Chapter Three #4
“Although, in the past, you’ve made it clear that you do not value my opinion—”
“Have I?” she interrupted again.
He grimaced. “Yes.”
She narrowed her eyes. “A thing’s value, including an opinion, generally lies in that thing’s scarcity.”
“Well, yes, of course.”
“Is it so surprising, then, that I might find it difficult to value something so freely and indiscriminately given as your opinion? Especially when given on matters of concern only to me?”
He swallowed. Hard. “In this case, the concern is not only to you. Our families, not to mention our friends, are so closely connected, is there anything that could be of concern to you and not to me?”
The delicate arch of her right brow suggested her answer was an obvious yes.
“I only wish to urge you to have caution with Lord Willard. Last night—”
“If we are going to speak of any improper behavior last night,” she interrupted, “why don’t you speak of your own?”
“My own?” he asked, startled.
“I saw you striding across the room—everyone saw you! And, unlike everyone else, I also witnessed the strange exchange between yourself, Asquith, and Blackwell. Tell, me, Neville, am I correct in assuming that you drew strings to decide who would have to rescue me from my solitary state?”
The Devil! She’d seen the string draw?
“No! We weren’t deciding who must ask you to dance.” As if that part had been the hardship. “Although I can see how you might have received that impression.”
“Magnanimous of you! Please, reveal the true subject in question. I am all agog.”
He’d walked straight into that trap, hadn’t he?
“I just…” His voice trailed. “That is to say, we wanted….” Well, dash it! “Earlier in the evening, I’d noticed your dress and thought it—”
Her brows hitched higher.
“—memorable. Not to mention widely admired. And it occurred to me, to us, that…” He stopped himself before he dug this grave any deeper. “Never mind the string draw. That was merely a silly wager. Blackwell was having a laugh, I think. And at my expense.”
“At your expense? In what way?”
“Millie—”
She drew back at his pleading use of the name only her family used.
“—please, just take care with Willard.” He turned the conversation back to his original intent. “I know you think you do not need any man’s protection or advice, but Willard is excellent at deception.”
“Meaning he couldn’t possibly have asked me to dance simply for the pleasure of my company?”
He winced. “Anyone could be excused for wanting the pleasure of your company.”
“Excused?”
Hell. His stupid tongue betrayed him again. But having begun his warning, he had to finish. “Willard is not the type of man people generally believe him to be.”
She stared at him for a long, silent moment. Just when he thought the inferno in her gaze might cause him to combust, he heard a tell-tale feminine voice out in the hall.
The duchess had returned.
Both of them glanced toward the door, then back to each other.
“Your concern,” she said, “is noted. But if you do not mind, I will base my judgment of Lord Willard, or of any other gentleman who asks me to dance, on my own experience. Lord Willard has been nothing but gentleman-like.”
Her significant glance added a silent but unmistakable unlike you.
The air between them felt thin and brittle, an uncrossable gap, a hazard he had no idea how to navigate.
“Millie!” Cassie bustled into the room. “And my dear new cousin, Neville.”
Cassie shook hands with Neville first. Her gaze moved between them as if weighing whether to communicate her disapproval.
“What a delightful surprise—”
Apparently, she’d settled on showing a united front for the servants.
“—Neville, I hope all is well at home?”
“Yes,” he lied.
“Aunt Jane wrote recently to tell Harbury how grateful she is for the favor he has shown her brother-in-law.”
Had she? He wasn’t aware his mother had even known about the offer. “I’m sure she appreciates Harbury’s kindness, as do I.”
“Well, we needed to find someone we could trust quickly. Mr. Clapham’s promotion to dean came as a surprise. Although I am deeply happy for both the rector and his daughter. Last summer, they were very helpful. Is your uncle prepared to assume his duties?”
“As it happens, my visit concerns my uncle’s situation.”
“Ah,” the duchess replied. “You will want to speak with Harbury, then. I expect him to return soon.” She turned to Millicent. “As for you, I hadn’t expected a visit. I never would have gone out if you had sent word you planned to call.”
“An impetuous decision, I’m afraid,” Millie said apologetically. “Adrian offered to set me down here on his way to see his solicitor. I’m so happy you’ve returned. Lord Neville and I had exhausted all polite topics, leaving us with nothing of significance to converse.”
Her pointed glance in his direction again shifted the location of his stomach. She might as well have told him aloud she intended to disregard his unwanted advice.
Damn! Just as the first time, he’d tried to warn her of danger, his well-intentioned advice had only fueled her desire to prove him wrong.
Now, he feared, she was even more likely to befriend Willard.