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She decided to absorb William first. “Youwere at Stafford House all night?”
He laughed. “I most certainly was no’. I called on the duke this morning and found the entire family engaged in a discussion of how best to deliver Her Royal Highness to Prescott Hall. I volunteered.”
This made no sense to Justine. Why would he call on Sutherland this morning? He must have known somehow that Amelia would still be there and had gone to see her. She looked at Amelia, who was picking through a selection of cheeses. Her sister was beautiful. And that was not false praise—she was perhaps the most attractive Ivanosen to have ever lived. And Justine was...handsome? Passably pleasing? She didn’t know what she was, and it hardly mattered. All her life, gentlemen had been attracted to Amelia, and it would not surprise her to know William was, too. But had she imagined the moment between them yesterday? What of the things he’d said about her? What of their wager?
She turned back to William, cross with him now. “What, you just happened to be walking by Stafford House?”
“I reside very close by.”
“The big red house,” Amelia offered helpfully. “You know, the one at the top of the street.”
Justine did indeed remember the big red building. “The big and plain red building? I saw only an asylum or sanitarium matching that description.”
“It is no’ an asylum, for heaven’s sake, and it is most assuredly mine.”
“It’s ahouse?”Justine’s face felt a little hot. “You didn’t say that was your house.”
“You didna ask.”
“Why would I ask if that...house belonged to you?”
“She didn’t mention it because she was halfway in her cups and muddled,” Amelia offered and took her plate to the table. “She’s always muddled after being in a crowd. Justine, you haven’t introduced our guest.”
“Nerves and muddled are not the same thing and I was just about to do that, Amelia, thank you.” She sucked in a breath and puffed it out, rubbed her forehead a moment, then dropped her hand. “Lady Aleksander, may I introduce Lord Douglas of Hamilton?” she said, and gestured loosely in his direction.
Lady Aleksander smiled and curtsied. “A pleasure to see you again, my lord.”
“Again? Surely no’, madam. I’d remember making your lovely acquaintance, that I would.”
“Lord,”Justine murmured impatiently under her breath.
But William was looking at Lady Aleksander as if he thought maybe he had met her and couldn’t recall when or where.
“At the wedding of Princess Charlotte and—”
“Prince Georg! Of course,” he finished for her. “How could I possibly have forgotten?”
“It’s been an age,” Lady Aleksander said kindly.
“Aye, that it has.”
He strode across the room to greet her properly. “It is a pleasure to see you again, madam. You are well? Your husband?”
“Oh, exceedingly, both of us, thank you. And you? How does your father do?”
Justine watched them smile at each other as their recognition came back to them. They were reminiscing about the wedding, laughing at something that had happened there, and she felt left out.
“Well!” she said loudly, to remind them all that she was still standing there. “Now that your friendship has been renewed, I shall leave the two of you to reminisce.” She started for the door, surprised by her own irritation. It really wasn’t like her—she was used to being disappointed.
“Your Royal Highness, if I may?” Lady Aleksander called after her.
No, she may not. But Justine paused, clenched her jaw and forced herself to turn around. “Je,Lady Aleksander?”
“It’s such a perfect morning, I thought perhaps we might all walk in the garden.”
“Not me,” Amelia said over her breakfast. “I danced so much last night that my feet are killing me.”
“Thank you,” Justine said. “But I have quite a full calendar today.”
