Page 7 of In Compromise with the Earl
She shot a look to Lord Tennesley and saw him staring impassively at a white wolf. Blinking quickly, she turned away. A wolf? Was that supposed to mean his personality? Did the eagle mean hers?
What was going on? And if the wolf was Lord Tennesley’s personal trait—why did Lady Pandora say he was weak? As far she knew, a wolf was brave and relentless, willing to risk their life to get what they wanted. How was thatweak?
“I see some of you are surprised,” Lady Pandora said in that calm, soothing voice of hers. “If you see an animal on your card, it means you have traits I will work with and find your match. If your card is blank it means, sadly, you have not been accepted into my services. My sincerest apologies.”
Oh. Putting the card down, Aphrodite still had questions, but realized that they could wait until the next time she saw Lady Pandora. Looking at the card and at the fierce gaze of the bird, she wondered, was that how others saw her? Proud and untouchable?
“For the four-and-twenty have been chosen, please make your way upstairs to my main drawing room while I speak with the others,” Lady Pandora added.
Clutching her card, Aphrodite stood and made her way upstairs, following the rest of the crowd. At least she had passed one hurdle—the next…getting Lord Tennesley to see who she truly was, get him to like her and hopefully, more.
Chapter Three
Glaring at the card as if it had offended him, Oswald’s lips flattened. A wolf? What kind of nonsense was this? Was it some sort of joke he was not aware of, or was this matchmaking business, as he had suspected, an entire sham?
Not to mention the conversation between Lady Aphrodite and hisesteemedhost he had overheard a while ago.
“There could be many reasons for that. It could be that he is weak in holding a firm hand on his house, or he was just weak in love with his wife, I don’t know, but I do know that nothing is ever black and white.”Aphrodite said.
For a moment, he had been tempted to go to her and thank for her insight that rarely anyone had when it came to these matters, but the progressing conversation stalled him.
“Whatever the gray area is, you should not have any part of it,” Lady Pandora had said. “Besides, the man is staid, proper, boring, you would not have anything in common with him.”
And just as he had expected Lady Aphrodite to keep her stance firm, she glibly replied, “I suppose, I wouldn’t want to be with a weak, spineless man that cannot excite or entertain me.”
His heart had soured. “No wonder she said some thought I was dead.”
Even with their conversation earlier, why had he expected anything different from a flirt? Now, as he headed up to the drawing room, Oswald considered chucking the card away and walking out, but the disappointed looks he knew he would get from his mother stayed his hand.
He was the farthest thing from pleased though and when he entered the room, he took a place at the back, half-covered by shadow, leaning on the wall and with his arms crossed.
Lady Aphrodite sat primly, one of her hands on her lap, the other fingering the card there, and he managed to get a glimpse of a proud eagle. Snorting, he decided that all this made no sense whatsoever. What were the others, bears, wildcats, birds, insects?
He began to tap his fingers on his arm, trying his best to keep calm. His gaze slowly traveled around the room, spotting ladies in lovely dresses, some more polished than others, but who also looked so much haughtier than the rest.
His mother’s plea to find a demure woman certainly ruled them out. But the other ladies, those in plain dresses and even plainer faces told him that they were probably the country miss wallflowers of every ball. He did not want that either.
Yes, wallflowers were perfectly capable of being good wives and country misses even more so, but a part of him wanted…something more. A mix of sophistication, beauty and brilliance, not to mention honesty and loyalty.
“Lord Tennesley,” Lord Easton said, the other man coming closer. “I’m glad you made it too.”
He inclined his head and lifted his card. “I think this is a game I am not familiar with.”
Quentin lifted his, showing Oswald the drawing of a bear. “I think so too, but I suppose Lady Ravenswood will explain it all.”
“Yes,” he replied curtly, then went back to his thoughts of finding a demure woman.
Who in this room has those qualities?His eyes landed on Lady Aphrodite—again.Devil and Damnation!
From the moment she had addressed him, it was this young Lady that had relentlessly seized his attention. It was not just her classical looks—her blonde hair; alabaster skin; and bright blue eyes that had a slight feline tilt at the corners—or her quick quips. It was something more that he could not put a finger on.
Something about her called to him, but he was not a fool. It had taken hindsight, but it had forced him to learn to be overly cautious with coy innocents…because Claire had been one. He had fallen head over heels at the sight of her shining blonde hair and beautiful gray eyes, how she had batted her lashes, whispered in his ear and teased him with kisses.
The image of her was enough for him to recoil, as if he had been jabbed with a hot iron. The past was done with, and he would never repeat those mistakes again. But why had he danced with Lady Aphrodite knowing all that?
I suppose I am a glutton for punishment.
Lady Ravenswood entered the room, her face as unflappable as always. She stood and looked around the room. “I know a few of you are doubtful and I agree with you. Matchmaking is not an exact science—”
