His glowing description of the baby Marquess of Mulberry, his life newly begun, was exactly what the Duchess needed to bring a soft glow to her eyes and the warmth back to her cheeks after so many days of bleak despair.
Lucian’s mocking glance remained on his brother throughout, confirming Grace’s suspicion that Lord Sebastian’s interests did not normally include young babies. Even one who was his nephew!
A fact that was confirmed once the Duchess had retired to her rooms so that she might rest before joining them for dinner. ‘Since when have you had such a liking for small humans, Sebastian?’ Lucian mocked as he stood across the room beside the unlit fireplace.
Sebastian looked unabashed as he sprawled in one of the armchairs. ‘Hawk is most displeased that you have not yet arrived to show your adulation of the infant!’
Lucian shook his head. ‘I sent a note explaining the reasons for my delay.’
His brother gave a derisive snort. ‘From the look on Hawk’s face when he read the contents of that note, your reasons were not a sufficient excuse—in his eyes!—for your tardiness.’
No, they would not have been, Lucian acknowledged frowningly. But he had given his word to Darius, and that promise applied to his family as much as it did to Grace. ‘I am sure that my presence will not be missed in the adoring throng that no doubt abounds about our new nephew!’
His brother nodded morosely. ‘Arabella and Aunt Agatha arrived yesterday.’
Lucian chuckled softly. ‘Resulting in too much female clucking for you to suffer a moment longer, I suspect!’
‘You suspect correctly.’ Sebastian grinned. ‘You are very quiet, Grace.’ He turned his attention to her as she sat in the window alcove. ‘I trust that neither you nor your aunt are offended by my having arrived here uninvited? Lucian is right; a man can only stand so much adoration of one tiny infant!’ He grimaced with feeling.
‘I am sure my aunt is not in the least offended,’ she at once assured him graciously. ‘For myself, I am grateful that you have been able to lift her spirits in a way that Lord Lucian and I have sadly been unable to do.’
Lucian’s brows rose as his young brother shot him a challenging glance. ‘Sebastian has always been able to charm ladies older than himself,’ he drawled mockingly. ‘It is ladies of a marriageable age that continue to elude him.’
‘Thank God!’ Sebastian gave a shudder. ‘Oh. I am so sorry, Miss Hetherington.’ He grimaced. ‘I should not have spoken so—candidly in your presence.’
‘Please do not give it another thought.’ Grace chuckled softly, having been enjoying the exchange between the two brothers. ‘I was obviously somewhat remiss in my remarks concerning the male members of the ton the evening we first met, Lucian.’ She looked challengingly at him from beneath lowered lashes.
Lucian’s expression was wary as he easily recalled that conversation. He recalled every conversation he had ever had with Grace! ‘In what way remiss, Grace…?’
She gave an inclination of her head, laughter gleaming in those deep grey eyes. ‘There is obviously a fourth category of men in Society that I failed to mention. Those men who would far rather suffer the fires of damnation than marry at all!’ She stood up, seeming not to notice Sebastian’s splutter of laughter at her remark, her expression wholly innocent.
Lucian knew better. Knew Grace better. She really was the most outspoken minx he had ever met! And he admired—Lucian abruptly broke off that particular thought, his mouth tightening. ‘Then it is fortunate that I am not amongst that number!’ he rasped harshly.
Grace’s laughter faded, and her eyes took on an icy glitter as she obviously heard the for you that Lucian had omitted from that sentence.
What was wrong with him? Lucian wondered slightly dazedly. Admittedly these last few days had been a strain, but was that any reason to take his temper out on Grace?
In truth, he had not been in a temper until Sebastian arrived. Could it be that he resented the easy banter that Grace and Sebastian enjoyed? Could it be that he was actually jealous of that camaraderie?
Ridiculous. Grace treated Sebastian with the easy affection she would show towards the younger brother she had never had—was no more interested in Sebastian in a romantic way than he was in her. An easy affection that never had, and never would exist between the two of them! Their emotions, whenever they were together, were far too strong, too intense, ever to be called anything as anaemic as affection.