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I blinked at my brother. “I’vebeenfighting. It seems that is all I’ve done for the last few weeks. But she wants me to quietly accept that we are not good for one another.”
Henry was thoughtful for a moment before speaking. “Have you let her win?”
“Yes. Constantly. She receives everything she wants from me.”
“Not everything, not if you are still trying to convince her to marry you.”
I stared at him.
“Let her win this,” Henry said. “Agree to cease pestering her. Give her room to believe you are stepping back like she’s asked you to do.”
“And let the other men have her?”
“No. It has nothing to do with the other men. It proves to her that you respect what she wants enough to give her what she asks of you. It provides you the opportunity to prove yourself.”
His words resonated with me, and I sat up. “You brilliant man.”
Time and again I had sworn to prove to Thea that I was different, that I was worth taking a chance on. I had begged her for the opportunity to prove myself. But I did not give her the one thing she had asked for, which would demonstrate how I valued her opinions and judgment.
Henry chuckled. “I would not go so far as that. I was merely pointing out the obvious.”
I stood up and ruffled his curly hair. “Thank you, Hen.”
He brushed his fingers through his hair to correct it, and I crossed the room quickly, hoping I had not missed the carriage. I stopped at the door of the study and looked back. “Are you certain you don’t wish to come?”
He lifted his book. “Yes. Extremely certain.”
“Suit yourself.”
I made it to the door as the rest of the party was filing outside and took my hat from the table where I’d left it before fitting it to my head. Felicity looked surprised to see me. “I thought you’d chosen not to come.”
“I changed my mind.”
Thea scowled, and I smiled benignly at her. “You win,” I said under my breath while we walked down to the waiting carriage. “I will leave you be.”
She looked uneasy but nodded. “Thank you.”
We rode to the ball in silence and mounted the steps to the tall, brightly lit townhouse. Mr. and Mrs. Hutton stood in the doorway of their ballroom, welcoming their guests, and I schooled my expression into general interest. The Huttons had been good friends of my parents, and James’s godparents, so I had known them most of my life.
James leaned over to speak quietly to Felicity while we waited in line to greet our hosts. I did my best to leave space between Thea and I so I would not inadvertently touch her. Her familiar tangy floral scent wafted toward me, and I clenched my teeth together to keep myself from inhaling deeply.
“Good evening, James, Mrs. Bradwell,” Mrs. Hutton said, curtseying politely.
Felicity performed the introductions. I paid them little mind beyond smiling and bowing when my name was mentioned, my attention drawn to the crowd already gathered in the ballroom. It was going to be a crush, and Thea was not going to be lacking for partners.
I pulled at my cuffs again, anxious to move on. After seeing the sheer number of gentlemen who could fall for Thea in a heartbeat, I regretted ever coming tonight. But I could not show Thea that I would respect her wishes unless I was here and not pestering her for a dance.
Our party moved into the ballroom and found a place to stand along the back wall.
Thea planted herself beside Felicity, and I strained to hear what she was saying. “I know you will not dance,” Thea said, “but you do intend to provide introductions for me, yes?”
“I will aid you in whatever way I can, Thea, as promised.”
She sagged a bit in relief. “I should like first to meet Lord Keene, and then Lord Hampton, if it can be managed.”
I bit my cheek to keep from cursing. Was the woman bent on torturing me? She only knew either of their names because I had mentioned them in a fit of pique.
Felicity looked appropriately confused. “Who are these people? How do you know their names?”
