Free Twice Fallen by Emma Wildes

possible every few minutes at the clock.
    Surely the duchess didn’t think that Sir George, no matter that he was quite openly in the market for a third wife, would make a suitable husband.
    “No, I wasn’t,” Carole admitted, blushing. She’d sat next to her Lord Davenport, who was both young and attentive, and truly, Lily was delighted her sisters were enjoying such success this season.
    “There, you see.” Lily took a sip of wine, in her mind the argument settled. It was one matter to sit and flirtatiously enjoy the attentions of a man you liked, and another to suffer through an hour and a half of meaningless conversation with someone old enough to be her father who eyed her as if sizing up a prize mare.
    She and Carole might have attended the same tea, but they hadn’t quite had an identical experience.
    “I understand,” James said from across the table, his smile slight. “One traumatizing event a day is more than enough.”
    He
did
understand her and always had despite his admonishments at the ball, acknowledging that she needed time to herself. That was one lovely aspect to their relationship. He was six years older but they had still spent a great deal of time together as children, and now with Jonathan in the countryside with his new wife for the next few weeks, James had become responsible. Lily couldn’t tell if he minded officially squiring them to functions or not, but surely it cut into his personal life—which she hadn’t given much consideration to before their interesting exchange last evening. She’d just assumed her cousin followed the usual pursuits of young men from aristocratic families, and actually, though he’d always been discreet, she rather thought he had.
    But now she had the impression he was being downright
secretive
.
    Interesting.
    “I agree.” She took another bite of duck, which was actually all the more delicious now that she knew her family was not going to argue her absence from the evening’s festivities.
    After dinner was over, Lily started to rise and join her sisters as they went upstairs to change but she hesitated, reminding herself she was just going to put on her dressing gown and settle down with her book anyway, and waited as the decanter of port was brought to the table. When the footman exited the room, she cleared her throat. “Do you mind if I stay a moment?”
    “Of course not.” James sat back down, but there might have been just a slight glimmer of wariness in his eyes. “Would you like a glass?”
    Ladies didn’t usually join the gentlemen for theirafterdinner port, but then again, they didn’t sip brandy while locked in libraries either. “I think I would. Yes, thank you.”
    Her cousin obligingly went to the sideboard and got a glass, pouring her a measure. Then James lifted his brows in polite inquiry, reclining in his chair, his posture relaxed. “I’m rather glad you decided to join me. Port after dinner is a lonely business when you are the only one present. What is it you wish to discuss with me?”
    “Isn’t this when you loudly debate politics and tell bawdy jokes?” She smiled back, not quite willing to be so direct, so quickly. “I’ve never been invited before, but that is what we ladies assume transpires.”
    “Ah, you see how very dull it would be for me to argue Liverpool’s policies all alone, and bawdy jokes are much less amusing when told to oneself. I would much rather discuss what has you so preoccupied. You’ve been very quiet this evening. Is something amiss?”
    “Other than the duchess’s misguided matchmaking this afternoon? Sir George as a possible candidate? Truly?”
    “In Her Grace’s defense, he’s a good sort, and considering he asked me about you the other day at Tattersall’s, I suspect the seating arrangement was by his request. I believe he referred to you as the ‘lovely Lady Lily.’ ”
    It hadn’t really occurred to her the duchess might just be obliging her guest. Grudgingly, she said,