“No Maggie this evening?” he asked.
His mother sighed. “She said she had letters to write. More plans for Robert’s memorial. She wants to travel up to Coventry and meet with the local stonemason who is to make the statue.”
He knew to leave his sister and her need to grieve over her late fiancé well enough alone. Some day he hoped she would find someone else to take the place of Robert in her heart. He had died at the battle of Waterloo more than two years ago. Their engagement had only been a brief one. Maggie was far too young to consign herself to a lifetime of widow’s weeds.
Claire flicked open her fan and held it in front of her face. It was a subtle signal to move on with the discussion and not linger on the topic. James scowled at her, but she shook her head and mouthed the word ‘later.’
“Is Guy here with you?” she asked.
Mary took a step back and waved them both a quick farewell. “I shall take that as my cue to go and find your father. Don’t forget to pay your respects to the host before you leave. And, James, try not to drink too much tonight; your father is in one of his odd moods. I don’t want him any grumpier and bear-like than he already is at the moment.”
James raised an eyebrow at the thought of his father being bear-like. Hugh Radley was a cross hedgehog on his worst day. He was not one for raising his voice. His preferred method of disciplining his offspring was to have them come to their own realization that they had misbehaved, and then offer up a shamefaced apology.
“I promise not to drink too much this evening. Now go and have some fun,” said James.
Mary Radley disappeared into the crush of party guests and was soon lost from sight.
“I came with Guy, but he headed toward the ballroom as soon as we arrived. I take it your friend Leah is here tonight?”
“Yes, she is in the ballroom. So, no prizes for guessing why Guy made a beeline for there as soon as you arrived. From the look of things, Leah and Guy appear to be moving at a rather hurried pace toward announcing a betrothal,” said Claire.
James leaned in close. “And do you think that is a good thing? I am concerned that, as you say, things are moving a little too fast. He seems set on the match, but I have my doubts as to whether she feels the same eagerness to be wed.”
“Yes, Caroline made mention of the odd goings on at the garden party on Saturday. And on the rare occasion that Leah has made mention of Guy, her words have not been kind. That does not augur well for a happy future for either of them. Though I doubt there is much which can be done even if she does not wish to marry him. From the moment Tobias Shepherd gave his blessing for Guy to court Leah, the wedding date was all but set.”
Claire’s words had James thinking once more about Leah. A young woman in the early and heady days of love would be sharing all manner of secrets with her friends. Her hopes and dreams for a marriage proposal should be the topic of every conversation. Yet from the sound of things, Leah was more than a little reluctant when it came to the topic of Guy Dannon.
Claire was right. That did not bode well.
Leah’s opinion of Guy wasn’t something anyone in her family seemed to give a damn about. As soon as he arrived in the ballroom, her mother and older married sister were all over him like he was this month’s copy ofLa Belle Assemblée. Leah, meanwhile, stood a step back from the tight gathering and watched with a sinking heart as her female relatives made pretty eyes at Guy.
Ugh.
It was some time before Guy finally tore himself away from the clutches of Mrs. Shepherd. Leah gritted her teeth as his gaze now fixed firmly on her.
“Miss Shepherd, Leah. How lovely you look this evening. Your gown matches your green eyes,” he said.
She fixed a social smile to her face and nodded. “Mister Dannon. If you bothered to check, you would see that my eyes are blue.” She wasn’t going to grace him with the use of his Christian name in public. It was all a bit too familiar and encouraging for her liking. And Guy Dannon was not someone she had in mind to encourage in any way, shape, or form unless it was to encourage him to look elsewhere for a wife.
He raised a hand to her cheek and brushed his fingers gently across her skin. Her mother softly sighed as he did so.
“You have two new freckles on your face, Leah. You should have listened to me when I told you to wear your bonnet at the garden party,” he said.
Her mother’s sigh turned to a disapprovingtsk. A reprimand would no doubt follow as soon as they got home. Pale, flawless skin was the ultimate fashion accessory for a young woman.
“I am sorry if you do not like a sprinkle of sunshine on a young lady’s face,” she replied.
“Leah, manners. Apologize this instant,” hissed her mother.
A strange look came over Guy’s face and he stepped back. “No, Mrs. Shepherd, it is I who should apologize. I overstepped the mark. I, as yet, have no right to be instructing Miss Shepherd on how she should dress or behave.”
Guy bowed low before Leah. When he righted himself again, he met her gaze. His eyes held not a hint of warmth or sincerity. “Miss Shepherd, I offer my full and unreserved apology to you.”
Caught between her mother’s barely suppressed outrage and Guy’s sleight of hand, Leah was left with no other option. “I shall accept your apology, Mister Dannon, if you will graciously accept mine. I should not have been so dismissive of your valuable opinion.”
Mrs. Shepherd gave a slight nod at Leah’s words. Guy held out his hand and a socially obliged Leah was forced to take it. His fingers felt hot and clammy.
“Mrs. Shepherd, would it be acceptable for me to accompany Leah and seek out some mutual friends of ours? Mister James Radley and Miss Claire Radley will be in attendance this evening. It might serve to lighten the mood if we were able to spend some time with them. I promise Leah will be in safe hands,” said Guy.
