Last Time on Ashwood Manor: The Honourable Clarence Maugham

Last time, on Ashwood Manor.

Rosemary pretended not to notice the eyes on her as she did her best to pay attention to the conversation she and Lillian were engaged in.  Lillian was a friend, inasmuch as Rosemary had friends.  Her social superiority to nearly all those she and her parents associated with made it difficult to form bonds with others that did not include an imbalance of power, and, though she treated Lillian as an equal, underneath the giggles the girls shared was a strain on their relationship that would forever prevent Lillian from becoming a true confidant.

Feeling the gaze again, Rosemary could not help looking back and directly into the eyes of The Honourable Clarence Maugham, known only to her in name before this night.  Dark eyes--almost black--were trained on her own.  He smiled, a smile that took his dangerous eyes and transformed them into something kind and welcoming.  She smiled back, and returned her awareness to Lillian.  After all, she was not the type to pretend interest in a man when there was no option to pursue anything further.  And there was no option.

Feeling a sudden uncomfortable pressure on her elbow, the girl turned to find her fiancee.  Rosemary yanked her arm away, only to have her wrist captured with even more pressure.  "Stop that.  Let me go."

Reginald instead tightened his grasp. "Let me remind you that you are engaged to me.  You should not be flirting with strange men."

Attempting not to create a scene, Rosemary extracted her hand as gracefully as she could. "Let me remind you that you are not my husband yet. And a smile hardly counts as a flirtation."

From across the room, Clarence watched the exchange through narrowed eyes.

To get the whole story of Ashwood Manor, the collection is here.