Page 6 of A Rogue for Christmas
His eyes narrowed on the movement, his forehead now creased in a frown. For one absurd moment, she thought he was going to reach out to soothe the small hurt she’d given herself.
“My lord, how nice of you to join us,” Celia said, appearing on her right.
Her sister Lily appeared on her left. “If you’re looking for the gentlemen, I believe they’re in the billiard room.”
His forehead cleared, and his expression took on his customary amusement. As though there was a running dialogue inside his head and he was constantly coming up with funny witticisms to explain what was happening around him. She wondered what that voice was saying about this current turn of events.
No. She couldn’t allow herself to wonder anything about this man. He was an experienced man of the world. A rake. He wasn’t interested in her at all, not when he spent his free time gambling with his peers and bedding loose women.
Her stomach soured at the thought of the other women he’d been with, but she refused to allow him to see it. He met her gaze, and she got the impression that he wanted to speak toher. In private.
“Of course,” he said. “I didn’t realize that we were segregating our activities based on sex.” The way he emphasized that last word, as though he were intentionally trying to shock them, had her interest sparking anew. Damn this man. Why was he so captivating?
Celia and Lily shifted closer to her, and she realized they were trying to protect her. She wanted to laugh at them. Lord Wentworth was most definitelynotinterested in her, much to her chagrin.
The dowager viscountess swept into the room then, and the expression on her face was almost comical. It was inconceivable to her that he would have stumbled into the drawing room when it was clearly set aside for just the women right then. Clearly she knew nothing about the man’s reputation. Iris had only met the man once, but she would have guessed that if one were in search of Wentworth, they should look to where the women were congregating.
Or secreted away in one of the bedchambers with someone. Somehow she kept her mouth from twisting at that thought.
They moved to the side as Celia’s mother-in-law placed herself squarely before him, for all intents and purposes as though she were guarding the entrance.
“My lord, I understand that this is your first house party. There will be ample opportunity for everyone to gather together later. But we’ve learned over the years that men like their time alone together.”
Wentworth met her gaze again over the dowager’s shoulder, and she came to a bizarre realization that she could read his thoughts. And Wentworth wanted her to know that what the dowager viscountess was saying was that it was the women who wanted some time away from the men so that they could gossip.
And since they’d been doing just that when she arrived, she couldn’t deny it. She lifted one shoulder in a small shrug, and his eyes sparked with amusement.
He turned back to Lady Thornton. “Of course. I must have gotten the hours wrong. I thought we were to all meet here.”
“Oh no, there is a set time when the men can gather together in various areas of the house. I’ll make sure that someone gives the schedule to your valet. Until then…”
Iris wanted to stay and hear what he was going to say next. Or barring that, stay and see if she could read his thoughts again the next time he looked at her. But while the dowager viscountess droned on about the schedule, Celia and Lily linked their arms through hers and took her back to the spot they’d commandeered near the window.
It took every ounce of strength she had not to glance back to see what was happening in the doorway. “Is Violet still in her room? And I don’t see Clara.”
Lily gave her head a small shake. “Violet wanted to write a letter to a friend. Honestly, she’s always writing letters of late. I’m a little worried about her. Will she even know how to engage with people next season when she comes out? At least Seaford’s sister is often with her, so she isn’t completely feral.”
Iris laughed. “I know you’re not able to visit as often now that you’re married, but I can assure you that our sister doesn’t spend all her time writing letters.” She waited until Lily let out a small sigh of relief before adding, “At least not when she’s visiting with Clara. Otherwise, she spends the rest of her time reading.”
Lily grimaced, and Iris couldn’t hold back her laugh. Violet had always enjoyed reading and scribbling in her journal. To be honest, Iris had been relieved when their youngest sister had started writing letters to various acquaintances.
Celia leaned in close, her voice barely above a whisper. “You need to take care, Iris. My husband told me that Lord Wentworth has accepted this invitation because of you.”
Iris couldn’t help it, she burst out laughing at the earnest expression on her cousin’s face.
“This is quite serious. You need to be careful and make sure you’re never alone with him.”
“Well, perhaps that’s going a bit too far,” Lily added. “I’m sure a minute here or there throughout the next few days won’t cause a scandal. Everyone else will be doing it. Besides, if he’s decided to court my sister, we need to give him the opportunity to do so.”
Iris looked from her sister, who seemed to believe what she was saying, to Celia, whose mouth had set into a disapproving line. Surely they didn’t believe the fiction they were telling her.
“I think Thornton is having fun at your expense,” she said, trying to ease her cousin’s very obvious distress. “Lord Wentworth is someone who enjoys spending time with experienced women. There is nothing you can say to make me believe that he came here to seeme.” She let out another laugh, but this one had an edge to it she didn’t want to think about. Disappointment, perhaps?
“I think Celia is correct. Simon told me the same thing, and he wanted me to keep an eye on you.”
She pierced her sister with a penetrating glance and was careful to keep her voice low when she replied to that ridiculous admonishment. “Would this be the same husband who kidnapped you and spent the night with you,alone, in a small cottage before you were married?”
Lily’s eyes widened, and she glanced about them to see if anyone had overheard. When she was satisfied no one was near, she hissed back at her, “Are you trying to cause a scandal?”
