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Smiling, she glanced up at him. “As do you.” Indeed, she’d worn this gown just to please him, having discerned his fondness for purple. It was her good fortune to wear the color well in all its shades. Many would not have elected to don lavender silk for fear of it being mistaken for half mourning. She had no such concerns. The low décolleté and the heavy silver embroidery would never have decorated such a gown. Nor would a woman in half mourning wear the amethysts currently gracing her fingers, earlobes, and throat.
Percy looked regal as any prince in his deep violet and gold ensemble. Her stepmother had given her a piercing glare the moment he’d appeared. No doubt she thought their complementary garb a deliberate thing and suspected a clandestine communication between them. No such communication had been made, however. It was merely the result of a safe bet on her part.
Percy’s dark eyes twinkled down at her. “May I assume the first dance is mine to claim?”
“You may.”
“And may I also have the honor of claiming your last?”
A tingle shot through her at the sound of his voice, dark with velvet undertones of desire. It was as a spark to dry kindling. “You may,” she answered just as behind her she heard her stepmother cough and clear her throat. Too late! The promise had been made.
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“Would I could claim them all, Miss Lowther,” murmured Percy, bending close so no one else would hear. “Perhaps one day I shall flout society’s strictures and do so. Shall we set them on their ear, you and I?”
She could almost feel her stepmother’s gaze burning a hole in her back. It was nothing compared to the heat blossoming inside her. Glancing up at him, she smiled in answer. Their gazes caught and held, and she watched his brown eyes darken. The banked coals of her desire flared. Had it not been for his steadying arm, her step might have faltered. Swallowing in a throat now devoid of moisture, she forced herself to look away.
In silence they made the progression together. Instead of breaking away, Percy stayed by her, forcing her father to introduce him to anyone he didn’t already know. As he’d promised, he was making every effort to show everyone where his interest lay.
This time when she spied Lady Montgomery, Eden’s stomach didn’t tighten.
“Eden, how delighted I am you came!” The beautiful redhead came forward to take her hands in the manner of old friends.
“I would not have missed it,” Eden replied, smiling back with genuine warmth. “Lady Montgomery, may I introduce my father, Sir Geoffrey Lowther, and my stepmother, Lady Catherine Lowther.”
Lady Montgomery greeted them with all politeness. If she detected any disapproval in their rather cool responses, she didn’t show it. “I do hope you will enjoy yourselves tonight. Eden, I was wondering if you might help me with something?”
“I would be delighted.” She experienced a pang of loss as Percy relinquished her arm, which was at once appropriated by Lady Montgomery.
“Come,” said she, drawing Eden near as one would a confidante. “I want your opinion concerning something of great import.” Turning to Percy, she smiled. “I promise to return her to you before the first dance begins.”
If it would not have earned her the undying enmity of her stepmother, Eden would’ve laughed aloud at Catherine’s stunned look. She could have kissed Lady Montgomery.
Percy bowed. “I look forward to it with great anticipation.” His eyes gleamed with suppressed mirth as he turned to converse with her family. He, too, had caught the inference.
The point had been driven home: Percy was now linked irrevocably to Eden in Society’s eyes. If her family opposed their association, at least she had support elsewhere. Considerable support.
Leaving his side was a wrench, but Eden contained her disappointment. Progress could be made in many different ways, and she’d just proven it. The benefit of her connection with Percy was not limited to herself. Rubbing shoulders with those in his circle would increase her father’s influence. Surely Papa would see it?
Let Catherine try to counter that. It was a childish thought, but she took pleasure in it nevertheless. “Lady M—Sabrina, I mean,” Eden amended at the reproachful look her companion shot her now that they were in private. “What is this important matter you wish to discuss?”
“You know of my little secret, of course.”
Eden refrained from glancing down at the woman’s belly and nodded.
“We have agreed on a name, should it be a boy. But we cannot settle on a name for a girl. As before with Maggie, neither of us wishes to name a daughter after those in our family for fear of unintentionally slighting someone. Our mothers are both still living and I have five sisters. I dare not consider naming a child after any of them, for there would be no end of discord over it.”
It was a complete ruse, Eden knew. They had months in which to select a name! Still, she played along. “Did you have something different in mind?”
“Well, Henry thought to name her after the queen.”
“I think it a brilliant idea. I’m sure it cannot hurt to curry the favor of the crown.”
“True, but many will have the same thought. I want her to have a unique name.”
“What about an older family name? One not currently in use?”
They’d gone far enough away to drop the ruse, yet still Lady Montgomery persisted. “I thought the same, but Henry says they are too old-fashioned.”
