Page 72 of Rakes & Reticules
He allowed it because it was easier to bring her along than try to detach himself.
She chattered away with the ladies, their conversations quickly turning to talk about their difficulties in finding a capable modiste. Again? Lord, was there no other topic in her head? She flirted with the gentlemen who all found her dazzling as she showed off her gown. “My modiste says–”
Callum felt his head explode.
His gaze drifted to Amelia with desperate longing for a conversation that would not leave him catatonic.
She had remained seated beside Rosie and a group of Rosie’s old friends, enjoying a cup of tea and not minding that she was the youngest person in that group by about thirty years. James and their uncle now joined Rosie’s circle, James taking a vacated seat beside Amelia.
When Callum glanced again, he saw James and Amelia chatting away like a pair of magpies. What in blazes were they talking about?
“Your Grace,” Dorothea said, tugging on his sleeve to regain his attention. “Is it not shocking?”
“Forgive me, I missed what you said.”
“I asked you about Lord Haroldson and the brazen way he is pursuing Lady Fullbright under her husband’s very nose. Is it not appalling?”
“I try not to stick my nose in other people’s private affairs.”
“Would you be open to private affairs?” one of the ladies in Dorothea’s circle asked quite brazenly.
The ladies around him tittered inanely.
He was not getting drawn into that conversation, so he ignored the question knowing Dorothea and her little circle of followers would move on to chatter about something else since none of them seemed capable of holding a thought for more than a minute unless it had to do with them.
Perhaps he was being harsh in his assessment, but no.
Dorothea’s modiste came up in conversation again.
Shoot me now.
Then one of the ladies dropped her fan.
He bent to scoop it up and return it to her.
He was met with an openly inviting smile. “Here you go, Lady Veronica.”
Her hand wrapped around his a moment before taking it from him, the suggestion unmistakable that she would be willing to wrap her hand around another part of his body if he visited her tonight.
Another lady dropped her lace handkerchief a few minutes later.
Of course, ever the gentleman, he picked it up and handed it over to her. “And here is yours, Lady Margaret.”
She stroked her fingers along his hand in a suggestive manner, and smiled in similar invitation.
He was not going to visit either young lady in her bedchamber.
House parties were notorious for these midnight liaisons, but he was not about to be trapped by any of these supposed diamonds. They would do well enough for themselves in finding a husband, for they knew how to play the game.
Amelia did not even understand there was a game to be played.
He watched her still chatting away with his brother.
Well, his brother was now doing most of the talking.
She was merely smiling and nodding on occasion.
Still, it irked him
