“Lady Inverhall, I believe Lord Marvant asked you a question,” he said lightly. “Are you quite well?”
Aye, well enough to throttle ye both.
“I am sorry, Me Lord,” she said, returning her attention to the man with great effort. “Could ye please repeat the question?”
“Oh, certainly, Lady Inverhall.” Lord Marvant was, of course, delighted to resume. “I merely inquired whetheryouenjoy riding as well, or whether you prefer the gentler pursuits of embroidery and tea. I do find that many ladies find the saddle quiteintimidating, what with the jostling and all. Though, of course, I imagine Scottish women are made of… sturdier stuff.”
She blinked.
His eyes—small, watery things—blinked back expectantly.
The Duke stood beside her like a thundercloud stuffed into formalwear.
“Aye, Me Lord,” Elspeth replied with syrupy sweetness. “I do enjoy a ride. Especially fast ones through the rough country. I find the jostlin’ keeps the mind sharp.”
Lord Marvant’s smile faltered. “Ah… well. Yes. Quite.”
He looked helplessly at the Duke, who—because he was an absolute fiend—merely shrugged.
“Thank you for your time, Lord Marvant,” he said. “If you’ll excuse us, there’s another acquaintance I would like Lady Inverhall to meet.”
“Oh! Of course,” Lord Marvant sputtered, fumbling with his goblet and sloshing a bit of wine onto his cuff. “I shall return to Celestine’s lineage. In my mind, I mean. It’s quite extensive.”
Elspeth did not bother to hide her sigh of relief as the man wandered off, presumably to corner someone else with tales of refined hooves and perilous mud.
She endured another introduction, and another. One with a portly belly and a yellowing beard, another with a unibrow and horrific breath. Each lord was more unsuitable than the last, their conversations a tedious drone about weather, politics, and tiresome anecdotes.
Heer mind, however, was preoccupied with one burning question.
How can I make him stop?
Just as the Duke’s latest victim, Lord Brownstone, was expounding on the merits of his prize-winning hounds, a familiar, mischievous voice cut through the din.
“Your Grace! And who is this vision of Highland sunshine you are hoarding all to yourself? Surely this cannot be the Lady Inverhall I know. My Lady, you are a ravishing sight in this red gown, if I may dare say so.”
The Marquess of Sarford appeared at the Duke’s side, a roguish grin on his handsome face.
“Lord Sarford.” Elspeth curtsied to him. “Ye flatter me too much.”
“That is my very intention, My Lady,” the Marquess cooed, bowing to her and taking her hand to kiss it. “I shall find myself very lacking if I do not devote time to appreciating your exquisite beauty.”
As he released her hand, Elspeth felt a flicker of something akin to relief, then a spark of an idea as she watched the Duke react to his friend. She had noticed the subtle stiffening in his shoulders, the almost imperceptible tightening of his jaw as he drained the last of his wine. His mood, which had been so carefully neutral, seemed to shift.
Perhaps there is a way I can make him stop, after all.
“It appears the ton has grown terribly lax in their invitations,” the Duke drawled, his gaze flicking to Elspeth before landing pointedly on his friend.
“Quite so,” the Marquess replied, unbothered as he accepted two flutes of champagne from a passing footman. “They even allow dukes with sour tempers but excellent taste in friends.” He turned to Elspeth with a charming smile. “May I offer you a glass, Lady Inverhall? I daresay you’ll require fortification.”
“Thank ye very much, Me Lord,” Elspeth said, pressing the flute to her lips.
Much as she cared little for such events, she had grown a liking for the bubbly refreshment of French champagne. Even more so, she liked how it emboldened her.
She found herself smiling then, a genuine smile that reached her eyes.
“What is so amusing, My Lady?” Lord Sarford asked, meeting her gaze.
“Pardon me directness, Me Lord, but His Grace has sometimes referred to ye as well,a nuisance,” she joked, her Scottish lilt softening the jab. “But I must say, I find ye perfectly lovely company.”
