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smile up at him to soften her words.
    This seemed to have the desired effect as he said, “Then I must beg your pardon for judging you too harshly. I do hope you will forgive me.”
    Again that fatal smile.
    “Certainly.”
    He rose, and she could not stop herself from adding, “You really should smile more often, Lord Sheridan. You have a very nice smile.”
    The smile faded and he walked away, shaking his head.
    What an odd man. She wished there were something she could do to help him. No one should be so cynical. It poisoned the soul, and she was certain that was the cause of his unhappiness.
    Or perhaps, he had been disappointed in love. She knew hers was something of a romantic soul, but it was possible that someone had broken the disagreeable marquess’s heart. Surely he could not still be grieving over a wife who died ten years past?
    She turned to watch him converse with his friends, and a smile played on her lips. In that moment, Olivia vowed to help the Marquess of Sheridan find happiness again. She had some experience in matchmaking, and with such a handsome specimen, she felt confident that she would be able to hit upon the right young lady to make him smile again.
    “Did you enjoy your tête-à-tête with Lady Olivia?” asked Richard when Sheridan returned to his side.
    “I do not know why l bothered to try and have a rational conversation with that female. She has only the most tenuous grasp on sensible thought.”
    “I found her delightful when I escorted her and her aunt home last night.”
    “And why the devil did you do that? Surely it was enough that I carried the limp Miss Featherstone to safety.”
    “You merely took care of their physical needs. I, on the other hand, saw to their spiritual needs. I soothed their ruffled feathers, a service requiring the utmost finesse, I might add, and after you finished with the beautiful Lady Olivia, hers were very ruffled indeed. Not that I expect you to understand something that you are incapable of doing.”
    “If you mean I am not capable of catering to the megrims and whims of three empty-headed females, then I can only say hurrah !” replied Sheridan.
    Laughing, Richard said, “I would accuse you of protesting too much where the beautiful, if soft-hearted, Olivia is concerned, but I know that is not true. I take it you will not mind if I try my hand with the lady?”
    “Mind? I welcome it. I do not understand it, but I wish you well.”
    ‘Then I shall see what I can do to once again soothe those beautiful feathers that you so enjoy ruffling.”
    Richard skirted the ballroom in his quest of Lady Olivia. His dark eyes narrowed, Sheridan watched with derision. When the lady greeted his friend with a warm smile, Sheridan ground his teeth. When she moved her skirts for Richard to join her on the velvet bench, just as she had for him moments earlier, Sheridan growled. Finally, when she placed her gloved hand on Richard’s sleeve and leaned closer, Sheridan clutched his cane in his fist and strode from the ballroom and out the front door without so much as a by-your-leave for his host or hostess.

Chapter Four
    T wo days later, when the sun finally put in an appearance again, Sheridan dressed for riding and went to Richard’s bachelor quarters.
    “Where are you going?” asked Sheridan when he entered his friend’s bedchamber and discovered Richard’s valet easing him into his coat.
    “I have an engagement,” said Richard, “with a lady.”
    “So I gathered. You do not usually dress so fine for a visit to the club. Do I know her?”
    “Oh yes, but I hesitate to mention her name, knowing how you feel about her, old friend.”
    Sheridan’s dark brows came together, and he said coldly, “Lady Olivia. I might have known.” He watched as his friend splashed on a liberal dose of cologne. “An assignation, is it?”
    Richard shook his head. “No, I fear it will be a rather large group. A picnic in the country or some such boring interlude.