The Elusive Lord Everhart by Lorret Vivienne

Author:Lorret, Vivienne [Lorret, Vivienne]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2015-03-24T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Gabriel decided to make a grand entrance at dinner. His arrival caused Montwood and Danvers to lift their brows and then salute each other with their wine goblets. Pamela gasped. Brightwell offered a nod of greeting, his features inscrutable. And Calliope completely avoided his gaze.

Standing at the opposite end of the table from her, Gabriel greeted everyone in turn but saved hers for last. “Miss Croft, I have heard great things about your improvements to the dining experience here at Fallow Hall. I don’t believe I’ve looked forward to a meal as much as this one.”

His reason for joining them had nothing to do with his appetite but everything to do with the pleasure he gained from unsettling her. Oh, and she was in high color. Blushing as if he’d kissed her right here, in front of everyone.

Obligated to look at him, Calliope offered a curt nod. “I defer every accomplishment to Mrs. Swan and her kitchen.”

“Well said. My grandmother would be pleased by such a remark,” he offered mysteriously, saluting her with his freshly poured wine as he took his seat. “Which brings about an announcement—apparently, my father and grandmother will arrive tomorrow and stay for a short duration.”

“The dowager duchess, here?” Pamela lifted a frail hand to her brow as if she might faint at any moment. “This leaves me no time to set my maid to creating a new gown, and barely enough to time to alter the ones I have. She will have to work all through the night.”

Calliope gave her cousin a stern look. “Your maid took ill this afternoon, if you’ll recall. Perhaps I can help you find something suitable.”

“Oh, yes, that would be—”

“No,” Everhart interjected, fighting a sudden rise of irritation at the thought of Calliope’s feeling obligated to work endlessly for her cousin’s sake. “That will not be necessary. It would pain my grandmother to know that she inconvenienced anyone.”

Danvers coughed violently into his napkin. Soon enough, however, Gabriel noted his shoulders quaking in an unmistakable display of laughter. The truth was, Grandmama was infamous for being rather . . . particular. Thankfully, throughout Danvers’s amusement, Pamela appeared to take Gabriel’s response to heart and nodded in delicate acquiescence.

Begrudgingly, or so it seemed, Calliope offered him a gesture of thanks by lifting her own her glass but without saying a word. He held her gaze, stating quite clearly that he’d only made the remark to spare her. Though why he wanted her to know such a thing was a puzzle.

He’d told her last night that he had no interest in either marrying her or embarking on a friendship. And it was the truth. Last night’s kiss had left his willpower in tatters. That was the reason he joined the dinner party—to be near her without any risk involved.

Yet he couldn’t help but wonder if he was fooling himself.

Throughout the meal, his gaze strayed to her dozens of times. While she seemed intent on keeping all her exchanges with those closest her, it pleased Gabriel immensely that her gaze collided with his just as often.

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