Page 61 of The Duke’s Hidden Duchess

“Limited.”

“I shall consult Petherick about the precise allowance.”

She almost laughed, which she suspected had been his intention. She kept the sound back and looked instead towards the lawn.

The gathering had already divided into its smaller constellations. Gentlemen stood with their hats beneath their arms near the terrace steps. Two elderly ladies had secured the deepest patch of shade and showed no intention of surrendering it. Somewhere beyond the nearest awning a burst of laughter rose above the music and disappeared again.

Across the lawn Georgiana had already been claimed by two young ladies of her acquaintance. She looked back once.

Selina inclined her head.

Georgiana understood and went with them. Within moments the three young women had been absorbed into another group, and no one watching them would have had reason to suppose the glance had meant anything.

Mrs Ottley arrived shortly before four.

Rowland came with her.

Selina saw him before he saw her and had the advantage of several seconds in which to study him without being studied in return.

He looked much as he always did: well dressed enough to disguise the expense of being well dressed, his ease calculated to suggest that every lawn in England expected him. He accepted a greeting from one gentleman, smiled at something Mrs Ottley said and took a glass from a passing servant without once appearing to look about him for anyone.

Nothing in his manner betrayed the quarrel at the Wexford Arms.

That, Selina thought, was useful in its way. A man determined to appear untroubled had already committed himself to a performance.

She felt Nathaniel grow still beside her.

“Go,” she said.

“I have not done anything.”

“You have begun doing it with your jaw.”

He exhaled through his nose.

“Where?”

Selina kept her attention upon the lawn rather than upon Rowland.

“Lord Fairburn has been trying to attract your attention for five minutes. Go and discuss something expensive with him.”

“I shall discuss drainage. It will punish us both.”

“Nathaniel.”

The humour left his face.

His gaze met hers.

“Be careful.”

“I shall.”

For another moment he remained where he was. Then he crossed the lawn towards Lord Fairburn, who received him with every appearance of relief and immediately began speaking. Nathaniel did not look back.

Selina was grateful for that.

She waited another quarter of an hour.