wishes. She suppressed the urge to roll her eyes.
There was a good chance she would have a sore tongue before this house party was over.
“It was a pleasant surprise coming upon you and Miss Truax in the gardens today,” Lord Brookhaven said.
“Yes, it was delightful,” she lied.
Vivi had no objections to Lord Brookhaven—he proved to be a considerate and gentlemanly sort when he wasn’t intoxicated—but she was less fond of Miss Truax and Mr. Collier.
His grin widened. “Splendid. I had feared we had made a nuisance of ourselves.”
“Not at all.” Luke continued his path around the ballroom.
“Perhaps we could take another turn about the grounds tomorrow,” Lord Brookhaven said. “With a proper chaperone of course.”
Vivi snapped to attention. “Oh! I-I’m afraid I must beg off, my lord. I have a prior commitment.” Specifically to Luke.
“No, no. I understand.” His gaze fixed on something toward the sidelines. Vivi turned to see what accounted for his forlorn stare and discovered Miss Truax chatting with Luke’s sister, Lady Gabrielle. “Do you think Miss Truax would welcome an invitation?” he asked.
Her spine softened and she lowered her guard. “I imagine any unattached lady would welcome your company, my lord.”
***
Luke barely had gotten two words out of Lord Brookhaven since he had stopped to talk with the viscount in a corner. “I wanted to thank you for sending Mrs. Price back to London,” he said.
Brookhaven’s eyes flicked his direction briefly before traveling back toward the dance floor. “Mrs. Price was Jonathan Collier’s guest. I should have sent him back as well.” He nodded once in the direction of the dancers.
Luke looked up to find Collier circling Johanna, their palms pressed together as they danced the minuet. It wasn’t unusual for her to participate in whatever festivities his mother enjoyed, and Johanna was fond of dancing. He didn’t understand Brookhaven’s objections to Collier partnering with her. “Explain yourself.”
Brookhaven hooked a finger inside his cravat and tugged. “The young woman is your relation, is she not?”
“Miss Truax is my mother’s cousin and companion.”
“I have no desire to cross you, Your Grace. You must know I have little in common with Mr. Collier, despite our years of acquaintance.”
Luke nailed him with a glare. “If you have something to say, speak up.”
Brookhaven checked the area then stepped closer to Luke. “He has a proclivity for innocents,” he mumbled.
“I beg your pardon?”
“He may have identified your kinswoman as fair game seeing as how she is not strictly under your protection.”
“She is under my roof and therefore protected.” His voice came out low and gravelly, similar to the warning growl of a dog. Johanna was his mother’s source of comfort, and he wouldn’t see his mother suffer any more than she already had.
As the dance drew to a close, he stalked across the ballroom to intercept Collier when it appeared he might lead Johanna outside onto the veranda. Collier’s smile thinned when faced with Luke’s glower.
“It was an honor, Miss Truax,” Collier said. “Perhaps you will save a spot on your dance card tomorrow evening.”
He offered a token bow to Johanna. It was an empty gesture of respect from a man who would see her ruined. Luke had heard tales of Collier’s conquests, but he hadn’t known whether the rumors were true, until now. If Collier’s friend had no faith in him, Luke had no qualms about believing the worst about the man.
Once Collier left, Luke offered Johanna his arm. “Let’s take refreshment, shall we?”
She appeared flushed, splotchy red places appearing on her neck and chest like a patchwork quilt. He narrowed his eyes. “Did Mr. Collier say something inappropriate to you? He will have to answer to me if he did.”
Her hand fluttered to her chest. “No, Your Grace.”
They walked toward the refreshment room in silence, and he retrieved a glass of lemonade for her. After she drained her drink, they took up position at the threshold of an empty alcove. They remained within sight of everyone and he maintained a respectable distance between them.
“I want you to steer clear of Jonathan Collier. He is bad seed.”
Her eyebrows lifted. “How so? He seems like an honorable man.”
“Appearances can be deceiving, Miss Truax. Please, do as I command and avoid him. I wouldn’t want any harm to come to you.”
The tightness around her mouth melted away. “Of course, I will heed your warnings, Your Grace. You know best.”
“Your compliance is appreciated.” Obedient and amiable. He smiled, fondly recalling the words Vivian’s brother had used to describe her. “I haven’t had a