The young viscount’s face brightened considerably. “Brilliant strategy, Aunt Samantha! I shall be the very picture of attentive inquiry.”
Ewan’s eyes met hers across the carriage, and held, and for a moment, Samantha almost forgot that she was still a bit angry at him. The moment passed quickly, though, and she looked away, cursing the way her cheeks warmed.
The Kirkleigh townhouse blazed with light, its windows casting golden rectangles onto the cobblestones as their carriage joined the queue of elegant vehicles.
Samantha’s pulse quickened as Ewan handed her down, his gloved fingers warm against hers even through the layers of fabric.
“Remember,” he murmured close to her ear as they climbed the steps, “we are the picture of conjugal contentment.”
The words sent an unwelcome shiver down her spine, though whether from the intimate tone or the reminder of their pretense, she couldn’t say.
“Samantha!” Jane’s voice rang out the moment they entered the drawing room, her sister practically glowing in a confection of pale blue silk. “Oh, how wonderful that you’re here!”
“Jane, you look absolutely enchanting,” Samantha replied warmly, embracing her sister while trying to ignore the way Ewan’s presence at her elbow made her skin tingle with awareness.
“Uncle William insisted on this gown,” Jane confided with a giggle. “He said the blue brings out my eyes.”
“Your uncle has excellent taste,” Ewan said smoothly, bowing over Jane’s gloved hand with practiced charm.
“Your Grace is too kind,” Jane replied, though her cheeks pinked prettily at the compliment. “I do hope you’re finding London agreeable?”
“Quite agreeable, particularly in such lovely company,” Ewan replied, and Samantha felt an unwelcome stab of something that might have been jealousy at his easy gallantry with her sister.
“Ewan! There you are, old man.”
Samantha turned to see Lord Tenwick approaching, his face wreathed in good humor as he clasped Ewan’s shoulder in greeting.
“Tenwick,” Ewan replied, and she noted how his entire demeanor lightened at his friend’s presence. “I wondered when you’d surface.”
“Been terribly busy with estate matters, I’m afraid. Dreadfully dull stuff.” The Marquess’ warm brown eyes crinkled at the corners as he turned to Samantha. “Your Grace, how delightful to see you again. Marriage clearly agrees with you.”
Samantha found it rather ironic how everyone kept saying that when the opposite was truly the case. Well, she supposed they were half right; marriage did agree with her. It was just that her rake of a husband certainly did not, on the important matters.
“Thank you, Lord Tenwick,” she replied, then noticed Jane watching the exchange with curious interest. “Jane, may I present Ralph Kennington, Marquess of Tenwick? Lord Tenwick, my sister, Lady Jane Brennan.”
Ralph’s bow was elegantly executed, but Samantha caught the way his eyes lingered on Jane’s face as he straightened. “Lady Jane, the pleasure is entirely mine.”
“Lord Tenwick,” Jane replied softly, her usual vivacity replaced by an unusual shyness that made Samantha’s eyebrows rise. “I… that is, I’m very pleased to make your acquaintance.”
“The pleasure is mutual, I assure you,” The Marquess said, his voice gentler than Samantha had ever heard it. “I don’t suppose you’d care for some refreshment? The evening is rather warm.”
“That would be lovely,” Jane murmured, her cheeks coloring delicately as Lord Tenwick offered his arm.
Samantha watched them move toward the refreshment table, noting the careful attention the Marquess paid to Jane’s every word and the way her sister’s face glowed under his regard.
Oh dear. She could already see the hearts in her sister’s eyes. She spared a glance at Percy, but the young viscount was hardly paying them any attention, already trying to strike up conversation with his peers. It was just as well that the young man was quick to find interests in other things. Otherwise, this would have been a disaster in the making.
“Interesting,” Ewan observed quietly beside her.
It truly was, indeed, but Samantha could not stop herself from questioning him still. “What’s interesting?”
“Ralph’s never shown the slightest interest in debutantes before. Usually, he finds them tiresome.” Her husband said, his words coming out in a drawl.
“Perhaps he simply recognizes quality when he sees it,” Samantha replied, a note of defensiveness creeping into her voice.
“Perhaps,” Ewan agreed, though something in his tone suggested he found the development amusing rather than concerning.
“Ah, Your Grace, there you are,” Uncle William approached, slightly out of breath. “Lord Pemberton was just asking about your thoughts on the new agricultural reforms. Seems there’s quite a discussion brewing in the library.”
