Page 5 of Her Infuriating Earl
“We have… met on a few occasions,” Daniel replied.
Phoebe’s eyes narrowed. “Are you as clumsy with your manners as you are when there is a drink in your hand, or when you are merely walking past a lady? Did you forget that it is proper to ask for permission before dancing with a lady?” She took hold of Joanna’s dance card. “Ah, as I suspected, your name is nowhere to be found!”
“He was being kind, Phoebe,” Joanna insisted. “Lord Blackstone was bothering me, so I threw myself on the generous spirit of this gentleman so that he might save me from another awful conversation about the advantages of cherry wood. Sister, I thought I woulddieof boredom!”
Phoebe did not remove her gaze from Daniel, while he did his very best not to squirm under the ferocity of her exquisite blue eyes. Indeed, he had struck business deals with the most intimidating men in the world without breaking a sweat, so why on earth could he feel perspiration beading when he stood in front of this woman?
“I thought it wise to prove that I do not, in fact, have such giant feet that I cannot take a step without treading on a poor lady’s dress,” he said boldly, swallowing down a nervous snort.
He wondered if she would remember that those were some of the first words that she had ever spoken to him, or if the memory only lingered inhismind.
Phoebe’s cheeks flushed an alarming shade of red, and he immediately regretted being so brazen. Although, the huedidbecome her well, giving the appearance of someone who had just enjoyed a brisk walk on a winter’s day, rather than the look of a woman who might unleash a tirade upon him in a moment.
“I had to wear a tablecloth,” she hissed, the flush speckling her neck. “You… tore it, and you did not replace it, as you promised. You did not replace any of the gowns you ruined.”
Daniel grimaced. “I distinctly recall you saying you did not want me to.”
“No, I said that replacing my gown would do nothing to help me, at the moment in which you ruined it,” Phoebe replied, her eyes like daggers.
For reasons unknown, Daniel laughed. It was a habit he had suffered from since childhood, chuckling whenever he was anxious or surprised. However, he had managed to suppress it as he had grown older and had begun to deal with more important men of business, so it shocked him somewhat that it had come back at the worst possible moment.
“Do you find this amusing, Lord Westyork?” Phoebe asked, her voice a boiling pot on a stove that was about to bubble over.
Daniel fought to regain control of his face, offering her an apologetic look. “I do not, Miss Wilson.” He hesitated. “Although… is it not somewhat entertaining to look back on, now that enough time has passed? One must learn not to take oneself too seriously and enjoy the jests and japes of life.”
“That is what I have been telling her!” Joanna agreed, which only seemed to anger Phoebe more. “But what is this about a tablecloth? Come, you must tell me everything, for I feel as if I am missing a delicious morsel of gossip!”
The tall, scary one who loathed men chose that moment to step in. “Thank you for returning Joanna to us,” she said, not too unkindly. “Now, I think it would be best if you entertained yourself elsewhere. The Marquess will finish dancing with Olivia soon if that is of use to you?”
“Ah, well, in that case, I should wait here so my dear cousin will be sure to find me,” Daniel said, his mouth taking on a mind of its own, refusing to listen to the shouts of “Retreat! Retreat!” that echoed in his head.
Joanna gasped. “You are Evan’s cousin?”
“I am, though, in truth, he is like a brother to me,” Daniel replied, grateful for the change of topic.
“You did not even know this gentleman, yet you dragged him into a dance?” Phoebe chided, her furious gaze still fixed on Daniel. “You see, dear sister,thisis why you wait for permission before dancing at all. You never know what manner of gentleman you might end up dancing with, otherwise.”
Joanna seemed confused. “But if he is already known to you, and is related to Olivia’s husband, does that not make him the perfect partner to dance with? In many ways, you have already been introduced.”
“She has foxed you there, if I may say so,” Daniel remarked, smiling at Phoebe.
She did not smile back. “Butyoudid not know who she was when you danced with her, nor did she know who you were. As such, you might as well have been perfect strangers.” Her breaths were harsh as she took a half step forward. “I recall Olivia telling me that you have decided to stay in England for a while. That can only be for one reason, no?”
“What reason might that be?” Daniel kept his tone light, though her furious expression intrigued him. It was just a dance, after all. Nothing to be angry about.
“You must be pursuing a wife,” she replied. “If that is so, as I suspect it is, might I encourage you to consider ladies who are closer to your own age? It is unseemly for an older gentleman to be seen parading around with a girl. A girl who is barely older than your sister Caroline.”
Daniel laughed, he could not help it. “How old do you think I am?”
“Old enough to know better,” Phoebe replied.
“You see, Miss Wilson”—Daniel turned to address Joanna—“I told you to be wary of the Indian heat. Your sister here clearly thinks I am a withered, old prune, when I do not yet have a single gray hair upon this youthful head of mine.”
Joanna clapped her hands in delight. “You are still a fine plum to me, My Lord.”
“Joanna!” Phoebe warned, visibly exasperated.
“What? You told me I should enjoy myself this evening, and I am,” Joanna replied, grinning. “Indeed, ask Lord Westyork. I have been excellently behaved, so you cannot possibly complain. Perhaps if you were to tell me of this tablecloth incident, I would feel less inclined to jest.”
