Page 54 of Holly & Folly

The smile on his face wavered for a moment, his gaze growing more intense until a comment from his cousin reclaimed his focus.

Lady Dalmeer took it upon herself to introduce Miss Orston to each woman in the drawing room. Whatever perverse hope Nell had harbored that the viscount’s daughter might prove to be insufferable was dashed at the introduction.

Miss Orston was kind and polite, and she chose to stay with Nell and Millie after the introduction. Lady Dalmeer did not seem overjoyed at this decision, but as she had saved an introduction to Nell for last, she had no reason to prevent it.

Miss Orston addressed numerous comments and questions to Nell and Millie, demonstrating both amiability and an admirable facility with conversation that Nell envied.

She possessed precisely the sort of good breeding that made her a candidate for marriage with the earl.

There was no opportunity to tell Millie what had happened in the conservatory earlier, and even if there had been, to do so in company seemed unwise. Nell was both eager and reluctant to recount it to her friend, for she knew she had behaved poorly. It seemed all she was capable of doing. She had come to Bellthorne to salvage her reputation and instead had compromised it again.

The worst part, though, was that she did not regret it. Not yet, at least.

When the men entered the drawing room, Nell offered to fetch tea for Millie, needing an occupation to keep her mind and hands busy.

She had her back turned on the room when Lady Dalmeer’s voice pierced her tangled thoughts.

“She is everything one could want, of course,” the countess said from a nearby chaise. “A perfect match, I think. Even Lord Dalmeer was surprised by how agreeable she is. I am quite hopeful.”

“With every reason to be,” Lady Potsworth replied. “One could not dream up a better match than the two of them. And they seemed to get on well at dinner.”

Nell swallowed, her stomach swimming as she took the teacups and returned to Millie.

Millie sipped from the drink, then looked at Nell, for she enjoyed a generous helping of sugar, which Nell had forgone in her haste to escape.

“I am sorry,” Nell apologized. “My mind was elsewhere.”

“Oh, I am certain it was.” Millie’s amused gaze moved to Lord Dalmeer, who had just entered next to his cousin, Lord Weymouth.

Nell opened her mouth, then clamped it shut again. It was not the time for an explanation.

Lord Dalmeer’s gaze searched the room and found Nell.

She held her breath as their eyes met. Though, for what, she could not say.

He strode toward her but was delayed by Miss Orston, whom he turned toward with his characteristic ease.

Nell’s chest tightened, and she rose.

“Where are you going?” Millie asked.

“I need more tea.”

“Already?”

Nell nodded, ignoring the fact that her cup was more than half-full. She would trade watching the earl with Miss Orston for the countess discussing their hopeful nuptials.

When she reached the tea, she set down her cup, closed her eyes, and breathed.

It had been two hours since she had kissed Lord Dalmeer in the conservatory, but the effects on her body and mind were still present.

But why had he kissed her?

It is me you have been torturing.

That was what he had said. What did it mean?

“May I help you?”