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“Were you searching for me, mother? I was on my morning ride.”
“It is nearly luncheon, my boy. Was the ride truly so invigorating?”
Nathan smiled back. “The most invigorating I’ve had in some time, actually.” In more ways than one. But those were dangerous thoughts to humor if he was to keep himself steady for the rest of the trip and execute his required tasks, one of which he was sure was the reason his mother was looking for him. “What did you need of me?”
She looped her arm around his as they made their way to the garden where the first luncheon of the party was to be held. Her voice was quiet as she spoke. “I have someone I would like you to meet.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Matchmaking already? We’ve barely been here twelve hours.”
“I am nothing if not efficient,” she replied. “I had actually hoped to introduce her to you at the ball last week. She is the daughter of a dear friend of mine, though I’m sure you have heard much of her. Miss Caroline Hughs is a spectacular diamond.”
“Ah, the sister of Miss Hughs.”
“I had hoped to introduce you to both of them at that ball, but alas, only the elder had been available. I had thought Miss Hughs to be kind, but it seems I misjudged her character, what with that scene she started. What did she say to make you so befuddled?”
“Please, do not blame her. The incident was entirely my fault.” Not that the gossips thought so. He could only hope the poor woman’s prospects hadn’t been completely ruined for the season because of a set down he entirely deserved.
His mother peered at him, a look he was long familiar with when trying to hide his mischief as a boy. “What did you do, Milton?”
“Nothing,” he blurted. “I merely misspoke and accidentally insulted her.”
From the look she gave him, the woman didn't believe him for a second. “I see.” She shook her head. “No matter. I will introduce you to Miss Caroline, and perhaps Miss Highs will also be there. If you insulted her, then you have time to apologize. No doubt she’s already given her sister an unfavorable impression of you if you were indeed the one to cause that scene.”
“I will be sure to do so,” he said. His mother needn’t know that the apology had already been attempted just this morning, or that he’d bumbled the interaction up enough to warrant a second one.
Unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately, Miss Hughs was nowhere to be found once they emerged into the garden. Several tables filled with refreshments had been set up, with most of the guests milling about them. He spotted Miss Caroline’s platinum hair from the distance. “There she is, mother.”
Lady Drummel brightened as she spotted them heading over, giving her daughter a not-so-subtle tap on the shoulder. “Your Graces,” she greeted as they stopped before them.
HIs mother nodded with a bright smile. “Hello, Felicity. I was so relieved to hear that you and your daughters were on the guest list. Here is my Milton, as promised. Milton, Lady Drummel and her daughter, Miss Caroline Hughs.”
“A pleasure,” he said, giving both women a kiss on their hands. Up close, Miss Caroline was a sight to behold, indeed. Her delicate, doll-like features and glowing blonde hair gave her an almost ethereal sort of beauty that made it no mystery why she had half of the Ton all but eating out of her palm.
She stared at him with wide, ice-blue eyes as he rose, dainty lips quirking with a small, shy smile. “Your Grace.” Her voice was soft, with an almost breathless quality. “I have heard much about you.”
His mother gave him a subtle, encouraging look as she conversed with Lady Drummel. Taking the obvious hint, command really, Nathan held out his arm. “Would you care for a stroll around the gardens? I know much about their construction, if such things interest you.”
“I would love nothing more, Your Grace,” she replied, her small smile widening with pleasure. It was a truly dazzling sight, and were he a lesser man, Nathan might have decided on his duchess right there. But he knew better than to judge one’s character by their surface appearance, and if Miss Caroline was truly a good fit for him, he would have to take the time to discern the personality under that glorious veneer.
He could almost see Lady Drummel already planning the wedding in her head as she gave her daughter a nudge. “Go on, Caroline. I’ll just be here with Her Grace. We have much catching up to do.”
“Do take your time, Milton,” his mother said. “I haven’t spoken to Lady Drummel in some years.” That she seemed to favor Caroline as a contender was more than apparent. Nathan trusted his mother’s judgement. If she thought that Miss Caroline to be a solid possibility, he would entertain the notion, at least.
“Shall we?” he said.
The debutante grasped his arm in a gentle whisper of a grip. “Lead the way.”
Miss Caroline was a charming conversation partner, nodding in all the right places and seeming to have a genuine interest in the things he was saying rather than merely attempting to appear so, even providing her own astute observations when warranted. She was pleasant.
Only pleasant.
He stared at her as she inquired about the origins of the garden fountain and tried his best to stir some excitement for her within him, but nothing came. Not even the tiniest pinprick if interest made itself known.
“Oh, there is Arabella, Your Grace,” Miss Caroline said before he could respond to her earlier questions. Emphasizing the observation, she pointed at the door. As if he needed help locating Miss Hughs whenever she entered the room. A flush of embarrassment coursed through him at the memory of his words that morning. He would need to find a way to speak to her, hopefully before the luncheon was up.
“Perhaps we should greet her?” He suggested. “Your mother seems preoccupied.” Indeed, Lady Drummel was gushing over something with his mother, no doubt Miss Caroline, and hadn’t seemed to notice her eldest daughter’s entry. Miss Hughs was sipping a glass of lemonade, and for a moment he admired the way the light of the afternoon sun shone over her golden hair before realizing something was amiss. Her frame was stiff, the glass lightly shaking in her hands, and she seemed on the verge of tears.
“Yes, let us go,” Miss Caroline murmured, not looking at him but at Miss Hughs, her mouth forming a thin line. She quickened her pace, clutching his arm tight as if to drag him along with her to their destination. Miss Hughs glanced over, spotting them almost immediately. Her face paled, but before he could even think of giving her some sort of reassuring expression, she turned on her heel and hastened to the door.
