Page 16 of Miss Kimble Bites Back

Which was exactly what Mamble had said about Brookes. “But he did come.”

“He did indeed,” Bennett smiled. “My dear, despite your modesty, I suspect you have an admirer there.”

“A duke couldn’t possibly be interested in me,” she promised her cousin. Not for anything but wickedness, perhaps. “I’ve not a dowry of the size he must require in a bride, nor the connection to any great family.”

“Well, stranger things have happened. You are related to Lady Windermere and her husband is a good friend of his.”

“It is a tenuous connection we have with Lady Windermere at best,” she cautioned her cousin.

“All I’m saying is that not every man does what society expects of us,” Bennett promised. “Mamble never has.”

While Gabby appreciated her cousin’s faith in her abilities to bring a duke up to scratch, she was a realist at heart. Her lack of fortune excluded her from the lofty ambition of becoming a duchess. She had to be reasonable in her expectations for her season. She required a husband with a bit of wealth and a kind, happy temperament.

Mamble had only sought an introduction, danced with her, because of their rather scandalous exchange in the library.

However, the duke had done her one great favor by dancing with her last night and calling on her today. But it was not something she could imagine him ever repeating. Lord Brookes had the right of it. The Duke of Mamble would only disappoint her in the end if she thought too much of his interest.

CHAPTER FOUR

“Are you going out again?”

Sebastian froze halfway down the stairs, late for the ball he’d promised to attend, and looked up. His sister Cordelia was watching him from a higher landing. He hadn’t seen her out of her chambers all day and she chose now to show her face? At the very last moment?

“The Pendleberry Ball is tonight,” he told her. “I had promised to go last week. You had an invitation, too. I asked if you would join me, but you declined.”

“I forgot that was tonight,” Cordelia whispered, rubbing her brow. “I’ll see you tomorrow then.”

“Yes, for breakfast as usual,” he agreed.

Sebastian started each day making sure Cordelia got out of bed and dressed, even if she wouldn’t see anyone. For a while, months, she hadn’t done either one. She’d slept heavily, but that couldn’t and shouldn’t have gone on forever. “Or we could go riding together in the morning like we used to do, if you’d prefer,” he suggested, though he didn’t hold out much hope she’d agree.

Cordelia shook her head and fled back toward her chambers. She did not agree to any of his suggestions to go out with him, but still he persisted in reminding her of the fun they used to share. There was a whole world outside she ought to be a part of, but she never could be unless she wanted to.

Sebastian sighed heavily and then continued down the stairs to where the butler waited with his hat and gloves at the ready for his evening out. He was running late because Cordelia had picked at her dinner earlier and he’d lingered, waiting her out until she’d eaten sufficiently enough to sustain her.

The butler pretended nothing was wrong, but Sebastian was certain he had taken note of the exchange with Cordelia on the stairs. “Keep an eye on her movements about the house tonight.”

“As ever, your grace,” he promised. Sometimes Cordelia lingered on the stairs. The London servants were as concerned about Cordelia’s state of mind as Sebastian was. They had been here for her first and disastrous season and must see the difference in her very plainly.

They probably knew what father had done with her after, as well. Everyone who knew Cordelia worried about her fragile state of health. Yet nothing they’d done so far seemed to have any impact or bolstered her confidence.

He pulled on his gloves, frustration making his shoulders hitch up. “Send up a plate of strawberries around eleven and tell her they were from me,” he asked.

“It will be done,” the butler promised. “If I might suggest an addition. Lady Cordelia used to enjoy hot chocolate in the evenings. Shall I send that up too.”

Cordelia ate like a sparrow, and it was beginning to show. Her face was becoming drawn and her hands were always cold when he touched them. Yet the more he pushed her to eat, the more stubbornly she refused. “No. You may ask if she’d care for it but leave the decision to her. She must interact with the servants more,” he replied.

“As you wish,” the butler murmured, stepping aside to open the front door for Sebastian.

Sebastian’s carriage was waiting at the bottom of the steps, and he hurried to climb inside. He was not truly in the mood for the merriment of a ball, but he’d promised to put in an appearance. The hostess was a family friend, eager to have her ball be a success or at least made notorious with his attendance. After his brief appearance at the ball, Sebastian would likely head to his club to end the evening with masculine conversation before heading home to Cordelia.

Lady Pendleberry’s excitement to have him finally appear in her front hall was obvious when he arrived, and she rushed him into the ballroom immediately so everyone would see him. Guests turned around to acknowledge his arrival, but then the whispers and stares began.

From all but two, that was.

The kitten was in attendance, watching him from across the room again as she stood beside her cousin and guardian, Bennett Kimble. He’d forgotten the Kimbles could be in attendance, but of course, with their connection to Lady Windermere, doors that had once been previously shut to the pair were now widening.

Sebastian avoided Miss Kimble by walking in the opposite direction. He was determined not to pay her too much notice, but in a ball of this small size, it was impossible that they could ignore each other for the entire night.