Claire frowned when she noted the strange gleam in his eyes when he regarded the duke’s sister but it was gone before she could make more of it.
As always, the Marquess of Draydon carried himself in a most proper way, although his acerbic wit still shone through on occasion. He did not overstay his visit, either, and left at an appropriate time.
She sensed that there was something afoot but she could not put a finger on it.
* * *
Oliver scowled at the sight of the carriage that had just left the vicinity of his front door. Fortunately, it had not overstayed its presence the way it did with its previous visits.
“You have locked yourself up in the study all afternoon,” his sister’s melodious voice wafted into his study. “Pray tell, do you intend to live out your life in this manner?”
There was a teasing lilt to it but he was not blind to the concern shining in her eyes.
He sighed and sat down. “It irks me to no end to see him calling on Claire.”
“How did you know he was calling on Claire?”
“I…don’t know.” He looked at his sister guiltily. “Perhaps I am overreacting?”
She laughed gently and sat on the chair across him. “Well, Claire is indeed an attractive young lady, with a good reputation, and is the eldest daughter of a Viscount with some fortune. Although the true extent of her inheritance is yet to stir the gossip mill, she is already considered highly in the marriage mart.”
“You do not need to remind me of that fact,” he grimaced.
“I will remind you until you find the courage in yourself to admit to her that you wish to marry her yourself.”
Oliver startled at the frankness of his sister but recovered almost immediately. “I have known her since she was a young girl. It is only natural that I have some fondness for her.”
“Far more than you have for any other young lady we have ever encountered,” his sister pointed out to him. “And as your sister, I have not been lavished the same amount of attention and care you have given Claire.”
“But her father just died!”
“My dear brother,” she pointed out, “you are trying to debate with me on something we all know the answer to already.”
Oliver threw his hands up in surrender. “Then whatever is this discussion for?”
“Well, for one thing, I have noticed that the Marquess was paying particular attention to Claire this afternoon,” she remarked dryly. “And it was not merely to extend his deepest sympathies for her loss.”
“I have figured out as much. He was regarding her rather oddly when I came upon them last night.”
“Well, it seems that Claire is mostly unaware of it,” she shrugged.
“Maybe it is time thatIbe the one to tell her about the Marquess,” Oliver suggested.
Lady Suzanna shook her head. “Claire is exceedingly stubborn and youknowwhat will happen if we attempt to steer her in one direction—we might very well succeed in pushing her into Lord Draydon’s arms.”
“Well, what do you suggest we do?” he asked, despair seeping into his tone. “I might consider losing her to a man who would treat her well. I cannot be sure that the Marquess is that man.”
“In that case,” his sister smiled mischievously, “we need a distraction.”
“How are we supposed to achieve that?” he asked.
“Quite simple, brother of mine. We simply accept more callers into our home.”
Oliver balked. “That sounds absolutely horrendous.”
“It does, doesn’t it?” she mused. “But if we let Lord Draydon monopolize our Claire’s attentions, then we are actually doing him a favor. Unless, of course, you decide that it is not worth hanging on to…whatever reason you are hanging on to.”
“Very well, then,” he snapped. “We can open our house to more guests, if need be.”
