lucien found it peculiar how Lady Morland’s face immediately soured, and she cleared her throat, shifting, as if uncomfortable.
“I do,” she affirmed. “But the poor darling could not make it tonight. She is ailed quite terribly. Her stomach is rather sensitive, you see.”
Lady Belinda covered her mouth, but Lucien caught the smirk before she covered it. When she noticed him looking at her, she only batted her eyelashes. He looked away.
“What a shame,” Dominic said. “I have heard she is rather interesting to speak with.”
The three ladies fell silent, with Lady Joanna nervously looking around herself, while Lady Belinda could not quite keep a sneer off her face for a moment.
Lady Morland’s face was just frozen in confusion before she laughed too loudly. “Heavens, she is. Yes. Interesting. Most interesting. All she ever does is speak. We can never get her silenced, can we, dear Belinda?”
“No,” she muttered, something bitter in her voice.
“We areeverso saddened that she is not with us tonight,” Lady Morland said. “She truly completes our family unit.”
Lucien was suspicious, trying to figure out why they were acting so strangely, why Lady Elinor’s mention seemed to throw them all off-guard.
“Your Grace, we were speaking about you and my son?—”
He cleared his throat, cutting off Lady Morland as he spotted the orchestra about to start playing against the far-right wall. He did not want to leave himself vulnerable to having to ask one of the ladies to dance, knowing it would be improper not to, caught in this situation.
Quickly, he stepped back. “Do excuse me, Lady Morland. I must take my leave. Silverford, enjoy the rest of your night.” He gave Dominic a pointed look in Lady Joanna’s direction before he nodded at the group and walked away.
Dominic did not even try to call him back, and he was grateful.
Lucien’s carriage rattled through the streets of central London, going from the Morrow townhouse, through the wealthy neighborhoods, and then outward, towards the impoverished bowels of the city.
