He reached out and tucked a finger under her chin. “Lass, if anyone ever insults you, well you just let me know and I’ll set the bounder straight.”
“With your beefy fists?” She tipped her head toward him and laughed again in that gentle, unaffected manner that had the power to bring grown men to their knees. “I’ll consider it.”
“You do that.” He ran a thumb along her cheek to wipe away a stray tear, still overwhelmed by the need to protect her. She felt soft as a lamb, her skin silken smooth beneath his rough palm, and he wished he could take her into his arms and hold her until the pain she so obviously felt went away.
After a moment, she stepped away and fumbled through her reticule. “Oh, dear. I seem to have misplaced my handkerchief.” She glanced up and then shook her head and sighed. “I’ve been doing that a lot lately. Losing small items here and there. I never did that before.”
“I’m sure your handkerchief will turn up. Do you wish to return to the lecture hall?”
“Yes, but I think I’ll wait out here anyway. The speaker ought to be finished by now, and the crowd will soon pour through these doors. I’ll wait here for my uncle.”
As she predicted, the attendees began to file out. It wasn’t long before Lily’s uncle stepped outside and scanned the ladies and gentlemen milling about the street. “There you are,” he called out and soon joined them. “What have you there?”
“Flowers, Uncle George.” She inhaled their scent and smiled. “They’re from Mr. Cameron.”
Her uncle eyed him curiously, then smiled.
Oh, bollix.
He’d given Lily violets, not a betrothal ring.
CHAPTER 5
LILY ENTERED Eloise’s salon the following morning clutching the note her butler had delivered earlier. She saw Eloise seated at her writing desk. “You wanted to see me?”
“I have a favor to ask of you, child,” she said, setting down her quill pen and placing the stopper back on her inkpot before rising to greet Lily. “My dear, the Duke of Lotheil has invited me to tea. I’d like you to join me.”
Lily shook her head. “But he hasn’t invited me.”
“Nonsense, he knows a woman my age can’t make her way about London on her own. He expects me to bring a companion.”
“Is this the only reason you want me to go?”
Eloise laughed lightly as she motioned for Lily to take a seat beside her on the divan. “Ewan will be there, of course. So will his sister, Meggie. She’s due to arrive at Lotheil Court today and I’m concerned she’ll be quite overwhelmed by the grandeur. Not to mention that her grandfather can be an ogre.”
Lily rolled her eyes and plopped into the seat beside her. “I know. He’s the one thwarting my dream to be admitted into the Royal Society. I’m not violent by nature, but I’ve wanted to poke him in the nose more than a time or two this past year.”
“I know, dear.” She patted Lily’s hand. “Perhaps he’ll soften once he gets to know you better.”
“I doubt it.”
“One can always hope. He’s asked me to help him plan his seventy-fifth birthday celebration, and I would love your help. You’re so capable and efficient. He intends to hold it in the new wing of the Royal Society, sort of a double celebration of his birthday and the grand opening of the new geographical hall. He wishes it to be a splendid affair - a full orchestra, the best champagne, fireworks.”
Lily rolled her eyes again. “The duke refers to me as that baboon girl and cringes at the mention of my name. He’ll never allow me to participate in planning his party.”
Eloise cast her an indulgent smile. “We won’t know for certain unless we try. In the meanwhile, you’ll have a reason to be at Lotheil Court quite often. I count on you to befriend Meggie. She’s a timid girl, and I’ll need your assistance to make her London visit a little less frightening for her.”
“Timid? Then she’s nothing like her brother.”
Eloise sighed. “Ewan can be a bit headstrong, but he’s a good man. What do you think of him?”
Lily pursed her lips as she gave the question some thought. “I don’t know. He’s blunt, unimpressed by society. Clearly hasn’t spent any time going about in society. But he’s kind to his dog and was very kind to me yesterday. He bought me a bouquet of violets.”
Eloise’s ears perked. “Did he?”
“Ah, your eyes have lit up like fireflies on a summer’s eve. Please don’t make too much of it. He saw that I had been treated cruelly by certain members of the Royal Society and took pity on me. That’s all. It was a small bouquet. Tell me more about his sister.”