“You heard correctly,” Graham said, not with a small smile that didn’t reach his eyes.
“Oh, how wonderful!” Lady Fletcher exclaimed. “And at my ball. You are going to crush the matchmakers here tonight. They had their sights set on you, my lord.”
Graham shifted uncomfortably on his feet, and Diana wished there was something she could say or do.
“Thank you,” Diana managed, forcing a smile despite the turmoil in her chest.
“We’ll make the announcement now,” Lady Fletcher added. The woman would be talking about this for weeks to anyone who would listen.
“You’re so very kind,” Graham replied with what sounded like forced politeness.
Lord Fletcher called for attention and then Graham shared their news to the sea of guests. Diana stood beside him, watching the tittering and waving of fans as they were stared at and inspected. Both still soaked from their time in the rain.
She was almost grateful when Elias appeared to retrieve her from a line of people who had swarmed them to wish them well.
Graham and Matt followed as they took their leave, each party summoning their carriages and standing together in awkward silence.
Once the carriages rolled to a stop in front of the townhouse, Graham bowed formally to her before Elias could pull her away, remorse in expression. “Good night, Lady Diana. Lord Snowdon, LadySnowdon.” His eyes met Diana’s again. “I shall call tomorrow.”
“Good night, Lord Powis,” Diana replied, the emotion of the events threatening to consume her.
She watched as Graham departed with Matt, before taking her brother’s hand to step into her family’s carriage. She seated herself across from Lydia and then Elias entered and sat beside his wife.
The moment the carriage door closed, even in the darkness she could see the murderous expression he wore.
“What the devil happened in that garden?” Elias demanded.
“Elias,” Lydia warned gently, placing a hand on his arm.
“No, my love. I want to hear from my sister what occurred.” Elias raised his hand flippantly toward Diana. “Because either my sister lost her damned mind and willingly went off into the dark with a random man or the blackguard forced himself upon her. And I must know which.”
Diana felt tears prick her eyes. “I was out in the garden and came across Lord Powis, and we were caught in the storm. We took shelter in the gazebo, and… Lady Theodosia and Lady Rebecca found us there.”
“And why were you out in the garden alone and unchaperoned? When I noticed you were gone, I was told you were in the retiring room.”
Diana’s cheeks burned with shame. She could hardly tell him she’d been chasing after Lord Ockham and then ended up in the arms of a different man. “I needed air. The ballroom was stifling.”
“Air,” Elias repeated flatly. “So you decided to wander the grounds alone in the dark.”
“What’s done is done, Elias,” Diana said, exasperated by her brother. “It just all happened so fast with the rain.”
“Or the man saw an opportunity,” Elias said harshly.
“You don’t know that’s what happened.”
“I don’t know much of anything about him. Or about what wouldpossess you to allow the man to take certain liberties with you, if those horrid women speak the truth.”
Lydia leaned forward and squeezed Diana’s hand across the carriage. “What your brother means to say is that we just want to ensure that you are well after the events of the evening, dearest. This all happened so very quickly.”
“I’m well aware,” Diana fired back, harsher than she intended. “But neither of us planned for any of it. I know it.”
“Time will tell,” Elias huffed.
The carriage fell silent as they rolled through London’s dark streets. Diana stared out the window, the weight of her brother’s accusations settling over her like a shroud.
“You must at least like him if you entertained a kiss with the man?” Lydia asked gently.
“I do.”
