know why that name works for you, but it does. Always did feel odd calling you Eppie once we left school." His gaze flicked over Izzy with absent admiration. He leaned closer to Julian. "Where's the mouse?"
Releasing her death grip on Julian's arm, Izzy planted herself before Eric.
"Squeak."
Eric actually jumped. Wide and amazed, his eyes slowly traveled from her face to her hem and back again. Julian stepped between them with a growl.
"Izzy, may I introduce my closest friend, Eric Calwell, Viscount Stretton. Eric, Miss Isadora Temple, my affianced bride—and put your bloody eyes back in your head, Stretton. You're making a scene."
"Don't be silly, Julian." Izzy laughed. "
You
are making a scene. Lord Stretton is merely making my acquaintance. I am very glad to meet a friend of Julian's, my lord. I feel as though I already know you."
After a curtsey, Izzy smiled up at his friend, but her smile faltered when Eric did not respond. He only contemplated her without expression.
Julian was puzzled. Why was Eric being difficult? Exasperated with his friend, he was about to roundly tell him so when another thought struck him.
Izzy was a most unusual woman. Perhaps it would be best for Eric to discover that on his own. Acting breezily indifferent to the tension between them, he made a slight bow to Izzy.
"You two will not mind if I step away, will you? I see someone I must speak to for a moment." He turned on his heel and left them. Then he grinned.
Eric didn't stand a chance.
When Lord Stretton stiffly offered Izzy his arm, she took it with misgiving. It seemed Lady Bottomly was not the only one who had assumed Izzy was digging for gold.
Once on the ballroom floor, Lord Stretton moved easily enough, but his eyes still glared. Izzy smiled at him anyway.
"My lord, perhaps you could direct your gaze elsewhere. I fear my hair shall catch fire."
He scowled at her words, and the burning increased.
"I hope you are enjoying the wealth you lied for, Miss Temple." He smirked. "Oh yes, I know the real facts of the matter. I know you stand to gain a great deal by trapping a good man with your tales."
Izzy contemplated explaining the entire matter of the betrothal, but decided that Julian must have had his reasons for keeping the plan from his friend.
"Circumstances trapped us all, Lord Stretton. I only set out to minimize the damage." He was terribly sweet, bristling in Julian's defense that way. She smiled at him fondly. "You are trying to protect him, I know. I am trying to protect him, as well.
"I wonder what it is about Julian which makes us all want to protect him?" she mused, thinking of herself and Celia, as well. "You are trying to protect him from me, and I am trying to protect him from his father."
She laughed merrily at his stunned expression. He definitely looked a little befuddled. How to explain without explaining?
"Lord Stretton, does Lord Blackworth seem unhappy with the solution that has been struck?"
He mulled that over for a moment. "No, not truly unhappy. In fact, he seems rather satisfied with himself lately. As if he had an ace in his hand, so to speak." Suddenly, his gaze shot to hers. "He's up to something, isn't he? What have you two cooked up between you?"
"Nothing so terrible. An agreement, nothing more. Simply trust that it is a beneficial arrangement for all."
Julian's friend laughed then, shaking his head. "I should have known Blackworth would finagle his way out of this one somehow. Even as a boy he was as slippery as an eel."
The music ended and they turned to leave the floor. "I am pleased to make your acquaintance, Miss Temple. Thank you for a lovely waltz." His words were formal, but his eyes held something new. "You should know that my sisters hunger for your head, believing you a fortune hunter. They consider Julian one of the family. If you can convert them, you'll have half the
ton
on your side."
"Sisters? Oh dear. How many?"
"Only six." He grinned at her, then had a sudden
Releasing her death grip on Julian's arm, Izzy planted herself before Eric.
"Squeak."
Eric actually jumped. Wide and amazed, his eyes slowly traveled from her face to her hem and back again. Julian stepped between them with a growl.
"Izzy, may I introduce my closest friend, Eric Calwell, Viscount Stretton. Eric, Miss Isadora Temple, my affianced bride—and put your bloody eyes back in your head, Stretton. You're making a scene."
"Don't be silly, Julian." Izzy laughed. "
You
are making a scene. Lord Stretton is merely making my acquaintance. I am very glad to meet a friend of Julian's, my lord. I feel as though I already know you."
After a curtsey, Izzy smiled up at his friend, but her smile faltered when Eric did not respond. He only contemplated her without expression.
Julian was puzzled. Why was Eric being difficult? Exasperated with his friend, he was about to roundly tell him so when another thought struck him.
Izzy was a most unusual woman. Perhaps it would be best for Eric to discover that on his own. Acting breezily indifferent to the tension between them, he made a slight bow to Izzy.
"You two will not mind if I step away, will you? I see someone I must speak to for a moment." He turned on his heel and left them. Then he grinned.
Eric didn't stand a chance.
When Lord Stretton stiffly offered Izzy his arm, she took it with misgiving. It seemed Lady Bottomly was not the only one who had assumed Izzy was digging for gold.
Once on the ballroom floor, Lord Stretton moved easily enough, but his eyes still glared. Izzy smiled at him anyway.
"My lord, perhaps you could direct your gaze elsewhere. I fear my hair shall catch fire."
He scowled at her words, and the burning increased.
"I hope you are enjoying the wealth you lied for, Miss Temple." He smirked. "Oh yes, I know the real facts of the matter. I know you stand to gain a great deal by trapping a good man with your tales."
Izzy contemplated explaining the entire matter of the betrothal, but decided that Julian must have had his reasons for keeping the plan from his friend.
"Circumstances trapped us all, Lord Stretton. I only set out to minimize the damage." He was terribly sweet, bristling in Julian's defense that way. She smiled at him fondly. "You are trying to protect him, I know. I am trying to protect him, as well.
"I wonder what it is about Julian which makes us all want to protect him?" she mused, thinking of herself and Celia, as well. "You are trying to protect him from me, and I am trying to protect him from his father."
She laughed merrily at his stunned expression. He definitely looked a little befuddled. How to explain without explaining?
"Lord Stretton, does Lord Blackworth seem unhappy with the solution that has been struck?"
He mulled that over for a moment. "No, not truly unhappy. In fact, he seems rather satisfied with himself lately. As if he had an ace in his hand, so to speak." Suddenly, his gaze shot to hers. "He's up to something, isn't he? What have you two cooked up between you?"
"Nothing so terrible. An agreement, nothing more. Simply trust that it is a beneficial arrangement for all."
Julian's friend laughed then, shaking his head. "I should have known Blackworth would finagle his way out of this one somehow. Even as a boy he was as slippery as an eel."
The music ended and they turned to leave the floor. "I am pleased to make your acquaintance, Miss Temple. Thank you for a lovely waltz." His words were formal, but his eyes held something new. "You should know that my sisters hunger for your head, believing you a fortune hunter. They consider Julian one of the family. If you can convert them, you'll have half the
ton
on your side."
"Sisters? Oh dear. How many?"
"Only six." He grinned at her, then had a sudden
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