Page 38 of The Matchmaker Meets her Duke
"Here we go," the Duchess muttered as the Dowager Viscountess rose to her full height. "Agatha, I would have you know that–"
"Oh look, there's Ashton. Lord Riverton! Lord Riverton!" Rose called after Ashton. He turned in time to hear the sound of his name, and soon enough Rose had escaped the dreaded group, clinging tight to Ashton's hand as he took her round the room, a protective arm clasped over her waist like a brother's.
Pandora smiled. She was happy for her sister-in-law. Now she had to find her own means of escape.
As if the Duchess could read her mind, she whispered to her, "Any ideas?” A pleasant thrill of surprise ran through Pandora. She did not know much, but she had a feeling she and the new Duchess would be fast friends.
"I'm thinking," she whispered back, while both older ladies bickered about things best left to the past, stolen horses and broken betrothals and biting gossip that either was overly certain the other was spreading against her.
Henrietta, who stood a good head taller than Pandora, had her gaze above her as she clutched her hand excitedly. "Oh look, it's the Baron!"
Pandora tried to look. "Who?" Then it occurred to her that she might in fact have no baron in sight, and was only trying to make way for their escape.
Pandora played along. "Ah yes. The Baron! I see him."
Henrietta hesitated only a second, then cocked her head and planted a cautious kiss on her grandmother's cheek. "Grandmother, I must pay my respects to the Baron–''
"What Baron–"
But the Duchess was already on her heels, Pandora's gloved hand clinging tightly to her elbow. They giggled as they turned their backs. Pandora pushed through the crowd with her new friend in tow. It had been a while since she had genuinely laughed with somebody who was not Emmett.
Yes, Emmett. Where was he? But Henrietta quickly pulled her out of her thoughts. "Can't imagine she'll be too pleased being left alone with her sworn enemy. Do you think they'll bite each other's heads off before the night is over?"
"Far too unlikely for such fine ladies of theton," said Pandora.
"You're right," she said with a laugh.
"Perhaps we'll return to them hugging it out?"
"A lovely sentiment, but it would be more likely for Hell to freeze over."
"Why do they loathe each other so much?"
"The horse?" Henrietta offered.
"It can'tjustbe about some precious horse, surely?" Pandora asked, and she didn't think so. A horse, however precious, couldn't possibly be the reason two powerful women had continuously made an enemy of each other for decades. Or could it?
"Ah, there he is," Henrietta said.
"Who?" Pandora did not have time to think or take him in. One minute, she and Ashton's sister were swirling through the festivities, squeezing their shoulders through, bidding hello to acquaintances, kissing friends leaving early goodbye. And the next, he was standing before her. A man from six years ago. The man from her worst nightmare.
"Peter–" Pandora choked on air.
Henrietta introduced them both. "Lord Fitzroy, the Duchess of Willcrow."
"Pandora," said Peter, taking her reluctant hand in his.
"Oh, yes. I forgot you two were already acquainted."
Acquainted. Pandora scoffed at the word. It was one fine way to put it.
"How lovely to see you again," Peter said easily. Of course. He had always had that easy, devil-may-care air to him. Fine for a rake but poor for any man who wished to settle and hold a family down. It amazed Pandora that she hadn't seen through it sooner. Before he had left her at the altar.
It amazed her even more so that here stood before her a man whom she had felt all the love in the world for. Not to say that she hated him now. But she felt a wave of indifference toward him and his pretentious charms, and perhaps a slight annoyance at having to ruin her so far lovely evening by having to hold a conversation with him.
She would rather be doing nearly anything else.
Already acquainted.The words ticked off in Pandora's ears, like a bomb. She turned to the Duchess, a sharp new glint in her eyes.
