Page 53 of A Perfect Engagement
“It is a pleasure to meet you,” Daniel replied automatically.
The younger lady brashly looked him over from head to toe. Her gaze was quite rapacious. “The pleasure is all mine, Lord Weston. Are you enjoying the evening’s entertainments?” Her eyelashes fluttered rapidly. Why were all the ladies fluttering lashes as though they had just stepped into a brisk wind? Was this a new type of flirting? Was it meant to be attractive?
Aunt Diana’s elbow delivered a sharp jab to his side. When he glanced down at her, she motioned with her eyes to Miss Lindow, her fan beating back and forth with gusto. He blinked in the onslaught of airflow. She motioned her eyes toward Miss Lindow again, and her brow furrowed. Oh yes, tonight’s entertainment.
Daniel turned his attention back to the young Miss Lindow. “Would you care to dance?” He felt more than saw his aunt relax next to him.
“I would love to, Lord Weston.” She stepped forward and grabbed hold of his arm. “I do so like to dance. I hardly ever get the opportunity in this sleepy little section of the county. Do you like to dance? Do you reside in London, Lord Weston?”
And the chatter did not stop the entire length of the set. Daniel had never been so eager to leave a lady’s company than when he returned Miss Lindow to her mother. He was heading to exit the drawing room when he spotted his aunt barreling toward him with, good Lord, another young lady in tow.
He glanced to the left and to the right, assessing his options for escape. To the left, he spotted his brother and Charlotte dancing. Miles twirled her under one arm, and Charlotte grinned up at him. Daniel turned from the dance floor and quickly skirted around a knot of ladies to head for the French doors that led to the gardens. Keeping his head down to avoid making eye contact with any guests who might waylay him, Daniel retreated to the veranda.
The night sky was filled with stars. He walked to the balustrade and took a deep breath of fresh air.Bullocks.He hated the way Charlotte had looked at him with such wariness in her eyes. He hated seeing her in his brother’s arms. He hated that he had agreed to the whole stupid plan in the first place. He hated that he hadn’t somehow met her first. Fate was a fickle bitch. He shoved his hands in his pockets and tilted his head back to stare into the inky dark sky.
His solitude was brief. A raucous male laugh and several female giggles burst out from behind him as the doors to the drawing room opened and closed. He was not in the mood for company. He strode off down the veranda. Perhaps the library was empty, as it was the other night. Daniel opened the glass door and pushed past a pair of velvet curtains to enter. The fire was lit, and one sole occupant of the room lounged on the sofa with his legs stretched out, boots resting on the arm.
“Who’s there?” Lucius called out as he raised his head curiously.
“It’s Weston.” Daniel walked over. “What are you doing in here? Shouldn’t you be mingling with your guests?”
Lucius raised one eyebrow. “I could ask you the same question.”
Daniel shrugged. “I’m hiding from my aunt. She has been introducing me to nice young ladies all evening. I cannot speak to one more chit tonight.”
“You’ve come to the right room. I’m doing exactly the same thing. Except I’m hiding from my mother’s machinations.” Lucius raised his hand in a mock military salute.
Daniel lowered himself into a tufted chair. “I was also in search of a drink before I had to make a quick escape out to the veranda.”
“I can help you there as well.” Lucius reached down to the floor and pulled up a bottle of Irish whiskey. “Just call me your fairy godmother. There are glasses over in that cabinet.” He gestured with the bottle.
“Excellent.” Daniel rose and crossed the room to a small teak hutch. The bottom half resembled a writing desk, but when he rolled up the top, he found several bottles of liquor and a neat row of cut-glass crystal tumblers. He grabbed two glasses and another bottle of spirits and returned to set them on the low table in front of Lucius. They each poured themselves a generous portion from their own bottles.
Daniel toasted, “To well-meaning mothers and aunts.”
Lucius raised a glass in salute. They threw back the contents of their glasses.
“My mother believes that all the ladies I entertain are unsuitable. She wants to handpick me a wife.” Lucius rolled his eyes. “A wife! As if I am responsible enough to have a wife.” Another pour. “To all the unacceptable choices!”
Daniel threw back the second glass. The smooth burn of top-notch brandy warmed his belly. He also used to think the responsibility of having his own family was something for much further down the road. But the entrance of Josie into his life had begun to change that. Miles didn’t have a monopoly on being responsible.
Daniel didn’t have to become as uptight as his twin. He could still be himself and take care of the people he loved, couldn’t he? He poured another two fingers. This time he took a slow sip to savor the mellow buzz building in his brain.
Lucius leaned back and balanced his drink on his knee with one hand. “So, is that why you showed up so late to the party? Avoiding your matchmaking aunt?”
Late to the party? “Oh, yes, that’s why I arrived late. My aunt has accused me of hiding out on my estate this past season.” He shrugged. “I guess she’s right. But the old place needs a lot of work.” He took a swallow of brandy.
“Where do you live?”
“Just an hour east of Little Marbury. It’s called Brooksdale. My father bought the estate for my mother. It was her favorite house. The fields around it used to grow lavender. But since she died, almost twenty years ago now, the house has been empty.” He tipped his drink back and drained the rest. “Anyway, it was left to me when my father passed.”
“How is it that we’ve never met? I thought I knew everyone around here.”
“That’s just what Char—um, jus’ what your sister says…said.” He gave his head a shake to clear it. “I’ve only been there for the past six months. I ’aven’t had time to socialize with my neighbors.”
Lucius frowned. “Well, it’s been a while since I have been back in Marbury. I keep myself busy in London. Although I do miss Charlotte; hopefully, now that she is marrying your brother, she will be in London more often. Then I can pop by anytime to visit. I’ve avoided coming home the past couple of years because of my mother’s constant meddling.”
“Yes, well, you aren’t the only one avoiding family recently.” Daniel felt the familiar prick of guilt. It was dulled somewhat by his increasingly fuzzy head. He leaned forward and poured himself more brandy. Lifting his glass, he toasted once more. “To avoiding the noose!”
