Page 6 of Holly & Folly

He smiled. “Four and a half, let us say.”

She laughed softly. “Thank you, sir.”

He inclined his head.

She would have liked to spend a few more minutes preparing, but she forced herself to open the door.

The hum of conversation spilled out of the room, but the first thing that struck her was the length of the dining table. It was the longest she had ever seen, with two dozen chairs on either side, most of them occupied.

Enough people were talking that only a few took note of her entrance. She closed the door softly behind her and noted her brother Wesley watching.

His shoulders lowered in relief, and he smiled.

Nell’s heart leapt at the sight of her friend Millie Hollis, seated opposite him. Two people, at least, who were familiar to her in a sea of strangers.

There were empty seats not far from them, and Nell took quick steps, hoping to avoid further notice. Lady Dalmeer’s gaze flicked to her, but she was engaged in conversation with the man to her left, so it did not linger.

“Where were you?” Wesley whispered as he helped her into an empty seat a few chairs away from his.

“Lost,” she replied through a smile at Millie.

Millie was a brown-haired, brown-eyed beauty, who looked her best in the cream dress she wore. It was the knowledge that she would be at Bellthorne which had convinced Nell to relent to Mama’s suggestion that she attend the party. They had been friends since childhood, and Millie had remained a friend despite Nell’s scandal. Such constant and loyal friends were not easily come by.

Wesley introduced Nell to the men on either side of her—a Mr. Hawthorne and a Mr. Fowell. Both were handsome, but upon hearing her name, Mr. Fowell’s eyes lit in a way that made Nell quite certain that, for him at least, her reputation preceded her.

Her cheeks burned as she exchanged civil pleasantries with him, determined to keep her chin high. Confidence and a smile, as Shaw had said.

She glanced up as the door opened and her gentleman guide entered, and only now did it occur to Nell that he was still in his traveling clothes. He did not bother to close the door softly as she had, and the click of the latch made a number of people turn to look.

An exclamation of surprise from Lady Dalmeer drew the attention of anyone who had not yet taken note of his entrance.

Heads swiveled and chatter ceased.

Nell felt nervous on the man’s behalf—wasted worry, no doubt, for he smiled serenely, taking no note of the number of eyes on him.

The countess rose from her chair, her eyes wide with surprise. Joyful surprise.

“Good evening, Mother,” the man replied calmly.

Three

ARCHIE

Archie did not particularly wish to be in his own dining room, surrounded by a table full of people staring at him.

He had informed Mother he would not be attending this party she had planned—whatever she claimed to these guests—for his benefit. He had no intention of being pushed into marriage, no matter how eligible the women might be.

Mother had cried.

A great deal.

Her crocodile tears had left him unmoved—until last night when his conscience had gotten the better of him, prompting him to return to Bellthorne.

Just now, though, he suspected he ought to have ignored his conscience.

Mother looked to be in her element.

Of course she was. She was sitting at the head of a table of willing matchmaking victims.