The Incorrigible Mr. Lumley by Aileen Fish

David
lengthened his stride and closed the distance between him and the
other three, he decided he needed to find a resolution that would
be kind to Lady Joanna. Before she was hurt.

Chapter Nine
     
    Pacing the fading Turkish carpet in her
chamber, Joanna wrung her hands and contemplated the evening ahead.
Molly clutched a strand of pearls to her chest, her eyes pleading.
Joanna shook her head. “I won’t wear any jewels. It’s bad enough
Robert has forced me to attend this evening. Sir Frederick! Molly,
have you seen the man? I’m not shallow enough to complain over his
looks. If I could believe his manner was lacking due to ignorance,
I should not belittle him. He is so arrogant, yet completely
unaware of how a gentleman behaves.”
    “Yes, my lady, so you’ve said. But please,
his lordship insists I make certain you look your best whenever you
go out.”
    “And you have done your best, Molly. Should
he complain, I‘d inform my brother you are not to blame if he finds
anything about me lacking. I truly doubt he’ll notice, though. He
will have Lady Barbara on his arm. He’ll not see me.”
    Molly set down the pearls and picked up
several hairpins. “Will you allow me to at least secure your curls?
I couldn’t bear it if your coiffure fell before you returned
home.”
    Joanna paused, her arms folded in front of
her, her gaze fixed on the mirror. Molly was proud of her station,
and Joanna’s appearance reflected on her servant. No matter how
badly she wished to appear plain and undesirable, it was not fair
of her to injure Molly’s reputation in the process. “Do what you
must. But please, don’t do it too well.”
    A knock sounded on the door. Molly opened it
and Joanna saw one of the younger footmen standing in the hallway.
He cleared his throat. “His lordship wishes to know if you are
ready. Sir Frederick has arrived and the gentlemen are waiting in
the study.”
    “Thank you, Thomson. Please inform his
lordship I shall be down presently.”
    He nodded and scurried away, showing his
youth in his speed and lack of decorum. Molly closed the door and
returned to Joanna, pushing a few more pins into the bun. “There,
that should hold.”
    Joanna offered a smile she didn’t feel.
“Thank you. You may go now, get some rest before I need you to help
me undress later.”
    “Yes, my lady.”
    Joanna’s hand hesitated over the perfume
bottles. Her favorite bergamot-laden scent calmed her immensely.
She would prefer to wear it, but didn’t wish Sir Frederick to think
she’d worn anything to please him. The heavier French fragrance
would never do. For a moment, she wished she could run to the
stables, rub her hand in some horse sweat and apply it liberally,
but the moment passed quickly. Robert would not find the humor in
the action.
    Skipping any sort of fragrance, she rose,
picked up her pelisse and went to face her doom. An entire evening
listening to Sir Frederick speak on whatever he deemed suitable
conversation. Remembering their exchange on the dance floor that
one evening, she suddenly feared he would say nothing the entire
night. People would talk about her strange escort who ignored
her.
    She found her brother and Sir Frederick
sharing a drink. They both rose and bowed when she entered.
    Robert smiled. “There you are. I was growing
concerned.”
    “I am ready, as you see. How do you do, Sir
Frederick?”
    “I’m well. Shall we be off? I understand the
traffic will be quite heavy.”
    Apparently, he didn’t frequent The King’s
Theatre, if his only knowledge of the traffic was secondhand.
Steeling her nerves, she took his arm and walked with him to the
carriage waiting outside. Thankfully, they were taking her
brother’s carriage and picking up Lady Barbara on the way. At no
time would she be alone with Sir Frederick and subjected to
whatever whims he might have for after the opera. Lady Barbara was
always pleasant company, and Joanna looked forward to that part of
the evening.
    Once they