Chapter 6
The first carriage arrived at noon the following day. Lainey re-rolled the same ribbon she had been working on sorting for the last ten minutes and crammed the whole pile into the basket. Her head snapped up when she heard voices in the front hall, and a little butterfly let loose in her stomach. She put her hand on her abdomen to still it.
“It’s not too late to change your mind,” Gavin observed from where he sat reading. His smug little smile made Lainey stiffen her resolve.
“I am tired of waiting for my life to begin,” she replied, rising. “It is time to take matters into my own hands.” She smoothed her skirts and patted her hair, not that she could see if anything was out of place. She just needed something to do with her hands or they were going to flail about of their own accord. Gavin stood and put his book aside.
“I don’t mean to tease, Lainey. I just want you to be sure of your choice. I wish for nothing but your happiness.”
Her happiness, indeed. He didn’t seem to care about that two years ago. “Thank you, I am sure. I promise I won’t marry anyone who doesn’t suit me well.”
The door opened and in walked Aidan, followed by Mr. Pritchard, a fabulous milliner who was a long-time client of Aidan’s. He was in his early thirties, rather plain-looking yet not unattractive, with brown hair and unremarkable features. Lainey had known him by acquaintance for some years, but hadn’t realized he was looking for a wife. He worked long hours and seemed happy as a bachelor. Perhaps he was tired of waiting as well.
Then the door opened wider and Lainey’s heart tripped and fell all the way down to her toes. A tall, angular, and sinfully handsome man Lainey had never seen before followed Pritchard into the room. His wavy hair was the exact color of the wet sand on the beach, and somehow it managed to appear wind-blown and arranged to perfection all at the same time. Confidence radiated off of him as he glanced around the room with an engaging smile. Elizabeth appeared to be having difficulty keeping her jaw from gaping open, and Lainey stifled a giggle. Beside her, Gavin stiffened when the stranger’s eyes came to rest on Lainey, assessing her with an appreciative gaze.
Good, Lainey thought. Let him look. Serves you right, Gavin. What’s it like to not be the most handsome man in the room anymore?
Aidan approached with the men following in his wake. “Allow me to make introductions. Mr. Pritchard you already know, of course.”
“Of course. How lovely to see you again, Mr. Pritchard,” Lainey said as he bowed over her hand.
“And you as well, my lady. Thank you for inviting us to your home.”
He moved aside as Aidan said, “And this is Mr. Charles Devereaux, newly arrived to England. Mr. Devereaux, my sister, Lady Elaine Lockwood.”
“Very pleased to meet you, my lady,” Devereaux said, taking her offered hand. “I apologize for crashing your party. It was kind of you to allow me to come.” His voice was smooth and rich, a fine French brandy flowing through her veins. Lainey suddenly wished for a fan as he bent his head to kiss her hand. His hair had highlights of gold threaded through it, that caught the light like the subtle embroidery on her favorite ball gown. He looked up and met her eyes with a smile that bordered on sensual.
Sweet, merciful Lord in heaven.
“I’m so glad you could join us.” Did she sound out of breath? She was mesmerized by his intensely green eyes that held flecks of amber.
Someone’s throat clearing snapped her out of her reverie, and she turned to see Gavin looking pointedly at the hand that was still in Devereaux’s grasp. She removed it so the introductions could continue.
“This is my business partner and good friend, Mr. Gavin Mayfield, and this, of course, is my lovely wife, the Marchioness of Ashby.”
Devereaux shook and kissed hands where appropriate. Lainey noted Elizabeth’s flushed cheeks. At least she wasn’t the only one affected by the man’s stunning good looks.
“Thank you for allowing me to bring my cousin at the last minute, Lady Ashby,” Pritchard interjected. “He has just arrived from France and I felt it in poor taste to leave him behind, as I did not want to miss your party.”
“We are happy for the extra company, Mr. Pritchard,” Elizabeth responded. “What brings you to England, Mr. Devereaux?”
“My father has died and I have inherited his estate.”
“Oh! I’m so sorry for your loss.”
A shadow flickered through his eyes. “Don’t be.”
Lainey hesitated for an awkward moment, unsure of what to say.
“Forgive me, Lady Elaine.” He turned to her, shaking off whatever had haunted him. “That was uncouth. I am afraid there was no love lost between my father and me.”
“Well, I am sorry to hear that, too. How long were you in France, if I may ask?”
“Six years.”
“That’s a good, long while. But are you sure you won’t mind leaving France behind?”
“It’s true I’ve grown fond of France, but it is good to be back on English soil.” His eyes bored into hers. “And though I am anxious to travel on from here to return to my family home, I suddenly find myself with a reason to linger,” he said softly, flashing her another one of those smiles that seemed almost inappropriate.
Lainey’s pulse stuttered under his assessing gaze. Oh, this man was simply too much.
“Right then,” Gavin boomed, clapping his hands together, practically startling Lainey out of her skin. “I’m sure you must be tired from your journey. Perhaps you would like to be shown to your rooms?”
Lainey’s head slowly swiveled toward Gavin. He raised his brows in innocence.
“Quite right,” Pritchard replied. “Let us get settled, and we will return to you post haste.”
“Thank you again for allowing me to attend,” Devereaux added.
“It will be a pleasure to get to know you,” Lainey said.
“It will indeed,” Devereaux agreed with a ghost of a smile before following Tibbs and Pritchard out of the room.
“Oh, my heavens,” Lainey said, her hand going to her throat.
Gavin snorted. “He’s rather full of himself, isn’t he?”
“That isn’t at all what I was thinking,” Elizabeth murmured, staring after Devereaux.
“Oh, come off it, ladies. Are you really going to fall for all that charm he was oozing?”
Lainey perched her hands on her hips, exasperated. “And what, exactly, is wrong with that? Am I not hosting this party to be charmed and wooed to my heart’s content? If you and Aidan are going to disparage every option I have, then there isn’t much point to this, is there?”
“Hey, I was perfectly nice,” Aidan said, affronted. “But he is certainly someone I’m going to be keeping a close eye on, Lainey. We don’t know anything about him, and he seems somewhat…overconfident.”
“Oh, for heaven’s sake, my love,” Elizabeth chimed in. “Let your sister have a little fun for once.”
“Thank you, Eliza.”
“He’s going to be trouble, mark my words,” Gavin grumbled.
“Gavin, you sound like a jealous little boy,” Lainey scolded. “Perhaps some sunshine and fresh air would do you some good. Would you like to take a turn in the garden?”
“As you wish,” he replied, offering her his arm. Lainey shook her head.
“I meant by yourself,” she said flatly, crossing her arms over her chest.
Gavin glanced at the faces around him, the ladies most definitely scowling and Aidan trying to contain his laughter. “Fine,” he ground out. “Perhaps a short walk will clear my head of the nonsense Devereux just spouted.” He strode out of the room.
“Lainey, don’t be too hard on him,” Aidan said. “He’s only trying to help.”
“If glowering at every eligible gentleman is what you consider helpful, then I fear I may be single for life. The two of you had best behave yourselves and not scare off any of my prospects. I’m serious about this.”
“He did find you most of the men who are attending, don’t forget. He is taking your husband hunt seriously as well. He’s just trying to protect you. As am I.”
Lainey threw her hands up, exasperated. “I am a grown woman, Aidan. I do not need to be protected. I can make my own choices when it comes to husbands.”
“I know that, Lainey.” Aidan’s expression softened. “Sometimes it’s hard for me not to see you as a lost eleven-year-old anymore.”
Lainey sighed. “You’ve done so much for me, Aidan. Don’t ever think I don’t appreciate you.” She laid a hand against his cheek and locked her eyes with his. “You are an excellent big brother, and I wouldn’t trade you for anything. But please, please try not to be overbearing this week.” She moved her hand and poked him in the chest. “I’ve met one man and the two of you are behaving like he’s going to trap me in a closet and have his way with me the first chance he gets.”
“That really wouldn’t be a bad way to pass half an hour,” Elizabeth mused. Two heads swung in her direction. “What?”
Lainey burst out laughing and Aidan ran a palm over his face.
“I don’t know how I am going to survive this week.”
Gavin viciously kicked a stone out of his path. What had triggered such an appalling response in him? Lainey was right. This party was being held specifically for her to meet men, yet the moment one paid her the slightest bit of attention, he turned into a surly child. He was going to have to gain better control over his emotions if he didn’t want to give everyone the wrong idea. But he couldn’t seem to help himself…seeing Devereaux fawn over Lainey like that had set his teeth on edge. The man was too perfect. Gavin knew Devereaux would have the ladies falling all over him, and he wanted to make sure no one was being taken advantage of, especially Lainey. She was entirely guileless, a trait someone like Devereaux could exploit if he had nefarious purposes.
Gavin sank down on a stone bench. He didn’t want to examine too closely why he was reacting the way he was to seeing Lainey garner such attention. She was not his, he had to remember that. If things were different…
But they weren’t. Lainey was a jewel for some other man to treasure. So, for her sake, he was going to tamp down his feelings and pretend it didn’t drive him crazy to watch her be courted by someone else, that he didn’t get stabbed in the chest at the thought of letting her go. He hoped they’d remain good friends, but her life would be taken over by being a wife and mother, and he’d see less and less of her as time went on. He’d have to be satisfied with seeing her at social events and gatherings. He could hardly wrap his head around the fact that she wouldn’t be there when he went to see Aidan, there would be no more afternoon teas on a regular basis, no more comfortable evenings listening to her read aloud or play the piano.
Life was changing, and Gavin wasn’t entirely sure he liked the direction it was taking. He was, of course, happy Aidan had found a love match after years of being afraid to take a chance, but at the same time, Gavin couldn’t help but feel as though he was being left behind. Aidan was consumed by his new wife—and rightly so—but now rather than leaving the office and heading to White’s for a drink, Aidan was rushing out the door to go home to Elizabeth. And now, Lainey would be disappearing into her own family as well.
Gavin sighed and dug his toe into the gravel like the little boy Lainey had accused him of being. This glimpse of his lonely future settled like a heavy weight on his chest, and he questioned if he’d ever be able to remove it.