Page 16 of The Duke of Distraction
“I’m only doing it this one time,” he said firmly.
George pressed her lips together and nodded.“Mmm.”
“Help me think of bachelors to invite.”
George laughed.“As if I’m acquainted with any of them in your circle.”
She had a point, but he grumbled anyway.“You take care of everything.”
“True, but I can’t take care of this.The Brixcombe ball is in a few days.Surely that is a good place to find eligible bachelors.”
So was the club.Felix had only to pay attention.“I’ll rely on that if necessary.In the meantime, I’ll look at the club later.”
“Should I draft an advertisement to place in the newspaper?”George possessed a fair amount of cheek.
“Yes, let’s proclaim to all of London that Miss Colton is looking for a husband, and I’m to find him for her.”He shook his head, half smiling.
“Always happy to be of service,” George said, rising from her chair.“Is there anything else?”
He shook his head, and she left.
Felix leaned back in his chair and stared at the empty doorway, his mind going back to earlier at the Coltons.He’d been shocked as hell when her father had suggested Felix marry Sarah, but he probably should have seen it coming.He’d known their family for years, and since both he and Sarah were not yet wed, it made sense.
Except it didn’t.
She wanted to fall in love, and he wanted to stay as far away from that emotion as possible.It had brought nothing but grief to his family, and he’d no wish to suffer its pain and disappointment.
She also wanted to sell hats.Secretly.This made him smile.Whomever she chose to marry would have to support that.Or she could remain unmarried, an option that didn’t seem distasteful to her.She was, he realized, a unique and special woman.
Sarah was going to make some man blissfully happy.
“There’s a new gentleman here tonight,” Lavinia said, prompting Sarah to scan the Brixcombes’ ballroom.
“How did you hear this?”Sarah had just arrived with her mother and had left her to join Lavinia in their favorite position near the wall.Lavinia wasn’t a wallflower anymore, of course, since she was now married, but she still stood with Sarah.
“Oh, you know how that sort of information travels.”Lavinia rolled her eyes.“I’d scarcely been here five minutes before I heard of him.He’s just returned from several years in India.”
“I don’t suppose he has a title?”Sarah asked.“My parents do prefer a title.”
Lavinia pursed her lips.“This isn’t about your parents.This is about you.”
“Is it?”she muttered.
“There he is.And no, he doesn’t have a title.His name is Mr.Silvester Fielding.”Lavinia gestured toward a gentleman walking toward the doors open to the terrace.“He’s a bit ordinary, isn’t he?”
He wasn’t particularly tall, and his build was best described as stocky.His clothing was clearly very fine, however, and he wore a pleasant, welcoming expression.“One person’s ordinary is another’s superlative.”
“You are correct,” Lavinia said.“Shall we wander toward the doors?”
He hadn’t gone outside, but was merely standing near them, as if he was hoping to catch a bit of the cool night breeze.It had been a warm day, but the temperature had dropped as clouds had moved in.There would be rain tomorrow.
“I suppose, but who will conduct an introduction?”Sarah wasn’t entirely in the mood to meet a new gentleman.Or even be at this stupid ball.She was rather fixated on her hat business and was frustrated that Felix hadn’t communicated anything on that front.But then he hadn’t communicated anything regarding a husband either, so perhaps he’d changed his mind.
“I’m a marchioness,” Lavinia said with a touch of hauteur followed by a grin.“I’ll introduce myself and then introduce you.”
Sarah exhaled.“Let’s go.”
Lavinia touched her arm, her eyes sympathetic.“We don’t have to.We can stay here all night if you prefer.Well, until Beck arrives, that is.”Her gaze turned sheepish.
