Chapter Nine #2
Both Anastasia and Aurora giggled. “We have gentlemen to impress,” Anastasia said, twirling around.
“Thank you for inviting Warren, brother. I would’ve felt like the fifth wheel on a carriage, awkward and unwanted.”
“Christ,” he said as he combed his hair, messing up the job Dalton had done with a comb. “I never heard back from him.”
Aurora smiled. “I intercepted the note when it arrived. He is coming.”
“Good. Six for dinner is the perfect number.”
“Did you send the carriage for Lady Rutherford?” Aurora asked. “It is the proper thing for a gentleman to do when he invites a lady friend to dine.”
“My, aren’t you a wealth of knowledge tonight?” He paused and grinned. “Yes, I did. In fact, all our guests should be arriving any moment.”
Just then, Henderson entered the room, with Hunter and Warren on his heels, and announced, “The Earl of Warren and Mr. Hunter.” He then left, no doubt to await Letitia’s arrival.
“Would you gentlemen care for a glass of sherry?” Greyson asked as they each moved to stand beside the sisters they were courting and exchanged greetings.
He’d noticed two glasses of sherry on the table in front of the settee when he asked.
His sisters had already helped themselves.
He didn’t blame them. It was a nice way to start the evening, taking the edge off one’s nerves.
“Yes, please,” Warren said.
“Please,” Hunter said, whispering to Anastasia, then joining Greyson at the sideboard against the wall. “I’m going to propose tonight after dinner in the gardens,” he said quietly. Greyson handed Hunter his glass of sherry, and he downed it in one gulp. “Another pour, please.”
“Sherry is supposed to be sipped, not downed in one swallow. If you don’t take it slow, you’ll be too inebriated to propose.”
“I’ll sip this one. I need to relax. I’m tied up in knots, and I don’t want her to suspect anything.”
“Once you ask her and she says yes, the knots will surely untie themselves, and you can breathe easily again.”
“How did you know I can’t breathe?”
“I didn’t. Just a guess. Is something else wrong with you? You seem unlike yourself.”
He glanced back at Anastasia. “Ever since I left your study today, I’ve been questioning her feelings for me. What if I misread her and I’m nothing but a diversion until someone better comes along?”
“We have gone over this before. So what if you don’t possess a title? Anastasia can keep her courtesy title, only when you marry will it be ‘Lady Anastasia Hunter.’ Also, you have more money than many young men our age, and you and Anastasia are a perfect fit for each other.”
“I think I believe that . . .”
“No thinking. It is so.” Greyson picked up two sherry glasses. “Come, before Anastasia wonders what we are whispering about.”
After he’d handed Warren his sherry, Henderson entered the drawing room, this time with Letitia following him.
“Lady Rutherford,” he said, bowed, and left the room.
Greyson walked to Letitia’s side. It took effort not to run to her.
She looked beautiful in a deep-burgundy evening dress.
He hoped the gardens wouldn’t be too crowded after dinner, since he intended to find a private spot in which to ravish Letitia.
Well, not ravish exactly. More like kiss and hold close.
But he hoped he would get the chance to ravish her soon.
His eyes roamed over her and settled on her face, on her eyes, which were full of mirth. “You look gorgeous, my dear.”
“Thank you,” she said, and a delicate red flush tinted her cheeks.
He held out his hand. “Come. Let’s get you a sherry.” They made their way across the room, and he poured her a glass of sherry then handed it to her.
“Thank you,” she said just before she took a sip.
He couldn’t take his eyes off her lips, wishing he were the glass and that her luscious lips were on him. He cleared his throat to hide the moan that almost escaped.
“I’m surprised to find Warren and Hunter here. You didn’t mention they were coming to dinner.”
“It was an even more last-minute invitation. I hope you aren’t bothered by their attendance.”
“Why would I be?” she said with a smile. “I enjoy their company, and I’m sure Anastasia and Aurora are happy with the turn of events.”
“I’m sure they are. Ahh, the dinner bell.” He held out his hand again. “Shall we?”
She placed her hand in his. “We shall.”
Since Greyson didn’t feel comfortable at the head of the table while his father was still alive, he and Letitia sat on one side of the table, side by side.
Warren, Aurora, Hunter, and Anastasia sat across from them.
In his opinion, it was a nice, cozy, and intimate dinner party.
The perfect prelude to Hunter’s marriage proposal to his sister.
And perhaps he could steal those kisses he daydreamed about from Letitia.
The first course was served. It was a squash soup with just the right amount of nutmeg, cinnamon, and cream. Roasted chicken, mashed potatoes, and carrots followed. Then came fruit, nuts, and dishes of blood pudding.
Greyson didn’t think he could move by the time all the dishes were removed.
He didn’t believe he had overindulged, but his stomach felt as if he had.
“Shall we retire to the drawing room? I had the pianoforte brought in. Perhaps Aurora would grace us with some music?” He could have predicted Aurora’s groan at his request. She was quite good at playing, but she preferred to play for herself when no one was around to hear her.
“Must I, brother?” Aurora said, and he heard the frustration in her voice.
“Oh, Lady Aurora,” Warren said, looking at her with a wide smile, “I would love to hear you play. Perhaps we could play a duet.”
Her face softened, and she smiled at Warren. “I didn’t know you played.”
“Yes, quite proficiently, I might add.” How strange. When some gentlemen said such a thing, they would come across as boasting, but not Warren.
“Well, then, I would love to play a duet with you.”
“It’s settled then,” Greyson said as he stood, slid Letitia’s chair back, and held out his hand. She took it as she stood. “We shall go to the drawing room and be entertained by Aurora and Lord Warren.”
Everyone stood and made their way back into the room they had occupied earlier, and Greyson was thrilled to see the pianoforte already in place.