panicked, he continued to murmur calmly while he waited for Griffin to return.
She couldn’t imagine why Lord Stafford wanted a chair, but when it appeared a moment later, he plunked it down in front of the viscount and shoved the man’s big body to lean over the back. Forcefully, again and again. After several thrusts, an intact red grape shot out of Lord Neville’s mouth and landed at Juliana’s feet.
The viscount took several gasping, gulping breaths while Lord Stafford moved the chair around and helped the man lower himself onto it. Lord Neville slumped there, the color returning to his face while he breathed deeply, as though the simple act of drawing air was the most satisfying thing he’d ever done.
Juliana released a long sigh of relief, as did the audience that had gathered to view the drama.
“You saved his life,” she marveled, watching Lord Stafford in awe. After all, she tried to help people as best she could, but she’d never done something like that .
Lord Stafford merely shrugged. Turning his back on Juliana, he crouched down by his patient and asked to have a look in the man’s throat.
The audience began to disperse.
Since her discussion with Emily’s father was obviously over for now, Juliana turned to see how Amanda was faring on the dance floor. But apparently the waltz had ended sometime during the commotion. A quadrille was playing instead, and Amanda was nowhere to be seen.
“I told you Lord Stafford was a good man,” Griffin said beside her.
Juliana glanced back at the man in question, who was now examining Lord Neville’s throat through a silver quizzing glass attached to a chain around his neck. His dark hair was as tousled as ever.
“He saved the viscount’s life,” Griffin added.
“That’s his job,” she retorted. Lord Stafford’s heroism didn’t erase his shortcomings. He still was not what she wanted in a husband. “Where in heaven’s name is Amanda?”
“Right there,” Griffin said, gesturing toward a cluster of gentlemen across the room.
If Juliana hadn’t recognized the blond curls piled atop her friend’s head, she’d never have believed it was Amanda at the center of the cluster. Why, she was literally surrounded by suitors!
The trifle was clearly doing its job.
Juliana swooped in for a closer look. Maddeningly, she was too short to see around the crowd of black-clad shoulders. Would it be unladylike to worm her way in amongst the gentlemen? While trying to decide, she noticed Lord Malmsey hovering nearby, looking more than a little perturbed.
A delicate laugh like tinkling bells carried over the crowd.
Her mind made up, Juliana charged into the clutch of admirers. Many of whom, she noted, were quite young and handsome. Never mind that she’d already met and rejected every one of them—Amanda was sure to have different tastes and requirements. Juliana’s heart swelled as she realized her friend might fall in love with someone this very night! And when she finally reached her protégé, statuesque and radiant and smiling one of the smiles Juliana had made her practice over and over, she thought her heart might burst with pride.
She touched Amanda on the arm and whispered, “The look.” Amanda startled and gazed down at her in confusion. Then her expression cleared, and she quickly chose a young man and took aim, lowering her newly darkened lashes.
“Would you honor me with a dance?” he asked immediately.
“With pleasure, my lord,” Amanda said, just as Juliana had taught her. As she went off on the gentleman’s arm, she cast her friend a look of wonder. “It works!“ she mouthed silently.
Of course it did. Hadn’t Juliana told her so?
Without Amanda at the center of it, the group slowly dispersed. But Lord Malmsey remained in place, gazing toward the dance floor dejectedly. Although Juliana didn’t know him well, he seemed a kindly man. And aside from his small stature and vast forehead, he was pleasant-looking for an older
She couldn’t imagine why Lord Stafford wanted a chair, but when it appeared a moment later, he plunked it down in front of the viscount and shoved the man’s big body to lean over the back. Forcefully, again and again. After several thrusts, an intact red grape shot out of Lord Neville’s mouth and landed at Juliana’s feet.
The viscount took several gasping, gulping breaths while Lord Stafford moved the chair around and helped the man lower himself onto it. Lord Neville slumped there, the color returning to his face while he breathed deeply, as though the simple act of drawing air was the most satisfying thing he’d ever done.
Juliana released a long sigh of relief, as did the audience that had gathered to view the drama.
“You saved his life,” she marveled, watching Lord Stafford in awe. After all, she tried to help people as best she could, but she’d never done something like that .
Lord Stafford merely shrugged. Turning his back on Juliana, he crouched down by his patient and asked to have a look in the man’s throat.
The audience began to disperse.
Since her discussion with Emily’s father was obviously over for now, Juliana turned to see how Amanda was faring on the dance floor. But apparently the waltz had ended sometime during the commotion. A quadrille was playing instead, and Amanda was nowhere to be seen.
“I told you Lord Stafford was a good man,” Griffin said beside her.
Juliana glanced back at the man in question, who was now examining Lord Neville’s throat through a silver quizzing glass attached to a chain around his neck. His dark hair was as tousled as ever.
“He saved the viscount’s life,” Griffin added.
“That’s his job,” she retorted. Lord Stafford’s heroism didn’t erase his shortcomings. He still was not what she wanted in a husband. “Where in heaven’s name is Amanda?”
“Right there,” Griffin said, gesturing toward a cluster of gentlemen across the room.
If Juliana hadn’t recognized the blond curls piled atop her friend’s head, she’d never have believed it was Amanda at the center of the cluster. Why, she was literally surrounded by suitors!
The trifle was clearly doing its job.
Juliana swooped in for a closer look. Maddeningly, she was too short to see around the crowd of black-clad shoulders. Would it be unladylike to worm her way in amongst the gentlemen? While trying to decide, she noticed Lord Malmsey hovering nearby, looking more than a little perturbed.
A delicate laugh like tinkling bells carried over the crowd.
Her mind made up, Juliana charged into the clutch of admirers. Many of whom, she noted, were quite young and handsome. Never mind that she’d already met and rejected every one of them—Amanda was sure to have different tastes and requirements. Juliana’s heart swelled as she realized her friend might fall in love with someone this very night! And when she finally reached her protégé, statuesque and radiant and smiling one of the smiles Juliana had made her practice over and over, she thought her heart might burst with pride.
She touched Amanda on the arm and whispered, “The look.” Amanda startled and gazed down at her in confusion. Then her expression cleared, and she quickly chose a young man and took aim, lowering her newly darkened lashes.
“Would you honor me with a dance?” he asked immediately.
“With pleasure, my lord,” Amanda said, just as Juliana had taught her. As she went off on the gentleman’s arm, she cast her friend a look of wonder. “It works!“ she mouthed silently.
Of course it did. Hadn’t Juliana told her so?
Without Amanda at the center of it, the group slowly dispersed. But Lord Malmsey remained in place, gazing toward the dance floor dejectedly. Although Juliana didn’t know him well, he seemed a kindly man. And aside from his small stature and vast forehead, he was pleasant-looking for an older
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