Kate pondered this for a few moments, then stated the obvious. “Her parents cannot be pleased.”
“I don’t know that they are aware.”
“Oh my.” Kate sounded sufficiently impressed by this gossipy tidbit that Gregory turned to look at her. Sure enough, her eyes were wide and sparkling.
“Do try to contain yourself,” he said.
“But it’s the most excitement I’ve had all spring.”
He looked her squarely in the face. “You need to find a hobby.”
“Oh, Gregory,” she said, giving him a little nudge with her elbow. “Don’t allow love to turn you into such a stuff. You’re far too much fun for that. Her parents will never allow her to marry the secretary, and she’s not one to elope. You need only to wait her out.”
He let out an irritated exhale.
Kate patted him comfortingly. “I know, I know, you wish to have things done. Your sort is never one for patience.”
“My sort?”
She flicked her hand, which she clearly considered enough of an answer. “Truly, Gregory,” she said, “this is for the best.”
“That she is in love with someone else?”
“Stop being so dramatic. I meant that it will give you time to be certain of your feelings for her.”
Gregory thought of the gut-punched feeling he got every time he looked at her. Good God, especially the back of her neck, strange as that seemed. He couldn’t imagine he needed time. This was everything he’d ever imagined love to be. Huge, sudden, and utterly exhilarating.
And somehow crushing at the same time.
“I was surprised you didn’t ask to be seated with her at supper,” Kate murmured.
Gregory glared at the back of Lady Lucinda’s head.
“I can arrange it for tomorrow, if you wish,” Kate offered.
“Do.”
Kate nodded. “Yes, I—Oh, here we are. The music is ending. Pay attention now and look like we’re polite.”
He stood to applaud, as did she. “Have you ever not chattered all the way through a music recital?” he asked, keeping his eyes front.
“I have a curious aversion to them,” she said. But then her lips curved into a wicked little smile. “And a nostalgic sort of a fondness, as well.”
“Really?” Now he was interested.
“I don’t tell tales, of course,” she murmured, quite purposefully not looking at him, “but really, have you ever seen me attend the opera?”
Gregory felt his brows lift. Clearly there was an opera singer somewhere in his brother’s past. Where was his brother, anyway? Anthony seemed to have developed a remarkable talent for avoiding most of the social functions of the house party. Gregory had seen him only twice aside from their interview the night he arrived.
“Where is the scintillating Lord Bridgerton?” he asked.
“Oh, somewhere. I don’t know. We’ll find each other at the end of the day, that is all that matters.” Kate turned to him with a remarkably serene smile. Annoyingly serene. “I must mingle,” she said, smiling at him as if she hadn’t a care in the world. “Do enjoy yourself.” And she was off.
Gregory hung back, making polite conversation with a few of the other guests as he surreptitiously watched Miss Watson. She was chatting with two young gentlemen—annoying sops, the both of them—while Lady Lucinda stood politely to the side. And while Miss Watson did not appear to be flirting with either, she certainly was paying them more attention than he’d received that evening.
And there was Lady Lucinda, smiling prettily, taking it all in.
Gregory’s eyes narrowed. Had she double-crossed him? She didn’t seem the sort. But then again, their acquaintance was barely twenty-four hours old. How well did he know her, really? She could have an ulterior motive. And she might be a very fine actress, with dark, mysterious secrets lying below the surface of her—