“Yes.” William settled his gaze on Lady Alice. As if she sensed the weight of his eyes, she looked at him, eyes narrowing ever so slightly. He nearly smiled. “I believe it will.”
He held her gaze for a few moments before he looked at the Duke, already coming to a stand. “Thank you for the moment’s rest, Your Grace, but I believe I shall retire to my bedchamber for a short nap.”
“As shall I, Your Grace,” Christopher said, standing alongside him. “Thank you for your kind welcome thus far.”
“Think nothing of it, My Lords,” the Duke responded. To be polite, William suspected, he too stood and offered to lead them out the drawing room. Christopher accepted and bowed kindly at the ladies before taking his leave. William didn’t miss the way his brother’s eyes lingered on Lady Emma, nor did he miss how she blushed.
Lady Alice, on the other hand, was ignoring their retreat. She barely managed a nod at Christopher before he made his way to the door. William hesitated for a moment but she didn’t look at him, as if he was nothing more than fly that didn’t deserve her attention.
With a grin, he nodded his farewell to Lady Emma and followed behind his brother. Just as he was about to slip through the door, he heard Lady Emma whisper behind him, “They are certainly handsome, aren’t they?”
William’s grin widened but he left the room before he could hear Lady Alice’s response.
* * *
“I do not like the Marquess,” Alice stated. Emma gasped at Alice’s words and she looked at her sister, taking in her shocked expression. “Surely that should not come as a surprise to you.”
“It does!” Emma exclaimed. “Did you not see how handsome he is? Why, he might very well be the most beautiful man in all of England.”
“Beauty he may have, but he has a degree of arrogance that makes him quite unlikable.” Alice needed only think on the look he gave her, the way he raked his gaze down the length of her, and the cocky smirk that always seemed to be present. Annoyance sprouted in her at the thought of the Marquess and she could already tell having him here would not be an enjoyable time.
“It seems as if Lord Erlington thinks differently,” Emma murmured. She raised her brows at Alice, her tone suggestive.
“What do you mean by that?” Alice asked, even though she could already guess.
“I didn’t miss the way the Marquess looked at you, you know,” Emma explained. “It seems as if he’s taken quite a liking to you. He could not stop staring at you the entire time we sat for tea, as short as it might have been.”
Alice resisted the urge to roll her eyes. “Unfortunately, Emma, I could not care less.”
“Heavens, with that attitude, it is not wonder Father is so concerned.”
“He need not be. Even if I was open to the idea of marriage, I certainly will not entertain it with someone with such a reputation for breaking ladies’ hearts.”
“You know,” Emma teased, her voice lifting good naturedly, “the same could be said about the cold maiden who has turned down every gentleman who has asked for her hand.”
“The difference is, I did not lead them to think that I was interested in the first place,” Alice explained, even though she knew her sister was only poking fun at her. She didn’t know why she was clarifying her situation, why she was trying so hard to distract herself from what Emma had said about the Marquess staring at her. “It is their own hubris that led to them asking for my hand when I have given them no indication that I wanted to be married to them.”
Emma shook her head with a soft smile, taking Alice’s hand in hers. She stroked Alice’s hand, the same way the late Duchess would do whenever Alice felt down. Alice didn’t think Emma even realized that she’d adopted the habit from their deceased mother, but she took comfort in the act all the same. “My poor Alice,” Emma cooed gently. “It must be quite difficult being in your position.”
“You cannot even begin to imagine,” Alice sighed, playing along. The girls laughed together at that, but it was cut short when someone entered the room.
The Duke of Warington stalked into the drawing room and reclaimed the seat he’d vacated. He looked a tad bit distressed, rubbing the crease between his dark brows. “Alice…” he began.
“I think I will take my leave,” Emma said quickly, rising. She patted Alice once more on her hand before she hurried out the door.
Alice braced herself for what was to come. She knew very well that her behavior had been far too aloof for her father’s liking and she waited, tensed, for the lecture that was to come.
The Duke ran his hand through his hair in an agitated manner. Alice watched as he tried to find his first words, his green eyes leveling on her. “I think you made quite the impression on the Marquess and his brother.”
“I think so as well,” she agreed without hesitation.
“Certainly not the impression I would have liked you to make,” he went on with a weary sigh, “but an impression all the same. I had hoped you would be able to at least hide your displeasure, even if you did not speak much.”
“Whatever do you mean, Father?” Alice tilted her head to the side, blinking innocently. “I believe I did exactly what was expected of me. Unless there was something else you would have liked to happen? Perhaps you would have liked if I had offered to show them around the manor, so that we could all get to know each other a little better?”
“That was exactly what I was thinking!” the Duke exclaimed, sitting up in his chair in an exaggerated manner. He was quite expressive, something Alice loved dearly about him, even if it bothered her right now.
“Forgive me, Father, but I see no reason to do such a thing. I’m certain Emma would be more than willing to do so, however.”
