The stranger’s gaze had fixed on James; he nodded as James glanced his way. “Hemmings.”
A light, social smile on his lips, one that told Therese absolutely nothing, James inclined his head. “Child.”
Therese blinked and looked again at the stranger.Child?Her mind raced, assembling everything she knew about the noble family who held the Duchy of Ancaster and whose principal seat bordered that of the earldom of Alverton.
As if aware of her scrutiny and the reasons behind it, Child threw a faintly amused look her way as he said, clearly speaking to Hemmings, “Perhaps, old son, you might do the honors and introduce me.”
“Of course.” Smoothly, James named those in the circle, commencing with Therese, then Veronica, and continuing until he reached Child and said, “Allow me to present Lord Grayson Child.”
Various bells clanged in Therese’s head.
Child exchanged nods with the gentlemen and half bowed to Veronica and the other two ladies, then turned the full force of his undoubted charm on Therese and bowed with a touch more deference. “Countess.”
Therese smiled serenely and gave him her hand. As he took it and bowed again, she said, “I’m acquainted with your parents.”
Child straightened a fraction more quickly than elegance dictated.
Before he could decide how to reply, she arched her brows. “Am I to take it the prodigal son has returned?”
Veronica was listening, as was James. The rest of the circle had started chatting about something else.
Child assumed an easy, self-deprecating smile. “I’m not sure I warrant the label of prodigal. I merely departed for greener pastures, and after several years spent in America, I decided it was time to return.” He glanced around. “I have to say that, despite my lengthy absence, I’m relieved to discover that I still feel quite at home in this milieu.”
Therese returned his smile. “How reassuring for you. I have to admit I’m quite curious as to what prompted your departure. It was, if memory serves, more than a mere ‘several years’ ago.”
Having had it confirmed which Child he was, she was intrigued. Grayson Child had been Devlin’s closest childhood friend. As noble neighbors of the same age, the pair had grown up together, attended Eton together, and subsequently gone to Oxford, although there, they’d attended different colleges and, she understood, had drifted apart. James and Cedric Marshall, now Devlin’s closest friends, had been at Eton, too, and had attended Balliol alongside Devlin.
“Well,” Child allowed, “I suppose it was…” His brows rose as if he was calculating, then he looked faintly surprised. “Nine years ago.”
That explained why Therese had never met him; she’d still been in the schoolroom nine years ago.
“And you’ve been in America for all those years?” She recalled whispers that Child’s and Devlin’s rivalry had been intense and had extended into their twenties, through the years they’d spent as well-heeled bachelors on the town; she could imagine how such a rivalry might have played out.
Child focused on her face, a hint of wariness sliding behind his eyes. “More or less.”
“What drew you there?” She kept her tone light, couching her questions as if they were merely the usual social exchange. “Given you remained for so long, presumably you found much to hold your interest.”
He paused for a second, then smiled, overtly charming once again. “As to what drew me there, that’s easily answered—adventure and the promise of a sort of excitement quite different to what one finds here. As to what I found of interest, in a country blazing so many new frontiers, there was always some new venture afoot, and I discovered I thrived on a diet of fresh challenges.”
The last words were said with an undercurrent of meaning that Therese pretended not to hear.
But before she could respond and tease out more information, Child glibly inquired, “Speaking of challenges, I see you’ve taken on the role of Devlin’s countess.”
Therese wasn’t about to discuss her marriage, not in any fashion, with a gentleman who might still see himself as her husband’s rival. “Indeed,” she replied repressively, then continued in social vein, “The duke and duchess must have been delighted to welcome you home. Did you find them well?”
With her gaze fixed on Child’s face, she caught the momentary flash of chagrin before he hid it behind a faintly bored mask.
“I have to admit,” he said, “that I’ve only just arrived in the country, and although I did travel to Ancaster Park, my parents are away in Scotland, so the fatted calf has yet to be slain.”
“And you returned to town?” Therese widened her eyes. “Given the season and your years overseas, I would have thought you might have indulged in some country pursuits—for instance, some shooting and hunting.”
She all but saw the notion of saying he was, in fact, hunting pass through his mind. She leapt in to suggest, “But perhaps the exhibits at the Crystal Palace lured you back to town?”
A slight widening of his eyes told her that she’d guessed aright even before he inclined his head. “Just so. It seemed foolish to pass up the opportunity to assess what new ideas the world has to offer. Prince Albert is to be commended for backing such an undertaking.”
“Were there any exhibits you found of especial interest?” Therese was fairly certain Devlin would be interested in knowing. James was listening avidly, too.
Looking faintly harassed, Child opened his mouth, then his gaze went past Therese, and he paused. A second later, a smile of genuine delight curved his lips. “Devlin’s just arrived.”
