Page 34

Sebastian

As much as Sebastian was enjoying the company of both Lady Darcy and Miss Fenley, just as he had enjoyed Lady Juliette and Lady MarcyAnne’s company, he was acutely aware of Miss Hu’s gaze on his back. It felt like a target had been painted between his shoulders, and she was continually sinking a dart into the center bullseye. Neither Miss Fenley’s comfortable ease nor Lady Darcy’s charm could dislodge it.

They were both very lovely ladies, and last Season, he would have said that any of the four would make him an admirable wife. Last Season, he could have met any of them, decided to court them, and quite likely lived fairly happily.

Although Miss Hu would have come into his life regardless, thanks to his sister and Lady Astrid, so perhaps he would have only lived happily for a year. Or perhaps if he’d already been married when he met Miss Hu, there would not be this… connection between them.

But there was, and he could not ignore the fact that as lovely and charming as each of the ladies she’d picked out for him was, they all had one hugely glaring flaw—none of them was her.

Thankfully, he was well-versed in the banter and small talk of the ton, so while most of his mind was engaged in conversing with the ladies on his arms, the rest of him was able to ponder the problem of Miss Hu. Perhaps he should speak to his sister. She had not been friends with Miss Hu long, but they seemed quite close already. Perhaps she would know Miss Hu’s views on marriage. Marriage for herself, that is, not matchmaking them for others. He would have to swear her to secrecy, though. He did not need their entire little cadre of friends to know his aim.

Unfortunately, this was not the best surrounds to speak with his sister alone. She was flitting from group to group now, fulfilling her duties as hostess and making sure each of her guests was entertained by delights offered in the garden. The walkways truly were beautiful, and he was loath to take away from her time to shine.

Seeing her now, so bright and happy and carefree as she interacted with the assemblage, was a reminder to himself how much she had bloomed since he’d sent their mother away. Before Tiffany had married, Sebastian had despaired of marrying her off because she’d barely been able to speak a word to anyone other than himself and their mother. Well, that, and somehow, he’d not realized his sister had grown up into a beauty.

Between what he’d thought was her plain appearance and her near-inability to speak, he’d thought finding her a husband would be difficult. Instead, scandal had forced Gregory’s hand, and once Tiffany was married and no longer living in Bolton House, she’d bloomed. No longer was she a shy wallflower. No longer did she struggle to speak a single word in public. No longer was she without friends.

Some of that had to do with Gregory, to be sure, but seeing the difference, Sebastian was struck by the fact that their mother’s absence likely had impacted his sister just as much. It was a stark reminder that, no matter what Mother claimed, she certainly had not treated Tiffany as she should. He only needed to look at the difference in his sister’s demeanor and confidence to know that.

When they returned to the capital, he would ensure that he protected Tiffany from Mother, so she could continue to bloom.

By the time they’d made their way to the end of the garden path, clouds were starting to appear at the edge of the horizon, above the trees.

“It looks as though Cook was correct,” Miss Fenley mused, a breeze ruffling her and Lady Darcy’s skirts.

“I am glad we were able to take the opportunity to go walking this morning,” Lady Darcy said in agreement. “Ah, look, Lord Hayworth and Lady Juliette have caught up.”

Indeed, the pair had emerged from the sculpted bushes together, Lady Juliette’s hand on Lord Hayworth’s arm. And if her lips and cheeks were a bit pinker than before, and Lord Hayworth’s expression smugger than before, it would be rude to comment on it. Mentally, Sebastian firmly crossed Lady Juliette off his list of potential brides.

He glanced at Miss Hu, who was watching the pair as well. Though her expression did not change, he was sure she was doing the same as him.

“We should make our way back before the rain starts,” Tiffany said. “I asked our housekeeper to have the footmen set up some card tables for us if anyone would like to play.”

“That sounds like a perfect way to spend the afternoon,” Lady Astrid declared, a competitive gleam in her green eyes. Drake hovered behind her like a dark specter, a contemplative look on his own face as he studied the back of her head. With her arm firmly linked in Rose’s, he had apparently decided not to try to claim her side but to follow behind her instead.

Everyone agreed that cards sounded very fine indeed as the wind began to pick up, and they made their way back through the gardens at a much faster pace than they’d ambled through them before. Sebastian would have tried to accompany his sister, but it would have been unchivalrous to abandon Miss Fenley and Lady Darcy. Instead, he had to watch the swish of Miss Hu’s skirts, the gentle swaying accentuating her bottom, as she walked in front of him, head bent together with Johanna, the Duchess of St. Albans.

Mei

“Do you think Tiffany will mind if I cry off playing cards?” Johanna asked in a low whisper, peeking ahead. “I haven’t the faintest desire to play. I leave all of that to Matthew. I would rather go read in the library.”

Her husband, despite being a duke, was known to the ton as the Lord of Luck because his was uncommonly good. Johanna, on the other hand, had had very poor luck until she’d met her husband. Not only had her family been impoverished, but her brother’s guardian had stolen from them, leaving them on the brink of starvation. In desperation, Johanna had been ready to sell her virginity—and her good fortune had begun when the Duke of St. Albans bought it and decided to make her his wife instead.

Social situations such as this must be very straining for her, and Mei wondered if she knew how to play the card games.

“I do not think she will mind at all,” Mei whispered back reassuringly, patting Johanna’s hand. “Not everyone will want to play. I am sure you will not be the only one to sit out.”

In fact, Mei was tempted to join her, but if the Duke of Bolton and his prospective brides were playing, she needed to be there to watch. Especially since he was already down to three, as she had a suspicion that Lady Juliette was officially out of the running—or would be very shortly. Lord Hayworth would need to speak to her father, of course.

“Oh my, the wind really is picking up, is it not?” Johanna said, pushing her skirts down. She glanced over her shoulder. “Those clouds are coming on fast.”

The whole party turned almost as one to see that the dark edge of the horizon had expanded to a roiling mass. Mei could actually see the rain coming down, making its way across the field between the wall of the gardens and the forest, a veritable torrent of water.

“Run!” someone squealed.

Dignity was abandoned. Ladies picked up their skirts, gentlemen did their best to assist them forward, and they all made a mad dash for the doors. They did not quite make it. The sound of rain pattering across the stone followed them across the patio and caught them just before they reached the doors that footmen were holding open.

There were several shrieks as the rain hit them, and gentlemanly grunts of displeasure. Then laughter as they stumbled through the doors and into the house. Mei lifted her sodden skirts, still giggling, leaning on Johanna’s arm. Despite the heavy downpour, everyone was now smiling and laughing, except Drake, who was clearly annoyed that Astrid had refused his assistance getting through the door, causing them to be the last. Which meant they were also the most soaked through.