Daniel noticed the sharp change in Phoebe’s demeanor immediately. How could he not, when he had scarcely taken his eyes off her since she returned to the drawing room? One moment, she had been laughing and smiling, revealing a side of herself that he had not been permitted to see—a woman who blossomed beneath the warmth of attention and applause—and the next, she was glaring at the doorway with ice in her eyes, her smile long gone.
He observed for just a moment, turning his curiosity toward Jacob Dowding, the Baron of Harburgh. The fellow was looking directly at Ellen Wilson, and she, in turn, was gazing back at him, her cheeks flushed. It did not take a genius to understand what was going on.
Prove yourself,Daniel’s mind urged.
Before he knew it, he was on his feet, striding over to welcome the new guest… and to steer him away from Ellen as quickly as possible.
“Dowding, what a pleasant surprise!” Daniel crowed, putting an arm around the man andphysicallysteering him toward the group of gentlemen that included Evan and Nathaniel.
Jacob tried to break free. “I meant to arrive tomorrow, but I found myself in the area and knew there would be a dinner party afoot.” He frowned when Daniel continued to usher him toward the group of gentlemen. “It seems I missed the dinner, though.”
Daniel and Jacob were old school friends who had been close in their youth but had suffered the usual distance that occurred when life got in the way. They wrote to each other now and again, though it was usually Jacob writing to Daniel to ask for business advice, and when they saw one another at gatherings, they were always friendly, but even Daniel knew that a match between Jacob and Ellen would be disastrous.
In the years since they attended Eton together, Daniel had concentrated on building his fortune, and Jacob had concentrated on building a less-than-savory reputation with the ladies.
“You are welcome, as ever,” Daniel said, thrusting Jacob into the circle of men. “You remember Evan and Nathaniel, do you not?”
Jacob grinned, sticking out his hand to shake those of the gathered gentlemen. “I certainly do. You threw an excellent ball, Your Grace.” He dipped his head to Nathaniel. “I have never seen more beauty in one place.”
“I apologize,” Nathaniel said. “I do not recall you.”
“This is Jacob, the Baron of Harburgh,” Daniel replied. “We went to school together.”
Evan nodded. “I trust you have been keeping out of trouble this Season, Dowding?”
“I am,” Jacob replied, chuckling. “The problem is, I can never keep trouble away from me.” His gaze flitted toward Ellen, who had been shepherded away to the farthest possible corner of the room by Phoebe. The sight seemed to amuse him.
As Jacob fell into amiable conversation with some of the other men, Daniel pulled Evan to the side and whispered, “Keep him away from Miss Wilson this evening. Ensure they have no opportunity to be alone together, even in company.”
“Which Miss Wilson?” Evan asked, his voice low.
“Ellen.”
Evan nodded. “Are these Phoebe’s wishes?”
“She has not stated them, but I can see on her face that she is not best pleased that Jacob is here. I suspect an… affection, and if I am to win Phoebe’s favor, I think I must intervene on her behalf,” Daniel replied.
Evan raised a curious eyebrow. “What a strange turn of phrase.”
“Pardon?”
“Nothing.” Evan smiled. “I just thought it was Joanna’s favor you were trying to win.”
Before Daniel could protest, Evan slipped back into the circle of gentlemen, leaving him open-mouthed and unable to defend his actions.
Surely, Evan understood that Daniel needed to win Phoebe’s favor in order to win Joanna’s? Surely, Evan understood that Phoebe was the very last woman on earth who could ever be won, least of all by Daniel?
Indeed, Daniel’s swift intervention had absolutely nothing to do with the fact that he had been enchanted by Phoebe’s laughter and humor, and by the hilarity that she had, in turn, inspired in his mother, who seemed so at ease in her company. No, it absolutely had nothing to do with that.
* * *
The following morning arrived with headaches and uneasy stomachs among the guests who had stayed at the manor overnight, though there was to be no rest for the wicked. After breakfast, Amelia had summoned everyone to the sloping lawn that preceded the vast, elaborate gardens, and no one dared to refuse a summons from the Dowager Countess.
Phoebe pulled her cloak tighter around herself, for there was a chill in the air, though the ice in her veins came from a more human source. Sadly, Jacob had not been an unpleasant figment of her imagination. He stood on the lawn, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, teasing some of the greener-looking gentlemen. And Ellen was gazing at him as if he was the sun itself while she whispered to Joanna.
I ought to feign a sickness again,Phoebe knew, her mind and body exhausted after a sleepless night of worrying.
Thanks to the actions of Daniel and Phoebe combined, Jacob had been given no opportunity to say a single word to Ellen the previous evening, but Phoebe was aware that the task of keeping them apart would only become harder. There was to be a ball that night, after all, and while there were crowds, there was a greater possibility of her losing sight of Ellen, or of Ellen deliberately sneaking out of sight.
