Page 59 of The Viscount and the Vicar's Daughter
Was he supposed to find her enticing? Perhaps he might have if his brain wasn’t already filled with thoughts of Viola.
Lady Charlotte was a petite blonde with emerald green eyes. She could best be described as cute as a button. To his irritation, she played up her little girl looks and squeaky, baby voice that seemed enchanting to the other men gathered in the parlor. Alexander just wanted to stick a finger down his throat and cast up his last meal.
He made a lame excuse in order to step out of the parlor and calm down.
The weekend was going to be a complete waste of time. He already knew he could never fall in love with any of these girls.
He groaned as he heard thethuck, thuck, thuckof Lady Withnall’s cane behind him.
He turned to face the little crone. “I suppose you and my grandmother knew this would happen.”
“What? That you would find all of them lacking?” She shrugged. “Yes, we suspected these diamonds were not right for you. But it was important for you to find this out for yourself. They are among the best of this year’s crop. Not a particularly good year, if you want my opinion.”
He raked a hand through his hair. “Actually, I would appreciate your opinion. No one knows London society as well as you do.”
“No, dear boy. It is not for me to tell you who is right for you. You are a grown man and can make your own decisions.”
“Apparently not,” he said with a grunting laugh.
The dinner bell rang, so he offered his arm to Lady Withnall and escorted her into the dining room, seating her beside him at the table. His chair was at the head of the table with his father anchoring the other end. The seating was informal, the chart of who was to sit where designed by Viola, but only after obtaining the approval of his mother and grandmother.
This was the sort of thing Viola refused to leave to chance, so he had not put up a fuss when she insisted he include her seating charts in his correspondence. For this reason, he was not surprised to find Lady Charlotte, daughter of Duke Nevins, seated next to him.
She giggled and cooed as she settled in beside him.
He tried not to look pained.
But he had to glance away when she began to bat her eyes at him and make baby gurgling sounds.
At first, he thought she might be choking.
But no, she was merely flirting with him.
Lady Withnall grinned as she stared at him.Utter peahen, she mouthed and then rolled her eyes.
The only bright spot in the evening was Viola’s menu which started with a simple onion soup that tasted better than any he’d ever had before. How in the name of heaven did she coax such flavors out of a simple onion? He glanced across the table and grinned at his father who was too busy slurping his soup to look up from his bowl.
He turned to Lady Withnall who seemed lost in her thoughts as she slowly savored each spoonful. “Delicious, isn’t it?” he commented.
“Indeed. Quite impressive.”
The soup course was followed by a splendid array of main courses, a lamb simmering in its own juices and a honey glazed game fowl that tasted so good, he ate it down to the bone. The vegetables accompanying these meats were fresh from his conservatory garden.
He felt a quiet pride for Viola as the expected compliments began to be muttered, the first coming from Duke Nevins. “You surprise me, Ardley. I did not expect this quality from a simple country cook.”
His friends, Lord Hythe and Lord Chesterfield, asked for a second serving of everything. So did Gabriel and Graelem. “Laddie,” his cousin, Graelem, said, “I think you will never be rid of us if all the meals are prepared as fine as this.”
His grandmother, who no doubt had been privy to his father’s constant ranting about his attention to Viola, eyed him curiously.
The desserts were equally glorious, putting everyone in fine spirits for the evening activities. Lady Alicia regaled them with a musical recital, her voice surprisingly pleasant, although he ought to have realized the sultriness in her speaking voice would translate nicely to singing.
His gentlemen guests were enthralled and declared her bewitching.
He ought to have felt the same, but there was a certain smugness to her manner that put him off. However, he cheered and complimented her along with everyone else.
Afterward everyone moved to the card tables Greaves had set out for them and they all settled in for rounds of whist. Alexander partnered his grandmother, the two of them teamed against Gabriel and Daisy.
Eachtondiamond sat at a different table. Although he did not plan it, each diamond was partnered by an eligible bachelor. He was not surprised to find Lady Aurora’s brother, Lord Gaston, teamed with Lady Charlotte and outrageously fawning over her.
