Page 17 of Regency in Color

“No, I’m not. I’ve stepped on your toes at least twice already.”

“Very true. However, my words were an example of lesson four. Flattery.”

“You mean, lying to a person to make them feel better about their inadequacies?”

“No. I mean, occasionally slipping a compliment into a conversation to make your partner feel more at ease. Despite putting on chauvinistic airs, most men have had the same meager sense of self-worth since they were wobbly kneed whelps cowering behind their mother’s skirts.”

“Does your proclamation of the male population include yourself?”

He gave her a lopsided grin. “Most assuredly. One snub from you and my world will fall to pieces. I’m one disparaging comment away from crawling into a corner and sucking my thumb. ”

Juliana laughed again, loud and unrestrained. More. He needed more of that effervescent sound.

“You give my thoughts of you too much importance,” she said between her tittering.

He placed their joined hands over his heart. “Never.”

“More flattery?”

“No. The truth.” He sobered. “What you think of me truly matters more than anyone ‘’else’s opinion ever could.”

“Then, why?” She searched his face for the truth. “Why didn’t you show up?”

“Because—”

“Pardon me, Your Grace,” Lord Emsbury’s scratchy voice called from beside them.

Juliana jumped in Colin’s arms. She must have been so engrossed in her conversation with him that she hadn’t heard Lord Emsbury approach. Even Colin had not noticed when the music stopped.

He cut his hard scowl to the other man. He should have knocked the young lad unconscious when he had the chance, so he’d be too scared to speak to him, let alone interrupt him.

“Do you mind if I steal Miss Drake away for this next dance?” Lord Emsbury asked, either not understanding or not caring about the dangerous glare Colin directed at him.

The next time they ran into each other at the club, Colin would finish what they started.

He begrudgingly released Juliana and took a wide step back. “It would be rude of me to say so, even if I did.”

The idiot had the nerve to laugh. “You have quite a sense of humor, my lord.”

“So I’m told.” He quickly bowed to Juliana, then stormed away, leaving her to practice the lessons he’d imparted on her.

* * *

“Stare any harder,and you just might run the risk of affixing that scowl on your face permanently,” Hamon said, sauntering up beside Colin.

He flicked his gaze to his old friend briefly, then resumed brooding in the shadows and watching Juliana dance with another partner.

“Thank you for that rather witty observation, but since we both know I am in a foul mood, maybe we can skip to the part where you tell me what you’re doing here?”

“This is the social season of London. Can’t I be out enjoying a lovely evening of dancing and good company?”

Colin scoffed. “You don’t dance. You think the marriage mart is a blood sport for ambitious mothers and their conniving daughters. And you’re generally a recluse, so no, that cannot be your intention. My grandmother sent you to spy on me, didn’t she?”

Hamon gave him a hearty pat on the back, an annoying smirk on his irritatingly pleased face. “More or less. I’ve been tasked with gathering and reporting news on how your search for a wife is going. I thought I’d have to return without any promising updates, but it appears I was wrong. Are you officially pursuing Miss Drake again?”

“No.”

Hamon regarded Colin as if he’d been knocked upside the head and lost his good sense. “Why the hell not? You look ready to tear Bixby’s arms from their sockets for touching her. As you did when she danced with Emsbury and Shefield. Your feelings for her have not waned.”