Page 134 of The Lyon Whisperer
His uncle answered. “Where she’s been most of the night—dancing.”
Her eyes twinkled. “Thought I spotted her more than a few times. Not that her frequent absences lured you from her corner, Culver.”
His uncle snorted, then covered it with a cough when Chase glared at him.
“Truth be told, I’ve been waiting for you to make the rounds and pay my side of the room a visit,” their hostess told him.
“Apologies, madam. I…” He realized had no notion of what to say to defend himself. He gave up, and redirected the conversation. “May I help you with something?”
The lady sniffed and eyed the dance floor meaningfully.
“Would you do me the honor of a dance, madam?” He extended his hand.
With a beatific smile, she placed her gloved hand in his. “I thought you’d never ask.”
Lady Frommer movedlike a lady many years her junior, not that he had any notion of her actual age, but she did have a grown, married daughter, and several grandchildren to boot.
“Tell me, Lord Culver, what was all that business with you and Lord Selbie the other night?”
Chase arched a brow. Her line of questioning caught him off guard. “I’m not sure what you mean.”
Her look said she did not buy his act for a moment. Still, she deigned to clarify. “He was in his cups and behaving like an angry bee, then he threw down the gauntlet concerning that silly book, a gauntlet you summarily stepped over. Tell me, did you smooth things over with him after the ladies withdrew?”
He met her eyes. The intelligence in their faded depths told him not to bother hedging. “No.”
A slow smile spread over her aged face. “Good. I do not like bullies, and I do particularly like your wife. I would have been disappointed if you had not been man enough to stand for her.”
He inclined his head.
“I understand you desire to aid the veterans. Those who came home”—she paused thoughtfully—“with problems. Is that true?”
“Yes.”
Her silver brows shot up. “And you hoped to gain Lord Selbie’s assistance?” Her tone said such a notion was laughable.
“My wife understood he leads a faction that, were he amenable, could aid my cause. I had never actually had the opportunity to speak with the man.”
She snorted. “Selbie wouldn’t give you the time of day?”
“Precisely.”
“Man’s always been a prig. My late husband, Glastonbury, God rest his soul, never liked him, never trusted him, either.”
Unsurprised by this, Chase said nothing.
“You might be interested to know I spoke with the Earl of Claybourne and Viscount Randall about your concern for the veterans. I believe you can look forward to an invitation to join the men at their club sometime in the very near future. Mayhap you will find them amenable to assisting you in your endeavor, Lord Culver.”
Somehow, he carried on leading her in the dance. Inside he was awestruck. “I don’t know what to say, Lady Frommer.”
She lifted her chin. “A simple thanks will suffice.”
“You have my thanks, and my assurance I will not forget your efforts on the veterans’ behalf.”
She smiled. “See that you don’t.”
The sedate pace of the music had carried them the length of the dance floor, and back. Chase glanced at the place in which his small group had staked residence for much of the evening. He spotted his aunt and uncle, and Lady Harriet. Amelia had yet to return, or else she had been claimed for another dance.
“It does a heart good to see the way you dote on your wife, sir, and deservedly so.”
