the seat beside Vivi and colliding with Lord Brookhaven. Mr. Collier proved more agile and plopped down beside her while his friend stumbled into the wall.
She averted her gaze, embarrassed on the gentleman’s behalf.
“Please, help yourself,” Lord Andrew drawled when Mr. Collier grabbed the bottle of wine.
Mrs. Price selected the chair beside Luke’s brother and fluffed her plum skirts. “Good evening, Lord Andrew,” she said without looking at him.
Luke’s brother jerked upright in his chair then turned an incredulous look on his wife. “Hell’s teeth, peach. Did you just pinch me?”
“How does she know your name?” Lana’s harsh whisper carried across the table.
Mrs. Price peered around him. “Lord Norwick spoke of your husband upon occasion, my lady. I hope all is well with the earl. It has been a long time since he has called.”
“Oh. Yes well, I imagine his new countess keeps him busy.” Lana adjusted her position, a pretty, pink blush flooding her cheeks. “My apologies, my lord. I only meant to get your attention.”
Lord Andrew grinned. “Effective, but unnecessary. I assure you.”
“I cannot believe Ashden has a sister,” Mr. Collier announced. “He never mentioned having a sister.”
Vivi really didn’t appreciate being reminded she was a shameful secret.
Lord Andrew sent her a sympathetic smile. “No gent wants you two knowing he has a sister. Brookhaven, you look like a trout out of water. It’s not an attractive sight.”
The gentleman snapped his mouth closed, dragged up a chair, and sat at the end of the table. A heavy silence blanketed the dining room. Everyone seemed to be as lost as she was when it came to knowing what was proper etiquette when dining with a courtesan.
Vivi took a sip of her drink, hoping someone would break the silence soon, and her face nearly folded in on itself. Her wine was bitter beyond the pale.
“I-I think it has gone bad,” she sputtered.
Luke tested the wine. “It tastes fine to me.”
“Oh.” Gads. How did anyone consume the beverage without choking?
“Would you prefer something else to drink? Perhaps lemonade or cordial water?” Luke asked.
She shook her head, took another sip, and stifled a grimace. It seemed all eyes were trained on her, all except Mrs. Price’s. The woman was too preoccupied with ogling Luke.
Vivi’s jealous side bared its fangs again. “His Grace doesn’t have a taste for sweets, Mrs. Price.”
Every person at the table gaped at her as if she had lost her wits.
“I beg your pardon, my lady?”
Vivi’s smile stretched tightly. “In the coaching yard, you mentioned having carried treats with you, and since His Grace doesn’t care for sweets, he will surely decline to sample any of yours.”
A shadow of horror darkened Lana’s face. Mrs. Price uttered several incomprehensible sounds, her cheeks flushing as crimson as her lip rouge.
Oh, dear Lord! Why hadn’t Vivi stopped to think before she had spoken? Mrs. Price hadn’t been trying to lure Luke to her room with the promise of a sweet. She was the treat. Embarrassment crawled up Vivi’s skin.
Luke stood. “We should go.”
Mrs. Price met Vivian’s eyes across the table. “Forgive me, my lady. I spoke out of turn when we arrived at the inn. Please stay and enjoy your meal.” She pushed away from the table and tried to escape the dining room, but Mr. Collier grabbed her arm.
“Where are you going? We haven’t eaten yet.”
“We should dine in the tavern.”
Collier grinned at Vivi. “I am staying right here.”
“Behave yourself, sir,” Mrs. Price said then added under her breath, “or you will go without biscuits or milk this evening.”
Her travel companions roared, slapping their knees. Mr. Collier threw his head back with a hearty cackle, tipped to the side, and fell to the ground. From what Vivi had witnessed thus far, Lord Brookhaven and Mr. Collier spent more time on their backsides than their feet.
She leaned close to Luke. “Perhaps I should ask for lemonade,” she whispered. “I think too much wine addles the mind.”
A small smile played upon his lips. “Brookhaven was born an addlepate. Collier may have been dropped on his head.”
“Oh, I see.” Maybe her worry was for naught. She took another drink of her wine. The bitterness was dissipating and her body began to melt against the chair. It was not an altogether unpleasant sensation. She took another sip, noting with pleasure that Mrs. Price and at least one of the gentlemen were taking their leave.
***
Luke acknowledged the folly in serving Vivian wine the moment she tossed her head back with a husky laugh that displayed her