“No, that would be too direct,” he said. “You can accept his calls, even have Claire sit with you in the drawing room, if ever. Just…be careful and don’t trust him too much.”
She nodded in agreement. “Is this because you really feel that he is a threat of some sort or is it because Claire seems to be infatuated with him?”
For a moment, Oliver looked so shocked that Lady Suzanna felt inwardly pleased at how she suddenly turned the tables on her brother. She had had a suspicion for some time that her brother had tender feelings for the eldest daughter of the Viscount of Ranhold and she could not believe that she managed to catch him so easily.
She just laughed and stood up, making a show of smoothing her skirts. “Do not fret, brother mine. I will tell Claire to be vigilant but…you really must make things clear on your end.”
“She is family, Suzanna,” he said wearily. “Besides, I do not want to ruin what we already have.”
“Well, if you never rock the boat, how will you ever get to where you want to go?” she asked him pointedly. “I shall leave you now to ponder on that.”
She left the study with a broad grin on her face. She just might admit Lord Draydon, allow him to call upon them regularly, if only to tease her brother more and maybe—just maybe—he would come to his senses.
Yes, the Rowleys felt like family but iftheywere to tie the knot, then they would be a family in every sense of the word.
But first, I have to warn Claire that the object of her affections may not be who he seemed.
Knowing Claire and her stubborn streak, it would be easier said than done. She hoped that the younger girl would see reason, though.
But affairs of the heart are rarely so straightforward.
Lady Suzanna shook her head.
And if Claire is already so invested in Lord Draydon, this might be a particularly messy affair.
Gathering her courage, she raised her hand to knock on the door.
Chapter 9
“Come in.”
Lady Suzanna pushed open the door to find Claire bent over a small, leather-bound notebook, her brown eyes alight with something she could not name. When she saw her, she flushed a little and then shut the notebook, quickly averting her gaze as if she had been caught in the act of something unspeakable.
“Oh, Lady Suzanna. I thought it was Trixie or somebody else,” she flushed.
From all accounts, it would seem that Claire held tender feelings for the Marquess. If she were to warn the younger woman about Lord Draydon, Lady Suzanna was fairly certain she would be met with some amount of protest.
“How have you been finding London, dear heart?” she asked. Perhaps it was better to edge around the topic. If she were to broach the topic carefully, it might serve to cushion the blow.
Claire’s eyes shone with a soft light. “It is everything I have ever dreamed of and more. Everything is so exciting and it seems like there are so many things happening all at once!”
Lady Suzanna smiled gently. “It can be a tad overwhelming.” She paused and studied Claire for a moment. “Which is why you must keep your wits about you. Sometimes, not everything is as bright and wonderful as it seems.”
Claire nodded. “I gathered as much. It is very different from when we were in the country. Everything was much simpler then.”
“And by that, I do not just mean the ladies, dear heart,” she told the younger girl softly. “There are men who would prey on us ladies as well. Men who would pay you compliments and promise you the sun, the moon, and the entire heavens, only to break your heart and leave you ruined.”
“I understand, Lady Suzanna.”
Her brown eyes turned serious for a moment and Lady Suzanna felt relief for a moment that perhaps, this conversation need not be as difficult as she had earlier anticipated.
She patted the shoulder of the younger girl gently and smiled softly at her. “In that case, I need not worry overmuch. You have a good head on your shoulders, Claire. I would just want you to be more careful around the Marquess of Draydon. There is an air about him that I cannot explain but in my experience, it is best to keep your distance of such men.”
“You do not say!” Claire gasped. “But he is an absolute gentleman and the most proper of all the lords I have known!”
The swiftness with which Claire reacted to her words astounded her. She could see the fierce refusal to believe in those clear brown eyes.
It would seem that it might be more difficult to convince her of the matter.
