Henry scowled good-naturedly at him, and they fell to sipping their drinks in silence.
“She helps run her father’s business, you know,” Henry said, after a long pause. “She’s extremely knowledgeable. Manages the accounts, the workers, the product, everything. I had a businessmeeting with them only a few days ago, and I was astonished at how capable she was.”
Percy sighed. “That’s all well and good, Henry, but that won’t do her any good with the fellows, will it?”
“Why not? What man would not appreciate a wife that could do accounts? She’s as sharp as a blade. No, Percy, you’ve got that wrong. You’d have to be a mad fool not to appreciate a clever wife.”
“Men want clever wives, but not cleverer than they are,” Percy said with another sigh. “Don’t look at me like that. I’m not saying thatIwant a wife who makes me feel clever – I know that I’m not clever. But most men feel differently.”
“They want to feel superior,” Henry said, shaking his head. Weak-minded fools.
“Yes, and that brings me back to my original point. If Miss Fairfax is too clever, she’ll scare away the men, and then she won’t be able to find a husband.”
“Who says she wants to find a husband?”
Percy grinned. “Look at where we are, Henry. This is the Season! The whole thing is designed to put ladies and gentlemen together. Mark my words, Miss Fairfax is looking for a match. However, my question to you, my friend, is why you are standing here with me when you could be talking to Miss Fairfax yourself?”
Henry shot him a sharp glance. “What concern is it of yours?”
Percy shrugged. “I’ve seen you looking at the poor girl all evening. Don’t be a coward, and go speak to her, why don’t you?”
Henry set down his glass with aclack.
“Do you know, I think I will.”
Chapter Eight
“What I mean to say, Miss Fairfax, is that while ladies mayfeigninterest in business matters, the trueintricaciesof such things are really better left up to gentlemen. They have the mind for mathematics and logic after all, ha-ha!”
Eleanor did not bother to echo the false laugh of the gentleman before her. She couldn’t even remember his name, and frankly didn’t much care to. He’d pounced on her the second she glanced away from Marcia and had neatly separated her from the rest of them, almost as if it had been practiced.
“Well, sir, I must tell you that I am quite involved in my father’s business,” Eleanor said, as tartly as she dared.
The gentleman only smiled vaguely. She wasn’t even sure if he was listening to her.
“Yes, well, young ladiesdothrive better with somelightoccupation. I daresay your papa thinks only of improving your mind and means no harm by it, but in fact…”
“Miss Eleanor Fairfax, there you are.”
The familiar voice sent a very unladylike tingle down Eleanor’s spine. She and her conversation partner – if it could be described as a conversation, that is – turned in union to see Lord Henry Willenshire bearing down on them, flashing that cool smile that always made her feel ever so odd inside.
“Lord Henry,” she managed, not quite able to hide the feeling of relief. “How wonderful to see you.”
“Mr Black,” Henry drawled, making the lightest of bows in the gentleman’s direction. “I do hope you’re not boring Miss Fairfax.”
Mr Black turned an interesting shade of puce. “Of course not! I only suggested…”
“You are full of suggestions, Mr Black, quite full of them. Now, Miss Fairfax, I came over here with a goal in mind.”
He met her eye squarely, and that shiver went down Eleanor’s spine again.
“Oh?” she managed, a rather embarrassing wobble in her voice. “Do explain.”
“I came to ask you to dance, Miss Fairfax.”
Why was Eleanor’s heart fluttering the way it did? It was just a dance.
“I’d be honoured, Lord Henry,” she answered smoothly, heart jumping in her chest. He held out a hand, and she put hers in it, and then they were on the dance floor and the music was beginning.
