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“Thank you, but congratulations are a bit premature,” he replied.
Jeannie arched her elegant eyebrows. “Really, because theon-ditsare quite insistent on the matter. Surely you can verify for one of your oldest friends if the rumors are true.”
Donella didn’t think she misheard a thread of hope in the woman’s voice.
When Logan smiled down at his first love, Donella’s heart almost stopped. Was he going to deny that, despite all his protestations, he still cared for Jeannie MacArthur?
And had Donella been stupid enough to believe that he didn’t?
“Theon-ditshave it right for once,” Logan said. “But since no formal announcement has yet been made, I would ask that you keep the news to yourself.”
Jeannie blinked, but then adopted a charmingly fey smile. “You have my word, dear Logan.” She gave Donella a nod. “Miss Haddon, I wish you the best of luck.”
When she slipped gracefully into the crowd, Logan frowned after her. “That was odd. I wonder how she found out about it.”
“I don’t know, and I don’t care,” Donella said in a tight voice.
His attention swung back to her. “Lass, are you feeling all right?”
“I was, until your former lover decided to accost me.”
His eyebrows practically shot up to the ceiling. “What the hell does that mean?”
When two young ladies standing a few feet away turned to stare at them, Donella winced.
“I . . . oh, nothing. Can we please leave? The heat in this room is appalling.”
“I take it Jeannie said something unpleasant.”
“She said many things. Now, are you going to escort me out of here, or do I have to find my own way home?”
“Of course I’ll take you home. Do you want me to fetch Edie or Victoria?”
“No, I just want to leave.”
“Let me get you out of this mob, and then I’ll rustle up a carriage.”
“I’d prefer you not bull through the ballroom, leaving bodies in our wake,” she warned as he took her elbow. “There’s already enough gossip about us.”
He snorted. “You have no idea.”
Her stomach did a nasty flip. He’d been looking harassed when he found her, which didn’t bode well.
Logan maneuvered her through the ballroom with a minimum of fuss. Many curious stares followed them, including a few disapproving ones in Donella’s case.
You should be used to it by now.
It took every bit of her self-control and a heartfelt prayer for patience to maintain even the semblance of a smile.
When they reached the entrance hall, Logan left her to speak to a footman, returning a minute later with her cloak.
“Sure you don’t want me to fetch Edie?” he asked as he draped it around her shoulders. “You’re rather green around the gills, love.”
“I just need to go home.”
“I asked one of the footmen to call for Nick’s carriage.” He briefly cupped her cheek. “Just a few more minutes and we’ll be on our way.”
“How will your family get back to Kendrick House?”
