Page 25 of The Duke's Carriage Window
“Lady Kentwell pointed you out to me at the theater,” she added more softly. “You are one of Darius’s friends.”
Felix chuckled. “She is a dear creature, our Suzannah,” Felix said with genuine honesty. Again, Meredith wished she knew how a woman like Suzannah had been so fortunate to be so adored by these men.
“But enough about Kit’s fair lady. I want to know why Darius hasn’t yet introduced you to us.”
“Us?” Meredith asked.
Felix gestured with a nod to someone behind her, and she saw three other men ringing around her, the other men from the night Darius had taken her to the theater.
“It seems Darius has sought to keep you away from us scoundrels.” Felix gestured toward something across the ballroom. “Therefore, we had to devise a way to distract him.”
Meredith saw Darius arm-in-arm with Lady Hazlitt. The older woman was engaged in animated conversation, and it was clear from his surreptitious looks around the room that he was desperately looking for someone, anyone, to aid him in a polite escape.
“A bit unkind of us, I admit, but ultimately harmless,” said Felix. “Now, for the proper introductions. Miss Montague, this is Mr. Vincent Windham.”
A dark-haired man with soft, seductive brown eyes stepped forward and bowed to her.
“This is Lionel Thistlewaite, Viscount Basildon.”
Lionel was also dark haired, and had captivating hazel eyes. His face, while not cruel, held a distant, analytical quality that gave Meredith the impression he was studying her for faults or charms, but which one she wasn’t sure. This man would take his time in making his opinion of her.
“And lastly, this is Mr. Warren Burville.”
“We’ve already had the pleasure,” Warren said with a roguish grin. “I see you survived your dance with the Prince Regent. You created quite a stir. Well done.” He raised the glass of punch he carried in a toast.
“Thank you.” Meredith relaxed a little. Even though Darius’s friends were intimidatingly attractive, she felt no fear, just a feminine shyness that she wasn’t used to. But they were all wonderfully kind, and it was rather fun to have them all wanting to meet her. She’d never experienced such excitement in Yorkshire.
“Thank you, for chasing those men away, Lord Grey. I was becoming quite flustered.”
“Anytime, my dear, anytime. Those pups will be lining up at your door tomorrow after your excellent showing with the Prince Regent. If Darius fails to chase them off, send a messenger and we will come to rescue you. We live on the same street, after all.”
“You live on Knightley Street as well?” she asked Felix.
Felix chuckled. “Of course! We’re the reason they call it Devil’s Square, you see.”
Rather than be frightened by that, or at the least, reasonably hesitant, she wanted to laugh as well. These men didn’t strike her as devils, but simply charming men like Darius who seemed deeply interested in her, not just as a woman, but as a person. They were teasing, affectionate and without artifice, just like Darius. They peppered her with questions about her dances, what she thought of London, and if Darius was behaving himself, which made her blush.
A wonderful warmth filled Meredith’s chest as she spoke to them. She believed them. They might be known as rogues to the general populace, but these friends of Darius were honorable men, and would protect those Darius would protect, even if that person was less conventional than the usual debutante.
Perhaps they would not even mind if Darius were to marry one such as her. Perhaps they would stand alongside Darius and the bride he chose, accepting her into their ranks with the same warmth they had for Suzannah.
But Suzannah was not tainted by the illegitimacy of her birth as she was. Meredith decided against telling them—even the possibility of being rejected by men and their golden touched lives, was too much for her to consider. She would enjoy these precious moments while she could—the truth of her birth would come out soon enough.
“Blast, he’s escaped Lady Hazlitt,” Vincent warned as Darius strode toward them, his expression thunderous.
“Felix, you—” Darius stopped whatever he’d been about to say when he saw Meredith hidden amongst his friends. “Ahh, Meredith, there you are.” Darius’ expression softened. “I see you’ve met my friends.”
“Are we your friends?” Lionel asked with a wry grin. “Because the way you are acting makes us feel like you see us as some sort of Drury Lane villains.”
Darius stared at her, searching her face with concern. Warmth blossomed in Meredith’s cheeks at the intimacy that she felt from that simple look. She wanted to dive into those eyes, which were a sea of purest blue. What she wouldn’t have given in that moment for him to steal her away to the dance floor, or the gardens, it didn’t matter. She just had a desperate need to be alone with him.
“I’m quite fine, Darius. Lord Grey and the others rescued me from an overly eager group of men. I must warn you, I was pushed, and I said I would be receiving visitors tomorrow. I hope I have not spoken out of place. It is your home, after all. I have no right to accept callers without your permission.”
“It is quite fine,” Darius said, albeit a little stiffly. “It is, after all, what you are here for, to meet eligible young men. I shall be present, of course, since we don’t yet have a suitable chaperone.”
“This I must see,” Warren replied. “Expect me to join you.” The other men began teasing Darius that they ought to come as well to ensure that the standards of propriety were met with. Darius soon silenced his friends with a glare.
Warren winked at Meredith while Darius was looking away. Meredith nearly choked as she stifled a giggle. Then Darius turned his focus on her still-red face. He offered her his arm with a warm smile that melted her entire body.
