Page 12 of The Season of Lady Chastity

She glanced up at him, her eyes rounded and sparkling in the soft light of the hall as her smirk returned, a witty retort likely at the ready. “Perhaps you should meet everyone before casting your stone as lucky.”

They came to a stop in front of a closed door before he could ask what she’d meant by that.

“Ready?” she asked. However, it appeared that she was the one preparing herself. Her free hand raised to her pinned hair, half up and half down, unlike that afternoon, when it had been hanging free and unrestrained down her back. Next, she lifted her chin and nodded. To whom, Bastian was unsure.

He glanced around, but the butler had gone on his way as Chastity had requested.

Bastian grasped the latch and pushed the door open on silent hinges.

At any other time, no one would have noticed Bastian enter a room. This time was different, for when the door opened to reveal the gathered group, all eyes swung to them. The guests halted, and Bastian instantly stepped away from Chastity, putting some distance between their bodies, his gaze immediately moving to the floor.

Despite Bastian’s uncomfortable entrance, Chastity recovered quickly and stepped into the offered embrace of a large man—the male’s presence dwarfing the room. Montrose stood from his seat on the lounge next to a raven-haired beauty.

Bastian was welcomed into the room with hearty hellos all around and his resolve strengthened. He was surrounded by men—and a few ladies—who knew him not as Manny, the mama’s boy, but as Lord Mansfield, a respected earl whose mother was an honored guest.

“Mansfield,” Montrose’s baritone voice boomed. “Glad you joined us. As you can see, our card evening has changed a bit. Hope you do not mind parlor games and idle chatter.”

Bastian dipped his head. “Thank you for including me, Your Grace.”

“Roderick.” The duke clapped Bastian on the back, sending him stumbling farther into the room. “We are friends here. Glad to see you’ve meet Pru—”

“Chastity,” the tall, broad-shouldered man who’d embraced Lady Chastity chimed in. “Lady Chastity.”

Chastity blanched, her gaze dipping to the floor at her feet. It was the first time Bastian had ever noticed her confidence slip. Her shoulders squared, and her smile returned so quickly that Bastian wondered if he’d mistaken her reaction.

“I fear both women are so beautiful, I am blinded in their presence,” Montrose said with a reticent grin in Chastity’s direction.

Bastian’s chest tightened at the look. Only moments before, he’d given Chastity a similar glance in the corridor, and he was startled to realize that he did not want another man sharing such an intimate moment with her, even though it was born of Montrose’s error.

“Watch yourself, my dear,” the dark-haired beauty, obviously Montrose’s intended, Lady Lucianna, said as she stood from the lounge and swatted his arm. “Do introduce us to your friend.”

Bastian glanced around the room, noting that with the addition of him and Lady Chastity, there were four ladies and four gentlemen in all. An even set, perfect for parlor games.

But was he intended to be Lady Chastity’s partner or another lady’s?

“Mansfield, this is my betrothed, Lady Lucianna Constantine. These are her two dearest friends, Lady Torrington and Lady Hawke, and their husbands. I needn’t share their names.”

When Montrose chuckled, but refrained from furthering the introductions, a young, fiery-haired woman stepped forward.

“Lord Mansfield, do not allow Roderick to go on as such.” Her voice was melodious and light, making her frame seem slight. Lady Hawke gestured around the group, introducing each person in turn. “I am Ophelia. This is my husband, Colin.” She gestured to another woman. “And this is Edith, Lady Torrington, and her husband, Triston. You are obviously acquainted with Triston’s sister, Lady Chastity.”

“How do you know my sister?” Lord Torrington asked, his easy posture hardening.

“Do not barrage Lord Mansfield with questions, Triston,” Lady Torrington chided her husband. “He has only just arrived.”

Sometime during Lady Hawke’s introductions and Torrington’s questions, Chastity had moved away from the large man—her brother—and back to Bastian’s side.

“It is a pleasure to meet you all.” Bastian didn’t allow his stare to settle on any one person; however, he did note Torrington’s narrowed glare had not left him. While he was reassured to note that whoever had written Lady Chastity the note was not in attendance this evening, Bastian couldn’t help but stand a bit taller under her brother’s watchful eye. “Thank you for including my mother and me in your wedding festivities, Roderick. She has always spoken fondly of your mother and their friendship.”

“Welcome, Mansfield.” Lord Torrington’s penetrating glare finally broke. “Come, sit. Ophelia was sharing with us stories of her trip to the library earlier.”

“Yes, my lord.” Ophelia, Lady Hawke, nodded in earnest. “I do believe I met your mother—Isabella?—during my search of Montrose’s antiquated library.”

Lady Lucianna motioned for him to take a seat on a far lounge, and Chastity followed in his wake.

“My mother informed me that you recommended a book,” Bastian replied, waiting for Lady Chastity to be seated. “I believe she retired early to begin reading.”

The woman’s expression lit with joy. “It is Choderlos de Laclos’s Les Liaisons Dangereuses.” She pressed her clenched hands to her bodice and continued. “The book is full of intrigue and…”