Page 10 of Vying for a Viscount
“I’m forbidden from talking about it. Will you call on Anastasia again tomorrow?”
His friend chuckled. “You hate this, don’t you?”
“No.” He shook his head. “Just getting used to it. Truthfully, having you as a brother-in-law would be wonderful.”
“Thanks. When I do propose, she could turn me down.”
“She won’t,” Greyson said, hoping he was telling the truth. “I think I’ll get some work done.” He raised an eyebrow. “You’ll see yourself out?”
“Of course.” Hunter paused at the door. “I’ll see you at the musicale.”
Chapter Four
As Letitia preparedfor the Brennan musicale, she was having second thoughts and wished she had never accepted the invitation. But she would be brave and go. After her maid placed the final pins in her hair, Letitia stood before the mirror, hoping that, if he attended, Greyson would find her irresistible in the blue-and-white evening dress she had chosen. It was one Madam Serena had delivered that morning, and she’d had his tastes in mind when she picked the medium-blue silk. Blue was his favorite color.
Now, if she could get the swarm of bees to settle in her stomach, she might just survive the night. If only she were confident he still cared for her. Her hopes were too high for tonight, and she prayed she wouldn’t trip and fall flat on the floor in a heap of silk if she came face-to-face with Greyson.
“You need not wait up for me, Jane.”
“Thank you, my lady.”
Letitia steadied her legs and managed not to trip, step on her dress, or fall down the stairs. Not that she was prone to clumsiness. However, tonight she felt off-center. Perhaps seeing Greyson’s handsome face would make everything right again. She could only hope.
“Have a good evening, my lady,” the butler said as he opened the door.
“Thank you, Mr. Henry.”
The door to her carriage was open, and the footman standing there held out his hand to help her inside. By the time she sat down and adjusted her skirts, the door was closed, and the footman knocked to signal the driver to drive on.
Nervous excitement coursed through her body. She kept turning her reticule over and over in her lap, giving her hands something to do on the ride to Brennan House. Now that she was on her way, she reconsidered again her decision to attend. Even if Greyson was there, he might not want to see her. If he had wanted to see her, surely he would have called on her by now. Sent a note, flowers... anything to show he was still interested in her. She could be making a complete fool of herself by showing up tonight. There was something to be said for the years she had stayed within the safety of her home. Except that, in order to live, you must set aside your fears and enter the unknown. Or in her case, the ever-criticalton.
By the time the carriage stopped in front of Brennan House, Letitia was a nervous wreck. She leaned to the side, reaching for the door. It was unusual for her to open it without waiting for a footman, but if she didn’t escape from the carriage immediately, she would shout out to the driver to take her home. Her hand was on the door handle when it opened, and she practically fell into Greyson’s arms, surprised beyond reason to find he had opened the carriage door.
“My dear,” he said, his deep voice and handsome face filled with concern. “You nearly fell.”
“I... I caught my heel on my dress.” She hoped he believed the lie. “Forgive me for giving you a fright. I am perfectly well, as you can see.” Her heart pounded so fast she hoped he couldn’t hear it.
“I just escorted my sisters inside when I saw your carriage pull up.” He paused, then held out his arm. “May I?”
“You may,” she said, placing her hand on his solid, warm forearm. She swallowed back a sigh at the thrill of touching him again. Silly to be so excited about such a minor thing, but she couldn’t help herself.
“When I saw your carriage, I asked Aurora to save us a seat next to her, if that’s acceptable.” He paused at the top of the outside stairs landing. “Forgive me. That was presumptuous of me. You’re probably meeting someone.”
“I am.”
His shoulders fell, and she felt a twinge of guilt for giving him the wrong impression. But did he not deserve it for not calling on her for months?
“I’m meeting the Duchess of Blackstone and Lady Langford. Both their husbands are out of town.”
“Ahh, then it will be my honor to escort you to them.”
“Thank you,” she said with regret. She loved her friends, but the thought of sitting next to Greyson made her insides warm.
“How fortunate for me,” he said as they entered the large salon and found fifty or so chairs set up in rows, with a narrow aisle between two sections. “My sisters are sitting with your friends, and they left two empty chairs.”
“Yes, how fortunate.” She believed she kept the excitement from her voice at the thought of sitting next to Greyson for the next hour or so. Even if the daughters of Lord Brennan lacked talent on their instruments, she wouldn’t care. Not with Greyson’s close proximity.
They stopped in the aisle, exchanged greetings, and then sat. She sat between Greyson and Lilly, Lady Langford, who was expecting her first child. Letitia remembered her time carrying Simon. She hadn’t been able to keep much down for the first three months, but in the following six months, she felt wonderful, energetic, and happy.
