“What would you like me todo?”
Lydell brightened. “Gain anintroduction, learn what you can, then arrange for me to meet hersomewhere private.”
“Arrange in private?”There was an odd tightening in Gideon’s gut.
“Yes. If she wishes tocompromise a fellow, and you think we’ll suit, then I’ll see itdone.”
“I am not picking yourbride for you.” Lydell had gone around the bend. “You expect me tosimply deliver her into your hands at some unknown location to bewhisked north and across the border?”
Lydell shrugged. “Something likethat.”
“You are mad.”
“Please, Ainsely. I needan immediate solution to my problem.”
Gideon studied his old classmate, in anear state of panic. “I will obtain an introduction, meet the chit,and somehow achieve an introduction for you in a proper setting.That is all.”
Lydell brightened. “Thank you. I knewI could count on you.”
Gideon sighed and picked up his glass.The smooth whiskey slid down his throat. “Where shall she betonight? I will endeavor to bring this about.”
“Davenport’s.”
Bloody hell.The last place he wanted to be tonight was theDavenports’. The man had five daughters between the ages often-and-seven and two-and-twenty, and hadn’t managed to marry anyof them off yet. In fact, that particular invitation was already inthe trash. He’d met the Davenport daughters and, simply put, noneof them would suit.
“My maid has a sister whoworks in the household next door to—”
“Spare me the detailsabout how you know where Lady Moira will be, but this venue willnot do.”
“It must. Youpromised.”
Damn it. He had. Gideon scowled.Lydell would owe him for this for the rest of his miserable years.“Very well.”
Moira rushed to the entrance of HydePark, Beatrice trailing behind her. Oh, she hoped Pippa had waitedfor her. Her departure had been delayed when Mother made Moirachange clothing and insisted on her hair being rearranged. What didit matter? She was wearing a bonnet, which covered most of herhead. Then her scarf was all wrong. Moira had adorned fivedifferent ones before her mother finally approved. All this fussand bother over a simple stroll in the park. If a gentlemandismissed her on account of her scarf, then he wasn’t worthconsidering.
Lady Philippa Casemore waited forMoira by the entry gate, her maid just a few feet away. “I am sosorry I am late,” Moira said as she linked arms with her friend andheaded toward Rotten Row.
“It’s no bother,” Pippainsisted.
Moira cast a sidelong glance at herfriend. Pippa looked rather pale this afternoon. “Are you feelingwell?”
“Better than thismorning.”
“Oh dear. Probably fromtoo much fun at the Heathfields’ last evening.”
Pippa only offered a weak smile.Perhaps it hadn’t been as enjoyable as Moira had imagined. Shewould find out soon enough, but first she needed to get herfriend’s advice. “I have something to tell you, but you cannot tellanyone else.”
Pippa leaned her head closer toMoira’s. “You can tell me anything, you know that.”
And thank heavens for it. The two hadbeen so close the last few years at the Broadmoor Academy. Moiradidn’t know what she’d have done without her dear friends, the onlyother souls who knew how desperately Moira needed to escape hermother. “I made an innocent comment to Alvina last evening that wassomehow overheard. Now my name is in the White’s betting book.Mother is going to have an apoplexy when she learns ofit.”
Pippa’s eyes widened in surprise. Shestarted to speak, but Moira cut her off, afraid of being censuredby her level-headed friend.
“I plan to make it work tomy advantage, however.”
“Make it work to youradvantage? Oh, Moira, how could you possibly do that?”
“My name is now known in arather important gentleman’s club. Given Mother whisked me awayfrom the ball last evening after only an hour, this may be my onlychance to be known.”
“Oh, Moira—”
But Moira cut her off once more.“Granted, it wasn’t my plan to have all of society know I amwilling to compromise a gentleman to get what I want, but at leastnow suitable candidates will seek me out, and I can choose the bestScot for the position.”
Pippa stopped and Moira turned to faceher friend. “You think it’s a horrible plan, I can tell. But,Pippa, you don’t understand what it’s like to live with mymother.”
“It’s not that.” Pippawinced, and though it looked like she meant to say more, she onlypursed her lips.
“Then what is it?” Moiraprodded.
Pippa face fell even more. “Yoursisn’t the only name in White’s betting book.”
“It’s not?”
A mirthless laugh escapedher friend. “Apparently Iam to be bedded by Lord St. Austell before theSeason is out.”
The devilish rake her mother hadwarned her from? And Pippa? Moira didn’t try to hide her amusement.“I’m sure there are worse fates.”
Pippa’s mouth fell open. “You knowhim?”
Only by sight. “No, but mother pointedhim out to me last night with dire warnings.”
“What does he looklike?”
“Why, we just passed him.He was with Lord Heathfield.” Moira turned around to find thescoundrel in question. “He was right over…” But Pippa was gone,almost as though she’d vanished in thin air. “Pippa!” Moira called.Good heavens, where did she run off to? They were to have tea withPatience Findley and Georgianna Bexley-Smythe after theirwalk.
“That’s her? Lady Moira?”Gideon asked.
“The very one,” Jordananswered with an unrepentant grin.
Gideon studied the youngwoman whom Lydell would probably marry. The obnoxious bonnet shadedmost of her head, but a few ringlets escaped. Red, the shade ofsunrise. And, he could well understand why she used the parasol toshade her face from the sun. Such a pale complexion could burn in amatter of moments. I wonder if she hasfreckles. I’ve always been partial to them. High cheek bones and a delicate nose were a fine match to thethin, arched eyebrows and full lips. Had she applied cosmetics, orwere they naturally red?
Lydell would be quite pleased indeed.A fortune and a lovely face. What more could a man wish for?However, he knew his friend well enough that her shape, what Gideoncould determine in the current fashion, was not Lydell’spreference. He liked slight ladies, narrow hips and smallerbreasts. Lady Moira possessed none of those attributes. He wouldn’texactly describe her as buxom, but she was far fromlacking.
“Ah, here is our chancefor an introduction.”
Gideon tore his eyes
