Page 81 of The Lady Tempts an Heir

“No, it’s not that.” But Camille couldn’t seem to stop herself from glancing toward the door again.

“Then what is it?” Violet leaned in.

Seeming to realize she had said too much, Camille released Violet’s hands and straightened, pushing a strand of a hair from her brow. “Nothing, I was simply surprised. Excuse me, I must go say hello to August.”

Helena stifled a laugh as Violet watched her friend cross the room through narrowed eyes. “That was odd,” Violet said. “Thatwasodd, right?”

“Very odd,” Helena said. Just then the door opened and two gentlemen walked in, one of them Jacob Thorne. “Oh, this will be interesting.”

Violet disguised her giggle by covering her mouth with her hand. Thorne’s gaze kept going back to Camille as he made his way through the room, greeting everyone in turn. Camille, for her part, was very careful not to look his way even once.

“Well, it looks as if there is another couple in need of nudging.”

“Violet! You will not interfere. That was very ill of you to taunt me with Amelia Van der Meer.”

Violet laughed. “It worked, didn’t it? Sometimes people are stubborn when it comes to what they want, and they need a little nudge.” Wagging her eyebrows, she wandered off to commit mischief.

“Spoken like a true Crenshaw,” Helena muttered.

Max quickly took Violet’s place at her side and pulled Helena against him. “What is Violet off to do?” he whispered as he kissed her brow.

“After her success with us, she fancies herself a matchmaker now.”

He chuckled. “Lord help them.”