Chapter 40
“Not firsthand, no…I may have to be in London soon. Society meetings. The paper I’ve been writing. Perhaps quite soon.”
“Ah. And tonight…”
“And tonight—” Colby glanced at their hands, returned his gaze to Jason’s face. “I won’t choose a bride. Notonly because of this. Because I won’t marry someone my father’s selected for me—someone I could never make happy—or someone who, as I’ve overheard from at least three different conversations tonight, would be overjoyed to be left a wealthy young widow. People do assume that if I’m ill I must also be deaf.”
“Ah,” Jason said again.
“And I plan to do a few more rounds of the social whirl and nod politely and smile, and then be overcome by a dizzy spell and retire to my room.” Colby’s smile was shot through with mischief. “Thomas—the tall young footman with the crooked wig—can give you the direction. If you might wish to ascertain my state of health for yourself.”