“Of course, I’m sorry, Philip,” Malcolm said, standing.
He didn’t need to be here anymore, he realized.Miss Scarlett Perkins was gone, disgusted with him, and he didn’t need to dance attendance on her after dinner.It was no longer imperative that the numbers be equal.
“I will see you all tomorrow.”
“Wait, Malcolm—” George called.
But he had already turned on heel.
“Nicely done, Philip,” he heard Severn say.
“I didn’t mean—” Philip spluttered.
Blessedly, Malcolm exited the dining room and heard no more.
He might need to put up with six more nights of this humiliation.
But he needn’t put up with any more of it right now.
No, for the time being, he could choose freedom.
Chapter Seven
When she arrivedin the drawing room, still stinging from her last interaction with Mr.Brown—Malcolm, as one panting, traitorous corner of her mind wanted to call him—she instantly felt a delicate hand close around her forearm.
“Tell meeverything,” Tilly said, practically pushing her onto a sofa in the corner.“Why, Scarlett, I think the manadmiresyou.The look on his face throughout dinner!”
Scarlett shook her head.Tilly was fanciful, but even for her, this hallucination was a new low.
“Please, Tilly.I have a headache.”
That wasn’t actually true.But it might as well be.The man hadmockedher.She had begun to think differently of him as they conversed at dinner.But all the time, he had been laughing at her.Thinking her aglutton.Watching her gobble up what he doubtlessly thought were enormous portions and marveling at her appetite and, most probably, the enormity of her figure.
God, death would be a relief in the face of such humiliation.
Tilly’s expression of glee faltered.“But he seemedsobesotted by you, Scarlett!And he issohandsome!Why, I’ve been planning a romance for you for half of dinner.”
“You seemed plenty occupied talking to Mr.Westmore,” Scarlett retorted.
The flow of talk between her sister and the brother of her suitor had barely stopped for the entire meal.
“A lady may talk and scheme at once, Scarlett,” Tilly said.“Although Mr.Westmore surely is a charming dinner companion.Hewilldo as a brother-in-law.But at the moment, I’m more curious about my other future brother, Mr.Brown.”
Scarlett took a breath.She would not tell Tilly what had occurred.Given that her sister wanted to marry Mr.Salisbury, it would only put Tilly in an awkward position to have to take offense with his brother.And besides, her pride revolted at the idea of exposing herself to Tilly’s pity.She could already hear all the things her sister would say to soothe her.And she couldn’t bear to hear them.
“Mr.Brown is a perfectly adequate dinner partner,” Scarlett forced herself to say.“Albeit not much of a conversationalist.He runs the farm here—I believe he is his brother’s steward—and he can talk little beyond that subject.”
Tilly’s face fell in disappointment.“Ah, I see.His conversation is not equal to his countenance?”
“Not in the slightest.And his countenance only suffers for it, upon closer examination.”
“What a shame.He looks so fascinating!But I suppose not everyone is as they appear.”
“Indeed, they seldom are,” Scarlett said, steadying her hands by clasping them together.
She tried not to imagine the man’s face and failed.Hewashandsome.She had never seen a man more suited to her tastes.A pulse of pure, hysterical want ran through her, and it made her wish that she was alone in her chamber.
Then, without warning, a flash of realization followed that one of unwelcome yearning.
