Page 13 of The Wallflower's Choice
Chapter Six
“You did not introduce her to me as you had said.”
James scowled and waved a hand vaguely.
“It was very busy and I was caught up in another matter.”
Lord Kingshill rolled his eyes.
“Might it be that you hadcaughtsomeone up in your arms, forcing me to resign myself to an evening of loneliness?”
Scoffing at this as they walked through Hyde Park, James shook his head.
“I know very well that you would not have been lonely, not in the least.”
“Well, I suppose not,” Lord Kingshill admitted, though his smile did not return as James had expected. “But that does not mean that I am not disappointed.”
“I am sure that you are.”
“I do hope,” Lord Kingshill continued, turning to look at James and coming to a stop as they walked, “that you have no intention of keeping the lady from me. Or that you have entirely made up the situation so that I will not fret about my lack of a wife?”
James shook his head.
“I assure you, I have not. I merely became a little distracted yesterday, that was all.” He looked back at Lord Kingshill’s face, speaking honestly. “I told the lady that I intended to introduce you. I even gave her your title so that she knows who it is that she is to be introduced to!”
Lord Kingshill began to walk again, seemingly placated by what James had told him.
“Very well.”
“Good.”
James ambled onwards, keeping a smile on his face, and doing his utmost not to linger on the strange tug of his heart which had bothered him a great deal the previous evening. The dance with Lady Prudence had been solely to speak to her privately about why she was a wallflower – an answer she had somewhat reluctantly given – but something about the flash in her green eyes and the touch of pink in her cheeks had given him pause. Disliking that feeling and the awareness that came with it, he had hurried away and had left her standing beside her mother, thinking that the sooner he moved away from the lady, the better it would be.
That had not proven itself to be the case, however. He had walked through the ballroom, looking for some young lady with whom he might dance, tease, and laugh, but his thoughts had been filled with nothing other than Lady Prudence. It had been very odd and, as he had continued to wander around the ballroom, James had found himself somewhat frustrated that he had not been able to remove such thoughts of her from his mind. He had told Lord Kingshill that he had simply been interested in another young lady and had not then been able to find Lady Prudence to bring her to him, but the truth was, he had ignored his responsibility and had set his mind to other things. He had not wanted to be back in company with Lady Prudence, had not wanted to evenglanceat her, in case another look from hergreen eyes would give him pause and thus, the evening had come to an end without him making the introductions.
“Did she ask anything else about me?”
James looked at his friend, having been lost in his thoughts for some time.
“I beg your pardon?”
“Did she ask anything about me?” Lord Kingshill said again. “This Lady Prudence, did she ask about my title, my social standing, my reputation?”
Chuckling, James shook his head.
“No, she did not. Have no fear, my friend, even if she had done, I would not have told her about your roguish reputation.”
A look of relief passed over Lord Kingshill’s face.
“Though she is going to find out at some point,” James continued, making Lord Kingshill’s eyes shadow again. “You will not be able to keep her from that until your wedding day, I can assure you.”
“Hmm.” Lord Kingshill rubbed his chin with one hand, his eyes slanting away from James. “That is a consideration.”
“Though she is eager to makeanymatch,” James reminded him. “I am sure that your reputation will not make any difference to her.”
Lord Kingshill nodded slowly, then frowned.
“I should be introduced to her just as soon as can be arranged,” he said, firmly. “There is no need to delay. I confess that I find myself eager to be free again within society, albeit with a betrothal clinging to me!”
