Page 9 of Wedded to the Forbidden Duke
How brightly would those striking green eyes blaze when brought to the heights of passion?
Miss Banfield, for her part, also saw them—and it was impossible to mistake the way her eyes lit up when she saw Zachary before she immediately bashfully averted them.
Her mother, Lady Sheridan, upon catching sight of the two gentleman—and of the young earl Zachary specifically, Ian had no doubt—touched Lady Lindbury’s arm enthusiastically, hastening her friend to pick up the pace and leading the merry band of ladies in the gentleman’s direction. She was the first to address them.
“Lord Lindbury. Your Grace.” Lady Sheridan bowed to both of them in turn, practically bubbling over with excitement. “How pleasant to run into the two of you on such a lovely day as this.”
“A lovely day exceeded only by the loveliness of the ladies before us,” Ian replied, putting on his most charming smile. It worked; Lady Sheridan blushed and babbled. It did not escape his notice that Lady Cecilia rolled her eyes and quietly scoffed in response. “Might I ask what brings the four of you out today? Are you simply out for a stroll?”
“Oh! Such a polite gentleman.” Lady Sheridan nodded. “The four of us are just coming from the modiste. The young ladies were inneed of new gowns for the ball I am hosting this Friday. Oh! I do hope we will see you both there?”
“You will be missing out on a great deal if you do not,” said Cecilia, pointedly avoiding eye contact with the duke as she plastered a cheery grin across her face. “It is set to be a most lavish and exciting evening. And that is not even mentioning our new gowns.”
“Yes,” Nancy said, still with her eyes shyly on the ground. “It would be lovely to have you both in attendance.”
Lady Cecilia smiled. “You really must see Nancy’s dress, Zachary,” she insisted, blatantly trying to facilitate conversation between the two of them. Ian very barely held back an eye roll of his own. “It is a most fetching shade of blue. Blue really brings out her eyes, do you not agree?”
Zachary’s cheeks reddened slightly. “Why, yes, I—” he stammered, before locking eyes with Nancy, and smiling. “Yes,” he said again, more softly. “I suppose I cannot decline an invitation to such an event.”
Ian fought back a frown. Cecilia, on the other hand, could not have looked more pleased with herself.
“Well,” Ian said, as though eager to change the subject. “We ought to let you ladies return to your promenade. And thank you for the invitation to the ball, Lady Sheridan. I most look forward to the occasion.” He bowed to the Dowager Viscountess, who seemed as though she might swoon with delight at the moment.
“It will be a most delightful evening indeed,” Cecilia said, catching his eyes as he rose from the bow. Lightning seemed to pass between them at the look. “The theme is a night for love. I expect we will find more than a few love matches blossoming at the occasion. Though I understand that is not the type of thing you fancy, Your Grace?”
Ian smiled politely. “Wherever my fancies may lie, I cannot deny the power of love,” he said. “I am certain that a ball themed that way will do wonders to reveal the true nature of people’s affections for one another. And, of course, the lack thereof.”
Cecilia’s eyes hardened. “Yes,” she said. “I look forward to seeing the events of the night unfold.” She curtsied. “Your Grace. Brother.”
As she and the rest of the ladies began to walk down the street, Ian could not help but take a glance back in her direction. He did not catch her eyes, of course, being that she was walking away. But as he looked back, he did see the side of her head as she returned to face forward. A curtain of golden hair fluttered behind her, as though she was turning around from having glanced back over her shoulder.
As though she had turned back to look athim.
Later on, at the gentlemen’s club, the two men shared a drink. Ian finally asked the question that had been on his mind for thepast few days. “Miss Banfield seems to have quite taken your fancy.”
“Yes.” Zachary swirled his drink, smiling to himself. “She is a pretty thing, is she not?”
“Pretty, sweet, seemingly well accomplished.” Ian tilted his head back, looking at his friend. “Am I to understand that you are finally deigning to set foot in the marriage mart this year? Throwing your hat in the ring, as it were?”
Zachary laughed, nearly choking on his drink. He shook his head. “Do not be ridiculous. Miss Banfield is a lovely diversion, but no more. Just because our European adventure is over, I see no reason to quit the life of leisure just yet.”
“A lovely diversion?” Ian shook his head. “Certainly you should indulge in whatever life you so desire—but I must say Miss Banfield is hardly an appropriate partner for such adventures. She is a respectable lady, Zachary. Clearly, she is sweet on you. It would be unkind to take advantage of those feelings, particularly in a lady so young and impressionable.”
“Unkind? Who are you, and what have you done with my best friend?” Zachary stood up straight and squinted at him. “Do not tell me you have gone soft, Harwick.”
Ian scoffed. “Hardly. I am merely pointing out that we are in London. There are certain rules that must be followed, even by those outside of the traditionally polite societal purview. Everyone we interact with here is part of a very small socialcircle, and any whisper of a scandal would be enough to ruin a lady. Miss Banfield is not worldly, or a widow, or even married at all. She is only just entering the marriage mart. You should not encourage her affections if you do not intend to marry her.”
“Strange lecture, coming from you, of all people. We have always spoken of women this way,Your Grace.”He delivered the title in a joking tone, seemingly hoping to lighten the mood. “From whence come these new, bothersome principles?”
“If you do not wish to consider the principle of the matter, then consider this: Miss Banfield is the bosom friend of your sister, and the daughter of your mother’s closest friend. You are treading dangerous waters, my friend.”
“Be sensible, Harwick. I very much doubt Miss Banfield would confide details of any such tryst with any member of my family, or hers, for that matter.” He laughed again, shaking his head. “Dangerous waters. You say that as though I were an oblivious minnow when you know very well you and I are both sharks. It is we who make the waters dangerous—no, not dangerous. It is we who make the waters interesting.”
Ian shook him off, downing the rest of his drink. Why was he so bothered by this? It was difficult to say. He had always assumed he and Zachary thought similarly. After all, they had both lost parents, even if Zachary still had his mother and sister. They both knew the pain of grief. Love, Ian knew from the death of his parents, was best avoided if one wanted to avoid the inevitable pain of loss. From this perspective, raking was most practical, in addition to being entertaining.
Yet for Miss Banfield, Zachary seemed to be ready to abandon practicality entirely. What could possess him so? Was any young lady so special? In many ways, Zachary was correct. This was always how they had spoken of women. Why should Miss Banfield be any different?
In trying to think about Miss Banfield, as the scotch took hold, Ian found himself only able to think of Cecilia.
