A commotion filled the same doorway Quillon had just entered through.
All the McQuoid siblings and cousins, all talking over one another, streamed onto the veranda.
Her head still addled, she struggled to keep up with the very crowded space.
Myrtle squeezed next to Fleur and Cassia onto the bench. Meghan and Linnie found the arms.
“Nicely played, Fleur.” Oleander clapped his hands. “Finding a way to steal away from Cassia’s ball. Well done.”
The two cousins stuck their tongues out at one another.
“That is, with the exception of fainting to get out of it.” Andromena made a clicking sound with her tongue. “Not at all McQuoid-like.”
An ascending murmur rolled over the crowd of cousins and siblings.
If they were horrified by a pretend faint, what would they say if they knew it had been a real one?
Her temples began to pound.
“I disagree.” Meghan was the only dissenting McQuoid. “Fleur went into a swoon, and it was just beautiful.”
A frown pinched the spot between Myrtle’s brows. “It did look very real.”
Everyone looked at Fleur.
A fresh surge of nausea swept over her.
Somehow, Fleur managed to smile. “You have found me out.”
Silence met her profession.
Then laughter exploded. They passed the next few minutes telling jests and sharing hilarities that had already befallen Cassia’s event.
Arran shushed their gathering to silence. “Who else is at all surprised at whom Hartwell settled on for his next betrothed?”
No hands went up.
“Of courseit would be Nathaniel’s former intended,” Myrtle called.
Everyone bellowed in hilarity.
Only two people present frowned—Fleur and Cassia.
“Don’t forget the lady is a duke’s daughter,” Andromena pointed out. “A curmudgeon like Hart wouldn’t settle for anything less.”
Fleur’s eyes slid shut.
Laughter swelled.
“…and he’ll be absolutely livid, Fleur, since your faint drew all attention from him and his next betrothed…” her cousin, Brone, said.
The pulsing in her head grew.
Fleur glanced about while the McQuoids roared their heads off.
Her chest constricted.
Suddenly, it was too much.
