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But he couldn’t get that kiss out of his head, nor the sense of… dissatisfaction that plagued him.

It wasn’t the most passionate or meaningful kiss he’d ever received, but it… lingered. The softness of her mouth, the gentle scent of her perfume and the feel of Haryo’s long slender fingers on his face. It should have been the end of the discussion. The end of Bess’s ridiculous plan. But something… remained. He didn’t have any other words to describe it.

And, if that were not enough for his bruised feelings, here he was. At Lady Mary Grey’s musicale, allowing his ears to be tortured by an appalling soprano just so he could watch her. She was with the gaggle of young women of the Devonshire household, seemingly supervised by her wonderfully formidable grandmother, Lady Spencer. That made him smile. Lady Spencer was a remarkable woman in her own right. Rumour had it she married the first Earl Spencer in secret at a ball of all things. Of course, Spencer was ridiculously wealthy, courtesy of his maternal grandmother, Sarah, Duchess of Marlborough, and all had been well, but she was certainly no stranger to scandal. But then, which of the Devonshire set were not? It followed them, clung to them, but somehow never overwhelmed them, although they had a narrow escape with the fifth duchess.

He sighed and watched as Harriet laughed, placing a hand to her mouth, and he had to stop himself from putting his fingers to his lips where she had kissed him.

Of course, at that moment, when his gaze was riveted on her mouth, she turned to him. He looked up and their gazes caught. A slow smile of pleasure lifted her lips and made her eyes gleam. He couldn’t help but return it. He winked, just as he had all those years ago, and to his utter delight, she winked back. It wasn’t a flirtatious wink; it was friendly, conspiratorial.

Their attention was taken with applause for the soprano. When it died away, the woman positioned herself dramatically, feathers quivering, and as the piano accompaniment built into a crescendo, she launched into an intensely emotional aria that required a good amount of vibrato. He glanced at Harriet and had to smile at the faintly pained look on her face.

They suffered through the performance and applauded heartily when it was done. As everyone repaired to the drawing room for refreshment, Harriet caught up with him.

‘Lord Granville, I can see you are enjoying the entertainment enormously.’

‘Wouldn’t have missed it for the world,’ he said. It was no word of a lie.

They both laughed. Still chuckling, she turned to the young girl by her side. He had not noticed her until that moment. When he did, his heart sank.

Haryo continued, oblivious to his concern. ‘May I introduce my dear friend Miss Eliza Courtney?’

He covered his reaction with a bow as Harriet did the niceties. Haryo, it seemed, was hell-bent on pursuing her plan to pursue a friendship with Eliza Courtney. The young woman looked at him uncertainly, making him pull himself together.

‘Delighted to make your acquaintance, Miss Eliza,’ he said, making sure that his tone was kindly. Avuncular. She curtseyed prettily.

‘Miss Eliza’s brother is the Earl Grey.’

Granville nodded. ‘Of course. Jolly good man, your brother,’ he said. It was true, he had a lot of time for Grey. He was a damned fine politician.

Almost on cue, Grey arrived with his wife on his arm. ‘Lord Granville. How good to see you. I didn’t realise your passions had shifted to musicales.’

Granville laughed at the good-natured jibe. ‘Or yours, for that matter.’

‘As ever, I bow to my darling wife in all things. Even musicales.’

Lady Grey laughed at him and batted his arm with her fan. ‘Wretch. You love them. You know you do.’

Grey shook his head. ‘Of course, my love,’ he said, then turned to Eliza Courtney and pulled an appalled face. It made her laugh.

Grey departed with his wife and Miss Courtney, leaving him with Haryo.

‘I must say, it’s rather pleasant to see you here,’ she said, smiling up at him. Dressed in a beautiful shade of blue, it served to add a smoky hue to the grey of her eyes. Eyes that sparkled with intelligence and mirth. She looked stunning.

He sighed. ‘I’m glad to see you appreciate my sacrifice.’

Her lips twitched. ‘Your sacrifice?’

He lifted an eyebrow and looked down at her. ‘My ears.’

She laughed, and oh how lovely it was. Real and warm rather than tinkling and false, like so many young women he met.

‘Indeed, I do appreciate it. It was heroic of you.’

‘And all for an hour or two of your company.’

She laughed again. ‘Charmer,’ she admonished.

‘Is this part of your campaign on Miss Eliza’s behalf?’