Page 59 of Made for the Marquess (Second Sons of London 4)

Chapter Twenty

Minta moved awayand accepted another glass of champagne from a footman. She downed the entire flute, immediately regretting it as she became lightheaded. A wave of dizziness swept over her and she was loath to take even a single step.

Suddenly, someone clasped her elbow and took the champagne flute from her hand.

It was Lord Danbury.

He smiled and placed the empty flute on a tray and turned back to her.

“Why don’t we stand here just a moment, Miss Nicholls? Champagne has a way of sneaking up on you.”

She frowned at him. “If you are here to defend your friend, I don’t care to hear what you have to say.”

He slipped her hand into the crook of his arm and, slowly, they moved about the party.

“I do not speak for Lord Kingston. No one can do that except Kingston himself.”

She eyed him with suspicion. “You may say that, my lord, but I am certain that you wish to whisper into my ear all of the wonderful things about him. Well, I don’t find him wonderful at all.”

“I agree with you.”

His words startled her. “You do?”

As they strolled, he said, “Do I know that he was deliberately cruel to you? Yes. Should he make his apologies to you? Most certainly.”

Lord Danbury gazed steadily at her. “But you would need to be open to hearing such an apology, Miss Nicholls.”

They continued about the party without further conversation. She was glad to be on his arm since she still felt a bit shaky.

Then he returned her to her aunt. Bowing, he said, “My wife thoroughly enjoys your company, Miss Nicholls. Thank you for the friendship which you have extended to her. Good afternoon.”

Minta watched the earl retreat and Aunt Phyllis said, “My, what a perfect gentleman Lord Danbury is. You are fortunate to count Lady Danbury among your friends, Minta.”

Distracted, she merely nodded.

Lord Markham asked if she would care to take a turn about the party. She agreed to do so and took his offered arm. For the next hour, they spoke to a good number of guests, Minta trying her best to focus on the party and not wondering what Lord Danbury had meant by saying Lord Kingston had been deliberately cruel to her. She had no idea why the marquess would have gone out of his way to hurt her as he had. Perhaps she did owe it to him to listen to whatever apology he was willing to give. That did not mean, however, that he would be back in her good graces. She decided to allow Lord Kingston to apologize so there would be no further awkwardness between them, especially since she was bound to run into him while she was visiting one of the Three Cousins.

Viscount Chatsworth approached her and said, “Are you enjoying yourself this afternoon, Miss Nicholls?”

She had met him the previous evening through a friend of Lord Boxling’s and had danced with Chatsworth once. The viscount was tall, blond, and had a sunny smile.

She smiled in return and said, “Yes, my lord. This is a delightful garden party.”

“Have you had a chance to stroll the gardens yet?” he asked.

“No, I haven’t.”

He brightened, a bit of mischief in his eyes. “Then would you care to see my father’s gardens with me?”

His words surprised Minta. Both their hosts were dark-haired. Lord Chatsworth resembled neither of them.

He must have seen the question in her eyes because he chuckled and said, “I am the only child from my father’s first marriage. My mother died giving birth to me. I am told I favor her and her side of the family.”

“I am sorry for your loss, my lord.”

He shrugged. “It is hard to miss what one has never known. Shall we?”

She took his arm and he tucked her hand into his, placing a hand over hers, and leading her toward the gardens.

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