Had someone else been unkind to Lady Eugenia? That might explain why Lady Esther had been so fiercely protective.
There was a part of him that wanted to ask. But he knew, perhaps better than anyone else here, how unpleasant it could be to have your affairs pried into by a virtual stranger.
But understanding these details made him admire Lady Esther all the more. Whatever was behind her rudeness, it wasn’t simply that she was an unpleasant person who was afraid to show her true character in his presence.
She’s defensive of her cousin. That’s what it is. And that’s more important to her than impressing me is.
He wondered whether any young lady he had met, in all the time he had been attending these events, would have been able to claim the same.
Of course, he still didn’t believe she knew who he was. Maybe things would be different if she did.
Well, Lady Eugenia will tell her. She obviously knows who I am.
He gave them another bow. “Ladies,” he said. “It was a pleasure to meet you both.” There had been no formal introductions, of course, but he wasn’t going to offer any now. “I hope you enjoy the rest of your evening,” he said. “I should really return to my friend.”
WhereisCharles, anyway?
“It was lovely to meet you, too!” Lady Eugenia called out as he turned away, and then clapped a hand to her mouth as if embarrassed at her own enthusiasm.
If only I could tell her that, compared to many of the ladies I meet, she’s downright calm!
He turned and walked away from them. He was tempted to look back, to see if they were watching him go, and if so, what the expression on Lady Esther’s face was, but he forced himself not to.
It wasn’t until he rounded the corner that he remembered Lady Catherine was still out in the garden as well.
She came face to face with him, though she didn’t actually collide with him as Lady Esther had. “Your Grace!” she said. “I’d hoped you would come back this way!”
You’d hoped?
This way was the only path that led back into the ballroom, unless one was to leave the gardens altogether, go around the side of the Manor, and enter through the front door. Lady Catherine had known that he would be back, and she had waited for him.
Devilish lady!
“If you’ll excuse me, My Lady,” he said, an idea springing to his mind. He showed her the stain on his shirt. “I must go and try to get this dried off a bit.”
She gasped. “What on Earth happened, Your Grace?”
“Nothing of import. A slip of the hand.” He smiled. “Clumsiness affects us all.”
“You must let me help you.” She hurried to his side and tried to take his arm.
He stepped away quickly. “Not at all, Lady Catherine. Please, go and enjoy the ball. I wouldn’t hear of you missing the fun on my account. I’ll return in due course.”
She looked at him doubtfully.
“I insist,” he said. “I’ll just be a few moments.”
He hated the implied promise in his words—that he would be coming back toherin a few moments. But he didn’t wish to be followed.
And then, as he made his way toward the doors leading into the ballroom, he saw Charles, leaning against the exterior wall of the Manor with a drink in his hand.
Finally, someone I can talk to without worrying about their motives!
He hurried over to his friend, knowing that Charles would be eager to hear how the Season’s first event had been treating Hugh so far.
At least I can say it’s been more interesting than I expected!
Chapter 9
