Earl Wilfred laughed loudly, entirely oblivious to their quiet, intimate whispering.
"Come, my dear," the Earl said, offering his arm to his wife. "Let us go and find some of that excellent roasted beef before the other hungry lords eat it all."
The Earl and his wife bowed and curtsied politely. They turned around and left to enjoy the warm food and the lively reception.
But their daughter, Lady Julia Moore, did not leave with her parents.
Julia stayed exactly right where she was. She was wearing a very bright, highly expensive yellow silk dress that was clearly meant to draw the attention of every man in the room. Her hair was styled perfectly with small jewels.
However, the polite, innocent smile on her face did not reach her calculating eyes.
She had not forgotten how Rowan had coldly rejected her offer to dance at the ball just a week ago. She was incredibly bitter, highly jealous, and she was entirely determined to ruin Delaney's perfect, happy mood.
