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“No.” The word snapped from his lips.Christ, he’d nearly kissed her. Which wouldn’t have been nearly enough to satisfy the unwelcome hunger David had for her. He wanted todevourAndromeda. Swallow her impertinence and taste every inch of her luscious peach-toned skin.
“Impudent little thing, isn’t she? Her sister is much the same. I get the sense the Barrington sisters are all quite bold, though I have only Theodosia and Andromeda to base my observation on.”
David would have said confident. Opinionated. But he declined to correct Blythe. “You knew who she was, didn’t you? Not at Lady Masterson’s, but surely before now.”
“I made the acquaintance of Lady Theodosia in London.” Blythe stretched his shoulders. “I was flying a kite in the park for my nephew. She managed to entangle herself in the kite string. On purpose.” He shot David a cocky wink. “Which I allowed her to do. She’s bloody stunning. I knew from the moment I saw Theodosia in the park she must be related to the girl who had insulted you at Lady Masterson’s. There’s no mistaking those eyes.”
“You neglected to tell me.” Blythe seemed full of secrets of late.
Blythe shrugged, blowing a series of smoke rings over the roses and up into the sky. “Theodosia didn’t give me her name that day in the park, and I neglected to ask. I never heard her full name until today. Besides, even if I had known, what would have been the point in telling you? I’d no idea you even remembered the chit.”
“I suppose you didn’t.”
“Exactly,” Blythe continued. “Besides...” He laughed. “Lady Andromeda is the Duke of Averell’s sister. A gentleman as well known for his sexual exploits as he is for his association with Elysium. Which he owns with hisbastardhalf-brother. The entire family is rife with all sorts of imperfections you detest. I suppose if you’d known she and her sister would be here, you would have asked Lady Molsin to rescind her invitation to Lady Richardson.”
“That would have been prudent.” David’s fingers tightened over his cheroot, nearly snapping it in half. Blythe’s pretty speech didn’t fool him. His friend often found David’s inclination to disassociate himself from the baser aspects of society to be nothing short of ridiculous. Blythe didn’t understand the damage such deviations could produce, having never been the victim of such things. Perhaps if he had, his perspective would be different.
“Were Horace not already in the ground, the sight of two Barringtons inside The Barrow would have put him there.” An edge crept into Blythe’s words at the mention of David’s father. “But I’m sure he would have been proud of your choice of Beatrice.”
“He would applaud it.”
“Imagine, applause from the grave.” Blythe pursed his lips to blow out another string of smoke. “I’ve yet to feel the approval of my own father’s ghost. Perhaps it is only something the Duke of Granby can manage.”
David’s teeth gnawed on the end of his cheroot. “If there is something on your mind, Blythe,” he bit out, “by all means, feel free to speak.” First Aunt Pen and now Blythe.
Blythe shook his head. “Only making an observation.” Tossing the cheroot at the ground, he smiled, but with a tautness to his lips. He bowed. “Enjoy your walk in the gardens, Your Grace. I’ll see you at dinner.”
