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“Lady Catherine, Miss Lowther. I am your most devoted servant.” He bowed over Eden’s hand, careful not to let his lips touch the back of it. Despite her cool acceptance, a brief flicker of disappointment in her eyes told him all he needed to know.
“We are pleased to see you again, my lord.” Her stepmother’s tone belied the polite words.
> “Madam, I am honored to be so graciously received.” Though it was spoken with perfect sobriety, he knew it nettled her none the less. He was here, and here he would remain despite her unwelcoming demeanor. Turning to Eden, he smiled. “I confess that since the party I have thought of little but your keen wit and good sportsmanship. Never have I been so roundly drubbed or enjoyed losing so much.”
“I thought you played exceedingly well,” Eden countered, moving to take a seat and gesturing for him to do the same.
Ignoring Lady Catherine’s black look, he sat and continued conversing with Eden as if the woman weren’t in the room. “You are too kind to say it. I confess I was much distracted that evening. I promise to be a better partner when next we play.”
The twinkle in her eye told him she’d taken his meaning. “Why not test your skill now?” She turned to their sour-faced chaperone. “We have several games here, haven’t we?”
“Indeed,” came the flat response.
“Will you not join us?” asked Eden.
The older woman’s lips pursed. “Such games are for children. I prefer to sit quietly and read.”
So obtuse was the insult that Percy almost laughed aloud. He was a man of thirty-four and no child, unless one counted his childish delight in bedeviling hypocritical moralists. He knew all about how the woman had gotten Sir Geoffrey down the aisle—and it wasn’t merely by batting her eyelashes. She was awfully prim for a woman who’d won her wedding ring in a card game where her virtue had been the stakes. A betting man, Sir Geoffrey had won the battle but lost the war, so to speak.
While Eden went to the cabinet to select a game, her stepmother went to the bookshelf and without even looking at its title plucked a volume from it. Taking a seat in direct line of sight, she opened it—and proceeded to stare not at the page, but directly at him.
If she thought to discomfit him, she was mistaken. No one was better at ignoring censure. Smiling, he directed his attention wholly toward Eden, who bustled over with a backgammon board. Her blue eyes glowed with silent laughter, and the grin she shot him as she began setting the board was pure mischief. He couldn’t help the twitch at the corner of his own mouth. She was aware of her stepmother’s displeasure and cared about it as much as he did.
Again, he was reassured in his choice. A formidable creature indeed, Eden would be an excellent match for him in all respects.
Though distracted—not by their chaperone but by her delectable charge—he managed to win several games. Talk was restricted to light conversation, of course, but what could not be said aloud was said with their eyes. He didn’t hide his admiration for her because her stepmother was present; on the contrary. Subterfuge would avail him nothing at this point. He needed to persuade the woman his interest was genuine and his intent serious.
In this pleasant manner they passed the time. Whenever footsteps sounded out in the hall, he looked up only to see a passing servant. Sir Geoffrey must surely come down at some point. After more than two hours, however, they were running out of games to play, and he was beginning to despair.
At last, just after the clock struck seven, the master of the house made his appearance, striding through the door, paper in hand. “Catherine, I—oh, I say,” said Sir Geoffrey, brows rising as he spied Percy. “Lord Tavistoke, I was unaware you were to join us for dinner this evening.”
Rising, Percy went over to greet his host. “I’m not. That is to say, I have not been invited. My humble apologies, Sir Geoffrey. I did not intend to stay so late.”
“Ah, no matter.” Sir Geoffrey smiled and glanced at Lady Catherine. “Tell them to set an extra place at the table, my dear.”
With a face to curdle new milk, the lady rose and went to do her husband’s bidding.
Percy seized the moment. “Sir Geoffrey, I’ve been meaning to invite you to join me at White’s for a few rounds of cards. Would you be available this Thursday evening?”
Sir Geoffrey’s brows rose again. “Indeed I would.”
“Excellent. I shall look for you then.”
“Hello, Papa,” said Eden, coming up to kiss her father on the cheek. “Forgive me, but I must go and change for dinner.”
“Of course, my dear.”
As soon as she was gone, Percy looked to his host with all sobriety. “Good sir, I don’t wish to be abrupt, but there is a matter of some importance I would like to discuss with you before the ladies return, if I may.” Having attained the man’s full attention, he forged ahead. “Sir Geoffrey, I formally request your permission to—”
“Gentlemen, dinner will be served in half an hour,” Lady Catherine announced loudly, sailing into the room.
Sir Geoffrey fixed her with a stern glare. “Do you not need to change for dinner, wife?”
“I am already adequately attired, husband.” The smug gleam in her eye told Percy everything. She’d anticipated his intent! “Oh… Have I interrupted a conversation of import? Please, forgive me. Shall I await your leisure elsewhere?”
No married man in his right mind would answer “yes” when his wife asked it thusly, and Percy suspected Sir Geoffrey was quite sane.
“That will not be necessary,” the older man said stiffly.
