Page 5 of Vying for a Viscount
“Do they have children?”
Both Aurora and Anastasia giggled. “Oh yes,” Anastasia said “They have a daughter our age and have always hoped Greyson would become their son-in-law.”
“Oh,” Letitia’s heart dropped.
“Their daughter,” Aurora added, “Lady Miranda, had other plans. She has recently become betrothed to Lord Centerville.”
Aurora fluttered her lashes. “He is most handsome. Look over by the food table. He is the one standing next to Lady Miranda, the young woman dressed in yellow.”
Letitia found them but didn’t see what was so handsome about Centerville.
Greyson stood. “Letitia, would you care to fix a plate?”
“I believe I would.” She took his offered arm, and they strolled to the food table. She was thankful that Lady Miranda and Centerville were walking away. She didn’t care to meet the lady Greyson might have married. They fixed their plates with fruit, bread, little sandwiches, and confections, then returned to the table. A footman approached them with a tray of lemonade.
“Come, sister, let’s get a plate. Perhaps there are some handsome single gentlemen who will attract our attention. Or rather, we will attract theirs,” Aurora said.
“Their exuberance is both refreshing and hard to keep up with,” Letitia said with a laugh.
Chuckling, Greyson said, “It can be at times.”
“Are you traveling without a chaperone for them?”
“No. You are looking at him.”
“Oh. I see.” He took her totally by surprise.
“My mother doesn’t trust anyone to chaperone them. It’s my job for the foreseeable future until they marry. Or at least become engaged.”
Between his father’s illness and chaperoning his sisters, Greyson certainly didn’t have much time for himself. Perhaps her hoping he would want to court her was out of the question. At least until his sisters were engaged.
They played some lawn games after eating, but the twins were bored and wanted to leave. They thanked their hosts and spent the next hour in the carriage, where everyone fell asleep except Letitia. Her eyes closed every now and then, but sleep eluded her. She was thankful and sad when they returned to the inn.
Greyson escorted her to her room. “Thank you for putting up with my sisters.”
“I like them. I believe we shall become good friends if given the chance.”
“You may regret saying that.” He looked up and down the corridor, making her wonder why, until he bent his head and kissed her. It lasted only a moment, just long enough for her insides to hum.
He stepped back and bowed. “I will see you tomorrow for the race.”
Her eyes were riveted to his receding back until he disappeared from sight. She tapped the door, and Penny opened it. “Welcome back, my lady.”
“Thank you, Penny.”
“Lady Chesterfield said she would see you in the morning. She went out with the Duke of Stanton.”
“Would you help me undress and put on a robe? I will be staying in.”
“Yes, my lady.”
Climbing into bed early, Letitia tried not to get her hopes up about Greyson. It was hard, though, since he had kissed her. It wasn’t muchof a kiss, but then again, they were standing in the inn’s corridor where anyone could come upon them.
Eventually, her eyes fluttered closed, her breathing evened out, and she fell asleep.
*
As Greyson leftLetitia at her door, he wondered what he was doing. He was giving her the wrong idea about them. He could see it in her eyes. With everything going on in his life right now, he didn’t have time to court Letitia properly. His father was ill, but so was his mother. Even though he’d hired a nurse to see to their care, he took care of everything pertaining to the earldom and his family’s private affairs. Not to mention chaperoning his sisters.
