As he approached, Clarissa’s eyes fell on him and her smile fell, laughter dying on her lips. She narrowed her eyes at him but Michael paid her no mind. His attention was on the auburn-haired beauty who stood beside her, who didn’t seem to know where to put her gaze.
“Lady Elaine,” he greeted smoothly. “I’ve come to whisk you away.”
“She is mine for the remainder of the evening,” Clarissa asserted, possessively clasping Lady Elaine’s arm. “Isn’t that right, Elaine?”
“I was not aware I was something to be had,” Lady Elaine murmured, rather bemused.
Michael coughed to hold back his laughter at his sister’s shock.
“Elaine!” Clarissa gasped. “I thought we’d become quite close already. What a shame.”
The stupefied expression on Lady Elaine’s face only made it that much more entertaining. Holding back the rest of his laughter, Michael said, “Clarissa, I believe Uncle Henry is looking for you. Something about accepting a proposal on your behalf?”
“What?” Clarissa gasped. She pulled away from Lady Elaine immediately. “How could he?”
And she was off. Michael marvelled for a moment at how little things had changed since their youth. Clarissa was as easy to fool as before.
“Is that true?”
Lady Elaine’s soft voice brought his attention back to her. He supposed it would be more mannerable to stand by her side and face the room, rather than have his back to it, but he was quite liking pretending no one else existed in here but them. That way he could focus on ensuring he gained her trust.
“Is what true?” he asked.
She stared up at him with wide, innocent eyes. “Is your uncle Henry truly going to accept a proposal on her behalf?”
For a moment, Michael could only stare at her. And then he chuckled. “You are aseasy to fool as my sister.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“I thought it was rather obvious that it was a ploy for her to leave us be.”
The indignation that filled her eyes for a brief moment fizzled away. “Oh. I see. I suppose I should have noticed that from the beginning.”
“Don’t worry about it. It is not your fault you’re so gullible.”
“I am not gullible,” she protested easily, making Michael raise a brow at her. “Need I remind you that I only met you and Clarissa just this evening and I do not know your Uncle Henry. For all I know, such a scenario could be entirely possible.”
“Gullible and feisty,” he observed. “Quite the combination. But I must say, my lady, I am very upset with you.”
Again, her eyes widened. No matter how many times he witnessed it himself, Michael couldn’t believe how much of her emotions she displayed on her face. Like she’d opened a window to her inner thoughts. “Upset with me? Whatever for?”
“You have already grown so close with Clarissa that you call her by her given name. I did meet you first.”
“But you are a duke.”
“So?”
“So you should be referred to as such.”
“Then what was the purpose of my given name?”
“For close family and friends, of course. Which I am not.”
“Oh!” He clutched his chest, grinning devilishly. “Another blow to the heart. I do not think I will be able to survive another, my lady.”
Lady Elaine’s lips twitched. He could tell she was trying her hardest to remain serious. “You jest, Your Grace, but I am required to maintain the utmost propriety and manners.”
“Says who?”
