Page 7 of Snowbound with the Earl
“None.”
“But you do have an heir?”
“A cousin in India.”
“Dangerous place, India. Men die of disease there all the time.”
“Lady Dorsey, I didn’t come to volunteer as your latest matchmaking prospect.”
“I would never presume so, my lord. I am only speaking in passing. Miss Halifax comes from a good family, and she’s very pretty. You are in want of a wife. I am simply making observations.”
He wanted to tell her to make her observations to someone else, but that would have been unkind. He did like Lady Dorsey. He did not like being managed. “You are kind to think of me, my lady. Perhaps Lord Jersey or Mr. Turlington would be more amenable,” he suggested, gesturing to where the men were still standing with Lady Bonneville. What the devil were they talking about for so long?
“Oh, I wouldn’t want to pull them away from Lady Bonneville,” Lady Dorsey said. “She looks thoroughly entertained, and after the year she has had, she deserves that. Don’t you agree?”
Graham did agree. Except he wanted to be the one entertaining her.
Three
Noelle was seated acrossfrom the Earl of Evergreen at dinner. This arrangement meant she could not speak to him, but she had a clear view of him speaking to Miss Halifax and Miss Rummage all evening. She, on the other hand, was between Baron Foster and Mr. Turlington. The baron was an amiable man in his middle thirties. She found him easy to converse with. Turlington was also amiable and charming. She knew his type. He was a bit of a rake, though she didn’t think any of the young ladies in attendance need worry he would ruin them. But as a widow, she was a prime target, and as soon as she had entered the drawing room this afternoon, he’d arrowed right for her. He’d been visibly pleased to be seated beside her at dinner.
“I hear there will be charades tonight,” Turlington said when she turned to him after speaking to Lord Foster at length about the weather. “Do you enjoy charades?” he asked.
“I do, though I fear I am not very good at them.”
Across the table, Miss Halifax laughed and covered her mouth at something Evergreen said. The girl blushed whenever a man looked at her, and Evergreen seemed to try to put her at ease. During the hanging of the greenery, he had made a point of asking her opinion when he wrapped evergreen boughs about the banister of the stairway. Now, he was listening intently as she spoke and didn’t seem at all impatient at her awkwardness. She appeared painfully shy, and the earl was kind to attempt to draw her out of her shell.
“My lady?”
Noelle turned suddenly to Turlington. She’d completely forgotten their conversation. “I apologize. What did you say?”
Turlington glanced across the table at Evergreen and Miss Halifax then back at her. “I asked if guessing or giving the clues is more difficult for you.”
“Both, I fear. I do not have the gift of creating clues spontaneously, and I am not skilled at guessing either. You will not want me on your team.”
“Rubbish. If I am given the opportunity to choose, you will be my first pick.”
