Her gaze drifted over the room—and collided with Max’s gaze.
Their gazes locked. She wondered how long he had been staring at her. His gray-blue eyes were brilliant and piercing even across the distance. Set deeply beneath the slash of brows a shade darker than his chestnut hair, those eyes of his looked her up and down. He was probably hoping she stayed far from him. They tread warily around each other these days. Ever since the night at Sodom things had been tense. Even more than before.
To everyone else in the world, Camden was all charm. Not a serious bone in his body as he stood flirting with Freddie’s sister. Aurelia considered the brunette. Henrietta was comely enough, and yet not to his precise taste. She knew he was fond of petite, golden-haired beauties.
Aurelia was neither dainty nor golden-haired.
She squeezed her eyes in a tight blink, reprimanding herself for caring how he might perceive her. Every once in a while it shocked her to remember that they had been friends. So many years had passed with each making war on the other.
She opened her eyes and took a deep breath. Perhaps it would have been easier if he was not such a handsome package. His good looks had not lessened over the years. His hair had not thinned. Nor had his chin begun to disappear into his neck.
Rosalie and Violet laughed then. Aurelia turned and joined in, feigning awareness of their discourse.
Out of the corner of her eye, she watched as Lady Agatha called Henrietta over to her side, beckoning her with sausagelike fingers. Max was momentarily alone. He cocked a dark eyebrow at Aurelia in silent challenge and executed an abbreviated bow that only seemed to show off his great height and strong physique. He was unlike other gentlemen of the ton who padded the shoulders of their jackets to distract from the bulge of their bellies.
Deciding to behave in a mature manner tonight, she squared her shoulders and strolled across the room toward him, her hem lightly brushing the Aubusson rug—an item she had overheard her brother mentioning must be sold.
She pushed aside thoughts of her family’s insolvency and stopped before Max. We will not quarrel tonight. I will don a smile and be all that is cordial and courteous.
“My lord, how good of you to come,” she greeted.
She rocked lightly on her slippered heels, hands folded demurely before her as she gazed up into his too handsome face. Unfortunately, even unsmiling he was bone-melting attractive.
“Lady Aurelia.” He inclined his head, eyeing her cagily. The way he stressed the word Lady emphasized precisely how unladylike he deemed her. “I would not miss an invitation to dine with the Merlton tribe. You should know as much . . . you are always remarking upon my excessive presence at your family’s gatherings.”
She held her smile, determined not to rise to his baiting. She had no wish for Mama or Will to spy her across the room and fuss at her for squabbling with Max. They disapproved of the rancor between them. Mama found it ill-mannered of her. Not Max. Mama doted on him like a son and blamed Aurelia for their discord. Will simply thought their sniping was annoying and something they should have outgrown by now.
With her smile pasted firmly in place, she cocked her head as though considering his words. “You do tend be underfoot a good deal, do you not?” She lifted one shoulder in a half shrug and attempted an innocent expression.
Something sparked in his eyes. “A trial for you, I know. You prefer me six feet under, do you not? Then you might not have to tolerate my mien.”
She sighed. It didn’t matter if she tried to be nice. He was determined to keep things hostile between them. “I merely thought a gentleman such as yourself would have far more fascinating pursuits. Certainly we are beyond dull compared to your usual nighttime entertainments.” She held his gaze. So much for not rising to his baiting.