He grinned, and the color spread down his neck. “No, although I admit it got my attention. Do you truly hunt with a falcon?”
Clara found it fascinating that his blush was not the bright red of her own, that his dark skin shaded a hue that was between a light brown and maroon. She stared at him, and he met her gaze.
His eyebrows arched. “My lady?”
Clara stumbled over the hem of her gown. “Oh!”
Michael caught her as her hand shot out and thumped Beth in the back. The other couple turned, as Michael steadied her. She knew her own blush had to be a ravening scarlet.
“My apologies, Lady Elizabeth.” She tried to straighten her gown.
Beth glared at Michael a moment but addressed Clara. “I’m sure the maid’s attempts to clean your skirt stretched it somewhat.” To Michael she whispered, “Behave!”
His wide eyes were the picture of all innocence. “I did nothing, I swear.”
“Hm.” His sister faced forward again.
Michael winked at Clara and put a finger to his lips.
She nodded, trying hard not to snicker.No more talking.
They continued their journey through the door and down two flights of stairs. Another short hallway led them out beneath aporte cochère, where the Durham family carriage waited. A footman standing nearby spotted Lady Clara and opened the door.
She released Michael’s arm and stepped toward the carriage, then paused and turned back to the three of them. “I am forever in your debt, gentlemen. Your kindness is beyond measure. As is yours, Lady Elizabeth.”
The two men bowed. “Our pleasure,” Aldermaston said. He moved as if to help her into the carriage, but Michael stepped between them, again offering his arm. She grasped it lightly, but his strength was enough to boost her into the carriage. Her mother scowled at both of them, then gestured to the footman to shut the door.
The scolding she expected began the moment the carriage pulled away from theporte cochère.
“Can you not attend one single event without causing a scene?”
“Mother, I promise it was not my doing. Hadleyton—”
Her mother interrupted with a wave. “Oh, I know all about Hadleyton. The duchess was livid with him and absolutely filled my ears with apologies and explanations. The duchess! Apologizing to me! That in itself is scandal enough!”
“But if she—”
“If you had not tripped last year, he—”
“He tripped me.”
Her mother stopped. “What did you say?”
Clara let out a long sigh, a deep weariness filling her. “Lady Rose found out that Lord Richard intentionally tripped me last year because I had turned him down for a dance. The fact that I would dare refuse him set him on this idea to make me look like a fool. Repeatedly, I’m afraid.”
Her mother stared at her. “He... how could he? You are a lady!”
“Not in his eyes, apparently. And after tonight, I am assured he will make every event a nightmare for me.”
The countess’s lips pressed together. “Because of what Lord Michael Ashton did to him.”
“Lord Michael was only trying to defend his sister and me.”
“By lifting the son of a baronet clear off the floor by his cravat.”
“He is rather strong.”
Her mother’s fan slapped Clara’s arm. “You should not be considering Lord Michael’s strength. Or anything else about him.”
