When Harry Met Molly

Splendid!

“As a matter of fact,” she added breezily, “I should like to discuss this house party. Who will be there?”

Harry shifted in his seat. “You already know of most of them if you read the London papers.”

“I’m not supposed to,” said Molly. “Papa says they give me ideas.”

“Which means you read them anyway, don’t you?”

She refused to dignify that remark.

Harry gave an easy laugh. “We’ll be in the company of the other men conscripted by Prinny to be his Impossible Bachelors,” he said. “Nicholas Staunton, Lord Maxwell. Viscount Charles Lumley. Captain Stephen Arrow. And the baronet, Sir Richard Bell.”

“Lord Maxwell.” Molly started with her left index finger. “I’ve never heard of him.”

“He’s a very good friend, a trifle mysterious and rather a recluse.”

“Who’s his mistress?”

“That would be Athena Markham—”

“She who treads the boards?”

“Right. It could be he’s thrown her over for someone else. I’ve no idea.”

Molly gave a huff. “Lord Maxwell would be a fool to throw over Athena Markham.”

“Why is that?”

“She’s divine. Penelope told me so. She saw her in King Lear.”

“She certainly tends to attract an audience, on or off the stage. And she’s quite beautiful.” Harry sighed and looked quite as if he were already sporting a ball and chain, with Anne Riordan holding the lock and key.

“What?” Molly sat up higher in her seat. “You think I have no chance against Miss Markham?”

Harry merely gave her a very droll look.

“You’ve no idea of my acting abilities,” Molly said. It was bragging, she knew, but she was good. At least she knew she would be if only someone would give her a chance to be in a play!

“You’re right,” he said, his chin in his hand. “I’ve no idea.”

She knew he hadn’t meant that as a compliment.

“Let’s move on,” she said, grasping her middle left finger. “That viscount. Lumley. I’ve heard that everything he touches turns to gold.”

Harry frowned. “Yes. He’s the best of fellows. But he’s easily taken advantage of—not in business, but in matters of the heart. I’ve no idea how he’s made it this far without being legshackled. His better friends, and I count myself one of them, have come to conclude that it’s luck. Not skill.”

“Yes, particularly as he’s worth twenty thousand a year,” Molly replied.

For once, they were in agreement. But then she realized Harry was boasting. “Do you really think it takes skill to remain a bachelor as long as you have?”

“Certainly.” His tone was a trifle too smug. “It’s like feinting to the left or right, or ducking, when you’re fencing. Some of us have the natural ability to dodge and survive—others do not.”

“So you’ve evaded parson’s mousetrap how many times?”

“Countless,” he murmured, and then smiled, but it was to himself, she saw, a small smile of recollection.

She didn’t like that smile. It meant that he was thinking of all the girls (besides Penelope) whom he’d kissed—and perhaps done more with—and escaped without any consequences.

The roué!

“Someday you’ll be caught,” she reminded him.

His face took on a foreboding expression. “Yes, as I was once before, thanks to you.” He was referring to the Christmas incident, of course. “But I’ve a few years left,” he added.

“Do you think Anne will wait that long for a proposal?”

“No,” he said. “Which is another reason for me to delay.”

“But someone else will crop up,” Molly said darkly. “Perhaps she’ll be worse than Anne.”

Harry sighed. “I know.”

He looked so sad and desperate that she almost felt sorry for him.

Almost.

Back to business. “Tell me about the third person, that captain.” She wriggled her ring finger to show him she was still counting.

“Oh, yes,” Harry said. “Captain Stephen Arrow, another old friend. He’s a dashing fellow who takes to the high seas whenever a young miss gets too adoring. Of course, he’s fought in many battles, so we mustn’t begrudge him his excuse.”

“An easy out, being a ship’s captain,” said Molly. “If every man had a ship, we’d have no males left on land at all.”

“Yes, I’d take facing cannonballs over a woman’s expectations any day,” said Harry.

“Ha.” Molly glared at him. “Who’s the fourth again?”

“A baronet, Sir Richard Bell.” Harry sighed. “I despise the man. But he’s certainly a tried-and-true bachelor.”

“How so?”

“He’s been seducing young debutantes without getting caught for close to twenty years.”

“Surely not.”

“Oh, yes. I don’t know what he tells them, but they never tattle to their parents, who would, of course, demand he be brought up to scratch.”

Molly wrinkled her brow. “I don’t like the sound of him.”

“Stay away from him. The past several years, he’s had a particular aversion to me.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know. I’ve always wondered. He’s older than Roderick, and we run in different circles. So I don’t see why he’d even notice me. But he does. He goes out of his way to be unpleasant.” Harry shrugged. “I simply ignore him.”

“Hmmm. Probably your best bet.”

“And he always keeps the same mistress,” Harry went on. “It’s a mystery why she stays with him. Of course, his wealth probably lured her in, but she could do much better. Her name, I believe, is Bunny.”

“Is she a strong contender for the title of Most Delectable Companion?”

“Yes.” Harry grinned. “She is what most men would describe as the perfect mistress.”

“Why?” Molly nudged at his crossed knee. “What is it about her that makes her perfect?”

She knew she shouldn’t enjoy talking about mistresses, but it was so much more interesting than hearing Cedric prose on about naked statues or Miss Dunlap lecture on the virtues of self-discipline.

“Bunny has the face and figure of a goddess,” Harry said. “And the disposition of your most favored servant, the one who answers your every beck and call and asks nothing in return.”

Molly made a face. “Ugh. Is that what men really want? She sounds like a pet. A favorite dog.”

Harry chuckled. “Oh, no.” His tone was silky. “She is nothing like a favorite dog, I assure you.”

Molly felt her chest tighten. “I don’t like men who want women who are constantly currying their favor.”

“Of course you wouldn’t like those men! Because you don’t curry anyone’s favor—except maybe Cedric’s. Weren’t you as affable as a lapdog with him?”

She refused to answer because, by God, she had been!

“I knew it,” Harry said. “You were his slave.”

“Never,” Molly lied.

She despised Harry for bringing up Cedric and her fawning behavior with him, which she’d instituted as soon as she’d realized she wanted him to run off with her. Hopefully, Harry hadn’t also deduced that she’d coerced Cedric into kissing her that very morning. Because every woman should be kissed at the start of her elopement, shouldn’t she?

Cedric hadn’t deserved a kiss from her, she realized now. And judging from his bland response, he obviously hadn’t wanted it, either, which was an even more lowering thought.