The Honourable Fortune Hunter (Scandalous Miss Brightwells 5)

“Good lord, sister, it’s the middle of a ball. Have you gone quite mad?”

“Trust me, my dear.” She looked at Lizzy. “I’ll explain everything as I can. I realise the announcement of your betrothal has just been made. Are you happy?”

Lizzy stared. What could she say to that? She glanced about her, expecting to see Mrs Hodge.

Before Lizzy could answer, Lady Quamby said urgently, “I can’t find Miss Harcourt anywhere and Lord Leighton is looking for her. He’s here already.”

Lady Fenton nodded. “I saw his carriage arrive. That’s why I’ve hurried here as fast as I can.” She drew Lizzy and her sister a little closer to where they would not be observed.

“Lizzy, there’s no easy way to say this. It’s rash and impulsive in the extreme, and I would not advocate it…only, I’ve just been speaking to Miss Harcourt and Mr McAlister who are in a coach-and-four by the park gates.”

“You caught them?” Lady Quamby put her hand to her chest. “Then I’ll find Quamby.”

“No!” Lady Fenton gripped her wrist. “I’ve just spoken to them.” She drew in a breath, glanced about, then lowered her voice, adding, “And I’ve promised I’ll bring Lizzy to them.”

“What?”

Lizzy and Lady Quamby spoke over each other, but Lady Fenton put up her hand for silence. “Antoinette, trust me. I have heard their story and I believe it’s the right thing to do. They must escape Lord Leighton…but they want Lizzy to come. Now!”

A strange, terrified excitement gripped Lizzy. She could feel it travel slowly from the tips of her toes to the ends of her fingers. Could it be true? Could Theo really want Lizzy to go to him? Now?

But…Miss Harcourt was with him!

And, outside, it was snowing. It was cold. Lizzy was in her most beautiful ballgown. Not a warm, serviceable travelling dress.

Yet…surely Theo would not ask her to go outside in the middle of a ball unless the ‘rash and extreme’ measures Lady Fenton suggested included escape. Miss Harcourt was escaping.

So, why not Lizzy?

The double doors to the saloon opened and a waft of warm air and chatter filtered into the room. She glimpsed Harry and his mother speaking with animation just on the other side, and her heart cleaved with revulsion and rebellion. Harry was now joined by Mrs Hodge, and catching a glimpse of Lizzy, the three of them bore through the entranceway.

“I have not yet congratulated my new daughter-in-law,” said Mrs Dalgleish, arms outstretched while, beside her, Mrs Hodge beamed her satisfaction.

And Harry his.

Satisfaction that his bullying tactics had worked, and he’d won her through fair means or foul. That he had subjugated her.

It’s what they all thought. It was written all over their smug, beaming faces.

Lizzy smiled as she fanned herself, pretending to accept their felicitations with good grace, inclining her head and noticing out the corner of her eye that Lady Fenton was smiling too. That she’d discarded her cloak to resume her role as the consummate hostess, not allowing herself to be fazed, when clearly her desire was not to make small talk with these people.

Lizzy just hoped no one noticed Lady Fenton wore walking boots instead of dancing slippers beneath her ballgown. They might wonder, then, if she’d had a hand in helping Lizzy to escape too. For that was what she was going to do. Escape. If Theo was in a carriage outside, asking for Lizzy, what did it matter if Miss Harcourt was there too?

Lizzy had trusted Theo with her heart. She’d trust him with her life too.

As Miss Harcourt was doing.

“My dearest Lizzy has made me the happiest man on this earth.” Harry raised her hand to press a moist, unwelcome kiss upon her palm and Lizzy steeled herself not to shudder.

Instead, she inclined her head. “If congratulations are in order, they should go to Mrs Hodge who has delivered me to you, as you all would wish.” She smiled as if she’d just offered a compliment. She darted a less than charitable look at Mrs Hodge as she added, “Mrs Hodge is formidable. I yield before her.”

The fact that Mrs Hodge met her expression with a look of secret, smug satisfaction hardened Lizzy’s resolve, if that were even possible.

Mrs Hodge would soon see who was the real champion.

“Sadly, Lizzy has just confessed to suffering a terrible megrim,” said Lady Fenton with apparent regret. “After all the excitement, I shall order a sleeping draught so that she might enjoy tomorrow as much as possible.”

As the other ladies murmured their sympathies, Lady Fenton added with a smile directed at Harry, “For tomorrow is an exciting day for a young lady about to embark upon a new life with her future husband.”