He glanced down at her, his lips twitching into an almost-smile. Something intangible was still simmering between them even now, after the dance was over. She was certain that he felt it too.
Wick cleared his throat and turned his head away from her. ‘Come, let me escort you back to Mantheria, who can find you more eligible partners before I am besieged by the matchmaking mamas.’
Swallowing down her disappointment, Louisa managed to rally a little. ‘Have you been scratched or bitten by one of them yet?’
His lips twitched again, but she saw him suppress the smile. He led her over to Mantheria, who was surrounded by gentlemen.
Wick bowed over her hand before letting her go. ‘The only scratch I’ve received has been from you.’
Before Louisa could interpret the meaning of his words, Mantheria had linked arms with her.
‘My dear Lady Louisa,’ she said in a bright voice. ‘All of these gentlemen are waiting eagerly to be introduced to the diamond of the season.’
She stopped watching Wick walk away from her and focused on the four gentlemen standing around her friend.
‘Oh, dear,’ Louisa said, shaking her head and touching her flaming red hair. ‘I thought I was a ruby.’
The gentlemen laughed politely, and she tried not to feel too disappointed that Wick was not among them.
Chapter Eighteen
The next night, Wick groaned audibly and tried to shake Sunny’s hand from his arm. But despite being smaller and lighter his friend had a surprisingly strong grip.
‘Let go of me, you idiot.’
Sunny’s fingers pinched into Wick’s flesh further through his evening coat as they walked down the street, passing carriages waiting to unload their passengers.
‘Mantheria asked me to make sure that you attended this ball.’
For the third night in a row, Wick would be stuck at atonsqueeze. A fate he did not feel he deserved. ‘I suppose we could look into Lady Kensington’s ball for a little while. I’ve agreed to go. Now let go of me—before I make your nose even more crooked than it already is.’
His friend released his arm. ‘Just another street away.’
They walked a few more feet before Wick sighed and asked, ‘Why are you so determined to get me to this ball?’
Sunny, whose countenance was usually as light and happy as his nickname suggested, looked grave and serious. ‘I gave your sister my word.’
‘She shouldn’t have asked you to.’
‘Mantheria could ask me anything and I would do it gladly.’
His friend’s words caused him to stop in his tracks. ‘What do you mean by that?’
Sunny took a deep breath and then exhaled. ‘I never thought I would tell you this... I never thought I would want to. But when we were twenty-one and still at Oxford, do you remember, we went home to Hampford Castle for Christmas? Mantheria was only sixteen, but she was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. So, being my stupid self, I tried to avoid her—but she caught me underneath the mistletoe and kissed me. There are only a handful of moments in my life that are transcending and that was one of mine. I promised to dance with her at her come-out ball in the spring, when she would turn seventeen and have her first season.’
Wick didn’t know what to think or what to say. Despite being best friends for years, he and Sunny rarely spoke of their feelings. It was even more awkward to hear that Sunny seemed to harbour emotions for Wick’s sister.
He shook his head. ‘You didn’t come to her ball.’
‘I know. Mantheria cornered me the day after, wanting to know why,’ Sunny said, bringing his hands to cover his eyes. ‘I told her that I had no intention of getting married any time soon and therefore would not be attendinganyof the debutante balls. The expression on her face is one I will never forget. She didn’t cry. She didn’t try to argue with me. She simply became coldly polite. And three weeks later she was engaged to the Duke of Glastonbury—the greatest catch on the marriage mart with a fortune ten times the size of my own. I told myself that I was happy for her. I went to her blasted wedding and watched her walk away with another man. I thought it would break my heart, but I was still a young fool. My heart was only bruised. It wouldn’t truly break until I saw how unhappy she was in her marriage and could do nothing about it. It was too late.’
Wick patted his friend on the shoulder awkwardly, attempting to show his compassion. ‘I am sorry, Sunny, but I don’t understand why you’re telling me this now and on the way to a ball.’
He watched Sunny’s gloved hands tighten into fists. ‘I don’t want to watch my best friend make the same mistake.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘Don’t be obtuse, Wick. You care for Lady Louisa. I can see it. Your sisters can see it.’