Standing stoically near the door to the card room, Julien wondered how much longer he’d have to endure Lady Rockingham’s ball before Cordelia and Penelope deemed his ordeal over.
More than a week had passed since Cordelia had barged into his bedchamber; more than a week without anyone hearing from or about Leander. Although Julien had refused to allow himself to worry when Cordelia first told him about the rumors, once word came that Leander was not at Eversley Park in Somerset, it was impossible not to be concerned.
It could have been his concern for Leander that kept Julien from realizing just how much the American Earl’s disappearance was being discussed. After five days of waiting at home for a reply, Julien had gone to White’s, partly to get out of the house, but mostly to discover
