This was one arrogant man, who was about to lose his opportunity to walk away. ‘The lady stated she’s busy,’ Drake said, placing a hand firmly on the man’s chest.
The next few moments were a stalemate of sorts. Drake had no intention of backing down, and it took Harding a bit of time to realise that, and to determine that pressing the issue might not work out in his favour. Once he’d finally reached the correct conclusion, Harding took a step back and without another word, walked away.
‘Another one of your suitors?’ Drake asked.
‘Yes.’
‘It appears he doesn’t understand a polite rejection.’
‘He’s too arrogant to understand anything.’
Drake nodded and glanced down the hallway, where there were three more men staring their way. ‘How many have there been?’
Meridith sighed. ‘Too many. The one on the right, wearing the blue jacket, is Mr Adams, who is dreadfully dull. Across the hall from him, wearing the red waistcoat, is Mr Jamison. His mother still insists that his meat be cut into bite-size pieces before beingserved to him, to prevent him from choking. Behind him, in the black tailcoat, is Mr Neisen. He enjoys spirits far too much.’
Several questions raced across Drake’s mind, and he chose what he felt to be the most pertinent one. ‘Why is your family so set on seeing you married?’
‘Because they don’t know what else to do with me,’ she replied. ‘They all have their families, but I’m the little sister, who they are obligated to take care of, provide for, until I get married.’ She shrugged. ‘There’s nothing else they can do. They already sent me off to school.’
Chapter Five
Drake was still pondering her answer, trying to find something that would make her smile when they entered the ballroom, and though he scanned the room for his cousins, it was someone else who caught his eye. Michael Knight, the Duke of Turnbill, gave him an acknowledging nod. Drake instantly replied with a nod of his own.
The two of them had been friends for years, until almost two years ago, when Drake had informed Michael that the woman Michael was seeing, Martha Grossman, wasn’t all she appeared to be. His frankness had damaged their friendship, but thankfully, they’d repaired that a few months ago, and since then, Michael had found the woman standing beside him. One who was fitting to be his duchess.
Drake hadn’t seen the two of them since they’d got married and was eager to congratulate them. ‘I’d like to introduce you to someone,’ Drake said to Meridith. ‘Some friends of mine.’
‘All right,’ she replied.
As they wove their way through the crowd towards the duke and duchess, Drake noticed several more sets of eyes on them. All male. ‘It appears you have acquired a mass of admirers,’ he said.
‘They are not admirers,’ she said. ‘They are vultures, willing to marry me in hopes of obtaining some of my brother’s wealth.That won’t happen. Other than a small dowry left to me by my father, I am worthless.’
‘You are far from worthless,’ Drake insisted. ‘You have many qualities that are worth far more than money.’
‘You say that as a man not looking for a wife to supplement his income,’ she replied.
‘That is true, but I also say that as someone who plans on enjoying the entire evening with you. A delightful young woman whose eyes shimmer like the crystal blue waters of the Caribbean Sea when she smiles.’
‘They do not,’ she said.
‘Have you ever seen the Caribbean Sea?’
‘No.’
‘I have, and your eyes are the same shade of blue.’ He’d noticed that on their first meeting and found it just as true each time he looked at her. It also made him hope that someday she’d understand the freedom of the sea was inside her, if she chose it.
That was what he’d done. Chosen freedom over everything else.
She looked up at him and shook her head. ‘You certainly are different from anyone else I know.’
‘It would be a dull world if we were all the same,’ he said.
‘Because you wouldn’t have anyone to haul cargo for, because they’d all have their own ships.’
‘Exactly,’ he said.
Her giggle was soft, but he heard it, and he winked at her.
