“Thank you, Jacqueline,” he said with a half laugh at her teasing praise.“But I cannot bring myself to court Miss Fairweather.”
“But you have thought of it?” she asked.
“Of course I have thought of it,” he declared, his eyes locked on Stone and Olivia dancing with joyful vigor.“I am looking for a wife. As you say, she is beautiful and capable and an excellent dancer.”
Her lips twitched at that. Her brother was smitten, whether he wished to admit it or not. Now, she and Stone merely had to ensure Alexander did not get in the way of his own happiness.
“Why don’t you ask her to dance?” she suggested. “I think she would like it.”
“Why?” he asked, driving a hand through his thick, dark hair.
“Because she’s my best friend and you are my brother,” she said, determined to make it all seem very natural. “The two of you should be better acquainted.”
“I suppose there is some validity in your argument,” he allowed.
She smiled inwardly.
He was so easy to maneuver, and the two of them did need to be maneuvered together. She would be so happy if they married. After all, Olivia was her best friend, and the idea of her becoming a part of the family was absolutely thrilling.
And then Olivia would be able to get away from her rather overbearing mother, who was not a bad sort, but was over wont to tell Olivia what to do.
The music came to a close, and she gently brushed her brother’s shoulder with her own. “There now. Swoop her up before someone else gets in.”
And at that moment, she spotted Drexel making his way toward Stone and Olivia. Her stomach coiled.“Not him!” she protested before jabbing her older brother.“You must get to her. Save her.”
Alexander jolted out his self-induced misery and charged across the floor. After all, he knew just how awful Drexel was. And for once she was glad of the man’s impossible nature. It had induced Alexander to action.
The next thing she knew, her brother was bowing and offering his hand to Olivia.
Drexel paused in his pursuit and his mouth turned down, as if Alexander had personally thrown his toys out of his pram.
For that’s what Drexel reminded her of. A very selfish child who had never been told no.
The Duke of Stone smiled over the crowd at her as Olivia and Alexander headed off onto the floor.
Much to her relief, Stone started toward her.
The relief was short-lived, though, as she noticed Drexel pivot in her direction. Apparently, he was determined to make one of the Blackbrook family miserable.
She swallowed back a dose of nerves. She really despised Drexel and wished the fellow would take her at her word. She did not wish to be in his company, and she loathed that society made the protestations of ladies a sign of desired pursuit and not denial.
Luckily, Stone got to her first, offered his arm, and swept her away from the pavilion, toward one of the popular walking paths.
She caught a single glance of Drexel’s face. The irritation that had been there had distilled to anger.
And she wondered what had shaped him so thoroughly to view the world through such a lens in which his only joy came through possession of that which he had to struggle to obtain.
She felt his gaze on her as they headed down into the immaculately made gardens.
“A walk is acceptable? I thought you’d wish to get away from him?” Stone said as he tucked her hand over his arm.
“As long as we do not go to the dark walk,” she said, unable to deny the hum building in her at his body so close, and her arm draped over his.
“Of course. I shall never compromise you,” he said.“Drexel, on the other hand… He seems quite obsessed with your family.”
“Yes,” she agreed, forcing herself to draw in slow breaths and shake off the unease that the man gave her.
Stone easily guided her down the groomed path, which was illuminated with hanging lights that tossed patterns over the hedges and flowerbeds.