“Lovely,” Lady Cosford said, again with another grating smile. “I’ve already demonstrated how we will go on, but I’ll offer another tidbit about myself to spark your enthusiasm.” She laughed, and Dare wished he was anywhere else, even a London ballroom. “I like to walk in the rain. Not a downpour, mind you, but a fine mist is quite lovely, especially in the autumn.” She looked over at her husband, and they seemed to share a…connection. A speechless moment in which something passed between them. Shockingly, Dare didn’t want to roll his eyes. He felt a slight but distinct envy.
Shaking the sensation away, he turned his mind to other matters, namely the renovations occurring at his house in London. He would travel there after this to assess the progress. He was so successful in his distraction that he failed to realize it was his turn.
The woman beside him—the companion of his potential betrothed—nudged him gently with her elbow. “Your turn,” she whispered.
Her touch shocked him. No one touched him. Ever. Except when his mother occasionally insisted on hugging him. And his lovers, whenever he decided to take one.
“You’re growling,” she murmured, drawing him to look at her.
Was he? Frowning, he looked at the expectant circle of people and wondered what in the devil he was doing there. “You all know who I am.” He hadn’t given any thought to what he might say, nor had he listened to anyone else. So he said the first thing that came to his mind. “I loathe house parties.”
The reactions were actually rather entertaining. Two ladies clapped their hands over their mouths, and several gentlemen smirked, while at least one nodded in agreement.
The woman beside him sucked in a breath. Now it was her turn.
“I am Mrs. Langton.” She spoke with a warmth and charm that made even Dare want to turn toward her. So he did. “I like to play chess, but I am quite terrible at it.” She shot a provoking look at Dare and added, “Also, I love house parties. Such a wonderful opportunity to meet new people and have a splendid time.”
All Dare could think was that he also enjoyed chess. However, he was an accomplished player, so he couldn’t challenge Mrs. Langton—he found himself wondering what her given name was—to a game.
Wait, he wanted to play chess with her and learn her name?
Only because she was beginning to interest him. He was a disagreeable person, and she didn’t seem vexed by him in the slightest. She was either very good at hiding her emotions, or she was the most pleasant person in England. Perhaps she was both. Whatever she was, he found her intriguing, and that was irritating.
The person next to her continued, and Dare forced himself to look away from Mrs. Langton. She was stunningly attractive, he realized. Petite with a rather intricate hairstyle, and she wore the very latest fashion. He only knew that because his mother enjoyed poring over plates and sharing her favorite styles with him when he visited her at the dower house. Because of this, he could see that Mrs. Langton was quite well turned out for a young lady’s companion. Perhaps there was more to her than met the eye.
Detecting the mischief lurking in her cheerful expression, he could believe that rather easily.
He spent the remainder of the interminable exercise contemplating the woman beside him. How had she come to be Lady Marina’s companion? Was she from a wealthy family? That would explain her clothing. Was she truly a missus, as in a widow, or had she adopted the title as part of her employment?
By the time Lord Cosford, who was thankfully the last person in the circle, spoke, Dare was thoroughly annoyed with himself for spending so much time thinking of Mrs. Langton. He would deal with her as she pertained to the woman he was considering as his wife. Speaking of…he’d entirely missed whatever she’d said.
“That was most informative,” Lady Cosford said. “Now, we shall have a respite before dinner is served at half six. Following dinner this evening, we’ll have dancing and games. Tomorrow we’ll picnic by the lake. It will be such fun!” She was nearly as ebullient as Mrs. Langton.
Dare glanced toward the latter woman to find her again studying him. Just as her touch had discomfited him, he felt off-balance under her regard.
“I play chess,” he blurted.
“Do you? Perhaps you can help me improve my game.”
He would say she was flirting, but a young lady’s companion wouldn’t do that. Which meant she was simply earnest in her desire to improve her chess. Didn’t it?
Oh, he didn’t like this sort of nonsense one bit. It was past time to beat a hasty retreat and do whatever possible to avoid Mrs. Langton for the duration of the house party. He didn’t feel particularly optimistic since she’d be fixed to Lady Marina’s side. Although, she wasn’t at present…
“I do hope we’ll see you here before dinner. May I suggest you escort Lady Marina into the dining room?”
What a brazen woman. But he supposed that was her job—to push her charge at him. He couldn’t decide if a companion was worse than a managing mother. Since Lady Marina had both, he could count himself unfortunate.
“I would be honored,” he said, his muscles screaming to spring for the doorway, which Lord and Lady Cosford had thankfully removed themselves from. Others were leaving, which meant he could too.
Without further comment, he strode away from her and left the drawing room, taking deep breaths as if the air were somehow clearer and his lungs less compressed now that he was away from everyone. Several footmen stood ready to show guests to their rooms because everyone had come directly to the drawing room upon arrival.
Dare eagerly found someone to lead him to his chamber, a sprawling suite in the northwest corner of the first floor overlooking the parkland as well as some of the front drive. It was a pleasing view and blissfully devoid of anyone save himself and the footman, who was even now departing.
His solitude was short-lived, for his valet, Chadwick, came from the adjoining dressing chamber. “Would you care to rest before dinner, or will you be taking a walk on the estate?”
Dare shot his valet, who’d been with him a decade, a grateful look. “Most definitely a walk. It was too long in a coach today and then cooped up inside with an excess of people.”
“I have your clothing laid out in the dressing chamber already.” Chadwick inclined his balding blond head.
“You are most efficient,” Dare said.
“I aim to be, Your Grace.” He turned on his heel and went back into the dressing chamber.
Eager to get outside, Dare followed him. He could hardly wait to clear his mind of all the nonsense from today and brace himself for that which was to come.
Chapter 3
“They make a lovely couple,” Cecilia noted as she and Juno watched Marina dance with the duke. “Their hair color, like their personalities, is a perfect match.”
Juno still wasn’t convinced their personalities were suited. Yes, they were both somewhat quiet, but Marina didn’t possess the duke’s…rigidity. Or contrariness. She would never declare that she hated something out loud, let alone in front of two dozen or so other people. And she would certainly never insult her hostess.
“Did it bother you when His Grace said he hated house parties?” Juno asked.