Her mouth held the promise of tender kisses for the man who could find his way to her heart. James already had a sinking feeling that whoever that man was, it would never be Guy. Leah did not appear to be the least bit impressed with him, let alone behaving toward him in the manner expected of a future bride.
“I visited your family at Fulham Palace last spring. Your sister Claire had been ill, and I came to see her. You were recently returned from university, as I recall. We met only briefly, in the hallway as I was leaving. You were sitting on the stone flagging, patting your dog,” Leah replied.
Her recollection of a brief meeting many months ago took James by surprise. Claire had been ill for a number of weeks, during which time she had received only a handful of visitors. People tended to stay away from patients who were suffering from anything other than a minor cold, and with good reason. However, the mention of him sitting on the floor with the family dog gave James a clue as to why he could not remember Leah. He was more than likely still half-foxed from the night before and using King as a means to shield himself from his mother’s gaze.
“I must apologize. I had forgotten. It is nice to meet you again,” he said.
His being in a drunken stupor was the only explanation for not having registered his previous encounter with Leah Shepherd. If he had been sober, he would have remembered her. There was something about Leah that was unforgettable.
She leaned in close and whispered, “I think you may have been under the weather at the time, so your brain might have been a little fuzzy.”
A sharp whistle had them both turning and looking in the direction of the refreshment table. James frowned at the impolite way Guy had used to get his and Leah’s attention. Guy was pointing at a plate of cakes while other guests stared at him, disbelief written on their faces. Beside him stood Caroline and Francis. They were staring daggers in James’s direction.
“I think he wishes to know if you would like a cake, Miss Shepherd?” asked James.
When she replied. “No thank you,” James shook his head at Guy.
He turned back to Leah and their gazes met. Her lips barely moved, but he could see that she was trying to force a smile. It looked painful, and the end result was that she held it for the barest of moments before her face went back to its previous neutral expression.
“Guy has obviously taken an interest in you,” James said.
“Yes. He and my father have become quite close in recent times,” she replied.
They watched as Guy picked up two glasses and started back across the lawn toward them.
The penny dropped for James. Guy wasn’t courting Leah; he was courting her father. And both she and Guy knew it.
“Sorry, James, old chap, I couldn’t carry a third drink,” Guy said, upon his return.
James took one look at the cloudy concoction in the glass and was immediately grateful for that fact. Why people considered orgeat anything other than vile was beyond him. Going without was the better option. “You two enjoy.”
To James’s ongoing disquiet, Guy not only smiled but took a large sip of his drink. Leah took one look at the drink in her hand before setting it down untouched on a nearby garden table.
A sour-faced Caroline and Francis now appeared at his shoulder. Francis scowled at him, while Caroline looked fit to do murder. Guy had somehow managed to hunt down the Saunders siblings; there would be no escape for any of them.
“Miss Shepherd, may I introduce my cousins Caroline and Francis Saunders. Their mother, Lady Adelaide, is my paternal aunt,” said James.
Caroline held out a hand in greeting. “A pleasure to meet you, Leah. I do so love your dress. You look stunning. You must tell me where you buy your gloves.”
Francis gave a polite nod and added, “Charmed.”
James watched with interest as Guy looked from Caroline to Leah and the expression on his face turned from bewildered to understanding.
“Yes, Miss Shepherd, you do look most pleasing in your gown,” he said. His words sounded rehearsed and without care.
Leah matched his efforts with the tiniest nod. One blink and he would have missed it.
“Well since everyone is here, how about we set up for a game of bowls?” offered Guy.
“I shall sit this out, so you have an even number of players,” said Francis. He headed over to one of the nearby garden chairs and took a seat.
As Guy went and collected the bowls, Caroline leaned in close to James and whispered in his ear. “Guy tried to make me take a glass of orgeat, even after I told him I never drink the foul stuff; he was quite insistent. Francis had to get firm with him. He might be your friend, James, but he has appalling manners.”
James’s gaze fell on Leah’s untouched drink, and he recalled her having asked for a cup of tea in preference to it. Guy had obviously ignored her wishes too. He pursed his lips. If Guy was prepared to ride roughshod over the simple matter of a lady’s request for refreshments, they could all be in for a very long afternoon.
Chapter Four
Leah watched Guy out of the corner of her eye as he bent down and aimed his bowl at the jack. After tossing it, he trotted behind the bowl, urging it on, a soft smile on his lips. The man was a chameleon, shifting the look on his face from a smile to a frown and back again, depending on who was watching.
