ladies."
"I'm not adept at all, but I'm willing to learn if it means being alone with you."
"I hope you know what you're doing. We don't have much time."
He glanced at the clock. "How long can it take to dress?"
"You don't realize how much has to be laced and buttoned and hooked."
"Don't worry. We'll still have time."
She recognized his tone of voice. "No, absolutely not."
"I may pout." He thrust out his bottom lip.
"Pout away. If you want me to accompany you, you'll do this my way. And I still have to have my hair arranged. Are you accomplished with women's coiffeurs as well?"
They'd bathed at the cottage. Jack had had tanks installed in the attic that were supplied with water from the river and, ingeniously heated with coal, offered hot water for the shower-baths he favored.
"I am not. I'll fortify myself for the dull evening
io3
ahead while your maid arranges your hair. Where's your liquor?"
"In the library. I'll have some brought up."
"Never mind. I'll fetch it. I liked your curls that night at Peggy's."
"Then I'll have Maude arrange curls. Your wish is my command, my lord."
He laughed. "If only it were true, my imperious young queen."
"And here I've been on my best behavior," she lightly mocked.
But she was on her best behavior, or Jack Fitz-James brought out the best in her, the level of her contentment extraordinary. And for a woman very much familiar with having her own way, she found herself willingly deferring to him in many instances. Such as this dinner and soiree, for example. She didn't relish appearing on his arm tonight. After the wagers staked and the inevitable gossip, she knew they'd be the cynosure of all eyes.
He seemed immune. She preferred a less conspicuous role.
But he returned shortly with some liquor and entertained her while Maude arranged her hair in ringlets, with fragrant white roses over both ears along with elaborate diamond clips. He knew every bit of scandalous gossip about town, and as he sipped his cognac, he regaled her with humorous stories of the fashionable world.
"And if Ned's maman quizzes you on Ned's future betrothed, I'll warn you now to plead ignorance. Ned told her a month ago he was about to become engaged, after -she'd been hounding him unmercifully. Once Lily finds a beau, he expects the pressure on him will cease.
104
So he has only to survive the season, and his maman will have her hands full with Lily's marriage plans."
"I'll be pleased to tell her I know nothing. Now you're sure she won't take offense at an extra guest added at such late date?"
"Lady Darlington is flighty as a hummingbird. She won't even notice. Just smile and nod your head when she chatters on."
"How like a man," Venus rebuked, frowning into the mirror. "You don't even listen."
"She talks of nothing at great speed. There's no need to listen. You'll find out for yourself soon enough, so you needn't defend your sex with such a scowl. I like Frances. I just wouldn't want to be put into a carriage with her for more than a two-block ride."
"Her husband is deceased?"
"Killed riding to hounds, drunk as a lord. He died happy."
"Do you ride?" She knew so little of him.
"To hounds?"
She nodded and her maid frowned and reset a pin.
"Occasionally. I prefer steeplechase. My stable of jumpers has taken me a decade to bring up to scratch. We'll have to go riding at Castlereagh sometime. You ride, don't you?" She looked like a woman who would be fearless in the saddle.
"My parents' stable is primarily racers. I ride some."
"I just bought a new racer. The morning after I met you." He smiled at her in the mirror. "I should rename him for the occasion. He's going to take the Derby this year. Why don't you stay and see him run?"
"The Duras's horses are racing at Longchamps . You're welcome to come over if you like." She spoke as casually
io5
as he. "My brother rides in the amateur events. Do you have family?"
"A distant cousin in Devon, hoping to inherit, whom I've never liked because
"I'm not adept at all, but I'm willing to learn if it means being alone with you."
"I hope you know what you're doing. We don't have much time."
He glanced at the clock. "How long can it take to dress?"
"You don't realize how much has to be laced and buttoned and hooked."
"Don't worry. We'll still have time."
She recognized his tone of voice. "No, absolutely not."
"I may pout." He thrust out his bottom lip.
"Pout away. If you want me to accompany you, you'll do this my way. And I still have to have my hair arranged. Are you accomplished with women's coiffeurs as well?"
They'd bathed at the cottage. Jack had had tanks installed in the attic that were supplied with water from the river and, ingeniously heated with coal, offered hot water for the shower-baths he favored.
"I am not. I'll fortify myself for the dull evening
io3
ahead while your maid arranges your hair. Where's your liquor?"
"In the library. I'll have some brought up."
"Never mind. I'll fetch it. I liked your curls that night at Peggy's."
"Then I'll have Maude arrange curls. Your wish is my command, my lord."
He laughed. "If only it were true, my imperious young queen."
"And here I've been on my best behavior," she lightly mocked.
But she was on her best behavior, or Jack Fitz-James brought out the best in her, the level of her contentment extraordinary. And for a woman very much familiar with having her own way, she found herself willingly deferring to him in many instances. Such as this dinner and soiree, for example. She didn't relish appearing on his arm tonight. After the wagers staked and the inevitable gossip, she knew they'd be the cynosure of all eyes.
He seemed immune. She preferred a less conspicuous role.
But he returned shortly with some liquor and entertained her while Maude arranged her hair in ringlets, with fragrant white roses over both ears along with elaborate diamond clips. He knew every bit of scandalous gossip about town, and as he sipped his cognac, he regaled her with humorous stories of the fashionable world.
"And if Ned's maman quizzes you on Ned's future betrothed, I'll warn you now to plead ignorance. Ned told her a month ago he was about to become engaged, after -she'd been hounding him unmercifully. Once Lily finds a beau, he expects the pressure on him will cease.
104
So he has only to survive the season, and his maman will have her hands full with Lily's marriage plans."
"I'll be pleased to tell her I know nothing. Now you're sure she won't take offense at an extra guest added at such late date?"
"Lady Darlington is flighty as a hummingbird. She won't even notice. Just smile and nod your head when she chatters on."
"How like a man," Venus rebuked, frowning into the mirror. "You don't even listen."
"She talks of nothing at great speed. There's no need to listen. You'll find out for yourself soon enough, so you needn't defend your sex with such a scowl. I like Frances. I just wouldn't want to be put into a carriage with her for more than a two-block ride."
"Her husband is deceased?"
"Killed riding to hounds, drunk as a lord. He died happy."
"Do you ride?" She knew so little of him.
"To hounds?"
She nodded and her maid frowned and reset a pin.
"Occasionally. I prefer steeplechase. My stable of jumpers has taken me a decade to bring up to scratch. We'll have to go riding at Castlereagh sometime. You ride, don't you?" She looked like a woman who would be fearless in the saddle.
"My parents' stable is primarily racers. I ride some."
"I just bought a new racer. The morning after I met you." He smiled at her in the mirror. "I should rename him for the occasion. He's going to take the Derby this year. Why don't you stay and see him run?"
"The Duras's horses are racing at Longchamps . You're welcome to come over if you like." She spoke as casually
io5
as he. "My brother rides in the amateur events. Do you have family?"
"A distant cousin in Devon, hoping to inherit, whom I've never liked because
Similar Books
