She crossed the vast ballroom floorand took a place by her mother.
“I hear arsenic works,”her mother stated out of nowhere.
“For what?” Moira wasalmost afraid to hear the answer.
“Hair. We need to dosomething about that dreadful color.”
Moira’s hand went to the back of herhead. She rather liked her hair as it was. She’d inherited it fromher grandmother, Fiona MacLachlan. At least that was how the womanhad been known before marrying Moira’s grandfather.
“It won’t do and isprobably the very reason you have not received a voucheryet.”
“Voucher?”
Her mother turned to her and huffed.“To Almack’s. What other voucher is there?”
Moira shrugged and glanced towardNyle. His shoulders shook with silent laughter.
“Ah, there is LadyAldridge. I’ll be right back.”
Moira relaxed when her mother finallymoved away.
Nyle leaned in and whispered, “You doknow the real reason you won’t be receiving a voucher, don’tyou?”
“Oh, hush. I hadn’tconsidered that ramification of the silly bet.”
“There is nothing sillyabout your name being in the book at White’s.” he hissed beforeglancing around. “Does Mother know?”
That was Moira’s biggest fear, and shedidn’t know how harsh a reaction the woman may have. “Notyet.”
Gideon stood beside Lydell, sipping aglass of wine. Lady Moira was directly across from him, dressed ina lovely lavender gown, a few shades lighter than the heather thatdotted the landscape back home. Her hair glowed like a burst ofsunlight beneath the candles. She was a lovely lady indeed. Andsoon she would be Lydell’s.
A pain stabbed his gut. Why should itbother him? It wasn’t as if he even knew the chit. Her brains couldbe nothing but mush. While she may fill out the gown to hispreferred specifications, she could easily bore him into madness.He would much rather have a plain, thin, interesting wife than abuxom, beautiful featherbrain for those weeks they could be trappedtogether at the estate.
“She is rather pretty, Isuppose,” Lydell muttered. “But she is more endowed than Iprefer.”
“Whereas her dowry is theperfect size,” Gideon reminded his friend quietly.
“There is that.” Lydellheaved a sigh. “I suppose we should go over so you can make theintroductions.”
As much as he wished to speak withLady Moira again, Gideon didn’t relish introducing her to Lydell sohis friend could waltz away with her.
He placed his glass on the empty trayas the waiter passed and stood his tallest. The two men took theirtime in walking the perimeter of the room instead of straightacross. Gideon didn’t want to make his destination obvious,especially with Lydell by his side. By now every gentleman in theroom probably knew about that blasted bet, and he didn’t want todraw any additional attention.
They paused to speak withacquaintances, meet daughters, and sign dance cards as they went.Gideon hated this part of the evening because he could neverremember who he was to dance with and when. Why couldn’t gentlemenhave similar cards? It would make the whole evening less confusingand potentially less embarrassing.
Eventually they arrived and stoodbefore Lady Moira, Hearne, and their mother.
“Ainsely, you met mysister earlier in the park today.”
He bowed toward her. “You look lovelythis evening, Lady Moira.”
That same secret smile came to herlips. What he wouldn’t give to know what she was thinkingabout.
“May I introduce my goodfriend, Lord Lydell?”
Lady Moira’s eyes widened at the name.Surely, she didn’t know about the bet, or did she? Maybe Hearne hadwarned her.
“Such an honor, LordLydell and Lord Ainsely.” the dowager Lady Hearne gushed. “I don’tremember that we have met previously.”
Apparently the girl’s mother wasn’taware of the wager, because Gideon was fairly certain she would notbe particularly welcoming, especially to Lydell.
“No, I don’t believe wehave,” Lydell answered. “Had I known you had such a lovely daughterI would have rectified the matter much sooner.”
“Oh, do go on.”
Please,don’t.
“Would you care for a turnabout the room, Lady Moira?” Lydell offered his arm.
“That would be lovely,thank you.”
Hearne reached out and put a hand onLydell’s shoulder. “Stay close.” The warning was at the edge of theman’s voice and in the narrowing of his eyes.
“Yes, and don’t be gonelong. The dancing will begin shortly,” the dowager countess calledafter them.
Gideon watched the two stroll away,and Hearne leaned in. “If anything happens to my sister, I willhold you personally responsible.”
Gideon turned away from Hearne,keeping an eye on the two as they traversed the ballroom. “Hesimply wanted an introduction. It is up to Lydell to wooher.”
Lydell and Lady Moira stopped beside along window. Gideon wasn’t the only one watching the two of them.In fact, several more interested eyes focused on the pair. An opendoor leading to the gardens below was but a few feet away. WouldLady Moira take Lydell outside and make both Mr. Fiske and theMarquess of Lydell richer for having done so?
Moira stopped just short of the doorsleading outside. She and Lord Lydell had dispensed with allpleasantries during their short partial circuit of the ballroom,but she would not take another step until she hadanswers.
“It is a lovely eveningoutside.” Lydell nodded toward the door. “Would you care for astroll in the gardens?”
Moira studied him for a moment. “Youapproached me because of that bet, did you not?”
The man flushed a bit. “We shouldn’tdiscuss such a subject so blatantly in polite company.”
“I would have honesty andfrankness, Lord Lydell.”
He pulled at his neck cloth. Goodness,why was he the one nervous? Was he afraid she would actually try tocompromise him?
“Yes, I was told of thebet yesterday,” he finally answered.
“And then you learned ofmy value.”
The gentleman straightened and lookedaround before he bent forward. “Such matters should not bediscussed with a lady.”
The fortune hunter thought to censureher? Well, she had enough of that from her mother already. Besides,upon first glance she’d determined they would not suit. Though itseemed unfair to dismiss him out of hand, she couldn’t helpherself. Perhaps had the man not been standing next to Lord Ainselywhen they met, she could have looked at him in a more favorablelight. Unfortunately, Lydell did not have the same warm brown eyes,height, aquiline nose, chiseled cheekbones, or broad shoulders. Shealmost pitied Lord Lydell, especially since he was apparently alsobroke. “Why pretend it doesn’t exist when we both know that itdoes?”
“Yes, well, um, that isbeside the point.”
“Lord Lydell,
