Page 11 of Courting Miss Lancaster
“The carriage is ready, Mr. Windover,” the butler informed them, holding open the front door as a maid slipped a heavy shawl around Athena’s shoulders.
“Excellent.” Persephone’s voice rang behind them. She glided past, making her way outside, her cheeks flushed and a broad smile on her face.
Following behind with her arm through Harry’s, Athena was quick to push from her mind the reason for her sister’s blush and grin. It was difficult to fathom the fearsome Duke of Kielder doing something as emotional and tender as kissing his wife.
“Your curiosity is sadly lacking, Athena,” Harry said.
“Curiosity?” About Their Graces’ private moment? Surely that was not what he meant.
“Do you not have any desire to know what it was our unfortunate prince said to the terrifying duke to warrant aninvitation to meet on the grass?”
Athena smiled back at him. “I cannot even imagine something drastic enough to warrant such an occurrence.”
“It was inexcusable,” Harry said, but there was a chuckle behind the words. “His Royal Highness, after hearing himself calledGeorgie,locked eyes with Adam and said, ‘How dare you, Kielder?’ And Adam took it upon himself to assure the prince that he dared at whatever time and place His Highness should choose and by whatever means he decided upon. He further advised our prince to secure a very competent surgeon in the off-chance that Adam’s aim was not as true as usual.”
“Meaning, of course, that Adam might accidentally shoot His Royal Highness.”
“No,” Harry said. “That Adam might accidentallynot killHis Royal Highness and that he would thus need a surgeon. Adam does not believe in deloping; regardless of his opponent, he would never intentionally miss. Every gentleman knows as much.”
Athena felt her eyes widen. Adam had, essentially, threatened to kill a member of the royal family. “Did you not say the prince apologized to Adam?”
“Instantaneously.”
Athena stopped at the carriage door and turned back to look at Harry. “Would Adam have shot the prince if they had met on the field of honor?”
“No,” Harry smiled reassuringly. “But the prince was not so certain, and Adam had no intention of clarifying that point.”
“So the prince wouldn’t risk it?”
“There are some risks that are not worth taking,” Harry answered.
“Is there anything you will not risk where Adam is concerned?” Athena doubted it.
But Harry didn’t answer. He simply handed her up and kepthis peace as they traveled toward the night’s destination.
Chapter Five
VW
With Adam conspicuously absent, Athenawas unquestionably the belle of the ball. The gentlemen were swarming. And if the eager looks she was receiving from all and sundry were any indication, Athena’s reign as the Diamond of the Little Season would be short-lived. She would be married before Christmas at the rate she was collecting swains.
Harry made a concerted effort not to think about Athena’s success as he made his way around the ballroom. There was one gentleman in particular to whom he was anxious to introduce Athena. Eligible, a gentleman, conversant, and at least minimally lighthearted. Those were Athena’s only requirements, to date. It certainly was not enough to prevent disaster.
He shook his head at himself. When had he taken on the role of deliverer from self-created disasters?
“Miss Lancaster certainly seems to have been declared a peerless diamond.” Mr. Charles Dalforth spoke from beside Harry, sipping casually from a champagne flute.
“I was only just thinking precisely the same thing,” Harry admitted. He had grudgingly conceded that Dalforth did, indeed, have a great deal to recommend himself after speaking with him a handful of times since the Hardfords’ musicale. And though Harry had spent the better part of an afternoon attempting to find Dalforth’s fatal flaw, he had not discovered anything to discredit the gentleman, Harry’s junior by not more than two or three years.
“It will be enlightening, however, to see how many of her eager admirers desert the field when His Grace of Kielder makes another appearance,” Dalforth observed.
Harry had to smile at that. “I predict a mass disappearance.”
Dalforth chuckled. “Every one of Her Grace’s sisters will, I believe, be required to marry gentlemen who are almost ridiculously courageous. Or, at the very least, do not feel the usual pull of self-preservation.”
Courageous. Harry silently thanked Dalforth. It was another character trait Athena ought to be searching for. Not simply because a cowardly beau would never summon the courage to approach Adam to ask for her hand, but, more importantly, because a lily-livered husband would inevitably ostracize Athena from her family. Adam had no patience with cowards and would make the hypothetical gentleman excessively uncomfortable whenever they were in company. In the end, it would mean estrangement between Athena and her sisters.
“Miss Lancaster is dancing with Mr. Howard,” Dalforth said, motioning subtly toward the dance floor with his chin. “I do not believe she will thank you for that introduction, Windover.” Dalforth was smiling amusedly.
