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Chapter Eight
Saturday
The party was barely tolerable, even with Genevieve to keep her company. The furtive glances cast Eden’s way disturbed her not, but the absence of Percy’s presence was a keen disappointment. Several times she caught herself turning to see if he’d slipped in behind her. It was utter nonsense to assume the man would show up simply because she’d mentioned her intent to attend. Ridiculous.
And yet she’d hoped. Such had been her optimism that she’d even worn one of her new gowns tonight. Ruefully, she admired the sea-green-and-cream damask. The ornate, gold-gilt roses embroidered on it and the matching silk ribbons fastening the front were the very height of fashion. Wasted. On a dinner party. Really, she ought to have saved it for a ball.
Music drifted throughout the room as Genevieve showed off her skill at the harpsichord. Lady Torrington had asked Eden to play also, but she’d declined. While her friend might be confident enough to play before an audience, she herself was not so brave. Perhaps if she actually took the time to practice…
The last note rang out, followed by polite applause. All she could think about was Monday. What she would wear, how she’d behave, what Papa would say when Percy asked permission to court her. Standing, she turned—and very nearly collided with the very man in question.
“I thought you might like a glass.” Percy proffered a delicate flute of champagne. “My apologies for being so late. I do hope you will forgive me.”
An indefinable tension eased in Eden’s midsection, one she hadn’t been aware of until its absence. He had come, and he was here for only one reason. Unable to help smiling, she drank him in along with her champagne, relishing the freedom to do both without reprisal.
He was as handsome as ever and his attire was, as always, splendid. Sky blue silk damask woven in a subtle pattern of birds clung to his broad shoulders and trim torso, flaring out at the hips to a full coat-skirt in the most current mode. But his clothing wasn’t what captivated her. The lodestone that drew her was his dark, laughing gaze.
Though gladdened by his presence, a shadow crossed her heart at the thought of what this might cost. “I thought not to see you until Monday.”
A crease appeared between his brows. “What is it?”
Beckoning him close, she lowered her voice. “My stepmother will be furious when she learns of this. She is ill at home.”
“I doubt you will have any difficulty once she hears I came without an invitation,” he informed her with a wicked grin. “I could not help myself. I had to see you.”
Eden cast him a dubious look. “Mmm. While I would like to flatter myself, I rather think you came to find out what Lady Montgomery and I talked of,” she teased, putting aside her worries about her stepmother.
“I’ve already been to see her.”
“I see.” Eden’s smile remained fixed in spite of sudden, overwhelming resentment. He’d sought out a former fiancée’s counsel regarding her?
Something of her bitterness must have shown itself, because Percy moved a little closer and whispered, “She was most disobliging and refused to say anything but that I’d be a lucky devil should I manage to win you.”
Though she didn’t believe him for a moment, Eden relaxed. Obviously, Lady Montgomery’s verdict had been in her favor or he wouldn’t be here now. Still, it rankled to know he’d wanted her approval in the first place. “You may be comforted to know she was equally complimentary of you and as mindful of your privacy” she fibbed, dishing out the same sauce in return.
“Liar,” he accused lightly, his brown eyes warm.
“No more so than you.”
“We are well matched, are we not?”
“That remains to be seen.” Eyes were following them now. “Though it pleases me you wished to see me again so soon, I’m beginning to wonder if it was not a very unwise choice,” she murmured, taking another sip.
“Unwise or not, I’m here,” he replied, unrepentant. “Since it cannot be undone, why not make the best of it and use these stolen hours to our advantage?”
Taking the arm he offered, Eden let him guide her over to an unoccupied corner.
“What thought you of Sabrina?”
Such was her surprise that it took her a moment to formulate an answer. “As I said, she was very kind and generous in her description of you. She was also quite honest concerning your faults.”
“The sins of the past follow on one’s heels as faithfully as a loyal hound.” He gave her a wry half smile. “Obviously, my more redeeming qualities won out over my errors, else you would not be speaking to me now.”
“Yes,” she answered. “What you did for the sake of your friends’ happiness was truly commendable. As for your more recent conduct, she was unable to find fault with it.”
“I wondered whether she would tell you what really happened,” he murmured. “That she did so says a great deal regarding her estimation of your character.”
“I’m happy to have passed the test,” she snipped, unable to keep her ire completely in check.
