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As a footman came to offer her some kippers, Mei peeked a glance at the duke. The blasted man did not look even the slightest bit discomfited as he took a seat a little further down the table beside his sister.

At least the first encounter was over, just as she’d wished. Surely, matters had to improve from here.

14

Mei

As the breakfast table filled out, Mei half-engaged in conversation with Kalina about the renovations being done to Hereford House, as well as an occasional comment to Mr. Fenley, who was entirely too enthusiastic about her choice to sit beside him. But she could hardly explain that she’d only done so because it had been the one seat at the table with no empty chair on the other side, thus protecting her from the Duke of Bolton sitting beside her and frazzling her nerves for the entire meal.

Well, frazzling them more than they already were.

Which was why she was doing her best to distract herself with everyone else.

When Lady Juliette arrived, a few minutes after Mei and Bolton seated themselves, her chin was in the air, and an almost stubborn expression was on her face before she cleared it. Lord Hayworth was hot on her heels, his face like a thundercloud, in opposition to the sunny skies outside the window. The two sat at opposite ends of the table, and the air between them seemed to simmer, though not everyone at the table appeared to be sensitive to the undercurrents.

Lady Juliette chose the seat on the other side of the Duke of Bolton, while Lord Hayworth sat beside the elder Fenley brother and glowered along the length of the table at the Duke of Bolton. Mei was quite certain that Bolton had noted the other man’s disapprobation and chosen to ignore it, greeting Lady Juliette with ease and warmth.

Within half an hour, everyone but the Duke of Montagu, Lady Darcy, and Lady Darcy’s parents had joined them at the breakfast table. Mei rather suspected that Lady Darcy had deliberately chosen to have a tray delivered to her room rather than joining the party, thereby ensuring that the Duke of Bolton would need to seek her out later in the day. She admired Lady Darcy’s gumption as it was a daring move to prod a duke into chasing her rather than the other way round. She was the only one who had chosen not to make herself available to him for the morning meal, though, which was a way of standing out from the crowd, for sure.

As the meal began to finish up, the older set moved to the drawing room with the Dowager Duchess of Clarence, leaving the younger generation to discuss what they might do with their day.

“It looks like a lovely day for a ride,” Miss Fenley said, glancing out the window. Beside Mei, Kalina shuddered. Although Mei did not dislike horses as Kalina did, she was not eager to go riding either. Mostly because she’d never really had the opportunity to learn, and she hated to appear at a disadvantage in front of others.

“I thought so, too,” the Duke of Clarence said, glancing at Bolton. “Unfortunately, I have been informed that Cook’s knees are predicting a storm before midday, and I have learned to always trust Cook’s knees.”

“That is too bad.” Lady Juliette sighed. “It looks so lovely right now. Perhaps a walk in the gardens this morning before the weather changes?”

Tiffany beamed at her. “I think that is a perfect idea, Lady Juliette. There is also a lake nearby that we should be able to walk to tomorrow, if the weather is more fair, but I think that would be too long an excursion for today. The gardens are far more accessible, and currently in bloom.”

Good. Strolling through the garden. Mei should be able to cling to her friends and avoid Bolton. Likely, all of his prospective brides would be hanging on his arm. Even Lady Juliette, though Mei privately agreed that Bolton had been correct in thinking that he was being used to prod Lord Hayworth. The only question was whether Lady Darcy would join the pack or if she’d continue to hold herself aloof in hopes of Bolton pursuing her.

The next few hours put Mei and Rose entirely in awe of Lady Darcy as they watched her work.

After breakfast, everyone dispersed to change into their walking attire, except Mei and Rose, who were already suitably dressed for such. They’d waited together in the foyer, and Mei asked Rose to stay by her side for the walks and assist her with her observations. The benefit was threefold—a constant companion, an additional observer, and a shield against Bolton if he should try to approach her to speak of last night.

She needn’t have worried.

Lady Darcy came downstairs to join them for the walk, looking utterly resplendent in an amber walking dress that made her blonde locks appear even blonder and brighter in contrast. She seemed to glow when the sun’s rays hit her, as pretty as a painting. Rather than vying for Bolton’s attention, she managed to secure the arm of Lord Hayworth, and the pair was receiving dagger-like glares from Lady Juliette when the lady thought no one was looking.

Things started off about how Mei had expected. The Duke of Bolton was in the lead with Lady MarcyAnne on one arm and Lady Juliette on the other. Miss Fenley was relegated to being escorted by her elder brother, only a few steps behind them. They made up one little group.

The Duke of Grafton, Lady Annabelle, the Duke of Ormonde, Astrid, and Lady Isabelle were another small coterie. Which left the Dukes and Duchesses of Hereford, St. Albans, and Clarence to walk together.

Mei and Rose kept to the back, so they could watch everyone, with Lady Darcy and Lord Hayworth walking just in front of them. Lord Hayworth was slowly relaxing as Lady Darcy charmed him, though he did keep shooting glances ahead at where Lady Juliette sashayed along on Bolton’s arm. For her part, she kept looking over her shoulder to see what he and Lady Darcy were up to.

They somehow managed to steal glances at each other constantly without ever catching the other looking.

“Are Lord Hayworth and Lady Juliette…”

“Yes,” Mei quietly answered Rose’s murmured query with a soft laugh. “But we will have to see how this plays out. The Duke of Bolton is a duke, after all, and Lady Darcy is, well, Lady Darcy.”

But Mei had not been wrong about Lady Darcy’s aims. Yes, she had claimed Lord Hayworth’s arm. Yes, she was charm itself. Yes, she made Lord Hayworth laugh… and that was it. Lady Juliette had had enough. She said something to the Duke of Bolton, relinquishing his arm, and turning back to stalk toward Lord Hayworth and Lady Darcy.

Because Lord Hayworth and Lady Darcy were directly in front of Mei and Rose, they were able to see Lady Juliette’s dazzling smile—directed at Lord Hayworth—and hear her as she approached.

“Stephen, the duke was just telling me of a small folly off to the right of here. I know how you love follies; would you like to join me to look at this one?” She waved her hand in the opposite direction of where the others were turning. “I believe everyone else is more interested in the fountain, but I thought a small detour…”

Rose and Mei exchanged a look. Lady Darcy was an expert, but Lady Juliette was a dab hand at the social game herself. By using Lord Hayworth’s first name, she’d efficiently and effectively positioned herself as intimately close with him and made an offer to give them some space away from the others that no one in Society would blink an eye at.