Chapter 14
KENDRICK
Grim satisfaction twisted through me when I caught Penham’s glare from across the room. With the aim of sinking my blade deeper and causing the man the utmost annoyance, I leaned even closer and murmured in her ear. “Penham is glaring daggers at us.”
She laughed and smiled up at me. This close, it would be so easy to kiss her again.
“You are terrible. I wouldn’t be surprised if he calls you out.”
I tried to picture it. “He can try, but I doubt he’d find any satisfaction in the act.”
A surprising number of people were in attendance, and they were all heading toward the refreshment tables set up along one wall, so our progress was slow.
“What should we talk about now?” Caroline said. “Should I laugh again? Pretend that you are the most entertaining gentleman in the room?”
I frowned with mock distress. “You wound me. I’m sure you don’t need to pretend to enjoy my company.”
Caroline pressed her lips together, but she was unable to hide the merriment in her eyes. “I think your ego is already far too large, my lord.”
Now I had to hold back my amusement. “Does that mean you’re not happy to see me?”
Caroline smiled again, one of her genuine smiles that lit her eyes and made her even more beautiful.
“On the contrary, I am delighted. Aunt Augusta was about to force me to thank Penham for thinking of me, after which he would have surely tried to monopolize my attention for the rest of the evening.”
I could imagine the scene all too clearly. “He’s always been annoying and has always assumed everyone is delighted to be in his company.”
Caroline seemed surprised. “You know him well?”
I shrugged. “We were in school together for far too many years. Let’s just say we’ve never been on the friendliest of terms.”
I saw no point in shocking her with some of the antics bored youths could get up to.
And Penham had been squarely in the camp of those who’d wanted to take down Rexford and his friends.
Because of that history, I’d never ignored an opportunity to one-up the man.
Even now, the feel of his eyes on us had me tugging Caroline closer to my side.
Of course, I made sure to step closer to another couple so the maneuver would appear casual, as though I was merely trying to ensure she wouldn’t bump into them. But the amusement on Caroline’s face told me she knew exactly what I was doing.
When we finally reached the refreshment table, I released Caroline and performed the honors. Ratafia, of course. I handed one glass to Caroline and poured a second glass for her aunt.
She tilted her head. “None for you?”
Throwing caution to the wind, I poured a third glass. Hoping it wouldn’t be as sweet as some liked to make it, I saluted her and raised the cup to my lips. I took a small sip.
Interestingly, I tasted more than the customary hint of brandy. I had no doubt Lady Farleigh had been behind that decision. She was probably hoping the added spirits would induce gentlemen to view her daughters more favorably.
When I met Caroline’s gaze, her eyes were fixed on my mouth. A familiar heat began to stir within me.
“If you keep looking at me that way, I’m going to take it as an invitation that you want me to kiss you again.”
She cleared her throat and glanced away. “The horror. I can’t imagine why anyone would want to do that.”
Our gazes met and held for a long moment, and I knew she was remembering the kiss we’d shared. She hadn’t been horrified then.
I made a silent vow to show this woman that she was wrong if she thought all men were cut from the same cloth.
If Penham was the type of man she was attracting, I could understand why she didn’t want to get married.
But that left the door open for men like me, who would be more than happy to show her there was life beyond the staid respectability of marriage or spinsterhood.
A third choice I had no doubt she’d find more enjoyable.
Someone cleared their throat behind us, and I realized we were blocking access to the refreshment table.
I murmured an apology and led Caroline away.
I was carrying two glasses and couldn’t offer her my arm, but she stayed close to me.
When we reached her aunt, Lady Fredricks accepted her glass with a circumspect thank you.
She then proceeded to drain half her glass without batting an eye.
Clearly, she wasn’t as surprised as I’d been by the liberal amount of spirits in the refreshment.
I watched Caroline and her aunt discuss the performance.
I’d arrived just before the last song and had seen Penham approach Lady Farleigh to make his request. After witnessing his clumsy attempt to gain Caroline and Lady Fredricks’s gratitude, I took a great deal of delight in stepping in and frustrating his plans.
The intermission was over all too soon, and footmen were circulating among the guests to collect the empty cups. I handed over mine, which was still half full. Even generously laced with brandy, ratafia was still far too sweet for me. But Caroline and her aunt had both drained their cups.
I murmured a request to a footman, and he brought an extra chair so I could sit next to Caroline and her aunt.
Unfortunately, Lady Fredricks made sure to take the seat between me and her niece.
Caroline met my gaze behind her aunt’s back and murmured an apology.
I winked by way of reply. If Caroline’s aunt thought I could be so easily thwarted, she’d soon realize just how wrong she was.
The rest of the evening passed by quickly enough. For the second half, several other guests were invited onto the small platform to showcase their talents. When Lady Farleigh glanced our way, Caroline shook her head. Lady Farleigh nodded and moved on to another young woman.
Lady Fredricks tried to hide her displeasure, but she leaned in to whisper something to her niece.
Caroline raised a hand to her throat. “The air is so dry in here. It’s a miracle I managed that first song. Perhaps I’m coming down with a cold.”
Her eyes met mine before darting away. She was lying. I set aside that little piece of information. Caroline couldn’t maintain eye contact when she wasn’t being honest.
Lady Fredricks pursed her lips in annoyance. She didn’t press the issue, but she definitely didn’t believe her niece’s excuse.
When the musical part of the evening was over, Lady Fredricks took her charge firmly in hand. “Since you’re not feeling well, we should get you home. We wouldn’t want you to miss the Hatfield Ball tomorrow night.”
Caroline sighed. “Of course not, Auntie.” She turned to me and dipped into a curtsy. “It was a pleasure seeing you tonight, my lord. Perhaps we shall see each other again soon.”
Why was I entertaining this nonsense? Despite my better judgment, I dipped my head in a small bow. “I think that can be arranged.”
Lady Fredricks said her goodbyes to the hosts and whisked her niece away.
I turned to look at Penham. He made no attempt to hide his glare. Had he been scowling this whole time?
I smiled at him, enjoying the way his frown deepened, and turned to leave.
I hadn’t accomplished anything that evening, but I now possessed an important piece of information. Caroline was going to be at the Hatfield Ball tomorrow night. I was already looking forward to getting her alone again.