Page 35 of The Wedding Challenge

“WELL, WELL…” Lady Swithington murmured as they strolled away from Calandra and Francesca. “So you have an interest in the duke’s little sister. How fascinating.” She cast a sideways glance up at her brother’s face.

“I should have told you beforehand,” Bromwell told her apologetically. “But when we saw them as soon as we arrived, it seemed such a perfect opportunity. I wanted to see her face when she met you.”

“Why?” Daphne’s mouth tightened. “Surely you did not expect one of the proud Lilles to show any sort of remorse.”

“I just wanted to see if she had any idea what her brother did to you,” he replied. “I felt she did not. It was so many years ago. Still, I was curious.”

“And what did you find out?”

He shook his head. “She knows nothing. I am certain of that.” He turned to look at her. “I could not say the same about Lady Haughston.”

“Pffft.” Daphne made a low dismissive noise, fanning out the sticks of her elegant ivory fan. “Francesca. She was always goose-ish.”

She waved her fan languidly as they made their way through the crowd until they reached the other side of the room. They turned and looked back. Now and then, as the crowd of people moved about, they could see Callie and Francesca still standing in the same spot, talking.

“So…what exactly is your plan regarding little Lady Calandra?” Daphne asked in an arch tone. “I hope you do not expect me to believe that you are seriously courting her.”

“Oh, I am quite serious about it,” her brother responded, a certain grimness in his tone.

“But not for marriage.”

“Surely you know me better than that,” he replied. “I would not offer you such an insult as allying myself with the Lilles.”

“I do know you,” she agreed, smiling a little smugly. “What do you intend, then? It would be only fitting for the duke to have to pay in like measure.”

Bromwell gave her a startled look. “What do you mean? Surely you do not think that I would seduce the girl and cast her aside.”

Daphne shrugged, her face hardening. “It seems an apt enough revenge for what her brother did to me. Not as harsh, surely, as getting her with child and refusing to marry her.”

“No. But I am not a man such as Rochford,” Bromwell replied, frowning. “I am sure you would not really wish such a fate on any other woman.”

Daphne smiled sweetly at him. “I forget, sometimes, how good you are. Of course you are right. I would not wish any other woman to suffer the shame that I did with Rochford. It just seems so unfair that the duke never had to pay in any way.” She watched her brother as he continued to gaze across the floor, his eyes intent on Lady Calandra. She frowned a little as she said, “It would not hurt if one of the proud Lilles were to be taken down a peg.”

He nodded. It was the same sentiment he had expressed to his cousin Archie not long ago. Still, a frown creased his forehead. “But hardly fair to Callie.”

“Callie?” His sister’s brows rose precipitously.

“That is what they call her, Lady Haughston and Lady Odelia. Calandra is far too formal a name for her.”

“Do not tell me that you have conceived an affection for this girl,” Daphne snapped.

“No, of course not.” His frown deepened. He looked at his sister, adding, “She is a pretty chit. But of no consequence to me.”

“I am glad to hear that. It is never wise to trust a Lilles,” Daphne told him bitterly.

“I know.”

After a moment, Daphne went on, “What are your intentions, then, regarding Lady Calandra?”

“To worry the duke a little,” he responded, one side of his mouth quirking up in a smile that held little humor. “I would like to see him dance a bit on that hot griddle, wondering what I intend to do. What I will tell his sister about him. Whether I will turn her against him—even take her from him. Or if I just might do the same as he, engage her affections, then spurn her. A man without honor expects the same behavior from others, I’ve found.”

“He certainly will not like your courting her,” Lady Daphne agreed.

“Indeed, he will not. He has already warned me off.”

“Really?” She looked intrigued. “What did he do? What did he say?”

“He was his usual arrogant self,” her brother replied. “He told me to stay away from his sister. As though he had only to speak and the rest of the world would obey.”