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“How do you know this is for me and not Christian?” Sebastian asked, then chuckled when Lady Isabella gave him a sardonic look. “Very well, yes. I am looking at some prospective brides this weekend. Though I believe I’ve already lost one to Lord Heyworth, and if Christian were to take a fancy to one of them, all the better for him.”

“As long as it is not the same one as you?”

“Ah. I uh, I do not believe there is much danger of that.” It was the closest he could come to saying that he was not interested in any of the debutantes attending the house party.

Lady Isabella nodded thoughtfully. She cast another look at Northumberland. “Well, perhaps this will be good for William as well. I do not want him to allow duty to override desire. He should look at other eligible young ladies as well.”

“And if he decides that you are what he desires?” Sebastian asked.

“Then we will both know that because he has looked at other options as well,” she replied serenely. There was a gravitas to her, a solemnness she had not had when Sinclair had been alive. Sebastian missed the lighter, brighter version of her that was now so dimmed.

He could only hope it was not a permanent dimming, and that one day her light would rise again. For her sake.

“Your Grace. Lady Isabella.” Lady Darcy approached the card table, smiling. “Her Grace has suggested we change seats for the next game and was kind enough to direct me to your table.”

“Lovely,” Sebastian said, getting to his feet and giving her a short bow. Lady MarcyAnne was coming over as well, and he shot Tiffany a look over the lady’s shoulder. His sister just rolled her eyes and gave him a stern look.

He was supposed to be looking over his prospective brides. Getting to know them. That was his duty.

As Sebastian sat down, he saw Zachary sitting down beside Lady Annabelle. As was his duty.

There was a friendliness between him and Lady Annabelle, but it was nothing like the heat, the need, the yearning that Sebastian had witnessed between Zachary and Delilah when they were together. Zachary and Lady Annabelle were more akin to Sebastian and Lady Isabella.

But Zachary had chosen duty over desire.

It looked terrible.

Sebastian’s gaze flitted over to where Miss Hu was now sitting down with the younger Fenley brother and Lady Darcy’s brother, both of whom greeted her with warm appreciation. Jealousy spiked through him, souring his stomach and making his jaw clench.

Most of the ton would say that it was his duty to marry a debutante, an Englishwoman of noble heritage, a virgin to ensure her fidelity and the continuation of his bloodline. Miss Hu was not either of the first two, and Sebastian had no idea if she was the third.

Duty or desire.

He had no wish to end up like Zachary.

Mei

The afternoon passed quickly enough, with the card games being very enjoyable. Mei switched tables several times, always in a position to be able to watch the Duke of Bolton as he played with his prospective brides. Try as she might, she truly could not discern whether he had a preference for any of them.

However, she did rather think that Lady Darcy’s brother was beginning to develop an affection for Miss Fenley. Though he was rather stiff most of the time, something about Miss Fenley seemed to help him relax in a way that no one else’s company did. If the duke was not careful, he might very well lose a second bride to another lord.

Because she was quite sure that Lady Juliette was firmly out of the running. Tiffany still sent Lady Juliette to Sebastian’s table at one point, but Mei could tell from Lady Juliette’s behavior that she was far more interested in the fact that Lord Hayworth was sitting at a table with Lady MarcyAnne than in trying to ensnare the duke.

It was all very informative but not entirely helpful in getting the duke safely married off so Mei could return to matchmaking in peace. Far, far away from him. They’d not had much to do with each other before he’d hired her, even though she was friends with his sister and his friend’s wives, and they could return to that. Then, once the Season was over, if she was lucky, he would go back to his estate with his new wife, and by the time she saw him next Season, she would surely be past this affliction.

When the gong rang, informing the party it was time to get ready for supper, Mei got to her feet with the others, smiling and thanking her current table for the game. Thankfully, she was right next to Tiffany’s table. She wanted Bolton’s sister’s insights.

Surely if he had a preference, she would know. Or if there was a particular lady she thought would suit Bolton best, Mei could at least push for him to spend more time with her. Her stomach clenched, but she forced herself to take to Tiffany’s side.

“A lovely afternoon,” she said, smiling widely. “Hopefully, tomorrow’s weather will be fairer, but I believe everyone enjoyed the cards.”

“Hopefully,” Tiffany agreed with a sigh, watching the room empty out. Bolton glanced back at them, his gaze flitting between Mei and Tiffany, before he too turned to go. “I am enjoying myself, but there are some nuances to throwing a house party that are rather daunting. I keep expecting my mother to pop out from somewhere to point out everywhere I am failing.”

Sympathetically, Mei patted her arm. “Surely, she’ll stay in London.”

“I am certain she would not show her face here, and yet...” Tiffany shrugged. “It is like an itch between my shoulders that I cannot scratch. I am sure it will be worse when we are back in London and attending balls. I know I shall have to see her at some point, but I am not averse to putting it off for as long as possible.”

“We will all be there to support you,” Mei reminded her. “Not that I think she’ll take much heed of me, but you already had the dowager duchess and Astrid, and now you have two more duchesses and another future duchess to add to your consequence.”