In the Arms of an Earl (The Duke's Daughters Book 4)(8)

“Oh, my dear Lady Harmonia, I am so terribly sorry!” he exclaimed, backing a little away from her. “I did not see you there.”

“That is quite all right, Lord Newford,” she murmured, with a small wince. “It will pass in a moment.”

He shook his head, not knowing what else he could do.

“Are you enjoying the production?”

Her question took him by surprise, having expected her to berate him about his lack of carefulness or to exclaim about her foot a little more. “Yes, for the most part,” he said, looking at her with concern. “Are you sure you are all right?”

She smiled then, her eyes lighting with good humor. “It has gone entirely, I assure you. What were you doing backing away like that? Are you hiding from someone?” A slightly mischievous look came over her expression and Phillip found himself smiling back at her.

“No, not from someone – but from a great many someone’s,” he explained, with a wry smile. “Without being discourteous, I find the ladies of the ton can sometimes be quite overwhelming.”

Her expression grew a little sympathetic as she recognized the forwardness that some of her counterparts, and even her sisters, could be known for.

“Although I would not count your company as overwhelming,” he said, quickly, wanting to assure her that he did not think of her in the same way as the others. “In truth, I am very glad to see you again, Lady Harmonia.”

Lady Harmonia looked back at him for a moment without saying a word. Her lips curved into a gentle smile, her cheeks brushed with pink. “That is very kind of you to say, Lord Newford.”

“It is the truth,” he said honestly, aware that he was being more than a little frank with her.

She made to answer but someone called her name and he saw her frown.

“Is your cousin looking for you?” he asked, remembering the rude gentleman from before that she had referred to as ‘cousin Luke’.

Lady Harmonia gave him a tight smile. “Yes, it is Lord Darnsley,” she said, the happiness gone from her eyes. “Do excuse me, Lord Newford. It was very nice to see you again.”

He bowed and smiled, and, in a moment, she was gone.

His heart lifted, although he was not all that pleased that this cousin of hers could bring her such disfavor. The man had been very rude to him twice, ignoring his very presence on the two occasions he had been with Lady Harmonia. It was quite clear that Lady Harmonia herself did not care much for the gentleman either – not that he could blame her.

As he made his way back through the crowd as hastily as he could, he found his arm suddenly caught and, surprised, he turned around to see a voluptuous lady standing to the side, pulling him towards her.

“Do unhand me, my dear lady,” he muttered, as she smiled coyly at him. “I do not wish to wrinkle my coat.”

“Dear Lord Newford,” came the silky reply. “I have been waiting for you to approach me.”

Phillip wanted to say that he had not approached her but that she had caught him but, wisely, chose to remain silent.

“I know you are growing tired of the great attentions of the ton,” the lady continued, with a lift of her brows. “Were you to take someone under your protection, then that attention would cease almost overnight.”

Hotly aware of what she was proposing, Phillip gave her a tight smile and tugged his arm out of her grip. “I am well aware of that, Lady…...?”

“Milliers,” came the soft reply. “My husband has been gone these three years, my lord.”

“I am sorry for your loss,” he replied, woodenly. “Do excuse me, Lady Milliers.”

She frowned, catching his hand in hers. “Will you not take my offer seriously? I know I could make you a very happy man.”

He shook his head, his throat closing up in revulsion. “No, I thank you. Good evening.”

Turning away from her, he caught sight of none other than Lady Harmonia looking over at him, her face a little astonished. He froze in place, horrified that she might have seen the exchange and come to the worst of conclusions but, before he could start towards her to explain, her cousin caught her arm and half pulled her along the hallway back towards her box.

Wishing he could call after her, Phillip contented himself with a loud groan as he hurried back to his own box, frustrated with Lady Milliers and her bold eagerness to have him in her bed. It was the same with the mamas who presented their daughters, with the young ladies who batted their eyelashes at him. They all wanted him for no other reason than to satisfy their own desires.

All except Lady Harmonia. She had not flirted with him, nor attempted to cajole him into anything. She was sweet and gracious, quite out of the ordinary compared to the rest of the ladies he had encountered. She was, in short, quite intriguing.

“You have made it at last,” Lord Marshall crowed, as Phillip re-entered the box. “And just in time. The second half is to start any moment.”

“I was distracted,” Philip muttered, taking his seat. “I do apologize.”

Lord Marshall shrugged, handing him his glass. “It is no matter. Who distracted you?”

“No-one of importance, although I did stand on Lady Harmonia’s foot,” Philip replied, with a shake of his head. “The daughter of the Duke of Westbrook?”

“Ah, yes. I had heard that she was here this Season,” Lord Marshall replied, with a knowing look in his eye. “Is she not spoken for?”