“Good evening, Lady Moira,Lady Hearne. You both look lovely this evening.” Well, he assumedLady Moira looked lovely. On the few occasions they’d had theopportunity to meet, she had always looked quite fetching with hergrey eyes, sprinkle of freckles, and shimmering red hair. However,tonight she wore a wide-brimmed hat that shaded most of her facefrom the torches throughout the gardens. All he could see was herchin, which appeared to have developed a rash. Not that he wouldremark on such a blemish.
“Good evening, LordAinsely,” Lady Hearne greeted. Lady Moira, however, remained silentand kept her head down. At least he assumed she was Lady Moira. Themore he studied the young woman, the more he began to questionhimself. Usually, Lady Moira wasn’t so quiet and her breasts hadseemed larger on previous occasions.
“My pardon. I mistook thisyoung woman for Lady Moira.”
“Oh, it is Moira.” Hearnesnorted.
Lady Hearne struck him in the ribswith her elbow.
Gideon squinted to see Lady Moira moreclearly, but she kept away from the light and seemed to draw intoherself. Nothing like the lady with whom he’d made a previousacquaintance.
As Lady Moira was doing her best toignore him, Gideon said to Hearne, “I haven’t seen your brothers inTown. Are they remaining in the country with their wives? Or willthey be joining the Season soon?”
Lady Hearne stiffened as her husbandanswered, “They won’t be joining us this year.”
Gideon got the distinct impression hisquestion had upset Hearne’s wife, especially when tears welled upin her eyes.
“They cannot go intosociety,” Lady Hearne announced.
Hearne put an arm around his wife.“Excuse us for a moment.”
Gideon nodded. Hearne pulled his wifedown a darkened path, leaving Gideon alone with Lady Moira. Herface was no longer shaded as she watched her brother and LadyHearne walk away. The sadness in her eyes and downturn of her mouthpulled at him. This was clearly a family situation, and he feltlike an intruder.
“Poor Alvina,” Lady Moirauttered.
“I hope it isn’t anythingI said.”
A sad smile came to her face, and LadyMoira looked up at him. It took all of Gideon’s effort to schoolhis features once the light of the lamp shone on the young woman.Red blotches, hives, covered her face. She must be miserable, andwhy was she out of the house? “Before we stopped to speak with you,Alvina just learned two of her friends are in a delicate condition.Coupled with our enceinte sisters-in-law, and my mother’s recentlectures on duty to the Hearne title, I am afraid it was too muchfor her.”
This was not the type of discussion heever thought to have with an innocent young woman. “How long haveshe and Hearne been married?”
“Five years.” Lady Moiragrimaced.
He could well understand why the womanwas upset, given she was married to the earl and expected toproduce the heir and a spare. If she had not done so already, nodoubt she feared her ability. Not that Gideon uttered a word. Itwas not his place, and it was certainly not a topic he wascomfortable discussing with an innocent such as LadyMoira.
She continued as if his participationwasn’t necessary. “My brother doesn’t care. Well, he cares.” Sheshrugged. “But not in the way most gentlemen would. He has twoyounger brothers, who will have children, so there is no concern ofthe title becoming extinct, or being left to a distant cousin ofsorts.”
Unlike himself. Gideon was the lastmale of his line. Given the circumstances, he should find andsettle on a wife sooner rather than later, and hopefully hewouldn’t encounter the same difficulties as Hearne.
Mr. Garson sidled up to them. “I say,good evening, Ainsely.”
“Garson.” Gideon nodded.At least he could change the topic of discussion.
The man grinned, waitinganxiously.
Gideon sighed. “Mr. Garson, may Iintroduce Lady Moira Kirkwood?”
She turned toward Garson, eyebrowraised with a slight tilt of her lips. Garson took a step back, hismouth opening and closing as if searching for words. He looked likea trout in need of air. As lovely as Lady Moira usually was, Gideonhad to admit that this evening she was far from pretty. What hadhappened to cause her skin to erupt in such a manner?
“Um...uh...good evening,Lady Moira.”
She chuckled, and Gideon joined her.Clearly she knew how she looked and either didn’t care, or didn’tcare what Garson thought. “Good evening, Mr. Garson.”
Garson pulled at this neckcloth asthough he needed air. It didn’t surprise Gideon that this was thecase. He was amazed the man could breathe at all, let alone movehis neck. “I, well, I—”
“Let’s dispense with thepleasantries, shall we?” Lady Moira interrupted.
Gideon narrowed his eyes. Did shealready know of the bet?
“Where is yourestate?”
Apparently shedoes.
The man flushed before he straightenedlike a proud peacock. “Oxfordshire. Nothing like Bath.”
Lady Moira’s eyes grew wide.“Oxfordshire? That is even worse than Bath.”
Garson pulled back. “Excuseme?”
“I do not like that area.”Lady Moira shrugged.
“I think it would be inyour best interest not to be so picky,” Garson huffed.
Lady Moira raised an eyebrow. “I begyour pardon, but I believe I can be as picky as I wish.”
“Well, when oneconsiders…” He looked her up and down, nodded and gave ahalf-sympathetic smile.
Lady Moira drew in a breath and took astep forward, her hand raised. Gideon stepped betweenthen.
“If you value yourreputation and limbs, I strongly encourage you to apologize to LadyMoira and take your leave.”
Garson looked up at him and swallowed.All the color drained from the man’s face. Gideon knew he could bean imposing figure when he wished to be. The man looked past himand nodded to Lady Moira. “My apologies.” Then he turned on hisheel and hastened away.
Gideon watched him go. He waited tohear the sound of sniffles, ready to offer what comfort he could,already pulling the handkerchief from his pocket. After all, mostladies, when insulted in such a way, would dissolve in tears. Heknew it was a matter of time before Lady Moirasuccumbed.
Moira pressed a gloved hand to hermouth to smother the laughter. Goodness, she should keep using hermother’s concoctions just to keep undesirable gentlemen away. No,that wouldn’t do. She could very well scare away a Scot, and shecouldn’t have that.
To his credit, Ainsely showed noreaction to her appearance, other than his eyes widened theslightest bit. Had she not been watching
