Lily and the Duke (Sex and the Season #1)(42)

The current seating was even more bizarre due to the fact that everyone else at the table, in fact at all the tables, seemed to be in the exact same position as the previous evening, except for Emma and his current dinner companion, Lady Amelia Gregory. Thomas knew little about Lady Gregory, except that she was the former Amelia Scott, a commoner, and the second wife of Frederic, Earl Gregory, twenty-five years her senior, who had passed away within the first year of their marriage. There were ruminations about the earl’s untimely death, but nothing had been proven.

Lady Gregory had been linked to many men of import by way of illicit affairs since then, including Lord Daniel Farnsworth himself, before he became the Duke of Lybrook. Lady Gregory seemed pleasant enough and was very pretty. Thomas was chivalrous to a fault, so he filled her wine glass and saw to her other needs, despite the fact that he wished she were Emma.

“My lord,” Lady Gregory said, “I must thank you for your attentiveness. I can’t recall when I have been looked after so conscientiously.”

“It’s my pleasure, my lady.”

“I had the delight of meeting your sister, Lady Lily, at the opening ball. And of course I’m acquainted with your parents. Frederic always said that Ashford had a unique head for estate matters. It’s no secret that his is one of the most influential earldoms in England. I would love to know more about your family. Your dear mother, for instance. Where is she from?”

“My mother comes from London. She’s the daughter of the Baron White.”

“Really? How fascinating. How did she meet your father?”

“I’m not exactly sure, my lady. I’ve never asked.”

“I bet it’s a romantic story, my lord.”

“Perhaps it is. My parents have always had an abundance of affection for each other.”

“How nice. A love match, was it?”

“Whether it was at first, I don’t know. It certainly is now.” Thomas was beginning to find this conversation tedious, so he took a sip of wine, and then turned to Rose and Xavier.

“Oh, my goodness,” Lady Gregory exclaimed. “My lovely new dinner gown, ruined!”

Thomas turned back to see that Lady Gregory had spilled her glass of red wine down the front of her dress.

“May I be of service, my lady?” the gentleman on her other side asked.

“Oh, no, I couldn’t impose.” Lady Gregory turned to Thomas. “My lord, I do hate to burden you, but it seems that I must excuse myself. Could I trouble you to escort me to my chamber?”

Thomas sighed. What could he do? “Of course, my lady.” He rose, offered her his arm, and together they strode from the ornate dining room. Rose was engrossed in her conversation with Xavier, but both Lily and Emma saw him leave with Lady Gregory. Neither looked pleased.



* * *



Later that evening Lily sat on the terrace with Rose, Alexandra, and Sophie.

“Have any of you seen Emma?”

“She took a walk with Thomas,” Rose said. “Her mother went with them to chaperone.”

“I need to talk to her when they return,” Lily said.

“What about?” Sophie asked.

“I want to find out if that disgusting Lord Ludley tried anything uncouth during dinner. The poor thing was stuck between him and Wentworth this evening.”

“Horrors!” Alexandra cried. “At least Wentworth couldn’t stick his tongue into her mouth at the dinner table. He might have been able to reach her ear without anyone noticing, though.”

“Goodness, Ally,” Sophie said. “Where do you come up with such outlandish ideas?”

“It’s not so outlandish. In a novel I read, the hero—”

Sophie clasped her hands over her ears. “I don’t want to hear it! The thought of a tongue in my ear—how ghastly.”

Lily smiled. Ghastly wasn’t the term she would have chosen for that particular pleasure. “Wentworth and his tongue are the least of Emma’s problems. His uncle is a complete lech. Rose and I have been dodging him for years.”

“She’s right, I’m afraid,” Rose said. “He seems to know every trick in the book for stealing, shall we say, an impression of a woman’s charms.”

Sophie’s hand flew to her mouth. “How horrid!”

“Yes, it is,” Lily said. “I must talk to Emma. If he tried anything inappropriate, the duke will ask him to leave the estate. He told me so.”

“You’ve gotten pretty chummy with His Grace, Lily.” Alexandra smiled. “If there’s anything going on…”

“There’s nothing going on. I’ve been seated next to him at dinner twice, and we’ve gotten to know each other a bit. He’s very charming.”

“Charming and dashing,” Alexandra said. “Too bad he’s a renowned skirt chaser. But he’s so handsome. And rich. I think that could be overlooked. Lily dear, how was your tour of the art collection last evening? You never returned.”

“Didn’t Rose tell you? I was feeling poorly.”

“Yes, of course, Rose told us. She checked on you several times also.” Alexandra winked. “That was quite the little coup you two devised.”

“What on earth are you talking about, Ally?” Rose feigned innocence.