Page 51 of Charity

“He insulted Aggie.”

“And now he will be more curious about her place in your affections. You could have handled that better.”

Oscar shrugged. “Hardly matters now.”

“Why? What’s going on?”

Oscar clapped his friend on the shoulder. “Change is good for the soul, they say. I’m sick of playing by society’s rules.”

Daventry set his hands to his hip. “If you’re about to elope, then for God’s sake, keep your voice down.”

Oscar grinned. “Not eloping. Not yet, at any rate.”

“Good.” Daventry raked his fingers through his hair. “Lilly is planning to host your wedding breakfast. Don’t disappoint her.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it. Did you speak to my mother?”

“Yes, thank you. She was a great comfort.” Daventry stirred restlessly. “We should rejoin the ladies. My wife will be wondering where we’ve gotten ourselves to.”

Daventry moved off with the other men, but Oscar dawdled. He fell into step with Thomas Birkenstock. He gave Oscar an odd look then quickly crossed to his granddaughter’s side, spoiling his chance to flirt with Agatha again that night.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Agatha poured the very last cup of tea for herself then sank into the nearest chair. Keeping her emotions under control tonight was proving more than a little difficult. She’d thought she could stand the strain of socializing with Oscar’s betrothed, but quite honestly her thoughts were becoming a touch violent. The elegant, dark beauty and her equally admired elder sister were holding court a little to the side of Lilly.

They both seemed determined, by accident or design, to make Lilly appear a visitor to their social whirl. Not that Lilly—sweet but slightly naive Lilly—had the remotest inkling of their contempt. But Lady Carrington had noticed. The viscountess had taken up a post beside the new bride and was steering the conversation back into calmer waters where Lilly would feel at ease.

The main doors creaked open, and the gentlemen joined them not a moment too soon. Both Lady Prewitt and Penelope descended on Lord Prewitt, ignoring the rest of the male company as they returned. Agatha couldn’t understand their fascination with Lord Prewitt. He wasn’t even that handsome to look at. Perhaps he had hidden qualities that lent to his appeal.

“Ah, there you are, child,” her grandfather gasped as he sat.

Agatha studied his face. He seemed more tired than when he’d first returned home. “Are you unwell?”

“No, no,” her grandfather replied as he mopped his brow. “Just a spot of indigestion. Lord Daventry sets a fine table. I’ll be right in a moment.”

Relieved, Agatha patted his arm. “That he does. Lilly claims all his teeth are sweet, not just one.”

Her grandfather gave her a shrewd look and nodded his head. “You are very much enamored of Lady Daventry, aren’t you?”

“Yes, sir. She is my very good friend.”

“And the seating arrangement tonight?” Her grandfather raised his eyes to the doorway and caught Oscar staring at them.

“I don’t know what you mean, sir.”

Beside her, her grandfather slumped a little. “I had an inkling once upon a time, but when nothing came of it, I dismissed the notion. I was quite wrong to do so, wasn’t I?”

Agatha’s cheeks heated. Dash it. She had tried so hard to seem indifferent, but Oscar’s attentive conversation tonight had ruined it all. Now she had to lie. “The viscount is an engaging man as a dinner companion. It would have been rude of me to ignore his conversation.”

“Was he in any way forward with his speech? If he was, I’ll have his head.”

Agatha placed a restraining hand on her grandfather’s arm, alarmed by the high color in his cheeks. “He was very proper in his speech, sir. There is no cause for concern.”

Her grandfather subsided, but his high color remained. It wouldn’t do him any good to become vexed over a simple seating arrangement. She hoped he wouldn’t become equally distressed, should Oscar come to call tomorrow. Given Oscar was already engaged to be married, Agatha wondered how distressed her grandfather could become over the potential scandal. But if Oscar could convince him that they were in love, wouldn’t that smooth things over?

To her relief, the Prewitts and Lady Penelope departed early.

Good riddance. Now they could all be easy again.