“My sons do me proud,” the dowager said, her eyes gleaming with unshed tears that only Duncan would understand. “They always have.”
“Such delightfulon dit,” Lady Atterley crowed, “and we are the first to hear of this engagement. You must dance every waltz to set the tongues to chattering.” With a mischievous wink, she added, “And, of course, I shall help.” She shooed them away. “Off with you now. The music awaits. The two of you move wonderfully on the dance floor.”
Duncan bowed, anxious to escape the balcony and leave the ladies to their chattering that he had no doubt would ensue. After curtsying to the smiling matrons, Merry took his arm, seeming as eager to take their leave as he was. As they reached the bottom of the stairs, he exhaled the breath he hadn’t realized he held.
“I agree,” Merry said. “Your mother seems very nice, but Lady Atterley was even more overwhelming than usual this evening.”
“It appears we pleased her a great deal with our news that has yet to be announced.”
They moved onto the dance floor, joining another couple in a quadrille. Duncan preferred the waltzes where he kept Merry all to himself. He noted Lord Brixham had paired with a handsome young miss on the far side of the floor and hoped that meant the man had at last seen sense. But a cutting glare from the sullen viscount dashed that hope.
Damn the man.Duncan returned his attention to his lady love,assured that word of their engagement would travel fast, thanks to Lady Atterley. Viscount Brixham would have to seek his viscountess elsewhere.
After a lively reel, he escorted Merry off the dance floor. “Shall I fetch ye a lemonade, lass?”
Wetting her lips, Merry waved for Serendipity to join them. “That would be most lovely. I am truly parched.”
“Lady Serendipity, shall I fetch ye a lemonade as well?”
“That would be most lovely, Lord Kirkston.”
Winding his way through the crowd of guests, Duncan headed for the refreshment table on the far side of the room. The evening could not possibly go any better. Mother had behaved herself, at least for the time being. More intimate conversations, or more likeinterrogations, between her and Merry were inevitable, but he hoped this first gentle breaking of the ice had been the initial seed that would sprout into an amiable relationship between the two.
Malcolm appeared at his side as though bidden. “I noticed ye took Lady Merry up to see Mother. Verra canny, ye are. Introducing her here at the ball.”
“Mother seemed genuinely happy to meet her,” Duncan said, his heart warming at the memory. “It would be good if the two of them got along, but Merry is my life now.” He wouldn’t say that his mother didn’t matter, but he hoped she understood she needed to move into the dower house now, so he and his wife could start their new life together with some privacy.
“Mother understands that, brother.” Malcolm clapped him on the shoulder. “All she talks about is how yer happiness pleases her.”
“And have ye found yerself some happiness here?” Duncan held up two fingers to the servant ladling the lemonade into glasses.
Malcolm responded with a wicked grin. “Happy for now, but not happy forever.” He tipped a nod at the glasses. “Since when do ye drink lemonade—willingly?”
“’Tis not for me. Lady Serendipity is keeping Merry company while I fetch this, so I offered to bring her a glass as well.”
Malcolm went uncharacteristically serious as they turned to rejoin the ladies. “I saw Brixham was here. He looks just as vile as ye described him. There’s a coldness about that man, and the whispers about him are not flattering.”
“If he wishes to live and do well, he’d best stay away from my Merry.” Noticing that Serendipity now stood alone, Duncan did his best to move through the crowded room faster.
“Where is yer Merry?” Malcolm asked.
“I dinna ken.” Duncan reached Serendipity and handed her the lemonade, all pretense of Polite Society behavior and etiquette forgotten. “Where is Merry?”
“Your mother sent a footman to fetch her. She said she wished to speak with her privately.” Serendipity took a sip of the lemonade, then cast a worried look around the crowded ballroom. “I thought to go with her, but she asked that I remain here to let you know upon your return so you wouldn’t worry.”
“Mother is back on the balcony.” Malcolm nodded at the hostess’s area, which provided an unobstructed view of the soiree.
Duncan turned and looked. “Merry is not with her.” A sense of doom settled deep in his gut. “Which direction did the footman take her?”
Serendipity pointed to the archway at the right of the room.
He set aside Merry’s lemonade and took off, shoving through the crowd with an urgency fueled by the realization that Lord Brixham was nowhere in sight either.
“I am coming too, brother,” Malcolm said. “Make way, good sirs and ladies. Make way and let us through.”
*
Even though shefelt it a most strange request, Merry couldn’t very well refuse to meet with Duncan’s mother. The lady probably wished to have a more personal conversation without Lady Atterley listening in on every word. She followed the footman down the long hallway, suddenly wishing she’d allowed Serendipity to come along. But no, that would not have been fair to Duncan. He would’ve returned to where they’d been standing to find no one waiting and would have worried, especially since Lord Brixham was present.
