Lady Lively sipped her tea, a sly smile playing around her lips. She made Lavender wait until she’d returned the teacup to its matching saucer before she said, “Do you know Lady Anna?”
She knew the name and face from afar but… “We have not met.”
“She is the daughter of the Marquess of Somerset,” Lady Lively stated. “And a lovely lady, I must add. Quite the beauty and has the graces of a princess.”
“You flatter me, my lady,” Lady Anna spoke. Her voice was light and airy, her cheeks rosy pink. Lavender couldn’t deny just how pretty Lady Anna was. Strawberry-blond curls, big brown eyes, and soft perfect lips.
Lavender glanced anxiously at Austin but he was saying nothing, his attention on the two ladies sitting before him, his usual frown on his face. She couldn’t tell what he was thinking. Did he think Lady Anna was a beauty as well?
“This, Lady Anna,” Lady Lively continued, “is Miss Lavender Latrice. She is the sister of Mr. Vincent Latrice. She is the one I was talking about.”
“Oh.” Lady Anna giggled softly, eyes glittering with humor. “I see.”
Annoyance tinged her confusion. Lavender drew closer, taking the chair directly across from them. To steady her nerves, she poured herself a cup of tea. “I must say that I am surprised, my lady,” she said. “I cannot imagine what reason you would have to visit the earl.”
“You are not the only one, Lavender,” Austin spoke up, his irritation apparent. “These ladies showed up just a few minutes before you did and they are yet to state their reason for coming.”
“All things in time, my lord,” Lady Lively said easily. “Wouldn’t it be nice for us to have a proper conversation first?”
“No,” he said. “Out with it.”
Lady Lively didn’t seem perturbed by his bluntness. Instead, she ran her gaze down the length of him. The first time she did that it had been with disdain and a hint of disgust. This time…was she admiring him?
Lavender looked at Austin as well, noting that he was wearing the new clothes he’d received yesterday. Coupled with hisnewly-shaven face and his styled hair, he was quite the dashing character. And it seemed both ladies were thinking that as well.
“Very well,” Lady Lively went on. “Allow me to be blunt. I came here to introduce Lady Anna to you, my lord.”
“And why would I need an introduction?”
“Is that not the first step in starting a friendship? Perhaps more?”
Lavender choked on her tea. She tried to cover it up but she didn’t miss the derisive look Lady Lively gave her. Lady Anna’s polite and pleasant expression did not move.
“A friendship?” Lavender asked incredulously. “You came all the way here to start a friendship?”
“Yes, to begin with,” Lady Lively continued. “You see, my lord, Lady Anna took notice of you at the garden party and thought you were quite fetching. So, since we are acquainted, I thought I could assist in helping you two to get to know each other.”
Lavender couldn’t believe what she was hearing. She was trying to make a match with a man who was spoken for?
Austin narrowed his eyes at the countess. “Bold of you to do such a thing knowing that I am betrothed to Miss Lavender.”
“Yes, yes, so you say. Though I cannot help but wonder how solid such a betrothal is.” Lady Lively smiled. “After all, you are yet to announce it in the banns. How can anyone take such a betrothal seriously, if it is not announced?”
“Surely you must be jesting,” Lavender murmured, still in disbelief.
“Well, Miss Lavender, this is not something you were meant to hear,” Lady Lively said. “But I suppose it is a good thing that you are here. It would be easier for you to know as well.”
“For me to know that you mean to take my betrothed?” Lavender murmured.
“An engagement is just one small step, Miss Lavender,” Lady Lively stated dismissively. “But the game is not truly over until a wedding occurs, which I hear is months away from now. A lot can happen in that time.”
“Ladies.” Austin’s firm voice kept Lavender from having to think of a response. “I think it is time for you to leave.”
“Of course, my lord.” Lady Anna stood, planting a perfect smile on her lips. She turned to face Austin, eyes twinkling. “We have overstayed our welcome. I hope we will be able to spend more time together in the future.”
Lavender didn’t dare look at Austin. She’d seen firsthand how easily men fell for demure and pretty ladies. She didn’t want to see it right before her eyes.
She kept her eyes on the table, feeling Lady Lively’s eyes boring into her face. Lavender felt the burn of tears at the back of her eyes and she forced them back. She had no reason to cry. Why should she? It was not her fault these ladies thought it fit to try and take her betrothed away from her.
