Page 21 of The Duke's Stolen Heart
“I wish I felt half so confident as you do, Toni. Perhaps if I did this season wouldn’t be such an incredible disast—” Margaret spoke in a rush. Her lips clamped closed as the tall man strode into the parlor. Instant annoyance shot through Antonia. Havencrest didn’t own the entire world. He just acted like it.
“Miss Lowry, forgive my intrusion, I have—”
Antonia sank into a deep curtsey. “I understand, your lordship.”
That brought him up short. “You do?”
“Indeed. Any man can be forgiven for seeking the company of a lovely woman like Lady Margaret.” Antonia grinned widely and curtsied again. Like all the best ideas, this one had popped into her head fully formed. All she needed was a few moments to tell him the details of his and Lady Margaret’s impending engagement.
Margaret’s wide eyes turned pleading. Antonia winked.Trust me.Always a terrible idea, but Antonia prided herself on possessing no shame whatsoever.
“I am not here for Lady Margaret,” Havencrest replied with a bewildered scowl.
Lady Evendaw arrived. “I hope I am not interrupting?”
“Not at all, my lady,” Antonia curtseyed and gave the countess a wide, winning grin. “I recall you have commented on the unseemly spate of communications between myself and the Duke over the past several weeks. I am pleased to inform you that I have played intermediary between your sister-in-law and Lord Havencrest. Today marks his first, formal visit.”
Three people regarded her with varying degrees of suspicion.
Antonia waited. Havencrest’s glower deepened. Margaret looked faint from shock. After moment however she recovered and edge closer to the tall man. They eyed one another warily. An unspoken pact passed between them.
“Is it true?” Lady Evendaw demanded. She looked to Havencrest for confirmation.
“Yes.” he said simply.
“You might have approached us directly,” the lady chided. “We do not bite.”
Antonia’s mind flickered with inappropriate images of sinking her teeth into Havencrest bottom lip just hard enough for him to feel it. She swallowed. Alternatively, nipping her way along the edge of his jaw as he hiked her skirts around her waist to explore—
Stop. It.She inhaled and rummage her mind for the right word to describe this twisty, sinking sensation. Jealousy, that was it. Antonia had not anticipated envying her friend’s fake courtship. It came out of nowhere, like the time a bird had flown out of the bush and briefly become tangled in her hair. Only this time Antonia could not scream and flail her hands until the creature escaped. She had to stand here and wallow in the strange hollowness of her feelings.
“I was unsure of my welcome. As Miss Lowry is an independent minded woman, I asked her to play intermediary. I do not wish to press my suit where it is not wanted. Whether by Lady Margaret or by you and the earl, Lady Evendaw.”
“I assure you it is most, utterly, welcome,” the countess replied with a breathy laugh. “Miss Lowry has been such a good companion to Margaret.”
Antonia recovered her composure for long enough to execute a curtsy. When she rose, Margaret had steel in her blue eyes.Later, Antonia mouthed. The countess was too busy fawning over Havencrest to do more than glare at her.
“I suppose that means we shall see you at Almack’s Assembly rooms on Wednesday,” the lady was saying. Antonia bit back a smile at the pain look at crossed Havencrest’s features.
“I look forward to our first waltz,” Margaret said demurely. She, too, bobbed a curtsy. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I find myself still easily tired from my ague last week.”
Lady Evendaw appeared flustered by her sister-in-law’s abrupt departure. Antonia hoped it was a sign of rebellion to come. “I’ll be going as well,” she said, sidling toward the door.
“If you would wait just one moment. I thank you for your warm reception, Lady Evendaw. Might I speak privately with Miss Lowry for a few moments to express my appreciation for her assistance in bringing me and Margaret together?”
Uh-oh. Antonia halted mid-step. The countess looked taken aback, but her pleasure at prospect of getting her sister-in-law so admirably settled in life made her generous. “Certainly. I shall leave you.”
To Antonia’s great disappointment she even closed the door nearly all the way.
