The Honourable Fortune Hunter (Scandalous Miss Brightwells 5)

He nodded. “You walk up first and I’ll follow, later. I shan’t dance with you tonight, but I will get a message to you when our coach-and-four is ready to take us to the border. My own carriage is falling to pieces and won’t make the journey, but I am assured that a suitable conveyance will be ready soon.”

She nodded, her expression focused across the lake, as if her mind were on something very different.

“Tomorrow evening, I shall cut you.” She turned. “Give you the cut direct,” she said, though he hardly knew what she meant until she added, “If anyone has observed us today, they may fear that you have been…grooming me for a repeat of what they believe you did to my sister.”

“Ah, kidnap.”

“Or they’ll think I’ve somehow been taken in by your abundance of charm and I, plain little peagoose that I am, are therefore in danger.”

“You are very much in danger, Amelia.”

She knew what he meant and nodded. “And you are my salvation though nobody knows that. They believe my uncle, of course, for he is Lord Quamby’s friend, and he has very effectively painted you the villain.” She gave him a watery smile. “Tomorrow night I shall do my best to suggest that I am no longer in charity with you, Theo. I am not much of an actress but I shall do my best.”

Chapter 16

Lizzy had successfully evaded Mrs Hodge all day by the time she sat at her dressing table to prepare herself for the evening entertainment. Disappointingly, it looked as if Theo had been equally determined to evade Lizzy.

The brief excitement she’d felt at the flattering manner in which Mabel had arranged her curls in a fetching topknot, earlier, had been crushed by the even briefer nod of acknowledgement she’d received from Theo when she passed him on the stairs on her way down to breakfast.

She’d paused upon the lan

ding, her heart hammering in her chest, her mouth growing dry, a half-smile upon her lips. Surely, she had not behaved too poorly the night before? Surely, if there were to be recriminations of anyone’s behaviour, his was as reprehensible as hers had been?

But he’d walked right past her, and Lizzy had been cast into a greater case of the dismals. Women got the blame for everything. And it looked as if Theo was like any other gentleman who had taken advantage of a young lady throwing themselves at him. Clearly, Lizzy had been too forward, too eager, too trusting, too naïve. She had been too whatever it was that made a situation less than ideal for, as the woman, she should have set the tone, kept the tone, behaved…properly in such a situation. Though what properly really meant, she had no idea.

“Yer ain’t one ter go 'bout so gloomy,” said Mabel as she teased a curl into place. “'As that Mr Dalgleish not bin payin’ yer proper attention?”

“He has been paying me plenty of attention.” Lizzy sighed.

“Aye, in truth, I thought it 'twas the other one, then.” Mabel looked knowing.

“The other one? What can you mean?” Lizzy tried to make it a joke but gave up and put her head in her hands, causing Mabel to cluck her annoyance as she dropped a hairpin. “Yes, it’s Theo, of course,” whispered Lizzy. “Today he’s barely even looked in my direction. And then…” She couldn’t go on as she recalled the leap of jealousy she’d felt when she’d seen him in other feminine company.

“Then what, miss?” Mabel prompted.

“I saw him walking by the lake with…” She frowned, adding in a rush, “Oh, I forgot! I’ve promised your services to another young lady. What was her name?”

“Miss Harcourt. Yer told me last night, miss. 'An aye, I shall tend to 'er shortly, afore I see ter Mrs ’Odge.”

Lizzy glanced at Mabel. “And you must make her look a fright so that Theo doesn’t look twice at her.” She turned back to the looking glass and sighed. “She has a fortune, I hear. Oh Mabel, what if she is the young lady with whom he has an agreement?”

“There ain’t nothin’ yer can do 'bout it, if there is,” Mabel said sagely, returning to Lizzy’s hair.

“Promise me you will learn everything, Mabel. I want you to discover who Miss Harcourt is and what she is to Theo.”

With Mabel’s accord duly given, Lizzy appeared at Mrs Hodge’s apartments, as directed, and went down to the saloon with her, pleased when the older woman was swept into conversation with a hump-backed dowager sitting near the window nursing a Pekingese.

Feeling both abandoned and free, Lizzy trailed through the throng, hoping for a glimpse of Theo.

When she saw Susan near the fireplace, her husband seated in a wingbacked chair enjoying most of the heat and with a smarmy smile upon his face as he discussed hounds with his cronies, Lizzy couldn’t help a pang at the unhappiness upon the young woman’s face.

Was that Lizzy’s fate?

The room was buzzing with chatter by now, making Lizzy feel even more alone amongst strangers. She took a few steps forward, but Susan just turned her back on her and pretended she had something to say to their hostess, Lady Quamby.

Feeling abandoned, if not downright beleaguered, she jumped when Harry Dalgleish stepped up to her side and briefly touched her forearm.

“Why such a sad face, little one?” he asked, a note of kindness in his tone that kindled a small flame deep in her heart.