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Given his lack of reply to Lady Derring’s invitation, it had been assumed Nick would not attend

Butterflies danced in her belly She had not seen him since he had stor her hair Since that shattering kiss, she had vacillated between longing to see hiht

With Portia draped over his aroere a stark contrast to Nick’s black evening attire The fe indicated that his arrival had been duly noted The woht, feral eyes Meredith felt strangely bothered by the lascivious nature of their gazes The insane urge to stand upon a chair and announce his disinterest in Good Society and gently bred ladies seized her

Portia and Nick drew alongside her and Lord Havernautt, at ease in each other’s cohness that made Meredith’s face flame Her hand itched to cover the expanse of bosoround Until that moment she had felt almost pretty She resented that his arrival reduced her confidence to nothing

His , Meredith"

Portia covered her lips with a gloved hand Her girlish giggle escaped nonetheless "She tried to beg off, but Grandmother would not hear of it," Portia offered in Meredith’s defense, her blue eyes twinkling

"Well, Lady Derring won’t ain," NickNick had witnessed her perforuests only heightened her mortification

Lord Havernautt’s arm stiffened beneath her hand and he loftily deht you be, sir?" Meredith knew she should be pleased His indignation was on her account, but she wished he didn’t feel the need to protect her

Nick sliced Lord Havernautt with a glance before settling his eyes back on Meredith, or more specifically, on her chest He answered the affronted young man absently "I am Nick Caulfield… Lord Brookshire Lady Brookshire’s brother-in-law"

It startled her to hear hi he claimed to repudiate Did this mean he would take his place as a proper earl? Proper earls joined Society Proper earls wed proper young debutantes The idea churned her insides He aze His expression turned rueful, and Meredith knew he understood the silent question running through her ushed obsequiously, releasing Meredith’s arm to execute a smart little bow "Lady Brookshire has permitted me to escort her to dinner"

Meredith bristled He need not sound as though he were requesting Nick’s permission on top of her own He did not need Nick’s per her No uardian No matter that he treated her like chattel

"Coone ahead"

"Yes, of course" He nodded his head deferentially to Nick Meredith gnashed her teeth and pulled hi Nick and Portia followed at an easy stroll

Meredith did not s a bite of food, despite the elegant fare placed on the great length of table She snuck covert glances at Nick as he exchanged pleasantries with Portia on his right and the woed cheeks who slid her hand over his arm whilst her husband flirted with another wo table Both spouses appeared indifferent to their bold flirtations Meredith watched in disgust over the ornate silver candela-bras Such ham Practiced perhaps, but never flaunted "Do you not care for partridge?" Lord Havernautt asked solicitously

"Yes It’s lovely" Meredith wrenched her gaze fro e pie’s flaky crust

"It’s quite acceptable if you don’t Soame Mother says it’s cohtlessly, her ar woman with her hands all over Nick "And how is it you’ve escaped Mother for the evening, Lord Havernautt?"

His face reddened, and she chastised herself for being so uncharitable She had not ized, setting down her glass and covering his hand with hers "That was rude of me"

"I do talk of her toofigure in ood son" Meredith sly "No shame in that"

"Perhaps not sha for prospective wives" He dabbed a linen napkin at the corners of ht woman would not be deterred"

"Truly?" He reht in his eyes, that she gave his hand a little squeeze

"Of course If a woman wants to knohether a man would be a kind husband to her, she need look no further than how he treats his ave his hand a final squeeze before releasing it

The hairs on her nape tingled with awareness, as though someone watched her Meredith looked up Her eyes clashed with Nick’s across the table The anger in his gaze blazed a hole right through her Baffled, she raised a brow in silent inquiry In a blink, his anger vanished, leaving nothing behind for her to detect

He returned his attention to the baroness pawing his arm To her horror, he fed the woman a berry from his fruit bowl Heat rushed over her Meredith snapped her attention to the next course set before her, confusion knitting her brow The flash of anger in his eyes had not been iined, but now he appeared totally enamored with his dinner companion and oblivious to her

She watched his flirtation with the baroness within her chest that could only be jealousy

After dinner a san to play at one end of the ballroo--Meredith and Lord Havernautt not to be spared She danced with other gentle to expand her search for suitable candidates After one dance with a portly gentleman who trod all over her toes and leered down her bodice, and two other dances with gentlemen who plied her with questions on the likelihood of their e prospects to this Season’s fresh-faced debutantes--in whose ranks she was not included--she desperately craved a respite

A dull headache throbbed at the backs of her eyes It had been a long day A long week, for thather Her hair had only been the start