“He is handsome. And I quite like him, but…” She sighed. “I am not sure I want to marry him though it would be very much easier if I did.”
Lady Quamby removed a few singed threads from Lizzy’s gown as she nodded. “Yes, I can see that, for I’m sure you have no desire to stay with Mrs Hodge longer than you need. In which case, you have to marry someone,” she added, reasonably. “Ah, thank you, Angelo.” She nibbled her thumb as the naked man rose in front of them as he squeezed water from the sponge he’d used on Lizzy’s thigh. “Perhaps you should put on your banyan, my love. I doubt Miss Scott has seen a naked man before. You are a very fine specimen though. I’m sure a bit of ogling would be quite understandable. What do you think of my Angelo, Miss Scott? He’s from Italy and speaks little English, but I think I prefer that. He fulfils all my requirements perfectly.” Lady Quamby reached out a hand to caress his naked flank. Blushing fiercely, Lizzy knew she took too long to look away.
Was this really what a gentleman looked like without his clothes on?
“So, if you don’t want to marry Mr Dalgleish, is there anyone else you’d rather marry?”
Lizzy blinked, trying to keep her mind on the conversation. “Yes, but he’s marrying someone else,” Lizzy said simply.
Lady Quamby nodded as if she were expecting this. “I know very well of whom you speak, and while I admit that I too found him charming, I have it on good authority that he is not the husband for a girl like you.”
“Why?”
“Why? He is a bounder. A fortune hunter—”
“As is Mr Dalgleish.”
“But Mr Dalgleish has not shown himself to be the kind of gentleman with whom society does not wish to associate. Have you noticed how few friends Mr McAlister has? How no one invites him into their midst?”
Lizzy didn’t want to admit that she had. And that it troubled her.
“And would you want that for yourself? Of course you would not. He wants to use your fortune to pay his gambling debts. That’s all you are to him.”
“I told you, though. He doesn’t want to marry me,” Lizzy said forlornly.
“Then isn’t that fortunate?”
“That he’s marrying someone else? I suppose so.”
Lady Quamby stopped in the midst of interrupting. “I trust you’re not talking of Miss Harcourt?”
“I thought that perhaps it was her, but then they didn’t speak to each other all evening.”
“And you were watching, were you?”
Lizzy blushed. “Nor did they dance a single dance together.” She hesitated. “I’d hoped they might have argued, but at the end of the evening, Mr McAlister told me once again that he was marrying someone else.”
“Hmm.” Lady Quamby rose and drew an Indian shawl from the kist at the end of the bed. “You’ll need to cover yourself with that. Now, Lizzy, I hope your senses are not too disordered. Do you think you’ll be up to making your way to your bedchamber?”
She laughed at Lizzy’s wary expression, adding, “No, I wasn’t going to suggest Angelo accompany you. Now, you go to your bed, and I,” she reached up a languid arm to touch Angelo’s cheek while the handsome Italian gazed down at her with liquid brown eyes before kissing her hand tenderly, “have decided not to return to mine.”
Chapter 18
It had been a long and difficult night, and Lizzy was certain it was dawn before sleep finally claimed her.
Sitting quietly at her dressing table, she watched as Mabel poured the contents of the water jug into the porcelain bowl for her to wash her face and hands. The morning was bright outside and so was the fire that burned in the grate.
But her mood was very low.
“Are you sure Miss Harcourt said nothing to you last night?”
“Miss Harcourt don’t say much ter anyone, miss.”
“But…you never stop talking, Mabel. How can you have absolutely nothing to report to me?”
“Ain’t no use tryin’ ter get me ter tell yer wot I can’t unless I make it up an’ yer don’t want me ter do that.” Mabel tugged at her mistress’s hair, adding with energy, “No matter 'ow much I chattered, Miss 'Arcourt were not goin’ ter chatter back. She jest stared at the ceilin’, then said thank yer an’ waved me ter the door. Glad I don’ 'ave ter work fer ’er, miss.”
There was nothing more Lizzy could say. Feeling very blue devilish, she went down to the breakfast parlour where Mrs Hodge greeted her. “Mr Dalgleish was looking for you.”