The next day, Owen arrived nearly a half hour early to his appointment at Cass’s house with Alex. He’d never arrived half an hour early to anything in his life. Why was he so eager to see Alex again?
He was sitting in a chair in the foyer with his hands shoved in his pockets, waiting, when his sister walked by. “Come into the drawing room with me for a moment, won’t you, Owen?”
Owen groaned. Cass obviously wanted to speak to him about something specific. This couldn’t be good. But he was using her house as a rendezvous point with Alex, and he couldn’t very well refuse his sister’s request. He hefted himself from the chair and followed her into the nearest drawing room.
“Yes?” he asked brightly once the door to the room had closed behind him.
Cass turned in a swirl of white skirts. “What exactly are you doing with Alexandra Hobbs?”
Owen paced across the floor toward the fireplace. “What do you mean?”
“Don’t be coy with me, Owen. I’ve helped you to meet her here, so I feel somewhat responsible for her. I want to know exactly what your intentions are.”
Owen rubbed a knuckle against one temple. What was appropriate to tell? “We’re in business together, you might say.”
Cass arched a brow. “Business? Are you certain, Owen?”
He turned toward his sister and frowned. “Yes, of course. What else would we be doing?”
Cass snorted. “Do I really have to tell you that?”
Owen glared at his sister. “You’re not implying that I’m doing something illicit with Alex, are you? Her reputation is impeccable, and she has only ever conducted herself as a complete lady in my presence.”
“No. No.” Cass pressed her hand to her coiffure. “I’m implying no such thing. I merely find it interesting, that’s all.”
Owen narrowed his eyes on her. “Interesting how?”
Cass flourished a hand in the air. “Interesting in that I’ve never heard you so vehemently defend a lady’s reputation before, nor have I ever known you to call one by a nickname. Other than me, of course.”
Owen blinked. “Don’t read more into it than is there, sister dear.”
“Don’t be so quick to dismiss my points, Owen, darling.”
The two siblings faced each other, squared off.
“She told me that she has her sights set on someone. Some chap from the ton.”
“That’s interesting.” Cass tapped her finger against her cheek. “And you don’t know who?”
“No. I’m helping her to become popular.”
Cass’s jaw dropped. “Are you serious?”
“Regardless of your disdain for my reputation, I’m still highly sought after at ton events. I am exceedingly eligible, Cass.”
“Of course you are. I just never thought you’d use your social powers for such … good.”
Owen shrugged. “She has something I want.”
Cass shook her head. “Oh, Owen, don’t be crude.”
“No. Not that.” He rolled his eyes at his sister. “She’s teaching me Lady Lavinia’s likes and dislikes.”
Cass’s tinkling laughter didn’t stop for the next few moments. She finally had to pull out a handkerchief and wipe her eyes.
“I don’t see what’s so humorous,” Owen said grumpily.
“I’ve never known you to need help with a lady before.”
“Have you met Lady Lavinia?”
“You know I have.”
“Then you know why I require help. You said yourself she’s difficult.”
“So I did and so she is. But just to be certain that I’m clear: Lady Alexandra is helping you to woo her sister, and in return you’re helping her to become popular?”
“Yes. I’ve been teaching her how to dance and flirt, and she’s been teaching me what Lady Lavinia finds acceptable in a mate.”
Cass shook her head again and pressed her fingertips to her smiling lips. “Oh, Owen, does Father know what he’s forced you to?”
“No. But I bloody well hope he finds out. I find it as ridiculous as you do.”
Cass crossed her arms over her chest and eyed her brother carefully. “You’ve never had such a difficult time impressing a lady, have you?”
“You don’t know the half of it. And the worst part is … Lady Lavinia still seems entirely unimpressed even after everything Alex has told me. Not to mention I only have two more weeks to get her to agree to marry me.”
Owen wiped a hand roughly across his face. Blast and damn. His sister had a point. He did feel something for Alex. Protectiveness? Yes. That was it. He was being protective. Just as one’s future brother-in-law should be. Nothing out of the ordinary in that at all. And why shouldn’t he have a nickname for a future member of the family? He called his sister Cass, didn’t he? There was nothing improper about it. But he couldn’t help but wonder whom Alex wanted to marry. And he couldn’t help but wonder why he cared so much.
The door knocker in the foyer sounded just then, jolting Owen from his thoughts.
“That must be Lady Alexandra,” Cass said.
“Yes.” Owen consulted his timepiece. “She’s right on time.”
Cass moved over to him. He leaned down and she kissed him on the cheek. “Best of luck, dear brother, though I must admit, I’m going to have a high time watching all this unfold.”
* * *
“This time we must discuss rendezvous,” Owen announced as soon as Alex joined him in the empty ballroom.
“Rendezvous? Plural?”
“Yes, specifically how you should never be on time to one. Not one arranged with a gentleman.”
“Like this?”
“Precisely like this. Always keep a man waiting. He’ll wonder if you’ve changed your mind and he’ll have to work harder next time.”
“But I thought you said I should never agree to go off alone with a man.”
“You shouldn’t.” He winked at her. “But you’re here with me now, aren’t you? We must prepare for any possibility.”
“That’s why you wanted to meet me again?” Alex asked. “To tell me to be late next time?”
“Among other things.”
“Such as? More questions about Lavinia?”
He strode over and leaned back against the table near the wall. “No, actually. My questions are about you today.”
“Me?”
“Yes, is that so shocking?”
“What do you want to know about me?”
“What you see in the bloke you’re after, for one thing.”
“Wh-why does that matter?”
“I thought perhaps I might be of more assistance to you if you provided me with more details.”
“Oh, I don’t think—”
“Go on, tell me.”
Alex took a deep breath and garnered some time by fumbling around in her reticule for her fan. She couldn’t very well describe Owen to Owen. That would be preposterous. But what could she say?
“Well, he’s tall, handsome, titled.”
“Of course,” Owen drawled, though he looked a bit disgruntled. “Go on.”
“He’s blond.”
Owen nodded at that. “What color are his eyes?” he teased, batting his own eyelashes at her.
“Blue,” she ventured.
“He sounds like quite a catch,” Owen replied.
“He is. Though I daresay he doesn’t realize it. He hasn’t had much luck on the marriage mart to date.”
“The perfect suitor for you, then, perhaps?”
“Perhaps,” she replied, wondering if Owen had any clue. Of course he wouldn’t guess.
“And he’s not put off by your sister?”
“He doesn’t seem to be. Not yet.” She tugged the fan from the reticule finally, flipped it open, and rapidly fanned her face.
“Does he write poetry?”
“I seriously doubt it.”
“Does he sing love ballads?”
“Not to me.”
“Does he play the mandolin?”
“I sincerely hope not.”
Owen expelled his breath. “Is there anything else you can tell me about him, to help bring him to heel, I mean?”
“Oh, Owen, if I knew that, he’d be mine by now.”