“Oh, I just spied Miss Delaney, and she is recently and most happily engaged.”
“Well, what does that—”
“Just because you rushed into an inadvisable match with Archie all those years ago does not mean you should be put off the institution entirely.”
Clem narrowed her gaze further. Did Mama have to know her so well? Her engagement to Archie had been rushed—and a mistake. Something Archie had gracefully accepted when she withdrew from their agreement. If he had been anything other than a gentleman, he might well have forced her hand. After all, she’d been that hasty, she had given him all he needed to hold her to the match.
Of course, the family’s unceremonious cut from Society had aided his decision.
“Archie was sweet but dull and not for you, but there are other men out there. Men who will be your equal.” Her mother’s lips curved, her pale blue eyes warming as though lit from behind with a flame. “Your match.”
“Mama, is this your attempt at gaining new inspiration for your paintings? By persuading your daughter she should look for romantic possibilities?”
“Well, I am painting Hades and Persephone at present…”
Ivy frowned. “Did he not kidnap her?”
Mama waved her fan at her. “Hush now. A little romance never hurt anyone. And it would not hurt any of you.”
Clem gave into the urge to snort, albeit quietly enough that only her mother and sister heard it.
Her mother sent her a withering look. “Yes, Clem, what is it you have to say?”
She winced. “Only that, well. You and Papa married for romance and look what happened.”
“Oh yes, look what happened. I enjoy enduring love and a man who stimulates my mind and bo—”
“Mother!” Ivy’s cheeks turned pink.
“And you also suffered society’s scorn for marrying into a purchased title.”
“It never bothered me, girls, and it certainly should not bother you. Your father is a gentleman.”
Clem wasn’t going to argue with her. By all rights, their fatherwasa gentleman. But even though the earldom had effectively been purchased some thirty years ago, no one was willing to forget that anytime soon. Their mother, daughter to the late duke of Daventry, had stepped down to marry for love and few would let her forget it.
“I care little for the rank of a potential suitor, Mama, you know that. You raised us better.” And Society proved its fickleness to Clem time and again. She gave up caring what others thought of this new money family with a tendency for scandal years ago. “But I have no desire to find a match, regardless.” She glanced at her shoes, scowling at the periwinkle blue she’d adored so heartily only a week ago. “I cannot even decide on my favorite color. How am I to decide on a husband? I’ll probably marry and go off him entirely a year later.”
Ivy nodded. “She’s not wrong, Mama. Nothing holds Clementine’s attention for long.”
Clem didn’t get a chance to agree. Her attention snared upon one tall figure accompanied by another almost equally attractive man—Sir Marmaduke Cameron. The family knew Duke fairly well due to him acting as their lawyer, though Clem could not claim to have held many a conversation with him. As far as she knew he was a rakish sort, though charming enough when she’d seen him at the house.
“Some things can hold her attention, it seems.” Her mother’s smile turned devious and Clem’s stomach sank. Her mother waved at someone and only when Duke waved back did Clem realize what her mother intended. She closed her eyes briefly when Duke began to carve his way through the crowds, followed by the surly Lord Rochdale.
“What are you doing, Mama?” Ivy asked.
“Finding something to hold your sister’s attention,” Mama said smugly then took Clem’s arm before she could dart away and become lost in the crowd.
Forcing a stiff smile as the two men approached, Clem met Lord Rochdale’s gaze.
∞∞∞
If a woman could tell a man something with one look, Lady Clementine said it all.
I do not want to be anywhere near you.
Well, Roman did not want to be here anymore than she did—at this book reading or in her presence or anywhere else near the Musgraves for that matter. His family had striven too hard to repair their reputation for it to be sullied by the most notorious family in England. He shot his own look back, but it fizzled when she pursed her lips, drawing his attention to them.
Damn the woman. And damn him. Why did he care if Lady Clementine’s mouth was infinitely kissable? It wasn’t as though he could not get a lover if he wanted one. He certainly didn’t need to be thinking of kissing innocent and entirely inappropriate women.