“What is so amusing?” his aunt demanded.
“I am chewing over what you just told me, and could not suppress my reaction.”
“Laugh all you want. The on dit is rarely wrong on such things.” She beckoned the dealer and returned to her cards.
Their conversation turned once more to his introduction to the sweet, innocent niece of Lady Barrowton. He sidestepped any commitments to meet her. While they carefully placed their feet in their dance of interference and resistance, he found himself looking on occasion to where Lydia seemed to be winning nicely with the dice.
She appeared to know Trilby. She spoke to him several times. Whatever she said had the man flushing. Finally Trilby peeled away and went to watch the faro play. Lady Lydia appeared to know how to shed unwelcome attention with grace but finality.
He almost pointed that out to his aunt, so she might spare his friend’s sister unnecessary gossip. Just as he was about to speak, however, Lydia herself left the table. No longer bright-eyed, but wearing the aloof, blank expression that caused his aunt to call her a sphinx, she walked directly to the terrace doors and slipped outside.
Twenty steps behind, Algernon Trilby followed.
“You must excuse me. I think I will retreat for a short spell, then you can take me home.” His aunt held out her hand so he might help her to stand.
“I will come and find you in a few minutes,” he said.
“Not too few. The best gossip will be in the retiring room.”
“I will wait until you have your fill.”
She sallied forth. She left thirty pounds on the table, as if returning them to her reticule were too much a bother. For a woman supported her whole life by dukes, it probably was. He gestured for cards.
With his aunt’s removal, others came to use the table. Spirited play ensued. During the fourth round, he looked around the chamber and realized that neither Lydia nor Trilby had yet returned.
There had been no indication that Lydia had planned an assignation, but with each passing minute more people would assume that to be the case. He pictured Trilby out there now, annoying her at best and importuning her at worst.
He threw in his cards, stood, and walked toward the doors. If she were his sister, he would expect Southwaite to keep one eye on her, after all.
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Table of Contents
Praise for the novels of Madeline Hunter
Jove titles by Madeline Hunter
Title Page
Copyright
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Special Excerpt from THE ACCIDENTAL DUCHESS