An Unconventional Countess (Regency Belles of Bath 1)

‘And with your mother’s own lady’s maid! Never mind how hard it is to find decent maids these days, but I hear the poor woman was dismissed after her indiscretion with you. Have you no shame?’ She lifted her stick and prodded one end into his chest. ‘Well? Defend yourself if you can!’

For an infinitesimal moment, Anna felt sorry for the victim of the harangue. He was producing a series of strangled-sounding gurgles, though he appeared to have nothing coherent to say for himself.

‘If I were you, Hoxley...’ Lady Jarrow took another step closer, seeming to grow in height while further diminishing his, forcing him to stagger backwards ‘...I would go home to the country and take some time to reflect on the virtues of a quiet life. You have a reasonable head upon your shoulders, boy. You ought to try using it once in a while instead of distressing your poor mother and father and before you get some other poor girl into trouble.’

As she uttered the last words her gaze flickered past Hoxley towards Henrietta, whose face was even redder and more stricken than his. Anna tightened her grip on the pillar, resisting the urge to rush out and comfort her, though she could see that the woman’s words were having the desired effect. Henrietta was already backing away, fleeing the scene before Hoxley could say or do anything to stop her.

‘Well, now.’ Lady Jarrow’s lips curved into a satisfied-looking smile. ‘I believe that my work here is done.’

‘My lady...’

Hoxley continued to splutter ineffectually as she turned her back on him, marching away as briskly as she’d come. Anna’s gaze travelled with her, past the now busily gossiping audience to where Captain Delaney stood with his shoulders rigid and arms folded in front of him. He looked... What did he look? Angry, regretful, sombre? Somehow his expression suggested all three at once. Judging by the furious look that Hoxley was shooting in his direction, their friendship was well and truly over. And it was her doing. She’d asked Captain Delaney to side with her over his friend and he had. He’d saved Henrietta for her and she had no idea why.

She was still wondering when he unfolded his arms and looked straight at her, tipping his hat in a gesture of farewell before taking the older woman’s arm and walking away.

Chapter Six

‘Well, now, am I allowed to enquire what all that was about?’ Samuel’s grandfather spoke first, his tone faintly bewildered. ‘You certainly sent that fellow away with his tail between his legs.’

‘I was saving a damsel in distress, Hector.’ The Baroness looked eminently pleased with herself. ‘Even if she wasn’t aware of it.’

‘A damsel who didn’t know she was in distress? How extraordinary. Well then, good show I’d say.’

‘I couldn’t have put it better myself.’ Samuel threw her a grateful look. ‘You’re one in a thousand, Grandmother.’

‘Is that all?’

‘A million, then.’

‘It was rather bracing, actually.’ She chuckled. ‘I never did like that Hoxley boy. What on earth persuaded you to take up with him again?’

‘Old times’ sake, I suppose.’ Samuel shrugged. ‘Only it turns out we don’t have a great deal in common any more.’

‘I’m relieved to hear it, but now I think it’s time that you explained why you asked me to denounce the man in public. Not that I had any objections, but you don’t usually ask others to fight your battles for you.’

‘No.’ Samuel frowned at the reminder. ‘I wouldn’t have done so today, except that it struck me as the most persuasive course of action.’

‘I presume it had something to do with that very pretty blonde-haired girl hovering in the background?’

‘Yes. She was intent on going with Ralph and I couldn’t think of any other way to stop her.’

‘And why exactly is her virtue any of your concern?’ His grandmother fixed him with an interrogatory stare. ‘I hope that you don’t have similar designs on the girl yourself?’

‘None at all, but I was asked to intervene by an acquaintance.’

‘What kind of acquaintance?’

‘Just somebody I met the other day.’

‘Male or female?’

Samuel heaved a sigh. His grandmother was doing her best impression of a bloodhound, which meant that there was no escaping telling her the truth now. ‘Miss Fortini, the owner of Belles, if you must know.’

‘The bee girl?’ His grandfather perked up at once. ‘I didn’t see her anywhere.’

‘She was hiding behind a pillar.’

‘Behind a pillar?’ His grandmother sounded mystified. ‘Then tell me, why were you intervening on behalf of a woman you only met a few days ago?’