Chapter 30：HER LAUGH

"Truthfully, far more than I had expected to," she said. "Everyone was very kind. Did you enjoy your evening? It looked as if you were debating some very serious topic with Lady Laud."

Did that mean she had watched him? Ian wondered. As he had watched her? For some reason, all his self strictures to the contrary, Ian felt a sense of satisfaction that she had.

"Not so, I assure you," he said. "One has an obligation not to bore one's dinner partner, after all. Lady Laud and I were usually discussing the next course and the possibilities it might offer for our enjoyment."

Annie laughed. "I wish you would tell Elizabeth that. She believes ladies must profess to have no interest in what they are served at parties and to display no appetite. Do you suppose we can send to the kitchen for something to eat when we get home?"

"We shall forage for it instead, if you like. I confess to being out of practice, but then Dare's kitchens are probably better stocked than the whole of Portugal."

She laughed again, and, hearing her laughter, Ian felt some part of the weight that had settled over his heart when he realized what a difficult task he had set for himself lift.

"What about you and Mr Travener?" he asked. For some reason he didn't seem to be able to leave the topic alone, as painful as it would be hear her opinion of another man. "Were the subjects you debated equally weighty?"

"Mr Travener doesn't strike me as being to weighty subjects," Annie said. "I heard all about his prime goers and his tailor. Some praise of and complaints about his valet's skills. Oh, and there was mention of a boot-blacking recipe. I should have written it down for you. My apologies."

"I have Dare's. It calls for champagne."

"How decadent. Do you use it?"

"No, but I'm sure Mr Travener would," Ian said, laughing.

"He asked for permission to call on me."

Ian hadn't been expecting the request, but he should have been. And he supposed he should also become accustomed to the stab of jealousy it had engendered.

Annie was no longer smiling, her eyes on his face. In the darkness, he couldn't read what was in them.

"Did you give it to him?"

"I told him he must ask you. Wasn't that right?"

"Exactly what you should have done. It's one of my responsibilities. Of course, you should have some say in those decisions, provided the gentleman in question is a gentleman."

"How will you know whether they are or not?"

"English society is a very small, enclosed world. Everyone knows everyone else. Actually, half of us are related to the other half. The ones I don't know, Dare will. Or if he doesn't, someone of my acquaintance will."

"And if no one does?" she asked with a smile.

"That in itself would be strong grounds for suspicion that the person isn't who or what he claims to be."

"I see," Annie said, seeming to consider the information. "So will you give Mr Travener permission to call?"

"Do you want me to?"

Ian waited for her answer with a sense of dread. And he knew this was only the first of what would be many such requests. He must find some way to reconcile his growing feelings for Annie Darlington with the reality of their situation.

"He's very good company," she said. "Especially after a glass of wine." The last was added with a gleam in her eyes.

"Do you approve of him? You see...evasive."

"I know nothing to his detriment," Ian said carefully. "Then, yes, I think u should like you to give him permission to call. If he does apply to you for it. He may simply have been being kind. I confessed to him how nervous I was."

"I doubt Travener's attentions have much to do with kindness. You are a very beautiful woman, Annie. And especially beautiful tonight. Your honesty in confiding that you were nervous was undoubtedly intriguing. I shouldn't be too honest, however. The ton has rather strict standards of behavior. It won't do to be seen as being too daring or too different."

"Unless you are very different," she said. "Be eccentric to the extreme, and you may become the mode."

"Generally you'll find those eccentrics have other advantages that overshadow their uniqueness, causing people to look beyond it."

"I know. Birth and a great deal of money."

"Elizabeth has taught you well."

"She tried, but I think that much would be obvious, even if she hadn't. Some people can get away with things others would be ostracized for."

"The trick is in knowing whether you can get away with them or not," he suggested, softening that truth with a smile.

"And I couldn't," she said flatly. "At least your lectures are more subtle than Elizabeth's."