Chapter Ten

Austin didn't think he would be back here. He'd even promised himself that he would never again set foot on this estate if he could help it. Had it not been for the lady sitting to his right, he wouldn't even be in this community at all.

The Pemberton House was just as populated as it was the last time Austin was there. It had been three years ago when his father had been on his deathbed. The ailing man had begged Austin to attend Lord Pemberton's evening ball in his stead, since he could not attend. Austin had only gone because of how his father had begged him at the time. And at first, it hadn't been bad. Other than the incessant gossiping of both ladies and gentlemen of the ton, he had nearly enjoyed himself. Locked up in the cards room with the other gentlemen who would much rather have been drinking and playing cards than dancing, he'd begun to enjoy himself.

Until he'd gotten a little too inebriated and accused Lord Pemberton of cheating during their game of whist. The other man had gotten so mad that he'd banned him from the ball that evening.

Austin couldn't help but wonder if Lord Pemberton knew that he would be there this afternoon. He was looking forward to seeing the surprise on his face, if that were the case.

"We're here."

Austin looked down at Miss Lavender, wondering if she knew she had spoken aloud. The entire carriage ride had gone by in silence and the closer they came to Pemberton House, the more anxious she became. She couldn't hide it. Her leg shook, she picked at her nails, and she was nibbling on her bottom lip with such force that Austin was nearly certain she would soon draw blood.

As the carriage swung past the gates, she looked at him. "The Countess of Lively will be in attendance."

Ah, now it made sense.

"We cannot afford to make any mistakes," she went on. "The only aim for this afternoon is to engage in lighthearted conversation with a few people, stay polite, smile, and avoid her at all costs."

"Avoid her?" He frowned. "I thought you were trying to impress her."

"Yes, but flocking to her side is not the way to go. She will notice us the moment we arrive so the time will come in the future. For now, I just want to make sure we don't invite any scandal."

Miss Lavender looked back out the window, drawing in a breath when the carriage came to a stop.

"You're nervous," Austin pointed out.

"Yes, well you make me nervous," she shot back. He watched as she closed her eyes as if she was trying to calm herself. "I just…do not want a repeat of what happened at yesterday's party."

"I won't talk about my prizefighting then," he said without thinking.

She looked surprised at that, mimicking the emotion coursing through him. He didn't care, he told himself. It would only be easier on him if he didn't have to deal with the drama that came with such a confession.

"Thank you. I would appreciate that." She drew in a deep breath. "Well, shall we?"

Austin caught the hint, realizing she expected him to open the door for her. For the sake of peace, he alighted from the carriage and helped her exit. Her cheeks had lost some of their color but, he had to admit that she looked rather nice. Perhaps she was not as plain as he'd thought her to be. Did her hair always light up with golden streaks under the sunlight or was he imagining it?

He tucked her arm into him and she flashed him a relieved smile that fell as quickly as it came. Together, they followed the footman who had appeared to lead them to the garden.

The party was already in full swing. Austin spotted Lord Pemberton instantly and did not miss the scowl that came over his face at the sight of him. Austin bit back his grin as the gentleman approached.

"Lord Derby," Lord Pemberton greeted. "I am surprised to see you here. "

"Lord Pemberton," Austin responded. "As am I, in truth."

Lavender dug her fingers into his arm. "My lord," she greeted the host with a curtsy, putting on that sickly sweet voice she never used with Austin. "Thank you for your invitation. I have heard many things about your events so I am happy to be given the chance to experience it for myself."

Lord Pemberton's smile was a little more pleasant for Miss Lavender. "I am happy to have you here. Won't your brother be in attendance as well?"

"He had an important meeting to attend to, unfortunately. But I did not want for chaperones, you see."

"Yes, I do see." Lord Pemberton returned his attention to Austin, barely concealing his distaste. "I did not think that you two were acquainted."

"Do you know each other well?" Miss Lavender asked.

"Well enough," Austin said with a small smirk. "Say, my lord, would you care for another game of whist this afternoon?"

"I have other guests to attend to, I'm afraid," he pushed through gritted teeth. "But perhaps another time."

With that, he walked off. Austin chuckled to himself.

"What was that about?" the lady on his arm asked. He couldn't help but notice how perfectly she fit there. And she smelled wonderful, as usual

"Lord Pemberton and I do not like each other," Austin explained. "No, actually, he does not like me. I do not care about him."

"You seem to take much pleasure out of riling him though." She sighed softly as they made their way deeper into the party. Austin didn't miss the fact that everyone seemed to be staring at them. "It seems we are already off to a bad start."

"He did not kick us out. That is good enough, given his penchant for doing such things."

"Did he kick you out of his party before?" she asked with a small gasp.

"Let's just say that he is not very fond of being called a cheater."

Miss Lavender shook her head. "I do not know what surprises me more. The fact that you are not already making this afternoon difficult for me or the fact that you had attended a party before, given your hatred for the ton."

"I am a complex man, Miss Lavender."

"Lavender," she said. They stopped by the refreshments table and she picked up two glasses of lemonade, handing him one.

"Pardon?"

"Call me Lavender. I have been thinking about it and I think it will help if we refer to each other more familiarly. So call me Lavender and I shall call you Austin. How does that sound?"

"Not ideal."

"Lovely. Now put a smile on your face. Lady Lively is looking at us."

Austin began looking around to see for himself but Lavender tugged on his arm. "Don't look! We don't want too much of her attention, remember?"

"I remember," he grumbled. "Though that does not make any sense to me."

Lavender sighed, sipping her lemonade. "You do not have to understand it. Just go along with what I say and everything will go well."

He said nothing, studying the way her eyes skimmed over the garden, barely brushing over Lady Lively. It didn't make any sense. The countess she wanted to impress was right there and yet she wanted to ignore her? This was really important to her, it seemed. More important than he'd believed at first. This silly little quest to make it to the top of the upper class couldn't possibly be enough to make her this fearful.

But why? Because of her father? That couldn't be it.

He was tempted to question her about it again, even though he doubted she would give him a proper answer, but his chance disappeared when they were approached by two ladies. They greeted Lavender as if they'd known her forever and it didn't take him very long to realize that they were all friends.

To his relief, Lavender didn't seem very inclined to make him speak. She was clearly avoiding another situation like yesterday. So she took charge of every conversation they engaged in, all the while wearing that perfect mask that made her the spitting image of every other lady he'd ever seen. The woman who had been slumped in a couch groaning about how her plan was over had disappeared. The same woman who he'd found with ink all over her hands as she pored over the details of this plan was gone.

Perfect and ladylike Miss Lavender was the one by his side.

Austin didn't know whether to resent it or to admire it. All he knew was that it was working. More and more people seemed happy to speak with them, some even bold enough to comment on how proper she appeared considering the fact that she was not a titled lady. Lavender took it all with grace and left him very little chance to give his input.

He was so taken by her performance that the answer to his question didn't dawn on him until they were hours into the party.

Lavender was afraid of the Countess of Lively.

He saw it in the way she trembled when the countess was near, how she began tripping over her words if she was mentioned in conversation. It didn't look as if she was simply trying to play her cards right and make her move when she was ready. Austin was almost certain that she was terrified of actually making that move.

To test the theory, he made an attempt. To talk, to make suggestions that they move to shadier parts of the gardens. He even began a conversation with a group of gentlemen he did not like—Lord Pemberton included—because they were standing rather close to where Lady Lively sat with the younger ladies fussing over her.

"What are you doing?" Lavender asked him once they had a moment to themselves.

"What do you mean? I am playing along, like you asked me to."

"Yes, and that is suspicious enough." She narrowed her eyes at him. It was far more adorable than threatening, Austin thought. "What are you up to?"

"Nothing at all." Then he saw his chance. Lady Lively had left her table and was making her way over to them. If Lavender saw her, she would bolt. So he put a hand on her shoulder, hoping it would keep her attention on him .

All it did was make her more suspicious. She didn't pull away but she tilted her head to the side as if she was trying to understand his aim.

"What are you looking at?" she asked, attempting to turn around.

"You," he said quickly. The hand on her shoulder wasn't enough. So he brushed his knuckles along her jawline in a far more tender motion than he'd intended.

They both froze. Her eyes went wide, lips parting in shock. Austin never noticed how perfectly they were shaped, her bottom lip slightly fuller than the top. They were the same color as the blush staining her cheeks.

He didn't remember about the countess making her way to them. Couldn't remember why he had begun doing this in the first place. All he could think was that the gold flecks in her eyes must not have been there when they first met, because how didn't he notice it before?

"Miss Lavender Latrice."

The countess' voice broke the suspended moment. Lavender gasped quietly, eyes filling bewilderment then betrayal when she realized what he'd done. He watched the mask fall over her face once more before she turned to face the countess.

"Lady Lively." Lavender curtsied. "It is good to see you again."

Again?

Lady Lively looked exactly how Austin imagined her. An aging lady with judgmental eyes, thin lips, and graying hair. She didn't bother to hide the fact that she was looking both Lavender and Austin up and down.

"Yes, I did not expect to see you in such a social setting again," she responded at last. "And with the Earl of Derby with you as well."

"Life has quite a way of throwing surprises at you, doesn't it?" Lavender said with a soft chuckle. Austin could almost believe that she was not nervous at all.

"It does, it does. But a garden party, Miss Lavender? Hopefully you have learned your lesson after the last one. "

Lavender's smile faltered for a second. "You needn't worry, my lady."

"Me? Worried?" The countess laughed behind her fan. "I won't do such a thing. It is Lord Derby who should be worried. Or perhaps you two are fit for each other, considering his reputation as well."

Austin was already regretting his plan to force them to interact. "Choice words, my lady," he said, keeping his voice as civil as he could. "Though rather bold considering you value propriety. I would hate for you to make a fool of yourself."

Lady Lively was far better at keeping her mask in place than Lavender was. "Oh, heavens, my lord. I was only making reference to something that happened in the past. You see, Miss Lavender, made the silly mistake of telling a gentleman that he had torn a hole in his breeches during a game of croquette when she was last invited to a garden party. You and I both know that it is not becoming of a lady."

His irritation shot to the sun. "And you, countess —"

"I appreciate your concern for me, my lady," Lavender cut in. "I won't make such a silly mistake again."

"I would hope not. Honestly, I had wondered who would want someone who would make such a comment. But seeing you with the Earl of Derby…"

Austin was used to hearing such things about him. Perhaps not to his face but he didn't put anything past judgmental ladies who thought they were above everyone else. Had he been alone, he would have ignored her. Or perhaps left a scathing remark that would show her just how ungentlemanly he could be.

But Lavender spoke before he could. "Austin was kind enough to accept me as his betrothed, my lady. It is me who should be grateful to him."

"Certainly, certainly. A rowdy man like the earl is more suited to your tastes after all."

"Yes, of course." Her voice was quiet. "Please pardon me."

Without waiting for a response, Lavender ducked her head and walked away in the direction of the house, leaving Austin with the sick feeling that he might have made a mistake.