Page 36 of Miss Kimble Bites Back

“Indeed, it has been wonderful, Miss Ellis,” Justine said firmly. Her smile remained in place as she said it, but her eyes traveled the room as if she was bored or looking for an escape.

Gabby wet her lips. “We are so glad you were invited tonight.”

“Why would I not attend this ball?” Justine asked, giving Gabby a pointed stare. “My sister is a viscountess while you have a tenuous connection to the ton at best. Besides, I love to dance.”

“You are very graceful,” Gabby said, because it was true, and then drew closer to Justine. “Justine, is something the matter?”

Justine’s face froze, and her smile grew even more rigid. “Nothing has changed for me. I am enjoying the delights of the season as much as any debutant. I have been much engaged elsewhere.”

“Too busy to talk to us even at balls such as this? You never speak to us anymore. Not like you used to.”

Justine stared at them both for a moment and then glanced behind her. She nodded as if answering someone, and then turned back. “I’m afraid you must excuse me.”

“But Justine,” Daisy began. “We…”

“You would do well to prepare yourself for further disappointment,” Justine warned with a nod.

Well, former friend, it seemed now. Justine had not even tried to pretend they were still friends.

Gabby sighed as Justine returned to her sister, and the woman whispered in her ear before leading her away. They went immediately to talk with Lord Brookes, and after a few moments, Justine threw them a smug smirk that she had been the one who had claimed Lord Brookes’ attention rather than Gabby.

Daisy understood that look, too, and cursed softly. “The nerve of taunting you. I bet she planned to steal Lord Brookes from you all along, and her sister helped her do it.”

Weeks ago, the threat of a rival would have bothered Gabby a great deal more. Tonight, all she felt was a great sadness pressing upon her heart. If Justine had even hinted that her preference for a husband had changed, things could have been so different today. She would like to think they might have remained friends even if Justine had captured Lord Brookes heart. Gabby would never begrudge a friend their one true love, if that is what Justine felt for the viscount now.

Or perhaps she merely wanted a title. Something Gabby wanted a husband for.

She had wanted someone to love more than anything, and for them to love her back.

But suddenly Gabby saw the Duke of Mamble standing across the room at last, watching her, and her concern about Justine evaporated. A sense of profound relief and excitement filled her to see the duke finally appear at another ball. She had never once misunderstood that man’s interest in her. She knew, bone deep, that he was not toying with her affections because he was bored.

He wanted her. Just her.

There had been a promise in his eyes from the start.

She wet her lips. “Daisy, I have to tell you something important.”

“What is it?” Daisy whispered, a worried frown appearing on her face.

“I don’t actually admire Lord Brookes as much as I once thought I did,” Gabby admitted, blushing as the duke’s continued stare made her long to cross the room to talk to him. “I’m not in the least bothered by Justine setting her cap for him.”

“I’m very pleased to hear it,” Daisy whispered. “It is not healthy for women to compete for the attentions of the same man, especially good friends.”

“I agree, which is why I want to ask you outright who you favor. You’ve never even hinted, and I can’t bear to lose another friend so dear to me.”

“You’ll never lose me over a man,” Daisy began, hugging her arm, but then glanced behind her. Eventually, she shook her head. “That is to say that I don’t know what I feel about any gentleman I’ve met in London yet, so there is no rivalry between us.”

“So, you’ve not set your heart on winning a titled husband this season?”

“I’d never say never,” Daisy answered after a long moment, and then looked up at her, horrified. “Why? Please don’t say you admire my guardian! As a guardian, he is terrible, but as a husband he’d be utterly impossible.”

“No, of course not him. He’s much too stern for anyone who likes to laugh,” she said, but then Gabby took a deep breath. “Would you ever want to become a duchess?”

“Me? A duchess? No.” But then a sly smile curved Daisy’s lips, and she looked over at Mamble, who was still watching them from afar still and making no attempt to hide his interest tonight. “But I suspect you might be.”

Gabby bit her lip to hide the telling smile she struggled against as she admired Mamble in return. She was overwhelmed by how she felt about him now. This was not some girlish infatuation that had taken her over. It was more subtle than that, and far more compelling. Something would happen between them. It was only a matter of time.

She glanced in the Viscount’s direction once more, briefly, and confirmed the lure of him was utterly gone from her being and shook her head. She locked her eyes on Mamble. She knew which gentleman she preferred now. Which man she’d like to be seduced by, too. “I like the duke very much.”