Victoria.”
“Really, Nicholas, you’re treating your wife as if she were a fragile piece of china, which we all know she isn’t. I’m sure Lady Guildford is far more resilient than you think, mon cher .”
Eleanor’s voice rang out in the room as the cacophony of questioning voices ebbed away. The mockery in the duchess’ voice set Nicholas on edge. Whether Victoria was telling the truth or not, she did not deserve to be insulted in her own home. Before he could say a word, a hand touched his arm. Startled he looked down to see Victoria shake her head.
“I’ve never been much for titles, Eleanor, so please call me Victoria.” There was no rancor or sarcasm in her smile as she met the duchess’ imperious gaze. “And you’re right. I am far more resilient than Nicholas is willing to admit. But, I’m grateful for his concern. I’m surprised he’s able to tolerate me at all considering my bad reputation.”
Hate and fear filled the venomous look Eleanor cast in Victoria’s direction. He was just about to put himself between the two women when Jamieson appeared in the salon doorway and announced dinner. Everyone looked to Victoria, but she simply stared back in confusion. Anna smiled.
“It’s customary for the hostess to direct which gentleman escorts which lady into dinner, my dear.”
“Oh.” Victoria’s blank look made Nicholas take pity on her.
“Charles, will you take Eleanor into supper? Sebastian if you’ll escort Catherine, John can escort Victoria, and I’ll accompany Anna,” he said. His direction did not make Eleanor happy, but at the moment he could care less. With Anna on his arm, they walked toward the doorway.
“I like her, Nicholas,” his friend murmured. That Anna would say such a thing amazed him. There had never been any love lost between the two women.
“It’s an act.”
“If you mean her skill at hiding how terrified she is, then yes it’s an extraordinary performance.”
“The only fear my wife has ever shown has been where horses are concerned.”
“You misjudge her, Nicholas,” Anna said firmly. “She is who she says she is.”
“What the devil is that supposed to mean?”
“You know precisely what it means.” Anna met his gaze and eyed him as sternly as a nanny might a child in her charge. “I know Sebastian has told you about…my ability to determine the worth of a person with just a handshake.”
“Are you trying to tell me—”
“I’m telling you that the woman I shook hands with is not Vickie.”
The emphatic note in Anna’s voice made Nicholas’ jaw go rigid. Although he’d always been skeptical of his friend’s intuitive manner, he couldn’t remember a time when she’d been wrong. A voice in the back of his head reminded him that there was always a first time.
Throughout the evening meal, Eleanor’s flirtations slowly became tedious. Even more annoying was the amusement on Victoria’s face whenever he glanced in her direction. He was certain she knew Eleanor’s behavior annoyed him, and he didn’t enjoy the fact that she was aware of his discomfort.
“If you continue to frown like that Nicholas, your forehead is apt to stay wrinkled.” Seated to his right at the dinner table, Anna’s light-hearted words made him smile.
“I didn’t realize I was frowning.”
“Obviously. It must be a very serious matter you’re considering.”
“Not so serious that I should neglect my duties as host.”
“Then tell us what excitement you have planned for us tomorrow?” Still smiling, Anna took a helping of fresh vegetables from the platter a servant held in front of her. Seated on the opposite side of the table, Viscountess Palmerton set her wine glass down.
“Yes, Nicholas, are we to ride in the morning as we usually do? You always have the best mounts of anyone we know.”
“Yes,” he said with a nod in Catherine’s direction. “I bought several new horses at Tattersall’s last month. I’ve been told they’ve settled in
“Really, Nicholas, you’re treating your wife as if she were a fragile piece of china, which we all know she isn’t. I’m sure Lady Guildford is far more resilient than you think, mon cher .”
Eleanor’s voice rang out in the room as the cacophony of questioning voices ebbed away. The mockery in the duchess’ voice set Nicholas on edge. Whether Victoria was telling the truth or not, she did not deserve to be insulted in her own home. Before he could say a word, a hand touched his arm. Startled he looked down to see Victoria shake her head.
“I’ve never been much for titles, Eleanor, so please call me Victoria.” There was no rancor or sarcasm in her smile as she met the duchess’ imperious gaze. “And you’re right. I am far more resilient than Nicholas is willing to admit. But, I’m grateful for his concern. I’m surprised he’s able to tolerate me at all considering my bad reputation.”
Hate and fear filled the venomous look Eleanor cast in Victoria’s direction. He was just about to put himself between the two women when Jamieson appeared in the salon doorway and announced dinner. Everyone looked to Victoria, but she simply stared back in confusion. Anna smiled.
“It’s customary for the hostess to direct which gentleman escorts which lady into dinner, my dear.”
“Oh.” Victoria’s blank look made Nicholas take pity on her.
“Charles, will you take Eleanor into supper? Sebastian if you’ll escort Catherine, John can escort Victoria, and I’ll accompany Anna,” he said. His direction did not make Eleanor happy, but at the moment he could care less. With Anna on his arm, they walked toward the doorway.
“I like her, Nicholas,” his friend murmured. That Anna would say such a thing amazed him. There had never been any love lost between the two women.
“It’s an act.”
“If you mean her skill at hiding how terrified she is, then yes it’s an extraordinary performance.”
“The only fear my wife has ever shown has been where horses are concerned.”
“You misjudge her, Nicholas,” Anna said firmly. “She is who she says she is.”
“What the devil is that supposed to mean?”
“You know precisely what it means.” Anna met his gaze and eyed him as sternly as a nanny might a child in her charge. “I know Sebastian has told you about…my ability to determine the worth of a person with just a handshake.”
“Are you trying to tell me—”
“I’m telling you that the woman I shook hands with is not Vickie.”
The emphatic note in Anna’s voice made Nicholas’ jaw go rigid. Although he’d always been skeptical of his friend’s intuitive manner, he couldn’t remember a time when she’d been wrong. A voice in the back of his head reminded him that there was always a first time.
Throughout the evening meal, Eleanor’s flirtations slowly became tedious. Even more annoying was the amusement on Victoria’s face whenever he glanced in her direction. He was certain she knew Eleanor’s behavior annoyed him, and he didn’t enjoy the fact that she was aware of his discomfort.
“If you continue to frown like that Nicholas, your forehead is apt to stay wrinkled.” Seated to his right at the dinner table, Anna’s light-hearted words made him smile.
“I didn’t realize I was frowning.”
“Obviously. It must be a very serious matter you’re considering.”
“Not so serious that I should neglect my duties as host.”
“Then tell us what excitement you have planned for us tomorrow?” Still smiling, Anna took a helping of fresh vegetables from the platter a servant held in front of her. Seated on the opposite side of the table, Viscountess Palmerton set her wine glass down.
“Yes, Nicholas, are we to ride in the morning as we usually do? You always have the best mounts of anyone we know.”
“Yes,” he said with a nod in Catherine’s direction. “I bought several new horses at Tattersall’s last month. I’ve been told they’ve settled in
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