didn’t give your little champagne affair away the other night, did I?”
“Ah, but you see, I didn’t give you away, either.”
“If you are referring to Miss Talbot-Martin and myself,” Patrick said. “You and I both know nothing would have happened.”
“Somehow, I believe you.” Gaynor squeezed his arm, hugging herself very close to him. “You are far too good and noble to take advantage of your inferiors.”
“You were the one who invited her.”
“I thought she was a nice girl.”
“She is a nice girl,” he argued.
Gaynor stopped in front of the Pryce family’s house and dropped Patrick’s arm just as her motorcar pulled into sight. “A nice girl would not have found herself alone in a dark room, sharing a sofa with a man she’d just met.”
“She didn’t know any better.”
The automobile stopped at the kerb, and Gaynor held out her gloved hand for Patrick. As he helped her climb into the back seat, she turned and whispered in his ear, “My point exactly.”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Other than her trip with Archie to view the Petrie collection, the week was a very unproductive one for Linley. She moped around the house, sometimes went for walks around the garden, and helped her father write letters to potential investors. Every afternoon, Berenice expected callers—specifically Gaynor and her brothers—but they never came.
“Your first ball was not altogether unsuccessful,” she said, staring out the drawing room window onto Bedford Square. “I cannot understand why no one has come to call.”
Linley sighed, closing the book she’d been reading. “If you haven’t noticed, I’m not exactly fashionable. I can’t talk about clothes, or hats, or even shoes. I don’t know any of the latest dances. I’ve never seen a film,” she sighed again, for emphasis. “There is absolutely no reason anyone here should even think twice about being my friend.”
“Don’t you think that’s being rather hard on yourself?”
“I’m aware of my weaknesses just as much as I’m aware of my strengths. I may not be London material, but that doesn’t make me any less valuable as a person. Why, I’d like to see any of these society girls try to tramp through the Congo in their silk ball gowns. They wouldn’t last one whole day doing what I do.”
Berenice shook her head, “I had no idea I was in for a diatribe...”
“Diatribe, my eye!” Linley huffed. “I had managed to make one friend in this entire city, but between you, Archie, Reginald, and Schoville, I’m quite sure he won’t be bothering with me anymore.”
“Oh! Do you mean Lord Kyre? If he were a man worth his salt, he wouldn’t let three overprotective chaps and one tired old woman run him off!” Berenice rounded on Linley, wagging a finger in her direction. “I must admit I was pleased when he showed interest in you, but from what I’ve heard lately, plenty of girls a great deal more qualified than you have thrown their hat in the ring. You could catch yourself a baronet. A viscount, even. But I’m afraid with your unremarkable looks and lack of fortune, hoping for a marquess is simply aiming too high.”
“Berenice! That is hurtful!”
“Come now, let’s be reasonable. You said yourself that you were aware of your strengths and weaknesses. A lack of fortune can be overlooked for a particular beauty, and a lack of beauty can be overlooked for a substantial fortune, but you, my dear, have neither.”
“I happen to like the way I look,” Linley said.
“There is nothing wrong with your looks. Any man would be lucky to have a girl like you, but Kyre is not a normal man. He has his pick of the wealthiest, most beautiful women in the world. All I am saying is you shouldn’t set your hopes on him.”
“I’m not getting my hopes set on him. You are the one insisting I find a husband, not me. All I want to do is leave this stupid town and never come back.”
“You really intend to spend your life digging holes and
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