He narrowed his gaze on her. “You think you understand me?”
She leveled her brown eyes on him so steadily it unnerved him. He drained his glass and then looked about, in dire need of a refill. “For the record, the widow and I are not courting—”
“Bedding, then?” She gazed up at him in all seriousness, this dark-haired virago uttering things no gently bred lady should ever say. It was troubling. It played tricks with his mind. Made him momentarily forget she was a lady. It filled his head with dirty images of skirts hiked up around her thighs. Bloody hell. Such thoughts had to end. This was Aurelia.
“If your brother had any notion of the things you say—”
“But you’re not going to tell him,” she pertly reminded.
He scowled and glanced over at Will. A part of Max longed to inform him of her unseemly behavior. And yet he would refrain. A true friend did not alert one to the fact that his sister was less than innocent. And for whatever else he was, he liked to think he was a good friend to Will.
“I should,” he grumbled. “Before you get yourself into trouble.”
She smiled, evidently remembering the night she had divested him of his clothing—and a good amount of his dignity. “I was at no risk that night.”
He shook his head and looked out at the room, feeling a quick stab of anger as he recalled her in the dress again. “I disagree. You cannot even fathom the risk you placed yourself in that night.”
“You’re not my father, Camden. Or my brother. And you certainly lack the moral integrity to sit in judgment of me. I do as I please.” She whirled away in a swish of yellow skirts.
He watched as she crossed the room, marveling that he had intentionally provoked her when it was now he that felt unsettled. Muttering a curse, he turned in search of a fresh drink.
Chapter 4
Dinner proceeded in a much less diverting fashion.
Aurelia’s ire at the nerve of Camden lecturing her on risky behavior had cooled considerably by the time she took her seat beside Freddie. Camden sat beside Henrietta, and Aurelia avoided looking in his direction throughout dinner lest she become annoyed all over again.
Toward the end of the meal, Will rose from his seat and took a position beside his wife’s chair. He rested a hand on Violet’s shoulder. A secret look passed between them as she smiled up at him, covering his hand with hers.
Something pinched in Aurelia’s chest at the sight of the small, intimate look. The evidence of their love. She quickly pushed it away.
Will cleared his throat. Gradually, conversation faded as all attention shifted to her brother.
“We’d like to thank you all for gathering here with us. Family, friends . . .” He smiled as his gaze scanned the room. “We have much to celebrate tonight.”
Aurelia drank in the sight of her brother, her heart lifting. Perhaps he had received news that his investments had finally reaped profits. Then she and Mama would no longer need to live underfoot anymore. They could give Will and Violet their space and take up residence elsewhere. A happy smile curved her lips and she leaned forward in her chair expectantly.
Will looked down at Violet, his blue eyes so like Mama’s . . . bright and full of something she had never seen before. Not that she hadn’t seen him happy before, especially since he met Violet. But this was a different sort of happiness . . . there was something soft and tender in his eyes.
His chest lifted on a breath as he announced, “Violet and I are expecting a child.”
The room erupted. Mrs. Howard fairly screeched as she surged up from her chair, sending it toppling back with no regard for decorum. Rosalie soon followed with her exclamations, as did others. It was a blur of movement and activity as Will and Violet were beset with well wishes and hugs.