The moment he looked at her she quickly looked away once more. “What I mean to say is, are you recovered from your horse’s misfortune?” she added before taking a sip of what appeared to be clouded lemonade. “What was it again? A cast shoe?”
“It was, indeed,” Thomas responded with a nod, sipping from his own glass.
“I must admit, Lord Warrington, I am rather surprised that you would ride to such an event,” Miss Skeffington announced, her voice nonchalant if perhaps a little challenging. “Is it not awkward to ride with one’s cases packed for an entire week?”
Thomas was sure he felt her cast a mischievous glance his way but when he glimpsed down at her he found that she was again looking at the piano forte. A second song had begun to play and glancing around the room it appeared that not another living soul was paying any attention to their conversation.
“If you must know, Miss Skeffington, my carriage was packed and prepared but unfortunately it was learned that one of the wheels had splintered,” Thomas explained without so much as a glance in her direction. Even before he had finished, he got the sense that he could tell what she was going to say next.
The air between them had grown thick with tension and although Thomas still found her quite beautiful, so much so that he forced himself not to look at her for to long for fear he might never be able to look away again, he also found that she was quite infuriating.
“Would it not have been a better idea to wait for a second carriage to be packed rather than riding all this way?” she asked and although he did not look at her and she did not look at him, he could practically feel the mocking smile upon her face.
It burned him rather more than his father’s own taunts had in such matters, and he quickly placed his free hand behind his back, balling it into a fist until he could feel his fingernails digging into his palm in order to keep a lid upon his riled temper. A part of him was almost certain that she was testing him, though for what reason he could not determine.
“I do believe that you and my father would have gotten on remarkably well,” the Earl muttered under his breath only to realise that he had said the words aloud when he felt the Viscount’s daughter twisting to look at him. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw her raise one perfectly golden blonde eyebrow with intrigue yet.
“Pardon me?” she asked. Waiting a moment to regain his composure, Thomas tried to determine whether she had indeed heard his words and wished for him to extent and explanation or whether she had merely not heard him.
Finally deciding upon the latter, he added, “What I mean to say is that I do not live far from Kendall Hall, and it seemed silly for me to wait for a carriage when riding by horseback is much faster.”
“Are you still able to say that now, my lord?” Miss Skeffington’s voice was filled with good humour and, although her mockery was quite infuriating, Thomas found that it was also a breath of fresh air. It had been a long time since any woman had been daring enough to speak to him in such a manner, tempting his anger without ever truly saying anything that could be deemed disrespectful or offensive.
“I am going to have to watch out for you, am I not, Miss Skeffington?” he asked, openly assuring her that he had noticed her attitude and that he was more than up for the challenge. Turning in her direction, he waited, adamant for her response.
Even more so as you appear to be the only unmarried lady at these events,he added silently to himself, not wishing to let her in on the fact he had taken the time to notice her so closely, to point out the fact that she had yet to make an attachment. He told himself it was because he did not wish to offend the lady but deep down, he was almost certain it was something more.
“Ah, as I am the only unattached lady amongst this party, I rather believe you shall be watching out for me, Lord Warrington,” Miss Skeffington said, almost as if she had read his mind. For just a moment, Thomas could not stop his mouth from gaping open in astonishment.
“It is quite conceded of you, is it not, Miss Skeffington, to assume that because you are the only unattached female you shall be the main attraction for every bachelor,” Thomas told her in the hopes of giving her a taste of her own mockery. It appeared that his words did not have the desired affect because Miss Skeffington’s gaze quickly began to gleam with amusement.
“Do not think me a fool, Lord Warrington. I am aware of the schemes my friend has come up with,” Alice announced, turning her attention back to the piano as if her announcement was of little consequence. Thomas continued to gaze at her, uncertain, if a little confused as to what she was talking about.
“Miss Skeffington, I must admit that you have me at a loss as to what you mean,” he responded, feeling quite abashed at the fact. It was rare for anyone, especially a young woman, to leave him feeling confused.
“Oh, please, Lord Warrington.” Miss Skeffington chuckled. For a moment Thomas watched the way her high cheekbones rounded with her brilliant smile. She was practically apple cheeked. “Do you honestly expect me to believe as Lady Kendall’s closest friend that you, Lord Kendall’s closest friend, are not well aware of why you have been invited here this week?”
Thomas remained silent, whacking his brain for what she could possibly mean. Though he was now certain something was amiss and even more aware that Miss Skeffington was well informed on what it was, he was at a loss, unable to quite grasp the train of thought that appeared so obvious to her.
As if she sensed his continued confusion, Miss Skeffington turned her gaze upon him once more, her hazel eyes darkening with suspicion.
“I am unsure as to why you believe I am here, Miss Skeffington, but as far as I am aware, I am here merely for merriment and the chance to catch up with an old friend,” Thomas announced. Slightly unnerved by her intoxicating gaze upon him, he turned his own gaze away and focused on nothing in particular across the room.
It was not until Miss Skeffington offered a deep and clearly disheartened sigh that he found himself turning his gaze back to her, unable to stop himself from feeling the urge to make whatever was wrong better again. “Is something the matter, Miss Skeffington?”
“My lord, I fear you have been misled into a situation that we both would likely wish to avoid,” Miss Skeffington announced. She glanced at him, her eyes catching his once more before she urged him to look across the room with an inclination of her head.
Following her gaze, Thomas noticed Owen and his wife standing across the room. They were side by side and although they both appeared to be watching the entertainment, now one of the male guests and his wife playing and singing, Lady Kendall glanced in their direction, an enquiring look upon her face.
Thomas had seen that look many times before upon the faces of mothers and older sisters, on women who were determined to see their matchmaking schemes come into fruition and even before Miss Skeffington continued, Thomas realised he knew exactly what she was saying, “You see, Lord Warrington, Lady Kendall appears to have devised this entire ordeal to find me a courtship.”
Though he had been suspicious of the fact for quite some time that evening, hearing the words out loud Thomas could not help but snort with derision as he assured her, “Miss Skeffington, I can say with absolute certainty that is not why I have come here tonight.”
The moment that the words were out Thomas feared that he might have offended the lady. He opened his mouth, beginning to apologise, only to find that Miss Skeffington was already shaking her head. She raised a hand to stop him from saying anything and offered him a smile. It appeared that she was not offended at all. In fact, she appeared quite relieved as she sighed, “That is some small relief for me then.”
He opened his mouth to be certain he had not offended her only to realise that he, himself, was now offended the moment she turned her gaze back to the attention of the entertainment.
What? Am I not pleasing enough to be a suitor?he asked himself, glancing for a moment around the room at the other men who had also been invited. If Miss Skeffington was right, and her friend had indeed set this entire thing up for her, then Thomas could not help but wonder how successful the whole thing might be.