She held her breath and pushed her back against the wall as he approached, hoping he would not see her behind the tree. Lavinia was standing with Lady Sarah Highgate. The two were politely talking. Though from what Alexandra could overhear, Lady Sarah wasn’t any fonder of her sister’s negative words than she had been. Their conversation ended abruptly when Owen marched up. The click of his shoes against the parquet floor stopped, indicating his arrival. Alexandra forced herself to lean forward just a bit and peered through the fronds.
“My lady,” he said to Lavinia, bowing.
Lavinia regarded the future earl down the length of her nose, her lips pressed tightly together. “My lord?” she intoned haughtily. “Back so soon? I haven’t seen Alexandra, if you’re looking for her.”
“I am not,” he said in a voice Alexandra could tell was designed to flatter.
Lavinia sighed, then flourished a hand toward Lady Sarah. “May I introduce Lady Sarah Highgate?”
“My pleasure, my lady.” Owen’s voice remained polite as he exchanged niceties with Lady Sarah, bowing over her hand.
“Lady Sarah is unattached,” Lavinia continued, pointing her nose in the air. “Perhaps she would like to take a turn about the room with you.” She gave him a tight smile. “Though you might have a bit of competition. The Marquess of Branford is rumored to be making an appearance here tonight, and he is extremely enamored of Lady Sarah already.”
Alexandra cringed. Oh, Lavinia had really got her back up this time.
Poor Lady Sarah, who was absolutely gorgeous with black hair and light green eyes, blushed to her roots. Alexandra wanted to reach out and squeeze Sarah’s arm in sympathy. Let it never be said that Lavinia didn’t have a penchant for embarrassing others.
“Oh, no. No, he’s not. I’m—,” Lady Sarah stammered.
“Pish-posh,” Lavinia replied, plucking at the overly ornate blue reticule that dangled from her wrist. The one she’d insisted have bangles, lace, and embellished embroidery. “Everyone knows you’re the belle of the Season, Sarah. Admit it.” There was an undeniable undercurrent of jealousy in Lavinia’s voice.
Lady Sarah shook her head vigorously, so vigorously that one of her dark curls popped out of her coiffure and bounced along her forehead. “Oh, no, not at all. I—I must go, actually. I’m afraid my next dance is spoken for.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” Lord Owen replied, smiling benevolently at the harried Lady Sarah. “But indeed, I did come to ask you to dance, Lady Lavinia.” Uh-oh. Lavinia hated dancing, but how could poor Lord Owen know that? He gave Lavinia a charming smile that made Alexandra mentally sigh.
“Me?” Lavinia pointed to herself, a look of pure surprise on her pinched face.
“Yes,” Lord Owen replied.
“Excuse me, won’t you?” Lady Sarah hastened to add. “I look forward to speaking to you again sometime, Lady Lavinia. Good evening, Lord Owen, it’s been a pleasure.”
Good for Lady Sarah for escaping. Alexandra could only feel empathy for the poor young lady.
“Well?” Lord Owen asked Lavinia as soon as Lady Sarah hastened off.
Lavinia crinkled up her nose in that way of hers that made it seem as if she’d just smelled something exceedingly disagreeable. “Are you certain you wish to dance with me, Lord Owen?”
He bowed. “Of course. Why would you question my sincerity?”
Lavinia’s voice took on a rigid, condescending tone, one that Alexandra was only too familiar with. “I don’t know. Perhaps it’s because earlier I got the distinct impression that you had forgotten my name.” Her smile tightened further. Alexandra wrung her hands. Lavinia looked a bit like an angry skeleton when she smiled.
Lord Owen’s voice rose a bit. “Of course not, my lady. How could I forget one as radiant as you?”
“Radiant? Did you actually say ‘radiant’?” Lavinia’s laugh was a derisive snort.
Alexandra winced again. Lavinia could be ruthless when she was annoyed by someone. Which was quite a long list of people, actually.
Lord Owen’s voice took on an edge of impatience. “Will you make me repeat my request, my lady?”
“What was your request again?” Lavinia said, studying her slippers.
“Will you do me the honor of dancing with me?” His voice was definitely tight now, but still he smiled his most charming smile—the one that made Alexandra’s knees decidedly weak. Oh, how could her sister say no to that? And him with that distracting dimple in his cheek? Alexandra wanted to burst through the palm and say yes herself. Instead, she bit the inside of her lip and leaned closer in order to hear more efficiently.