Free Lady in Demand by Wendy Vella

more minutes would have made all the difference.”
    “No it wouldn’t, Alex, and you know it,” Finn said, doing another, slower survey of the room. “You couldn’t beat me even if I was fencing one-handed.”
    “I nearly had you, Finn. Everyone knows it.”
    “Bring me one person who knows it,” Finn said, looking for Will, who would probably have Olivia and possibly Phoebe at his side. He would dance with Lady Croxley later, he thought, dismissing his brother’s valuations of her character. Not that he specifically wanted to see Phoebe; however, he would like to see how her injuries were after this morning. He wondered if Will had told her of their conversation about him seeing her fall.
    Alex hemmed and hawed for several seconds before saying, “Ben.”
    “Ben is not a reliable source. He will lie for a pittance,” Finn said, straightening his cuffs as he prepared to leave his brothers. “Find someone reputable that was at Angelo’s today who actually believes your wild allegations, Alex, and I will listen.”
    “You’re a hard man, Finn.”
    “You and your brother behave yourselves this evening,” he said. “And remember that I have set up an appointment with the investors tomorrow; therefore, please make sure you are not home too late.”
    “I’ve told you I have no wish to invest in the locomotive industry, Finn. Why will you not listen?”
    “It will cost you nothing to hear what the man has to say, Alex,” Finn said, forcing a smile onto his face before walking away and leaving them scowling after him.
      Finn then spent thirty minutes talking to people as he walked around the room, pretending not to search for Phoebe, until finally locating her standing with Olivia and Will, which suited him because Will was a friend and he had every right to approach.  
    They appeared deep in conversation and Phoebe was looking at the ceiling, showing him the pale silken length of her neck. He had an urge to place his lips at the base and hold them there while he breathed in her scent.  
    Why did he think these thoughts constantly when he was in her company?
          “Good evening, Miss Langley, Olivia, Will.”
          “Finn, we were just commenting on the cherub and how well the pink satin bow suits him.”
          Following his friend’s eye, as they looked upwards, he located the cherub.  
          “Foolishness.” He dismissed the cherub.
          She didn’t look at him, not even when she curtsied; her eyes were trained on his waistcoat buttons. He couldn’t say what was different about her tonight, yet something was. She’d lost some of her sparkle. Wrapped in the palest gold, she was still the most beautiful woman present but her eyes lacked luster and he hoped she wasn’t suffering as a result of her fall. He saw a bruise had formed on her face that he had not noted earlier. Should she have come out this evening if she was in pain?
          “Lady Harrington is signaling us. It seems we are to take our seats.”
          “Excellent. You know how I enjoy music, my love.” Will took his wife’s arm as she scoffed over his obvious lie, and led her to the seats set out before the stage, leaving Phoebe to follow on Finn’s arm.  
          She kept her body as far away from him as she could and he had the feeling that if she could raise her arm a few inches without anyone noticing, she would do that, too. Something was definitely bothering her this evening, Finn wondered what it was.
          “Would you care for a program, Miss Langley?”
          She shook her head as she took her seat, keeping her eyes on the stage. Beside her sat Will, and beyond him, Olivia.
          “I believe we are in for a wonderful evening, Miss Langley, Miss Harrington has procured the renowned pianist Vladimir Klaukost to accompany Madame Picuoult.”
          She didn’t speak so he simply kept talking, keeping his eyes on her side