Page 32

Araminta, Cassius, and the Mulbury sisters slipped farther inside, each giving the frothing female, Darius had once considered marrying, a wide birth.

“I shall not be publicly scorned,” Eudora fairly snarled each clipped word. “This is not the end of this, LordDarius.”

“Oh, I very much think it is.” Cassius quirked a dark eyebrow. “You’ve no recourse. None. Except, perhaps, to leave town.”

Eudorarounded on Araminta and jabbed a finger at her.

Aramintastood her ground, poised and calm.

Brave darling.

“You caused this, AramintaWeldon,” Eudora seethed. “I know you have always been jealous of me. You wanted LordDarius for yourself, you plain, dowdy, frizzy-haired frump.” She pointed her critical gaze at Araminta’s gown, then at her bare hands. “You’re no lady. Your clothes are hideous, and you don’t even wear gloves.”

DidEudora think disparaging Araminta cast her in a better light?

Farfrom it.

Herunkindness had the opposite effect, as demonstrated by the contempt etched on the face of every person who’d witnessed her outburst.

“I did no such thing, and you well know it,” Araminta said in a serene voice. “As for my clothes, yes, I’ve altered them from kind donations to the church. But clothes do not make a person. Nor do I need to justify myself to you. Furthermore, only a birdbrain would wear gloves while handling stacks of books. They would become irreversibly soiled.”

Aramintamet Darius’s gaze across the room, and for a moment he forgot there was anyone else there. His sister had described that feeling to him—of how she felt when she met Owen’s gaze across a crowded ballroom, and everything and everyone disappeared, and they were the only two people in the room.

Magical.

Thatwas how Althelia had described it.

Dariushad thought it a silly romantic notion. Something his dear sister would say, but now, in this moment, he believed her.

Itwas magical.

What’smore, he hoped—prayed—Araminta felt it too.

Sheturned her glittering, green-eyed gaze on Eudora.

“Besides, to harbor jealousy, I’d have to envy something about you, Eudora. You’ve made it plain as day to everyone present that there is nothing inwardly or outwardly the least enviable.”

Touche!

Dariusbarely refrained from applauding.

Cassiusclasped his hands behind his back and gave her an approving nod.

TheMulbury sisters did not hide their exuberant grins.

“Someone’s getting their comeuppance,” Garnet whispered to Opal.

“Ooh. Ooh,” Eudora hissed, seemingly unable to cobble a coherent response together. “You…you…”

Sheraised her hand as if to slap Araminta.

“Do not dare!” Darius roared. He was across the room in an instant and stood in front of Araminta, shielding her with his body. “You can direct your fury at me, but no one else deserves your wrath, most especially not Araminta.”

Mrs. Clarke trundled into the office, her face as flushed as a squalling babe’s. She looked as if she were about to erupt into a tantrum.

“What is the meaning of this?” Taking a position beside her petulant daughter, she shook her cigar-like finger at Darius. “You’ve compromised my daughter’s reputation. Duke’s son or not, you shall do the honorable thing.”

Dariusscratched the side of his nose.