It appeared Addie had done quite a bit of chatting about her and Pamela to this man. “I would do anything for Addie.” She hesitated. “I apologize, I mean Lady Berkshire.”
Mr. Westbrooke laughed and took another sip of wine. She decided at that point that his smile should be illegal. “You need not apologize to me. I’m sure no one would be surprised to hear you refer to your close friend by her first name.”
“Nevertheless, it is poor manners and not the correct thing to do.”
He leaned in close, causing her to move back. “Do you always do the correct thing, Miss Danvers?”
She did not want this man’s attention. She wanted no man’s attention. They were always after one thing. That one thing had destroyed her mother’s life and consequently her life as well.
“Please excuse me.” She stood abruptly, knocking her glass of wine onto his leg. One look at his surprised expression and she turned on her heel and left the room.
Carter jumped back as the contents from Miss Danvers’ glass of wine hit his thigh, the glass bouncing off and landing at his feet. The liquid—thankfully a white wine—splashed a bit onto his waistcoat as well, but not too much damage had been done, for which he was grateful, since he and a change of clothes were in different locations. Luckily, Miss Danvers had consumed most of her wine. He reached out and accepted a napkin from the footman’s hand.
“My goodness, Mr. Westbrooke, what happened?” His hostess, the new Lady Berkshire viewed him with concern.
“Nothing to trouble yourself over, my lady. Miss Danvers merely had an accident with the wine.” He blotted the liquid, hoping it would dry before the meal ended.
Lady Berkshire moved to stand, but her husband placed his hand over hers. “I think Miss Danvers is fine.” He glanced over at Carter, a slight nod telling him he’d witnessed the mishap.
With everyone resuming their meal, Carter considered what had just occurred. Miss Danvers had looked both terrified and repulsed when she scrambled from her seat and made her quick exit. He felt the need to follow her and assure her whatever he’d said that caused her to run like that was meant in jest and he had no intention of harming her or seducing her.
Truthfully that last part wasn’t quite accurate. Even with the spectacles, Miss Danvers was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen. And he’d seen, danced with, conversed with, and slept with, enough of the fairer sex to make such a statement. He would not be a healthy young man if he didn’t like the idea of bedding her.
She fascinated him. He’d been watching her since she’d caught his eye as she arrived at the church with Lady Pamela and the Mallory family. She was skittish, and nervous around him, but seemed quite relaxed when conversing with Lady Pamela and Lady Berkshire. She had remained with the receiving line once they’d entered the house, chatting with her friends, giving Carter an opportunity to study her further.
For a woman with such beauty, she d
id not seem at all vain or self-centered, which he’d seen in so many women who had more than average looks. In fact, given her dress for the occasion, it was almost as if she was trying to downplay her unusual countenance.
Odd, that.
Carter glanced at Miss Danvers’ plate which still had quite a bit of food on it. He hated to think he caused her to miss her meal. He argued with himself and then finally, wet trousers or not, he pushed his chair back and stood. “Please excuse me for a moment,” he said to the lady on the other side of him.
Perhaps what he was doing was foolish, but nevertheless something he felt he needed to do. A quick search of the house brought him to the drawing room where Miss Danvers stood, gazing out the window, a peaceful look on her face. So very different than she’d appeared when she had hurried off.
In order not to startle her, Carter cleared his throat. When she turned, he said, “I hope whatever it was I said didn’t chase you from the celebration for your friend’s nuptials.”
She didn’t appear quite as jumpy, and that encouraged him to slowly enter the room.
“I apologize if I alarmed or upset you in any way. That was certainly not my intent.” He was mesmerized by her deep brown eyes and delicate demeanor. He wanted more than anything to wrap his arms around her and assure her he would never allow any harm to come to her.
She offered him a slight smile. “And I apologize for drenching you with my wine. It was accidental, you know.”
He grinned, pleased to see she didn’t move back as he approached her. “I believe you. I see no reason why you would purposely want to douse someone you just met with wine, unless he was truly offensive.”
“No. That was not the case.” She turned back to look out the window again.
“You left quite a bit of food on your plate. If you don’t return, I shall feel guilty all day for denying you sustenance.”
That brought a delightful laugh from her. The sound flowed over him like warm water: comforting yet enticing. Then she said, “I hardly think missing one meal will see me wither away.”
He held out his hand. “Please. I will feel much better if you rejoined the party. I believe Berkshire and his bride are getting close to cutting that delicious looking wedding cake, and I do not want to miss the opportunity to assuage my sweet tooth.”
She ignored his hand and moved around him, giving herself a wide berth. “In that case, I must return.” She glanced back over her shoulder and smiled, stopping him dead in his tracks, his jaw slack. “You see, I have my own sweet tooth to satisfy.”
Carter followed behind her like a puppy panting after its mistress. He had never in his entire life reacted this way to a woman. He knew deep inside it was not just her beauty, but her vulnerable demeanor and the sense of sadness that surrounded her. She’d been deeply wounded, and if it had been another gentleman to cause her such pain, he would find the man and teach him a lesson in behavior toward women.
Especially this woman.