Free Potent Charms by Peggy Waide Page B

herself peeking more often. The corner of
his mouth even curled upward as if he'd proved a point or
gained some advantage. Once, the wretch even blew her a
kiss. When the opera finished, she quickly bid good night
to Elizabeth and Winston.
    With Stephen at her side, Phoebe wove her way through
the corridor, trying to return to the other side of the theater
as quickly as possible. Likely Aunt Hildegard was frantic.
As people crowded about, she found herself pressed
against Stephen. Her body didn't seem to mind one little
bit. Against her better judgment, which seemed to elude
her whenever he was about, she purposely squeezed closer
to him a time or two. From the corner of her eye, Phoebe studied the man. Glory be, he was a handsome devil. And
charming, in a rather prideful way. His aversion to matrimony baffled her, though, and he refused to offer any
insight. She considered Nanny Dee's suggestion that she
change the man's mind about marriage, if in fact he was
the man she wanted.

    Before she decided one way or the other, or risked a broken heart, she intended to discover more about the Duke of
Badrick than the fact that he turned her mind to mush and
her insides to warm cider. If he truly meant what he said,
then her time, which was short and precious, was best
spent on other suitors. Elizabeth appeared to be the most
likely person to help Phoebe find the answers she needed.
    When they reached Hildegard's private box, her aunt
paced back and forth, while Charity, sporting an enormous
orange bow in her hair, sat, her eyes diverted to her lap.
    "Good evening, Lady Goodliffe," Stephen said.
    Hildegard, her back to the entrance, glanced over her
shoulder and lifted her pointed chin a notch higher. "Lord
Badrick."
    He nodded, then asked, "Lady Charity, how goes your
study in watercolors?"
    Charity shifted in her chair and bumped her knee against
the wooden rail with a resounding thud. "Sorry," she mumbled.
    Sighing, Hildegard said, "Charity discovered she prefers
a woman's duties to frivolous notions such as art," Hildegard explained, her words clipped and filled with reproach.
Charity's face grew sullen as she sunk lower in her chair.
    "A pity," said Stephen. "She seemed to be progressing
nicely."
    "Humph," snorted Hildegard. "How did you happen to
meet my niece?"
    Hostility swirled between Stephen and her aunt. Surely,
Phoebe imagined it, but it appeared as though a battle were taking place between them as they both vied for
supremacy. A flicker of apprehension knotted Phoebe's
stomach as she tried to comprehend the reason. She started
to explain how she met Stephen, noted the unpleasant twist
of Hildegard's mouth and changed her mind. Instead, in
hopes of lightening the mood, she pinned a bright smile on
her face and said, "Actually Auntie, Lady Payley is responsible. While I waited for your return, she introduced herself, along with her husband and Lord Badrick."

    "A happenstance for which I am quite grateful," Stephen
added most eloquently.
    "Really," said Hildegard, her mouth set in an even
tighter line as she focused fully on Phoebe. "Sir Lemmer
paid a call specifically to see you. He was gravely disappointed to discover your absence." She turned back to
Stephen. "Thank you for your escort, but my niece's attentions are required elsewhere now."
    Ignoring the apparent dismissal, he leaned against the
wall and crossed his arms before him, his body as stiff as a
stump. With his voice devoid of all warmth, he asked,
"Where is Sir Lemmer?"
    "Unfortunately, he received a message summoning him
home."
    "In that case, I shall take my leave. Until we meet again,
Miss Rafferty."
    Phoebe, already on edge, tensed as he lifted her hand to
his lips, lingering long enough to fire speculation in Hildegard's already suspicious mind. Blast the buzzard. He fled
while she had to stay and face the inquisition she was sure
to get.
    Hildegard didn't wait long. "You will not see Lord
Badrick