The Unlikely Lady (Playful Brides #3)(20)

By the time Garrett looked up to see who was sitting in the corner, it was too late. Miss Lowndes was perched on a bench in front of a small card table. Blast. How had this happened? He’d barely escaped her barbs at dinner unscathed and here she was again. Thankfully, she appeared invested in her game of solitaire as if trying to beat an actual opponent. It was so like Miss Lowndes to be competitive with herself. But even Miss Lowndes’s company was preferable to another awkward encounter with Isabella.

“Miss me so soon, Upton?” Miss Lowndes raised her nose in the air in that way she did. Ah, so she had noticed his approach. She did not, however, remove her gaze from the cards in front of her.

He sighed. “Don’t tell me you didn’t know that Lord and Lady Moreland have a vast library. It’s just down the corridor. Surely you would be more comfortable there.”

She was usually to be found in the libraries of all houses. She excused herself early and often from all polite conversation and social nicety and went in search of the library. When she wasn’t in a library, she had a book in front of her head and her spectacles perched on her face in the insouciant way they were perched at present. What would she do if he reached over and plucked them from her little bluestocking nose?

“No doubt I would be more comfortable, Upton, especially if you intend to remain standing next to me. However, I’ve promised Cass that I will force myself to remain sociable for the remainder of the house party and wedding.” She smiled at him tightly. “It seems you’re stuck with me.”

He returned the tight smile. “Pity. Though I relish the opportunity to watch you attempt to be sociable. It’ll be like a comedy of errors. And if my standing bothers you so much … May I?” He gestured to the empty seat on the bench next to her.

“By all means.” Miss Lowndes scooted over to allow him more space.

“Why aren’t you with Lucy and Cassandra?” he asked as soon as he took his seat.

She flipped over two cards. “Because Lucy and Cass are speaking with Mrs. Langford at present, and despite her close association with you—or perhaps because of it—I find her a bit … much.”

“We don’t have a close association,” Garrett bit back, perhaps a little too harshly.

One of Miss Lowndes’s dark eyebrows arched over the top of her spectacles. “Oh? Mrs. Langford overstated the friendship at dinner?”

“No, she didn’t. I— We—” Blast it. How in the devil had Miss Lowndes put him at a loss for words? He needed to regain control of the conversation immediately. Was there more wine to be had in here? He searched about for a footman. It was time to change the subject. “How is your scandal progressing?”

Her dark intelligent eyes sparkled. “It isn’t. I haven’t thought of anything sufficiently scandalous yet.”

“I’m certain it’s only a matter of time. Perhaps your Mrs. Bunbury might allow you to overeat teacake and call into question your gluttony. Speaking of teacake, isn’t there one here somewhere that you’re looking for?”

Miss Lowndes seemed to perk up. In addition to baiting him, she adored teacake. She could always be seen with a plate full of them at every social event. Lucy and Cassandra often teased her about it. He wondered how she was able to maintain her figure with the amount of teacake she consumed— He rubbed the back of his neck. Damn it. What level of hell had caused him to think about Miss Lowndes’s figure of all things? First the spectacles, now her figure. Blasted teacake.

“It’s not teatime, Upton, or haven’t you noticed?” she replied nonchalantly, placing a card on the table in front of her. “While we’re on the subject of refreshments, isn’t there a glass of wine somewhere that you’re looking for?”

He sucked in a deep breath. That comment hit too close to home, but he refused to let her win this war of words. “I’m certain the cooks will fetch you some teacake. Why don’t you wander down to the kitchens and ask them to?”

“You shan’t rid yourself of me that easily, Upton. Besides, I’m intrigued.” She flipped over another card.

He made a show of tugging at his cuff. “Intrigued? By me? Surely you’re jesting. Either that or you’ve sustained a recent head injury. Did you suffer a fall while practicing your archery yesterday? Where is your Mrs. Bunbury when you need her?”

“I admit it turns my stomach as much as it does yours, but yes, I’m intrigued, with no head injury to speak of,” she replied.

He turned his face and grinned at her. “Don’t keep me on tenterhooks. Do tell. How exactly have I intrigued you, Miss Lowndes?”

She remained focused on her game. “You’ve intrigued me, Upton, by your complete unwillingness to discuss Mrs. Langford. Then there’s the little matter of her arrival at this party, despite being barely able to claim a passing acquaintance with Cass. And finally, Mrs. Langford’s apparent flirtation with you over dinner, though I daresay that turns my stomach perhaps the most of all.”

He managed a shrug. “Unwillingness to discuss Mrs. Langford? I don’t know what you mean.”

“Don’t you, Upton? You’ve changed the subject often enough. Tell me, why do you think she’s come?”

“I’m sure I don’t know. I thought perhaps she was a friend of Cassandra’s.”