Page 18 of Sir Durham’s Disarming Asset

Zeph leaned forward and told herself that her skin would soon be as vibrant and return to a decent luminescence. For now, the new phenomenon of her hair’s healthy recovery was an aspect of herself that she had forgotten she possessed. She grimaced. That, along with her ability to do complex arithmetic, which, thank God, was coming back to her rapidly lately.

“You like the gown, mademoiselle?” The modiste stood to one side, her delicate arms crossed before her as she admired Zephora in the dress. The lady always came alone, Rafe having ordered her to bring none of her clerks.

“I do.”

They spoke French to each other, and Zephora appreciated the opportunity to do it. She was not so stilted in conversation using French as she was in English.

“You say, madame, it is a proper day gown?” Zeph knew not English fashions for the hours of the day.

“Oui, mademoiselle. Very delicious looking, is it not?”

Zeph nodded. The delicate green was not quite right for late August, but it was exactly the right color to spark a glint in Rafe’s hooded eyes.

“Do you mind waiting for me here? I wish to show the gown to my uncle.”

That she was his niece to the world tickled her. That he introduced her so nonchalantly as that to Madame Clermont and those neighbors to each side of his townhouse brought a quiver of amusement to her lips.

But after the incident when she had broken apart in his arms, he had renewed his cool demeanor toward her. She felt abandoned. Where once he had shown himself to be the only man in this world whom she could depend upon to be her friend, her companion, her confidant, now he was merely her host, her acquaintance, her distant but benevolent uncle.

His indifference stung.

“But of course, mademoiselle. Do go and show Monsieur Durham the gown. He will chuckle at the beauty you present.”

Zeph took the lady’s hand to climb down from the stool. “Oh, in that you are so right, madame.”

She picked up her skirts, barefoot and carefree. She dashed down the hall toward the winding stairs to his study on the first floor. His door was usually always open, so she was surprised to find it closed.

Very well.

She knocked.

He bade her enter.

Rafe rose from his chair behind his desk.

The three other men who rose to their feet looked at her as if she were some untamed creature from the backwoods of Virginia.

“Pardon me, sir.” She addressed Rafe formally, acknowledging Halsey, but not knowing who the other two were or his relationship to them. “I can return later.”

“Please do not leave, Zephora.” He gazed at her with a formal smile, but then his eyes—oh, yes—his eyes traveled down the sugared peppermint. Past lace at her bodice, over her breasts, down the flow of the supple fabric, up her hands and arms and back to her eyes. His lashes fluttered as he caught himself and inhaled. “You may know Lord Halsey. But allow me to introduce you to my other friends.”

Rafe strode around his desk to stand next to one man taller than he by several inches. This fellow, like the others, was dressed fit to appear in anyone’s drawing room, his brown hair combed, his violet gaze friendlier than someone about to meet her for the first time.

Rafe gestured toward him. “This is the Earl of Halsey. You may remember him.”

“I hope you do,” said the gentleman with a bow and a smile.

She shook her head. She knew him not.

Rafe went on. “Halsey was in our rescue party with his wife, Inès. Inès Bechard.”

She fought for a memory. A frail one came, a woman dressed in a veil of yesterdays. “I do not remember you, my lord. I am sorry to say. Your wife I do know, but vaguely, I fear.”

“Inès will be pleased to see you again, Miss Butler.” The man offered his hand to shake. “My wife did not come with me to Brighton for this meeting. She expects our child soon and finds travel uneasy.”

“Oh, I am so happy for her. For you, too. I long to see and talk with her.” The lady could help fill in large gaps in her memory of that night and the many days that followed.

Halsey smiled. “She vowed when I left London that when you came to us in Town, you would have long afternoons together.”