Willard had also gone out of his way to show her his favor. At one point, he’d even leaned down to ask,You are entirely unaware of the effect you have on men, aren’t you?
Shocking question.
And not exactly true.
After all, she’d chosen her dress because the way the bodice stretched across her bosom tended to leave men tongue-tied and thus less likely to approach. But his query had reminded her she was not entirely powerless. And so the only admonishment she’d been able to summon had been asignificant look.
Of course, she’d immediately ruined the effect by smiling.
A hesitant, nervous smile that must have made her look a veritable rustic. But Willard hadn’t been disgusted. He’d only softly added,including me—a claim so absurd, she barely repressed a giggle. But then, her giggle had been followed by a flood of fluster she could not quite define.
At the time, she hadn’t the chance to decide what the flutter might mean because she’d caught sight of Neville’s scowl. She’d instantly deflated. Neville’s scowl tended to have that effect.
Now she wondered…could she beattractedto Lord Willard?
The surge she’d felt when he’d taken her hand hadn’t been warm, just anticipatory. Perhaps her reaction to Willard had been nothing more than dance-induced breathlessness.
Then again, how was she to know what attraction felt like?
Unlike her sisters, she’d never developed atendre. In truth, but for the unsettling yew maze encounter with Neville, which had left her heated in a way she still couldn’t explain, she hadn’t thought herself capable of having any sort of special, romantic feeling.
And, clearly, she had no partiality forNeville.
Briefly, she recalled a sudden whoosh of onyx wings. Neville’s hard body. A sense of relief threaded with something more. Wrapped in the memory, her heart slowed to a low, hard thump. Then, she remembered the humiliating way he had thrust her away from him before lecturing her on the dangers of her “reckless” behavior.
Recklessbehavior? They’d been in full view of the house.Mostly.
“Millie…”
Lenora’s trailing voice brought Millie back to the present.
“Do you think you might like Lord Willard to brushyourhair?”
Millie’s eyes flew open, and she glared accusingly at Lenora in the mirror. But Lenora’s expression was not, as she’dexpected, a teasing one. Lenora was deeply serious. Serious and concerned.
“Lord Willard?” Nettie squeaked. “Who isLord Willard?”
“A handsome gentleman who asked Millie to dance,” Lenora explained.
“Viscount Willard is the courtesy title given to the Earl of Eltenham’s only son.” Emily spoke as if reciting from Debrett’s. “From what I recall of Mama’s description, he is a member of the Four-in-Hand Club, a coveted addition to any town dinner, and an exceptionally skilled pugilist. I believe he is generally considered abon homme, although I seem to recall a whisper of him kicking up the dust withsomeone…” Emily went silent for a moment, then shrugged. “I’m sorry. That’s all I remember.”
“Interesting,” Nettie commented, brows raised. “And why would she have told you all this?”
“She didn’t. I read her notes.”
Lenora’s brows shot up. “Does your stepmama keep notes oneveryeligible young man?”
Emily appeared mildly affronted. “In the past, back when Mama held weekly salons, she kept notes on all those who frequented her table. She’s an excellent hostess, as you know. I’m sure she only did so because she wanted to be certain to have topics of conversation at the ready should discussion fall silent.”
“Nothing at all to do with future matchmaking for her step-daughter, then?” Nettie teased.
“Heavens!” Emily exclaimed, genuinely horrified. “I should hope not!”
“Well,Ican believe that Lord Willard has, as Emily put it, kicked up a dust,” Lenora said.
“Can you?” Millie queried.
“She means she thinks Asquith doesn’t like him,” Nettie explained slyly.