and my aunt did a great deal of work putting things together for tonight. You deserve to enjoy yourselves.”
If he were someone else, she might simply have said that she was excited about the night ahead, but when she spoke to Royal, somehow the truth just seemed to slip out.
“I am basically shy, Your Grace. I endure these affairs, but in truth, I should rather be sewing or reading.”
He smiled. “A true homebody.”
“Mostly, yes.”
“Unlike your cousin, I imagine.”
“Completely unlike Jo. She is always the life of the party.” She thought he would find the words reassuring, but instead he began to frown. He might have said something more but Matilda Caulfield walked up just then.
“Lily—where on earth have you been? Lady Tavistock has been looking all over. She is waiting for you in the drawing room.”
It was a ruse to get her away from the duke, but for once, Lily was glad for the woman’s interference.
“Then I shall go to her at once.” She looked up at Royal, immaculately dressed in his perfectly tailored black evening clothes. Hair the color of pirate gold gleamed in the light of the crystal chandelier. “If you will both please excuse me…”
He made a formal bow and Lily hurried off to the drawing room. A trio of musicians in scarlet knee breeches and wearing white periwigs were playing. Most of the guests had already arrived. There was less formality in the country and everyone there was a bit more relaxed than in London, and laughter and good humor filled the drawing room.
Lily plucked a glass of champagne off a passing waiter’s tray and went in search of the dowager countess. The woman was engaged in conversation with several of her friends, and Matilda’s ruse was clear. The dowager hadn’t even noticed Lily’s absence.
She was meandering around the drawing room sipping her drink when Viscount Wellesley stepped into the path she traveled.
“Miss Moran…If I may say so, you are looking quite scrumptious this evening.”
She smiled. She liked Sheridan Knowles. He always went out of his way to make her feel comfortable, and he was also quite charming. “You look extremely dashing yourself.” And he did. Even when he wasn’t dressed in black evening clothes, there was somethingelegant and sophisticated about Wellesley, and yet that elegance was tinged with a subtle masculinity that could not be mistaken.
“Would you allow me the privilege of introducing you to some of the guests?”
She would rather just slip into a corner and pretend to be invisible, but he wasn’t giving her a choice.
“That would be very kind of you.”
But the viscount wasn’t looking at her with kindness. She knew enough about men to recognize the warmth in his green eyes and the faintly sensuous curve of his lips.
At least until a commotion in the doorway drew his attention and Jocelyn swept into the drawing room. Her blue velvet gown heightened the milky whiteness of her skin and emphasized the voluptuous swell of her breasts. Chestnut curls gleamed against her shoulders and her full lips curved into a breathtaking smile.
All conversation ceased. Even the servants stopped where they stood and just stared.
“Good Lord.”
Lily laughed softly. “She is quite something, isn’t she?”
Sheridan dragged his gaze away from her and back to Lily’s face. “I do beg your pardon. That was not well done of me.”
Lily just smiled. She was used to the effect her cousin had on men. “Perhaps not, but it was expected. You have only seen her a couple of times. You will get over the shock after a while.”
Sheridan looked back at Jo, who, though escorted by the duke, was already surrounded by a group of male admirers.
“I am not certain I would want a wife whose beautydrew such lavish attention,” Sherry said, “a woman who was never completely mine alone.”
“Ah, so you are a romantic, my lord.”
“Perhaps I am, though if you tell anyone, I shall have to call you out. Whom will you
If he were someone else, she might simply have said that she was excited about the night ahead, but when she spoke to Royal, somehow the truth just seemed to slip out.
“I am basically shy, Your Grace. I endure these affairs, but in truth, I should rather be sewing or reading.”
He smiled. “A true homebody.”
“Mostly, yes.”
“Unlike your cousin, I imagine.”
“Completely unlike Jo. She is always the life of the party.” She thought he would find the words reassuring, but instead he began to frown. He might have said something more but Matilda Caulfield walked up just then.
“Lily—where on earth have you been? Lady Tavistock has been looking all over. She is waiting for you in the drawing room.”
It was a ruse to get her away from the duke, but for once, Lily was glad for the woman’s interference.
“Then I shall go to her at once.” She looked up at Royal, immaculately dressed in his perfectly tailored black evening clothes. Hair the color of pirate gold gleamed in the light of the crystal chandelier. “If you will both please excuse me…”
He made a formal bow and Lily hurried off to the drawing room. A trio of musicians in scarlet knee breeches and wearing white periwigs were playing. Most of the guests had already arrived. There was less formality in the country and everyone there was a bit more relaxed than in London, and laughter and good humor filled the drawing room.
Lily plucked a glass of champagne off a passing waiter’s tray and went in search of the dowager countess. The woman was engaged in conversation with several of her friends, and Matilda’s ruse was clear. The dowager hadn’t even noticed Lily’s absence.
She was meandering around the drawing room sipping her drink when Viscount Wellesley stepped into the path she traveled.
“Miss Moran…If I may say so, you are looking quite scrumptious this evening.”
She smiled. She liked Sheridan Knowles. He always went out of his way to make her feel comfortable, and he was also quite charming. “You look extremely dashing yourself.” And he did. Even when he wasn’t dressed in black evening clothes, there was somethingelegant and sophisticated about Wellesley, and yet that elegance was tinged with a subtle masculinity that could not be mistaken.
“Would you allow me the privilege of introducing you to some of the guests?”
She would rather just slip into a corner and pretend to be invisible, but he wasn’t giving her a choice.
“That would be very kind of you.”
But the viscount wasn’t looking at her with kindness. She knew enough about men to recognize the warmth in his green eyes and the faintly sensuous curve of his lips.
At least until a commotion in the doorway drew his attention and Jocelyn swept into the drawing room. Her blue velvet gown heightened the milky whiteness of her skin and emphasized the voluptuous swell of her breasts. Chestnut curls gleamed against her shoulders and her full lips curved into a breathtaking smile.
All conversation ceased. Even the servants stopped where they stood and just stared.
“Good Lord.”
Lily laughed softly. “She is quite something, isn’t she?”
Sheridan dragged his gaze away from her and back to Lily’s face. “I do beg your pardon. That was not well done of me.”
Lily just smiled. She was used to the effect her cousin had on men. “Perhaps not, but it was expected. You have only seen her a couple of times. You will get over the shock after a while.”
Sheridan looked back at Jo, who, though escorted by the duke, was already surrounded by a group of male admirers.
“I am not certain I would want a wife whose beautydrew such lavish attention,” Sherry said, “a woman who was never completely mine alone.”
“Ah, so you are a romantic, my lord.”
“Perhaps I am, though if you tell anyone, I shall have to call you out. Whom will you
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