Page 58 of Notorious

Gabriel took a deep breath, counted to ten, and tried again. “Drusilla has had a difficult time of it, and I’d prefer not to have her upset yet again.”

“Perhaps you should have thought of that before you left her alone on your wedding night to go gallivanting about town.”

Gabriel gaped.

She didn’t look away, but a red stain was creeping up her neck.

“What the devil are you talking about, Eva?”

“You were obviously at White’s, since Visel found you there and apologized to you—didn’t he?”

Her reasoning was unassailable, but somehow he thought that was not the whole of it.

“I don’t wish to argue with you, Eva.”

“Then don’t.”

He studied her beautiful, rigid profile and sighed. When she was in one of these moods, it didn’t matter how much a person cajoled her: she wouldn’t leave her irritation behind until she was ready. Luckily the music indicated the dance was about to end, so he could drop the matter, telling himself a dance floor was hardly the place for a discussion of such a subject—and certainly not with his mercurial sister.

They returned to where Lady Exley sat with several other married women. Gabriel thought his mother was looking rather pale and cursed the need to drag her out in such a condition. Although she would deny it, each pregnancy seemed to be harder than the last. But she’d insisted on being here and also attending the theater tomorrow night.

“I can offer my support for these two appearances, Jibril,” she’d said when he’d tried to argue. Gabriel had looked to the marquess, but Exley had, surprisingly, agreed.

“I don’t like it, either, but we need to provide a unified front. And these are the two events you’ve discussed with Visel. We should all be there.”

So, here she was, wan and exhausted, but at least she was sitting.

“Can I get you something to drink, Mama?”

Her gaze flickered over his shoulder, and she smiled. Gabriel knew who was behind him before he even turned.

“Thank you, Jibril, but you may see to your wife and sister.”

Drusilla went to sit beside Eva while the marquess came toward his wife, exchanging a glance with her that appeared to contain entire conversations. “Lemonade, my dear?”

“Thank you, Adam. I would love a glass.” When he turned to go fetch her drink, she gestured Gabriel closer. “We will slip out during supper, Jibril.”

“You needn’t stay, Mama. The first rush of fascination is over. People are beginning to lose interest. Eva can stay with us and I will bring her home. We will be fine.”

“I know you are fine, my son, but how is Drusilla? This cannot be easy for her.”

“No, but she is a strong woman.” He smiled. “Like another woman I know.”

Again her gaze flickered over his shoulder, but this time her smile was cool rather than melting. The hairs on Gabriel’s neck rose as he turned.

“Ah, and this must be Lord Visel,” the marchioness said, her tone like an arctic cold front.

The tall blond man flashed her a smile of genuine amusement as he took her hand and bowed low over it. “And you must be the famed Lady Exley.” He lowered his mouth over her gloved hand but—wisely—did not touch it with his lips. Even so, Gabriel bristled at the sight of this man touching his mother.

As if sensing the incipient violence, Lady Exley pulled her hand away, cutting Gabriel a mildly repressive look.

“You are even lovelier than I’d heard, my lady.” Visel didn’t appear to notice his mother’s frosty expression. Instead, his eyes moved on to Eva and Drusilla. “Lady Eva, Mrs. Marlington, please let me take this opportunity to apologize for my behavior the other evening.”

Drusilla eyed him with a cool, unruffled stare that made Gabriel proud. “I’m ready to put the entire affair behind me, my lord.”

“As am I,” Eva added, her face almost dangerously composed. Gabriel felt a twinge of apprehension as he looked at his sister’s tight expression, but Visel’s smile only grew.

“You are indeed generous in your forgiveness. I hope it extends to a dance with each of you? Perhaps the next set, Mrs. Marlington?”