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“There may be hope for you yet.” He smiled and turned away from her. “See you tonight, Lady Selina. Do not forget the dress.”

Oh God.

CHAPTER 4

Richard knew that he had left Selina feeling confused, and the joy of that knowledge had him nearly skipping to the pavilion where he had been resting. He found Eli already sitting there, along with his mother. They seemed deep in conversation, but while his mother looked engaged, Eli looked uncomfortable.

Serves the bastard right for inviting her.

“Seymour!” Eli called, rushing to his side. “Where have you been?”

“Taking a tour of the gardens,” Richard answered, moving to claim a seat.

“With a possible prospect, I hope?” the Dowager Duchess asked.

“When I find a wife, Mother, I will let you know.”

She snorted and then took a sip of her tea.

“All the men your age are married already, yet you insist on being picky about a bride,” she complained. “I still do not see wh

y you ended your engagement to the Barnes girl.”

“Can we not discuss this again, Mother?” Richard snapped. “I did it for good reason. I do not need you to question my decision.”

“I was only offering my opinion,” the Dowager Duchess argued stubbornly.

“I do not need it.”

“Have you two sampled the flavored ice?” Eli said, trying to break the tension between Richard and his mother. “Helen says that they’redivine, and I’m inclined to agree.”

Helen was his Marchioness and since they’d been wed only a few months prior, anyone could tell that Eli was besotted with her. They had been a practical match and had hated each other from the outset, but it seemed that things were progressing quite smoothly now.

“We have, dear boy, and your Marchioness is correct in her assessment. It is indeed rather lovely,” the Dowager Duchess answered with a nod. “I spy Lady Frisbery. Excuse me for a moment.”

She stepped away to greet some friends, and Richard took the opportunity to turn to Eli.

“I am still upset that you invited my mother here while knowing that we do not get along,” he scolded. “I’m starting to question our friendship. You do not seem to know me at all.”

His friendship with the Marquess of Mulford was one of the oldest he had, dating back to their school days when he had gotten in trouble for always starting fights. They were a trio, including their friend James, the Marquess of Crawford but considering the man’s prolonged period of absence from society’s events, they were mostly a duo.

They’d bonded over a shared love of violence and had been inseparable since—at least until Eli started courting Helen, who now occupied most of his time even more so during marriage.

“I actually didn’t expectyouto accept the invitation or attend. Your mother was a welcome representative of your family,” Eli argued. “You never wrote back. Just know that my mother is upset with you.”

“Yet, she happened to have a room prepared for me,” Richard retorted with a smirk.

“You know how she is,” Eli sighed.

“You should have known that I would never turn down an invitation from you.”

“There was one time you?—”

“Let us not discuss the past,” Richard interrupted.

“Its near impossible with you here.” Eli said with a pointed look that hinted at another failed attempt to contact their friend.

“Did he at least write back this time?”