Page 32 of Romancing Daphne

“Tumultuousis a rather large word for a person who was dropped on his head,” Miss Lancaster observed.

James laughed out loud at the unexpected parry. Ben, he noticed,smiled ever broader. Miss Lancaster’s eyes shifted between the two of them, and her frequent blush returned.

“I hope I have not offended you, Mr. Tilburn,” she said.

“On the contrary,”Ben replied.“I am rather enjoying hearing James laugh—he seldom does.”

“Ah, but I know any number of people at the opera earlier this week who would disagree with you.” A twinkle of mischief lit her eyes. James would not have thought that possible during their very first encounter. She’d sat so still and quiet in her sister’s drawing room.

“Was it a humorous production, then?” Ben asked.

“It was when Miss Lancaster translated it.”

She bit back a smile.

“I’m sorry to have missed that,” Ben said.“A bit of joviality could only improve an opera.”

“I take it you do not care for opera?” Miss Lancaster asked.

Ben shook his head.

“I think my brother far prefers a country-fair offering of ‘Punch and Judy,’” James said.

She assumed a look of overdone sympathy.“That seems fitting.” She motioned quickly to Ben before tapping her temple as she shook her head.“Considering.”

Ben’s chuckle joined James’s, and the tension that had built between them since Ben’s arrival in London evaporated.

“I like you, Miss Lancaster,” Ben said with a grin.

The poor lady blushed again, but she didn’t try to slip away nor hide as one might have expected of someone so timid and easily embarrassed. That was an argument decidedly in her favor. Timid, she might be, but Miss Daphne Lancaster had steel in her.

“Tilburn. Bennett.” Father’s voice interrupted their brief moment of revelry. He had crossed the room and stood near at hand, the air of confident contentment he always wore in public firmly in place.“I certainly hope I taught you to behave in a more civilized fashion before guests. Miss Lancaster will think you had a poor upbringing.”

Miss Lancaster grew quiet, though her eyes retained a bit of their earlier playfulness. Father’s imposing presence had never failed to drain Mother of every ounce of animation. James hated seeing it happen to yet another lady.

“Has our lack of civility shocked you beyond bearing?” James asked her, keeping his tone light and teasing.

She answered in kind. “I will no doubt spend every moment of tomorrow’s morning calls spreading gossip about how ill-mannered the Tilburn brothers are. It will be quite the scandal.”

The Duchess of Kielder had come near the group as well. Her husbandand youngest sister remained across the room, deeply discussing something. Her Grace eyed James, Ben, and Miss Lancaster with an irrefutable degree of confusion.

“You must forgive my brother and me, Your Grace,” James said.“I fear we have been a poor influence on your sister.”

The duchess did not immediately reply but continued to study them a moment. Her eyes rested longest on her sister.“On the contrary,” she finally said. “The three of you seem to be enjoying each other’s company.”

“We are.” James found he truly meant it. Miss Lancaster had proven herself a diverting addition to their conversation.

Her Grace’s gaze held an analyzing quality that left him more than a touch uneasy. He looked away only to find Ben regarding Miss Lancaster and him in much the same way.

Billingsley announced dinner as if cued by a burst of divine intervention.

“And I am most honored to walk Her Grace in to dinner.” Father made a bow.

The duke’s already stern demeanor turned even more icy.“No oneother than myself ever walks Her Grace in to dinner when I am present.”

“But . . . but formality dictates—”

“I saidever. There should be no further words coming out of your mouth.”

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