Chapter Three

CHAPTER THREE

" T he duchess hunt, eh? Is that what we're calling it?" Griffin scratched the back of his neck as he eyed Meredith up and down.

Meredith looked gorgeous tonight, as usual. He'd barely been able to take his eyes off of her since he'd spotted her across the ballroom earlier. If he hadn't been waylaid by friends, he would have made his way to her side before now.

"Why not?" Meredith replied, a sparkle in her eye. One he remembered well from their childhood. "Don't we love to make everything into a competition?"

Griffin tugged at his cuff and allowed a half-smile to curl his lips. "It's a competition now, is it?"

Meredith shrugged one shoulder in that adorable way of hers. "I don't see why it shouldn't be. I'll choose some ladies for you, and you choose some for yourself, and we'll see who does the better job of it."

Griffin's smile widened. He couldn't help it. It was just like Meredith to assume she could find a better wife for him than he could. Of course, why she'd never thought of herself was cause for concern. He intended to change that, however. To get her to notice him…as a man. A man who wanted her. A man who would do anything for her. Patience .

"What about Gemma?" he asked in a blatant attempt to change the subject. "I thought you were intent on helping her find a husband?"

Meredith knocked her shoulder against his and gave him a sardonic smile. "One of the amazing things about me is that I can do more than one thing at a time."

Griffin tried not to react as he breathed in her bergamot-scented perfume. It did something to him…every time. Made the muscles in his abdomen tighten. He'd missed it all those years on the Continent. Missed it but never forgot it.

"And don't think I don't know you're simply trying to change the subject," Meredith continued, still smiling at him.

"Me?" He pointed at his chest. "Never." She knew him too well.

Meredith laughed, and the sound rolled over him like sunlight glancing off the top of a pond on a bright morning. Meredith's laugh was the best sound in the world. The memory of it had kept him sane during some dark, dark days.

"Yes, well, the fact is that your incorrigible little sister has apparently decided to become the de facto leader of the wallflowers against a particularly nasty chit named Lady Mary Costner. Seems she's more interested in that at the moment than husband-hunting."

While Griffin frowned, Meredith briefly recapped what Gemma had told her.

"Let me see if I have the right of it. Lady Mary threatened them with…spreading rumors?" Griffin asked after Meredith finished.

"Apparently." Meredith sighed.

"And Gemma has vowed not to stand for it?" Griffin continued as he grabbed two champagne flutes off the tray of a passing footman. He handed one to Meredith.

"Yes."

"Well done, Gemma." Griffin proudly lifted his champagne glass in the semblance of a toast to his sister. "Of course, Gemma's not intimidated by that girl. She's a Southbury."

Meredith took a sip from her flute. "I'm worried she'll do something impetuous."

"Like we did when we were her age?" Griffin drawled, catching Meredith's eyes and holding her gaze.

"Precisely like we did when we were her age," Meredith replied, lifting her brows and returning Griffin's gaze with a sly smile.

Griffin shook his head. "I'm not worried. Gemma is clever. She won't do anything to ruin her reputation. Though I must say, it all sounds like a lot of dramatic nonsense to me, but what do I know about the marriage mart?" He sighed.

"Precisely," Meredith replied with that firm nod. "Which is why I intend to help you find a suitable bride."

"Must you?" Griffin asked smoothly as he brought his champagne glass to his lips again. He knew Meredith well enough to know that she would not take no for an answer. Not easily at least. Which is why he had a plan.

Meredith took charge of things like a general on a battlefield. There was only one way to handle her. By catching her off guard. The element of surprise was required. Fortunately, Griffin had had several days to contemplate his strategy. He was fully prepared.

"Of course I must." Meredith was already surveying the large group of supposed wallflowers, obviously in an attempt to find the best of the Season's young ladies.

"Lady Hannah Hartley is lovely," Meredith began, lifting her chin toward a petite blonde young woman wrapped in a mess of pink chiffon.

"Mmm," was Griffin's only reply as he took another sip from his glass.

"Miss Eagerton is quite accomplished. But I fear her name is too accurate, as she seems to be staring at you already."

"Hmm," Griffin replied with long-practiced nonchalance. He didn't return Miss Eagerton's stare.

"Miss Barton is very pretty, and I've heard she's a quick wit. A good choice for you."

"I do like a woman with a quick wit," Griffin replied, the edge of his mouth quirking up.

"And I should like it too. We don't want anyone who isn't witty."

"We?" He drew out the word, arching a brow.

"Yes. You don't expect me to stop being your friend just because you marry. I must ensure your bride is someone I will enjoy spending time with as well."

Griffin nearly laughed aloud at that, while Meredith continued her narrow-eyed assessment of the ballroom's female occupants.

"You're wasting your time, Mere," he finally said, scrubbing his hand through the back of his hair.

"I am not. This is the perfect place to find your duchess and you know it." Meredith lifted on her tiptoes as if to get a better look at the debutantes. "Lady Mary Costner is obviously not to be considered."

"Obviously," Griffin agreed. "But there's no need to continue naming young ladies. I have every intention of settling down. But not until the correct woman says yes."

"I know," Meredith said impatiently, continuing her search. "That's why I'm helping you to find the perfect match. "

Griffin took another sip of champagne. "But as I said, you're wasting your time."

Meredith lowered herself to the balls of her feet, turned to him, and frowned. "That's the second time you've said that. Why, precisely, do you believe I'm wasting my time?"

"Because I already know who I shall ask to marry me. I simply haven't asked her yet."