Page 51 of An Extraordinary Lord

The Earl of Sandhurst lifted a brow. “Do you two often converse like that?”

“Yes,” they answered with simultaneous sighs of aggravation.

Their gazes immediately darted to the other, which drew a small smile from Veronica and a frown from Merritt.

“Well then.” The Duke of Hampton raised his glass, offering the toast his wife had started. “To Merritt Rivers, the best KC in the empire.”

Merritt’s lips twisted as he reluctantly joined in by lifting his glass, but he corrected, “Next to my father.”

They all smiled at that and drank both to his father and to him, yet Veronica noticed the distraction darkening his face. God help her, she noticedeverythingabout him. But then, when a man was this dashing, how could any living woman not?

“And what are we toasting?” An elegantly dressed older man with silver-gray hair approached the group, welcomed by all with warm smiles.

Except by Merritt, who suddenly stiffened and paused grimly before lowering his glass.

“Even with theton’s rapid channels of gossip,” the man continued affably, “you couldn’t possibly have heard of my success in twisting an additional thousand pounds out of Chatham for the hospital.”

Claudia beamed and rested a familiar hand on the man’s arm. “Merritt’s recognition as King’s Counsel, of course!”

“Well, then I’ve arrived at exactly the right moment.” The man snagged a glass of champagne from a passing footman and lifted it into the air. “To Merritt and all he’s worked so hard to accomplish.” His eyes glistened. “We’re all so very proud of you.”

Merritt grimaced into his glass. “Thank you, Father.”

Veronica’s breath strangled.Father?Only Merritt’s hand shooting out to take her by the elbow and steady her kept her from sinking to the floor. How could she not have noticed immediately the similarities between the two men? The same build, same bright eyes, same jaw—

“How thoughtful of the regent to throw you a party to celebrate.”

The same sense of humor.

She slid a curious glance over the judge, and this time, she easily noted the commanding presence shared by the two men, their dashing charisma, and their undeniable good looks. A peculiar sensation struck her that she was staring at Merritt twenty-five years into the future.

His father caught her staring and crooked her a grin. Good Lord, the two men even shared the same smile!

He held out his hand toward her. “I don’t believe we’ve met.”

And if there were a God, He would make the earth open up and swallow her right then so they wouldn’t ever have to.

“Father, this is Miss Veronica Chase,” Merritt introduced, seemingly no more happy about the meeting than Veronica. “Miss Chase, may I introduce my father, the Honorable Mr. Justice James Rivers?”

Slipping her hand into his, she somehow managed to sink into a short curtsy without her jellied knees dropping her to the floor. “A pleasure to meet you, sir.”

“And you, Miss Chase.” The judge sketched her a short bow before releasing her hand. “I hope you’re enjoying yourself this evening. First time to Carlton House?”

Veronica blinked. Who exactly did this man think she was? She slid a sideways glance at Merritt for answers about what he’d told his father about her, but his stoic expression gave no help.

So she answered truthfully, “Yes, it is.” Then the devil inside her made her add, “And most likely my last.”

“We should all be that fortunate,” the judge murmured with a wink.

Veronica smiled. She liked him. Of course, though, he made her as nervous as a mouse cornered by a cat. Yet there was something about him that she found endearing.

“And your family?” he asked, politely striking up conversation. “Are they here tonight as well? I wonder if I know them.”

Only if he frequented the docks and rookeries…but then, didn’t his son? “Perhaps you’ve encountered them in your judgeship.”

“Ah, so your family’s involved with the courts and law?”

Her lips curled. “You could say that.”