“If I were a more arrogant man, I might assume my reputation preceded me.” He shot Lily a smile that made her think of a wink, though of course he hadn’t taken any such liberty.
She smiled and confessed, “You remind me of my brother, William.”
Lily had meant it as a compliment, so she was surprised to see Lord Shaw’s eyebrows raise, the ghost of a frown pass his lips. She looked to Bradford for help—why, she didn’t know—and was surprised to see him smiling behind his teacup.
“He also spent time in the navy, you see,” she explained lamely.
Lord Shaw nodded. “What about you, Hayes? You look as if you might have a bit of military experience yourself.”
Bradford chuckled in a self-deprecating way. “Only that which can be claimed by being raised by an army man. My father was a major.”
“I had once thought I might join the navy,” Lord Anderson said eagerly. “High seas, grand adventures, the mystery offoreign ports—I always thought that the freedom of the navy would suit me.”
“I’m not sure that my brother ever extolled the navy as a place of freedom, Lord Anderson,” Lily said with a kind smile. “He speaks instead of bells and structure.”
Lord Anderson frowned at Lily as if she’d just argued with his own personal experience instead of an idea he’d had. “I’m sure there are as many different experiences of the military as there are men in it.”
“An excellent point,” she conceded with a nod.
“Yet in this case, I must agree with Lord Cavendish’s assessment,” Lord Shaw said. “Sailors are a machine of sorts. Certainly they must function as tightly as one.”
“Lord Powell to see Miss Lily Preston,” the butler intoned from the doorway.
Lily smiled at the newcomer, a slightly built man with ash-brown hair that nearly matched her own. Lord Powell looked around the grouping, noting the absence of available seats, and frowned. For a few awkward moments, he stood and made meaningful eyes at Lord Shaw, who was sitting on Lily’s left.
Then he sniffed and said, “I’m a marquess and you are only an earl, Lord Shaw. Manners dictate you give up your seat to me.”
Lily’s eyes widened. If Lord Powell’s brash assertion was for her benefit, if it were meant to impress her, it had spectacularly failed. Instead, Lily felt deep discomfort that one of her guests would be made to feel lesser and spoken to in such a way. She mentally flailed as she cast about for some way to rectify the situation, but could think of nothing.
At Powell’s words, Bradford froze and turned slowly toward the man, his cold eyes sliding up the length of him as if taking his measure. Once his gaze reached Powell’s face, it was clear by his expression he’d found the man wanting, indeed.
“I’monlya viscount,” he said. “Shouldn’t you have addressed your objection to me?” There was a warning edge to Bradford’s words that dared the man to do so.
Lord Powell flushed. “Etiquette states that those advanced in age?—”
“Advanced inage?” Bradford interrupted. “You speak as though I’m fifty, when there cannot be but five years’ difference between us.”
“It’s common practice for a gentleman of lesser nobility to give way to a gentleman of higher nobility,” Lord Powell argued.
“Is it also common courtesy to call out a breach of etiquette in front of a lady, thereby making her uncomfortable?”
Lord Powell shifted his weight from one foot to another. “I’ve only spoken the truth, sir.”
“Then I shall take the liberty to do the same. The common practice of giving up one’s seat to another gentleman only makes sense when the first gentleman isn’t all that serious about the lady in question. If he’s only entertaining a passing fancy in her direction, then it makes sense for him to leave at the first opportunity. That certainly doesn’t apply to me.”
Wait,Lily thought.What?
“If, however,” Bradford continued, “the gentleman is quite serious with his intentions, then he’d be foolish indeed to give up his seat, especially to a gentleman who couldn’t even be bothered to arrive on time.”
“I am well within the visiting hours, Lord Hayes,” Lord Powell said, his umbrage stuttering his words.
“And yet too late to get a good seat. I suppose you’ve heard the old adage, the early bird gets the worm?”
“AmIthe worm in this scenario?” Lily asked lightly.
She was surprised to find that though it was difficult to interact with the other gentlemen, it took little effort for her to speak with Bradford.
“You’re quite right to be offended, Lily,” he said, without missing a beat. “You are far more lovely and valuable than any worm. And yet, I fear the sentiment still applies.”
