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Well, truthfully, she did not need to watch the duke with the debutantes. He’d already made it clear that none of them was his ideal match to the point where he’d prefer to dally with her than court any of them. Which was a silly thing to make her feel warm and melty inside, but it did.

It was not as though she was used to such attention. Especially from a duke. While she was a virgin, she did know what happened between a man and a woman. The seamstress she and her grandmother lived next to had a daughter who was involved in a rather scintillating affair with an earl. The nobleman visited while the mother was at her shop and the daughter was alone, and Mei had seen and heard enough to get an even more thorough education than the books her grandmother had provided her with had given her.

Her grandmother had wanted her to be forewarned about how things could be between a man and a woman, as well as understanding what the marriages they would arrange would entail. Mei had quickly realized that the debutantes of the ton were not as well educated as her when it came to such matters, and she was grateful for her grandmother’s more open-minded approach.

“Am I mistaken?” Rose’s eyebrows rose. “Are you working for one of the families in attendance?”

“No,” Mei said quickly. Mostly truthfully. Now that the duke had decided that he would not be marrying any of the debutantes, she could consider herself on break from those duties until they were back in London. “I do not want to insult Tiffany, though.”

“I promise you, Tiffany will not be insulted. You will not be the only one staying back.” Rose smiled. “I, for one, prefer to remain behind. I have done quite enough shopping with Lady Stark in London; I do not need to do more out here in the countryside. And the housekeeper has offered to show me the stillroom here.”

Lady Stark was the Duke of St. Alban’s grandmother. Now that Johanna and her family, including Rose, were living in his household, Lady Stark had taken over the education and advancement of Johanna’s sisters and brother, as well as Rose. As determined as Rose was to make her own way, Lady Stark was to make her into a young lady of the ton. One who was matched with an excellent husband.

So far, she’d managed to bully Rose into dressing the part, but Rose had proven adept at side-stepping the gentlemen Lady Stark attempted to send her way.

“Who else is staying behind?” Mei asked. It could be nice to have a reprieve from everyone. There was a part of her that wanted to hear Bolton would be remaining at the house as well, with most of the guests out of it. Which would make seeing him in privacy far more likely.

Even if it was foolish and selfish, she would continue asking herself what she had been thinking long past this house party.

“I am uncertain,” Rose admitted. “Not everyone is going shopping, though. Bolton and Ormonde are taking a ride out to Bolton’s estate, as it is such a fine day, since he has not been there in weeks. Otherwise, I believe most of the ladies will be shopping, but I am uncertain of the other gentlemen.”

Oh.

Bolton would not be remaining behind.

On one hand, that was far safer for her if she decided to stay at the house. This way, she could not make any more rash decisions. On the other hand, she did feel disappointed at hearing it.

Which was another point in favor of staying behind and taking some time to actually think about what she was going to do from here. How she was going to manage herself. What her plan going forward would be. She’d acted without thinking last night, so she might as well take the time to do some thinking now.

Sebastian

Mei had not come down to break her fast.

Every time someone had walked in the door, Sebastian had looked up, hope rising only to fall again when it was not her. He could not exactly seek her out. Too many people were watching him.

A quiet word with Tiffany at the end of the meal at least informed him that she was in bed with a megrim, and that Rose had gone to check on her. Which, again, meant that he could not.

Was she avoiding him after last night?

But she’d been the one to make the proposition…

Unless perhaps this was a game to make him want her more? That did not seem in line with Mei’s character. Granted, Sebastian could not claim to know her very well yet, but he would be willing to put down money on a wager that she was avoiding him rather than that she was trying to deprive him of her presence so that he would desire her more.

Which left the question of why she was avoiding him.

Embarrassment perhaps?

Or was she second-thinking their arrangement as lovers? And what did that mean for his plans when they returned to London?

Whether or not she’d intended it, the urge to go stalking through the house to find her was very strong.

Thankfully, he had another task to keep him occupied, so he did not run mad.

“It is unfortunate you must travel to your estate during a party,” Lady Darcy said, her wide eyes expressing nothing but sympathy, even as she probed for his reasoning. “I suppose a duke’s duties never end, do they?”

“Unfortunately, not.” Sebastian smiled at her. Just because he did not want to marry her, he did not need to be rude to her. He did try to keep his smile less warm, more distant, than he had been at the beginning of the house party.

“I suppose with you and the Duke of Clarence being such close friends, you’ve had ample opportunity to visit the village and shops in the past.” Something flashed across Lady Darcy’s expression, a kind of suspicion. She was very astute, and Sebastian would not be surprised if she picked up on his change in demeanor immediately.