Page 40 of Redemption of a Marquess

He laughed. “Indeed, she is.”

“I plan to cheat just a little and go to the kitchen first and beg some chocolate and pastries from Mrs. McPhee,” Jeanine said. “But we must be certain there is no chocolate left on our mouths when Lady Guilford arrives.”

“Heaven forbid,” he agreed with all seriousness.

“If you are ready, Miss Stone,” Jeanine said.

Miss Stone stood. She nodded to Valan and Brendan, and murmured, “My lords,” then started toward the door alongside Jeanine.

Jeanine halted and looked over her shoulder at Valan. “You will be at the ball?”

“Of course.”

She nodded, and they left.

Valan reclaimed his seat beside Brendan.

“I don’t believe it,” Brendan said.

“Believe what, my dear?”

“She is not at all what I expected.”

Valan looked at him. “What did you expect?”

“Well…a femme fatale, I suppose.”

“Goodness, why would you expect that?”

Branden lifted a brow and grinned. “Because, my friend, that is the only kind of woman I’ve ever seen you with.”

“Ah, I see your error.” Valan finished off his sherry. “I am not ‘with’ Miss Matheson.”

Brendan laughed. “Does she know that?”