Page 14 of The Earl and the Vixen
She was supposed to always be his. A fact she seemed to have forgotten, or perhaps it was a tribute to her incredible acting abilities. He downed the rest of his brandy and continued watching for her.
Ockham approached him as Nick refilled his glass.
“Are you enjoying yourself?” Ockham asked.
“Indeed,” Nick replied, holding up his glass. It would be a regular lie as long as he was trapped in the same housewith Eliza, reliving the best memories and worst pains of his life.
“My wife would be quite put out if you weren’t, so I am glad to hear it.”
Nick shook his head and laughed. “We can’t have that. I might be just a tad afraid of her, if we are honest.”
“Me too, my good man,” Ockham jested. “But she’s the best thing that ever happened to me.”
Nick fought the urge to gag and sought to change the subject. “It seems that Rosina might have found someone who caught her eye,” Nick said, nodding towards where Lady Rosina Preston stood chatting with the Duke of St. Albans.
“I thought you might have taken an interest since you partnered with her for Pall Mall,” Ockham said, assessing his reaction.
Laughing, Nick elbowed his friend. “I’d never take our dear friend’s widow to bed. God rest his soul. I wonder what he’d think of her resolve to remain unwed, and well…you know.”
“Well, my wife finds the lady’s intentions admirable and supports a woman’s decision to decide her own future. She’s probably right. Who are we to judge what the lady wishes to do?” Ockham asked, shrugging. “Besides, my wife and I had bets on who the lady would select, and it appears my wife just might win.”
Nick eyed his friend curiously. “What are the terms of this bet?”
Ockham laughed and patted his friend on the back. “I shan’t tell you, but just know that either way, I come out a winner.”
Nick rolled his eyes and took a large gulp of his drink. “I’m sure you do.” He glanced around the room again and tamped down his irritation that Eliza hadn’t made her appearance yet. A sudden panic overtook him, and he scanned the room, looking for Lord Irvine. Every second he spent trying to locate the man constricted his chest tighter.
Finally, he spotted him in the corner chatting with a few other guests, Eliza not in his company, either. The tension eased slightly.
“My wife also has some ideas on who you might pair nicely with, Craven.”
Eye rolls were going to be common for the duration of the house party as well, it would seem. “I have already told you that I’m not interested.”
“Are you ever going to tell me who the woman was?” Ockham asked. “Surely enough time has passed that you might be ready to move on.”
“If your wife had rejected you to marry another, would your heart so easily recover?” Nick asked, then felt bad for snapping at his friend. Even if Nick knew she hadn’tactually married, his friend wasn’t aware of that new revelation, and better to keep to the story. At least they wouldn’t be able to guess who the mystery lady was. His hosts would become tiresome if they knew his past love was in attendance at their party.
The man frowned, and his eyes pained in response. “No, it wouldn’t. Please accept my apologies.”
“None needed,” Nick said. “Don’t worry about me. I am perfectly well.”
Ockham’s wife approached, and both gentlemen shifted their attention to her, bowing.
“Everything all right, my love?” Ockham asked.
She looped her arm in her husband’s and laid her free hand on the same bicep. Nick hated how his heart pained at the simple gesture between the couple.
“Indeed. Lady Eliza isn’t feeling well, so I had a tray and tisane sent to her chamber.”
Nick took a large gulp of his drink to keep from asking his hostess questions about Eliza. He had little doubt that Eliza only feigned illness to avoid seeing him after their encounter that afternoon. She couldn’t hide from him for the entire party. He would get the answers he needed from her. She at least owed him that.
A pretty, voluptuous miss approached their group. Nick recognized her as the friend that had been at Eliza’s side last night and at breakfast. She curtsied to the groupand spoke to their hostess. “Do I have enough time to check on Eliza before dinner?” she asked. “I just wish to see that she is all right.”
Lady Ockham eyed the clock on the mantel. “I should think so. Dinner shall be served in another quarter hour.” Lady Ockham glanced at Nick. “Lady Juliet, have you been introduced to Lord Craven?”
Nick saw a flash of shock and then anger cross the young lady’s expression before settling on a tight smile. Interesting. She must have some awareness of his and Eliza’s past. He wasn’t sure why it delighted him that Eliza had spoken of him to another, even though it appeared that the young lady didn’t think too highly of him.
“I don’t believe we have,” Nick said, bowing to her. “Pleased to meet you, my lady.”
