Page 36 of Miss Ellis Unleashed

He turned his back on Daisy, watching the other guests come and go from the ballroom, but soon became aware of a figure standing close by. When he turned to acknowledge the person, he discovered Miss Justine Dawes had snuck up beside him.

And the girl was unmarried.

Daisy and Justine were not on speaking terms still, but he was certain Daisy would not want her former friend to be snubbed, even when all he wanted to do was run back to the safety of Daisy’s company. “Miss Dawes. A pleasure to see you again.”

“Lord Throsby,” she murmured. “It’s been too long.”

“Yes. All of a day,” he murmured, growing alarmed with the way she toyed with her dance card. “You should know that the item you dropped was retrieved. Once cleaned, it will be returned to your possession.”

Miss Dawes gulped, and her dance card dropped from her fingers. “You should not have troubled yourself on my behalf.”

“I did what Miss Ellis would have wanted me to do. You are her friend.”

“Those days are over,” she whispered sadly.

Max did not want to encourage a girl who might consider him husband material, because surely she must know how Daisy had thought of him as a guardian. “Perhaps they are not, after all. Miss Ellis is here tonight. Perhaps you could speak to her about the book and arrange to receive it from her hand instead of mine.”

Justine turned to look at him in alarm. “Has she read it?”

“The book has not been read by her and will not be read by anyone,” he promised.

“Thank you,” she whispered, and then exhaled sharply.

He glanced across the gathering and spotted Daisy watching him and Justine together, her expression arrested. He inclined his head but turned to Miss Dawes. “Have you been well?”

“Yes, my lord.”

“Happy?”

Justine swallowed but did not answer, not that he blamed her. He had never been a lady’s first choice for confidant.

Daisy could get anyone to talk about their feelings. Even him. Miss Dawes had once confided in her, too. But the young woman had been skirting the edges of dance floors since her sister’s abrupt marriage to Lord Brookes, barely speaking to anyone, and not enjoying herself as she once appeared to do in Daisy’s company.

He glanced across at Daisy and raised a brow. Daisy answered with a tiny nod, and he turned to Miss Dawes. “I’ve always found it easier to get a difficult task done quickly. Saves endless worry about the result.”

“I don’t understand.”

He pursed his lips a moment, debating the wisdom of getting involved. “You’d like to talk to her, and she’d like to talk to you. I suggest you take the direct approach. Daisy doesn’t hold grudges, and I believe she has missed you very much.”

Justine made an odd noise, glanced around, and then excused herself in a hurry. He watched her go, frowning, and realized his suggestion had upset her.

Justine’s sister strolled past him, giving him a deathly stare as she followed after her sister.

Daisy walked toward him next, shaking her head when she stopped. “I see your tact remains unchanged, Lord Throsby.”

“That is probably true,” he agreed after a moment. But all he’d done was suggest Miss Dawes gather her courage and talk to her old friend. He hadn’t expected his words to inspire such distress.

“Well?”

“Well.” He glanced at the dance card dangling from her wrist. “Who are you to dance with next?”

“No one. I am leaving.”

“It’s a little early.”

She smiled. “The night is still young, and I’m expecting a friend to visit me at my home tonight.”

Max was shocked—until he noticed the wicked sparkle in her eye. He was the friend Daisy was expecting to meet with tonight. To say he was aroused by her bold invitation was an understatement, but reacting to that here was dangerous for her reputation.