Lavender expected questions. She’d gone through every possible one beforehand and had a response that would not raise anyone suspicions. She didn’t mind if others believed that it was an arranged marriage because that was the norm of the upper class. It could even help to get her integrated much faster.
What she did not expect was the hostility brewing between Lord Derby and Colin. The earl stared him down and Colin matched that stare with increasing agitation, which surprised Lavender even further. Colin had always been slow to anger. Already he looked just about ready to tackle Lord Derby to the ground.
“Vincent introduced us,” Lavender cut in. “He thought we would make a nice match and well, I cannot say that I disagree.”
“A nice match?” Colin repeated, not taking his eyes off the earl. “I am yet to see it. Especially since he is yet to respond to my question.”
Lord Derby cocked his head to the side. Lavender didn’t like the look in his eyes. Dark amusement? Annoyance? Anger? Whatever it was, it gave her a bad feeling.
“Why do you care?” Lord Derby asked.
“Because Lavender is my friend. I care about her, which makes me wonder if you are good enough for her.”
“It does not matter if I am.”
“Wha—of course it does!” Colin was shouting now. Others were beginning to look.
Lavender put a hand on his shoulder and fixed a smile on her face. She squeezed his shoulder, forcing him to look at her. “I appreciate your concern, Colin, but there is no need to worry.”
Colin did not look very convinced. “I just think that—”
“My, my, what’s going on here?” Miss Alice Lawrence swept into the conversation like a breath of fresh air. “Lavender, who is this handsome gentleman?”
Lavender could have kissed her for the distraction. Avoiding her now seemed like a foolish idea. Alice had always been good at keeping emotions mellow. “This is my betrothed, Alice,” Lavender responded. “The Earl of Derby.”
“Good day, Lord Derby,” Alice greeted with a proper curtsy. “It is a pleasure to meet you.”
Unlike Lavender, she had a natural ladylike demeanour that made her the queen of their peers. Lavender always emulated her whenever they were out. What came natural to Alice was always an act for Lavender and she admired her friend for it.
Lord Derby only grunted something unintelligible. Lavender tried not to scowl at him. Instead, she stepped in between the two men, forcing more distance between them, and embraced her friend. “This is a wonderful party, Alice. You outdid yourself, as always.”
“I would have done a far better job if I had known you were bringing a guest with you,” Alice said, tucking a stray blond curl behind her ear. She was a gentle beauty, with large brown eyes, honey-blond hair, and a heart-shaped face. Lavender had once envied her beauty when she had been young and insecure. It had been hard being the plain friend standing next to a diamond.
“I wanted to surprise you,” Lavender told her.
“And surprise me you did.” Alice clapped her hands excitedly. “Let us sit and enjoy some tea, shall we? I would love to get to know you a little better, Lord Derby.”
Thankfully, Alice walked off without giving Lord Derby a chance to respond. Lavender would hate to have to think of something else to say when he inevitably didn’t. Colin lingered for a moment before he trailed after Alice as well, leaving Lavender and Lord Derby behind.
“Can you at least pretend like you want to be here?” Lavender whispered to him.
“You’re lucky I am even here.”
That response was enough to frighten Lavender.
Alice chose a small table that was able to seat the four of them along with two men Lavender didn’t know. She made sure that they sat as far away from Colin as possible, not wanting to risk another awkward confrontation.
Introductions were passed around quickly, tea was shared, and it didn’t take long for Lavender to realize that everyone was curious about the earl by her side. She’d expected as much, hadprepared for it. She had not, however, prepared for the question surrounding his bruises.
He was standoffish. He was cold. And as the conversation wore on, he was truly getting on top of her nerves.
Lavender caught three confused glances from Alice who had to be bursting at the seams with the urge to ask why they were getting married. And Lavender didn’t know what to say to her when the time came. Right now, she was beginning to wonder if it would be better to just end this engagement altogether and walk this path by herself.
Just when she thought it couldn’t get any worse, one of the men at the table—Mr. Henderson, Lavender believed—said, “Forgive me, my lord, but this has been bothering me for some time now. Do I know you from somewhere?”
Lord Derby barely glanced at him. His attention was focused on his third glass of wine, looking balefully at him as if he was wishing he had something stronger. “Is that so.”
Sensing another horrible and uncomfortable conversation, Lavender jumped in. “Perhaps you mistake him for someone else, sir,” she said with a lighthearted laugh. “Lord Derby is quite the recluse, you see. He does not partake in society very often.”
