Page 29 of Vying for a Viscount
After Dalton stopped fussing over him as they prepared for that evening, he went downstairs and into the drawing room, where he found both his sisters looking magnificent in their evening dresses. He bowed. “Ladies, how lovely you look.”
Both Anastasia and Aurora giggled. “We have gentlemen to impress,” Anastasia said, twirling around.
“Thank you for inviting Warren, brother. I would’ve felt like the fifth wheel on a carriage, awkward and unwanted.”
“Christ,” he said as he combed his hair, messing up the job Dalton had done with a comb. “I never heard back from him.”
Aurora smiled. “I intercepted the note when it arrived. He is coming.”
“Good. Six for dinner is the perfect number.”
“Did you send the carriage for Lady Rutherford?” Aurora asked. “It is the proper thing for a gentleman to do when he invites a lady friend to dine.”
“My, aren’t you a wealth of knowledge tonight?” He paused andgrinned. “Yes, I did. In fact, all our guests should be arriving any moment.”
Just then, Henderson entered the room, with Hunter and Warren on his heels, and announced, “The Earl of Warren and Mr. Hunter.” He then left, no doubt to await Letitia’s arrival.
“Would you gentlemen care for a glass of sherry?” Greyson asked as they each moved to stand beside the sisters they were courting and exchanged greetings. He’d noticed two glasses of sherry on the table in front of the settee when he asked. His sisters had already helped themselves. He didn’t blame them. It was a nice way to start the evening, taking the edge off one’s nerves.
“Yes, please,” Warren said.
“Please,” Hunter said, whispering to Anastasia, then joining Greyson at the sideboard against the wall. “I’m going to propose tonight after dinner in the gardens,” he said quietly. Greyson handed Hunter his glass of sherry, and he downed it in one gulp. “Another pour, please.”
“Sherry is supposed to be sipped, not downed in one swallow. If you don’t take it slow, you’ll be too inebriated to propose.”
“I’ll sip this one. I need to relax. I’m tied up in knots, and I don’t want her to suspect anything.”
“Once you ask her and she says yes, the knots will surely untie themselves, and you can breathe easily again.”
“How did you know I can’t breathe?”
“I didn’t. Just a guess. Is something else wrong with you? You seem unlike yourself.”
He glanced back at Anastasia. “Ever since I left your study today, I’ve been questioning her feelings for me. What if I misread her and I’m nothing but a diversion until someone better comes along?”
“We have gone over this before. So what if you don’t possess a title? Anastasia can keep her courtesy title, only when you marry will it be ‘Lady Anastasia Hunter.’ Also, you have more money than manyyoung men our age, and you and Anastasia are a perfect fit for each other.”
“I think I believe that . . .”
“No thinking. It is so.” Greyson picked up two sherry glasses. “Come, before Anastasia wonders what we are whispering about.”
After he’d handed Warren his sherry, Henderson entered the drawing room, this time with Letitia following him. “Lady Rutherford,” he said, bowed, and left the room. Greyson walked to Letitia’s side. It took effort not to run to her. She looked beautiful in a deep-burgundy evening dress. He hoped the gardens wouldn’t be too crowded after dinner, since he intended to find a private spot in which to ravish Letitia. Well, not ravish exactly. More like kiss and hold close. But he hoped he would get the chance to ravish her soon.
His eyes roamed over her and settled on her face, on her eyes, which were full of mirth. “You look gorgeous, my dear.”
“Thank you,” she said, and a delicate red flush tinted her cheeks.
He held out his hand. “Come. Let’s get you a sherry.” They made their way across the room, and he poured her a glass of sherry then handed it to her.
“Thank you,” she said just before she took a sip.
He couldn’t take his eyes off her lips, wishing he were the glass and that her luscious lips were on him. He cleared his throat to hide the moan that almost escaped.
“I’m surprised to find Warren and Hunter here. You didn’t mention they were coming to dinner.”
“It was an even more last-minute invitation. I hope you aren’t bothered by their attendance.”
“Why would I be?” she said with a smile. “I enjoy their company, and I’m sure Anastasia and Aurora are happy with the turn of events.”
