Perfect and ladylike Miss Lavender was the one by his side.
Austin didn’t know whether to resent it or to admire it. All he knew was that it was working. More and more people seemed happy to speak with them, some even bold enough to comment on how proper she appeared considering the fact that she was not a titled lady. Lavender took it all with grace and left him very little chance to give his input.
He was so taken by her performance that the answer to his question didn’t dawn on him until they were hours into the party.
Lavender was afraid of the Countess of Lively.
He saw it in the way she trembled when the countess was near, how she began tripping over her words if she was mentioned in conversation. It didn’t look as if she was simply trying to play her cards right and make her move when she was ready. Austin was almost certain that she was terrified of actually making that move.
To test the theory, he made an attempt. To talk, to make suggestions that they move to shadier parts of the gardens. He even began a conversation with a group of gentlemen he did not like—Lord Pemberton included—because they were standing rather close to where Lady Lively sat with the younger ladies fussing over her.
“What are you doing?” Lavender asked him once they had a moment to themselves.
“What do you mean? I am playing along, like you asked me to.”
“Yes, and that is suspicious enough.” She narrowed her eyes at him. It was far more adorable than threatening, Austin thought. “What are you up to?”
“Nothing at all.” Then he saw his chance. Lady Lively had left her table and was making her way over to them. If Lavender saw her, she would bolt. So he put a hand on her shoulder, hoping it would keep her attention on him.
All it did was make her more suspicious. She didn’t pull away but she tilted her head to the side as if she was trying to understand his aim.
“What are you looking at?” she asked, attempting to turn around.
“You,” he said quickly. The hand on her shoulder wasn’t enough. So he brushed his knuckles along her jawline in a far more tender motion than he’d intended.
They both froze. Her eyes went wide, lips parting in shock. Austin never noticed how perfectly they were shaped, her bottom lip slightly fuller than the top. They were the same color as the blush staining her cheeks.
He didn’t remember about the countess making her way to them. Couldn’t remember why he had begun doing this in the first place. All he could think was that the gold flecks in her eyes must not have been there when they first met, because how didn’t he notice it before?
“Miss Lavender Latrice.”
The countess’ voice broke the suspended moment. Lavender gasped quietly, eyes filling bewilderment then betrayal when she realized what he’d done. He watched the mask fall over her face once more before she turned to face the countess.
“Lady Lively.” Lavender curtsied. “It is good to see you again.”
Again?
Lady Lively looked exactly how Austin imagined her. An aging lady with judgmental eyes, thin lips, and graying hair. She didn’t bother to hide the fact that she was looking both Lavender and Austin up and down.
“Yes, I did not expect to see you in such a social setting again,” she responded at last. “And with the Earl of Derby with you as well.”
“Life has quite a way of throwing surprises at you, doesn’t it?” Lavender said with a soft chuckle. Austin could almost believe that she was not nervous at all.
“It does, it does. But a garden party, Miss Lavender? Hopefully you have learned your lesson after the last one.”
Lavender’s smile faltered for a second. “You needn’t worry, my lady.”
“Me? Worried?” The countess laughed behind her fan. “I won’t do such a thing. It is Lord Derby who should be worried. Or perhaps you two are fit for each other, considering his reputation as well.”
Austin was already regretting his plan to force them to interact. “Choice words, my lady,” he said, keeping his voice as civil as he could. “Though rather bold considering you value propriety. I would hate for you to make a fool of yourself.”
Lady Lively was far better at keeping her mask in place than Lavender was. “Oh, heavens, my lord. I was only making reference to something that happened in the past. You see, Miss Lavender, made the silly mistake of telling a gentleman that he had torn a hole in his breeches during a game of croquette when she was last invited to a garden party. You and I both know that it is not becoming of a lady.”
His irritation shot to the sun. “And you,countess—”
“I appreciate your concern for me, my lady,” Lavender cut in. “I won’t make such a silly mistake again.”
“I would hope not. Honestly, I had wondered who would want someone who would make such a comment. But seeing you with the Earl of Derby…”
