Was she looking for him?
Why did that make him feel…sanguine? It meant the first step of his plan went better than projected, yet he could not shake the feeling that there was more to it.
“What has gotten you in such a good mood?”
He glanced at his aunt, already posed to answer her question. But then he realised that her attention was on Clarissa. He hadn’t even noticed that his sister had approached.
“Hm?” Clarissa answered absently. She was staring at something, or someone, in the distance. Beatrice’s words must have just sunken in because she blinked rapidly, head swivelling to face her. “I’m not in a good mood,” she protested quickly as her cheeks coloured. “What would make you say that?”
“Perhaps because you have a dreamy look in your eyes,” Michael pointed out. “And you were smiling like a fool.”
“Has one of these gentlemen caught your eye?” Beatrice asked eagerly. She seized Clarissa by the arm, eyes inspecting the guests spread out before her. “Which one is it?”
“It is nothing like that,” Clarissa quickly told her. But she had always been bad at lying. Michael, Beatrice, and Henry all narrowed their eyes in disbelief. She noticed their incredulous stares and, as impossible as it seemed, grew even redder. “It is the truth!”
“It is clear she does not want to talk about him just yet,” Henry chimed in, patting her on the arm. “But when he comes to call on her tomorrow, we shall see him for ourselves.”
“I shall be patient then,” Beatrice said in a tone that implied being patient was the most difficult thing in the world for her to do.
“Do not get your hopes up,” Clarissa sighed. “I do not think it will happen.”
“Oh, so there is someone?” Michael probed. He raised a brow, quelling his humour, when her eyes grew wide.
“No, there is not,” she maintained stubbornly. He nodded slowly, clearly showing her that he did not believe a word she said.
“Oh, do not pretend you are innocent in this.” Beatrice whirled on him. “Who was that lady you were dancing with?”
“Lady Isabella? She is the daughter of the Marquess of Grovington.”
“No, not her. Of course I know who she is. I meant the mysterious copper-haired lady you danced with before Lady Isabella.”
Michael ignored Henry’s eyes boring into him. Clarissa’s as well, for that matter. “She is Lady Elaine.”
“You seemed quite taken by her.”
“It is nothing of the sort.” He knew his aunt would question him like this. He already had a response prepared. “I noticed that she seemed rather lonely and so I thought I would share a dance with her.”
Now Beatrice turned her narrowed eyes of distrust to Michael. “That is uncharacteristically kind of you to do. What was your aim?”
“I only wished to help her relax, that is all. Nothing more to it.”
He supposed he should be alarmed by how easily the lies came to his lips. But he knew Beatrice would not be as accommodating of his plan as Henry and Clarissa. Even though they disapproved of it, they would not stand in his way. Beatrice, on the other hand, would attempt to thwart his every move. Her stubbornness knew no bounds.
Clearly, his lies were not good enough to get her off his scent. She frowned at him and was clearly about to ask something else when a bell rang out and the music came to a stop. Lord Jones went halfway up the stairs and faced the guests to announce that the dinner would now commence.
“Let us go,” Henry told them. “I do not know about you all, but Imyselfam quite famished. And I would like to put a bit of food in my stomach to face the rest of this long night.”
Michael silently agreed. After all, it was nearly time to proceed to the next phase of his plan.
Chapter Seven
“Is something amiss? You have scarcely touched your appetiser, and it is nearly time for the plates to be cleared.”
Elaine blinked, refocusing her attention on her plate. James was right. She’d been pushing around her vegetables for the past few minutes and had not taken a single bite. She made an effort to do so now but it didn’t lift James’ attention from her.
“What is the matter?” he asked again. “Did something happen?”
“Nothing happened,” she assured him, forcing a smile to her face. Elaine realised a second too late that that was the wrong move. The smile was clearly insincere, and she was certain James saw right through it.
