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The poor lady seemed at a loss, as though she wanted to help but was up against forces she could not control. Which was very likely the case. The dukes could be a reckoning in and of themselves.

“If it is serious, surely we will hear about it eventually,” Rose said, absentmindedly shuffling while keeping one eye on the small circle of dukes.

“Eventually, they will tell Nathanial, and I shall hear it from him, but those three…” Kalina sighed. “They will keep things close to their chest. As much as I would like to think Lady Astrid would be able to crack Ormonde’s shell, he’s as wont to hold on to his secrets for no other reason than to give her the same frustration she heaps upon him.”

“Fair enough,” Mei said with a laugh at the truth of Kalina’s statement. “That does sound like them.”

“They are very at odds with each other,” Lady Annabelle said, spreading her hands over her skirts. She appeared nervous, despite the fact that—in this little group—she was the second highest-ranking personage. Perhaps because she realized the rest of them were already good friends and also good friends with her fiancé’s former mistress.

Not that she was supposed to know of such things, but sometimes, young ladies knew quite a bit more than they should. Mei rather hoped Lady Annabelle did. She seemed like a very nice young lady, and it would be horrible if she hoped for a love match with Grafton when his heart was already held in Delilah’s hands, regardless of his marital choices.

“Perhaps you could ask Bolton,” Rose said, lifting her gaze to look at Mei.

Her heart felt like it stuttered inside her chest as all three of the women were now looking at her, her mouth going dry.

“M-M-Me?” Blast, it was not just her heart that was stuttering; she could not quite get the word out of her mouth either. “Why would Bolton talk to me?”

They all stared at her. Lady Annabelle looked distinctly uncomfortable as she glanced between Kalina and Rose and then back to Mei.

“Have you truly not noticed the attention he pays you?” Rose asked in a hushed voice, leaning forward over the cards.

“I… no.” Mei floundered, shaking her head as if she could so easily shake off Rose’s question. “He is looking at prospective brides. I suggested them as guests this weekend myself at Tiffany’s request.”

“Is he?” Lady Annabelle asked, glancing surreptitiously at Bolton, who was now stepping away from the others, tugging on the bottom of his emerald-green waistcoat. “I know the ladies have been presenting themselves to him, but I did not realize he was pursuing them.”

“I… he is.”

“Then why does he keep looking at you?” Kalina asked, a small smile of amusement curving her lips as she arched an eyebrow at Mei.

Mei’s cheeks felt like they were beginning to flame, and she could only hope they did not show her blush as easily as Lady Annabelle’s showed hers. Unfortunately, she had a feeling that her own face was becoming akin to the color of Kalina’s dress.

“Perhaps because I suggested their inclusion in the guest list,” she replied with all the dignity she could muster. She shook her head. “You cannot seriously be suggesting that a duke has an interest in me. Certainly not for any kind of honorable offer.”

“Why not? He would hardly give you a dishonorable one considering that you are not only friends with his sister, but the rest of us,” Kalina replied.

“I… No. Just no. That is ridiculous.” Mei said firmly before snapping at Rose. “How many times are you going to shuffle those cards? Can we just play already?”

Rose waited a beat, meeting Mei’s heated look with a cool one of her own and letting Mei’s rudeness hang in the air for a moment. Mei felt her cheeks flush even hotter.

“My apologies,” she muttered. “I just do not appreciate being teased.”

“Who says we were teasing you?” Rose retorted.

“Well, then, would you like to discuss why the Duke of Montagu keeps looking at you?” Mei asked, gaining back some of her own aplomb when Rose’s eyes darted back and forth. That had been a direct hit.

“Mei is correct; we should play,” Rose said as she began dealing out the cards. “We can find out what the gentlemen are discussing later.”

Sebastian

“Does Isabella know he’s here?” Zachary asked irritably, reaching up to stroke the back of the little monkey on his shoulder. Monkey Sinclair put his paw on the top of Zachary’s ear, petting him back, and adding some unexpected levity to the moment. Sebastian could not help but grin.

“I do not know, but since she told him she would be here, they must be in some communication.”

“They have been. She told me he visits regularly, considers it part of his duty.” Zachary winced. “I have not been so dutiful.”

“You have been in London for the Season, as you should be,” Drake reassured him. “Northumberland will likely be there next Season. He did inherit his title after us, after all.” That last was said rather grimly, all of them sobering at the reminder of the loss of their friend.

Zachary sighed. Sebastian swore there were lines on the other man’s face that had not been there a few months ago. He glanced out the window at the sky that had been so bright this morning and had now turned so dreary. It did not look as though the rain would be letting up anytime soon.