Page 79 of The Viscount and the Vicar's Daughter
Quite the opposite, everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves immensely.
Lady Aurora was engaged in conversation with Duke Nevins and his son. The young marquess was unable to take his eyes off her. Lady Charlotte was also in her glory, batting baby eyes at Lord Hythe and Lord Gaston who were tripping over themselves to attend to her slightest request, just as Horace had earlier reported.
Viola ducked into the shadows when Lord Ardley’s brother glanced over. Had he noticed her? Would he say something to Lord Ardley?
Drat.
Since she did not wish to retreat back inside yet, she hurried down the terrace steps into the garden. The night was beautiful and she had worked hard to make this final feast one of her best ever. Did she not deserve a little respite?
She settled on one of the benches in a far corner of the garden, hopefully out of sight of anyone who might stroll by. The night was clear and filled with stars. The scent of lilacs lingered in the cooling air. Sighing, she took off her mobcap and tucked it into the ties of her apron as she absently watched the stars. They seemed quite bright and twinkling, and the moon appeared quite silver tonight.
A perfect night for romance.
Not that she would ever be so fortunate as to be swept in a man’s arms on such an evening. Besides, the only man in whose arms she wished to be swept was Lord Ardley, and she was upset with him right now.
Had he taken Lady Alicia to his bedchamber?
“Gabriel thought he saw you sneaking around outside,” the villain himself said with irritating cheer as he settled his large, muscled frame beside her.
Well, he wasn’t really a villain according to Greaves.
And how could she not notice how beautifully formed his body was after Sally had gone on and on about its magnificence?
“My lord, shouldn’t you be with your company?” She was tense and her words came out clipped and sounding quite peckish.
“No, Viola. I should be with you because you are obviously in a snit over what you think happened yesterday.”
She tipped her chin into the air. “It is none of my business. Frankly, I do not care what you choose to do with yourtonladies.”
“For the record, I did nothing. The incident was staged by Lady Alicia and her parents. Do you really believe I would have any interest in her?”
She let out a long breath. “I have no idea what to believe. You didn’t have any clothes on and hers were all disheveled.”
“Amazing how word gets around.” He shook his head and laughed. “She did that to herself, all part of setting me up as the dupe. Mine were off because I had ordered a tub brought up after that badminton game. Speaking of which, thank you for that cake tonight. The four of us had a good chuckle over it. How did you manage to make that net? We all enjoyed it immensely.”
“I’m glad you liked it. We call it a tennis cake, but I shaped the rackets to look more like badminton rackets. The netting is made out of sugar.” She cleared her throat. “But Lady Alicia…”
“Ah, her. Still not convinced of my innocence? She must have waited for my valet to leave my quarters to arrange for the tub, then crept in. I can only imagine her delight when she caught me undressed.”
“So you did not invite her in?”
“Lord, no,” he said with a groan that sounded quite agonized. “Upon my word, the entire incident was staged by her and her parents. Rather poorly contrived, I must say. Although it was dumb luck on her part that she caught me in that state of dress…or rather…undressed as I was. I assure you, there is not enough gold in the world her family could have offered to entice me into marrying her. But the incident has upset you.”
“I hardly matter. Hasn’t it upset you?”
He nodded. “Yes, and I am still seething over it. But I blame myself for letting my guard down. I knew something like this would happen. I should have been prepared.”
“What do you think will happen next?”
He leaned forward and rested his arms on his thighs. “Nothing. No one is going to believe them after Lady Withnall steps in to defend me. Not that I want or need her help. But she is a gossip and this is just too juicy for her to pass up, especially since she was there. I can assure you, if I had been guilty of seducing the girl, that little harridan would have been the first to hammer the nails into my coffin. She is feared because she always ferrets out the truth. I don’t know what Simmons was thinking to have her and my grandmother present.”
“Hoping to shame you in front of them, no doubt.”
He shrugged. “Even if all of them believed I had behaved like a fiend, where would it get them? I knew the truth, that I hadn’t done anything to her. They had to realize I was never going to marry her no matter how much pressure they applied.”
“I see.”
“You look at me as though I am an ogre. Why, Viola?”
