“Hello, Claire.”
“Eva, how wonderful to see you–it seems such an age,” Claire declared as her friend appeared before her.
“I saw you Tuesday, Claire–surely not an age, as this is only Thursday.”
“Perhaps not an age then,” she added, looking over her friend’s shoulder.
Was that that Lord Kelkirk? He was tall and that man was tall, although from this distance, she could not determine if he had the distinctive black and silver hair.
“Who are you looking for, Claire?”
“Looking for?” Claire brought her eyes back to her friend.
The Duchess of Stratton was giving her a puzzled look, her head tilted slightly to one side while she studied Claire with her pretty, sapphire blue eyes. “You appear to be searching for someone.”
“No, just being nosey.”
“Well, it is hard not to be at occasions such as these. This is my second season, and I am still constantly surprised by the clothing and antics of the guests. Have you seen Lord and Lady Pepper?” Eva added behind her hand as she moved closer to Claire.
“Oh lord, what are they wearing tonight?”
Eva made a great show of looking about her. “Matching lemon, and whilst you may not think lemon a disturbing color, this is.”
“Disturbing how?” Claire whispered back behind her own hand.
“It’s the brightest lemon and quite hurts the eye, and her dress is fashioned like his jacket, with little buttons running up the front and a panel of piping down the skirt to make it look as though she has trousers on.”
She just had to see that, Claire thought, climbing to her toes, which gained her nothing, as most of the men were taller than her, and some of the ladies. “Who do you think dresses them? I’m thinking it’s someone they’ve done something grievous to. Someone who has revenge on her mind and is slowly extracting it, outfit by outfit.”
Eva laughed, which made her look lovelier, if that was possible. The duchess was a beautiful woman, and had Claire not been her friend, she would have disliked her intensely. She had thick, raven locks and the kind of figure that made men sigh. She looked stunning in whatever she chose to wear, which tonight was an emerald green creation that made her look like a goddess.
“How is it possible you look like that after the birth of your child only a few months ago? I saw how big your stomach was, after all. Tis most unfair, and may I add, were I not your friend, I would be quite put out that if anything, you appear lovelier.”
Waving the compliment aside, Eva continued with their conversation. That was another thing about her that Claire liked–she was totally unaware of her beauty. “It would not be quite so bad if Lady Pepper was not so…”
“Fleshy, elephantine, paunchy? Come, Eva, I’m sure you can come up with a descriptive word.”
Eva pinched her friend’s arm.
“Ouch! I was only stating the truth. We all know Lady Pepper has eaten one éclair too many.” Claire climbed to her toes once more and surveyed the room again. Eva thought she was seeking the Peppers, however she was looking for Lord Kelkirk.
“I’m sure you’re looking for someone and not telling me who.”
Eva may appear sweet and innocent, Claire reflected, but she was intelligent and tenacious when required. “I’m searching for the Peppers, as you very well know, Duchess. Now tell me, how is my darling Georgia?”
The puzzled look left her friend’s eyes to be replaced by a look of love. Her lips tilted into the smile a woman got when she fell in love or had a child, signaling a kind of longing Claire had never experienced–a total and utter devotion to another person. “Oh, Claire, she is so sweet. Why, just yesterday, she rolled over twice. We shall not be staying long this evening, as both Daniel and I are loath to leave her over long.”
Happy to let her friend talk about the baby while she kept an eye on the people around them, Claire listened with one ear.
“I am bringing her to visit with you and your mother tomorrow. I saw Lady Belmont briefly a few minutes ago, and she told me I was to come.”
“That’s Mother for you. She demands and everyone falls in with her wishes. However in this case they coincide with mine nicely. I found the sweetest little doll–”
“Claire, you gave her a gift last week. You shouldn’t spoil her so much. Simon is the same. He’s always popping in with something tucked under his arm.”
“Is he?” Even the mention of his name made Claire’s heart thump. Could she avoid him for the remainder of the season?
“He carries her around in his arms the entire time he’s visiting. Daniel says it’s the most emotion he’s ever seen him show a woman besides his aunt.”