He pursed his lips and inhaled. “Verywell. What would you have me tell you?”
“Where is yourestate?”
“Outside ofBath.”
Perfect. “I am sorry, Lord Lydell, but you just will notdo.”
The man’s mouth popped open and hischin dropped. “Excuse me. I thought you wished to be married rightaway, the reason for Scotland and all.”
She stared at him. Did they all assumeshe was intent on an anvil wedding? Perhaps it was best. “Once Iset my mind to nuptials, I don’t wish to spend months planning awedding for society to attend, to see and be seen. Scotland is moreexpedient for my purposes.”
“But…”
“I would also like todetermine where I will live, and Bath will not do.”
Moira turned on her heel, about toreturn to her mother, when Lydell gently touched her arm. “Allow meto escort you.”
She glanced down at his offered armand accepted.
“What lady does not wishto live close to Bath?” The question was barely a whisper in herear.
“This one.”
“If not Bath, thenwhere?”
Moira considered telling him, as theinformation would spread and perhaps a Scotsman would come lookingfor her. However, as the only Scot she had seen thus far was theolder gentleman, shorter than she, Moira decided to keep thatinformation to herself. Perhaps it was best if she looked for herScot and not the other way around.
Instead of answering him, Moirainclined her head as they stopped by her mother and brother, a slysmile on her lips. “Thank you, Lord Lydell.”
“May I see your card, LadyMoira?” Gideon asked when she returned.
She held it up to him. Her grey eyessparkled with merriment. Or maybe it was more mischief. What hadshe and Lydell discussed? Why hadn’t she taken Lydell outside? Shecould have easily led his friend out into the moonlight, kissedhim, and her fate would be sealed.
He glanced at her card. No dance hadbeen claimed as of yet. He began to pencil in his name for thesupper dance but her words stopped him.
“I have not been givenpermission to waltz, Lord Ainsely.”
“At this rate she probablynever will be,” Hearne muttered.
“What was that, Nyle?” thedowager countess asked.
Gideon bit back a grin. “Perhaps thecountry dance after supper?”
“That would be lovely,Lord Ainsely. I look forward to it.”
With no reason to stay, Gideon bowed,quit the small group, and made his way to find Lydell, who hadsimply strode away from Lady Moira with her brother and motherwithout a by-your-leave.
Gideon found his penniless friend inthe card room, drink in his hand, brooding in a back corner.Apparently there was no future for Lydell and Lady Moira. A wave ofrelief ran through him.
Gideon retrieved a drink for himselfand sauntered over to his friend. “I take it your meeting didn’t govery well.”
“No,” Lydell grumbled andtook a drink before he explained. “She doesn’t likeBath.”
“Excuse me?”
“She does not want to liveon an estate near Bath,” Lydell repeated a littlelouder.
“That was her onlyreasoning?” Perhaps Lady Moira didn’t have all of her wits afterall.
“It is the only bloodyreason she needed.” Lydell tossed back the drink. “What the hell amI to do now?”
“Lady Moira is not theonly heiress in London,” Gideon reminded him.
“But the others will beharder to convince. They will want wooing, courtship, andsuch.”
“Which is their right, Isuppose,” Gideon reminded him.
“It is all a bloody pain.Why can’t I just find the one I want, marry her and be done withit?”
“Perhaps the lady wouldcare for a say in the match?”
Lydell dismissed him witha wave of his hand. “They don’t know what they want. Take LadyMoira for instance. Bath. She should just let herbrother arrange a match. It is better for all parties whengentlemen are doing the thinking and planning.”
A footman stopped to refill the glassLydell recently emptied. He picked it up and took another drink.“That is how it should be for all ladies. They are not sensibleenough to make such decisions for themselves.”
Gideon had never seen this side of hisfriend, and began to understand why the ladies were no longerinterested in his pursuit. Maybe it had more to do with hispersonality than his empty purse. Unlike Lydell, apparently, Gideonpreferred a lady with wit and intelligence, one who knew her ownmind. “Then perhaps you should begin courting a few fathers andolder brothers until you find the perfect, malleablelady.”
“If only it were thatsimple.” Lydell tossed back the remainder of his drink, set theglass down, and marched from the room.
Gideon leaned back against the wall,sipping the smooth, fiery liquid. So, the lady did not like Bath.Why? Or was that simply an excuse?
Lady Moira was either a very complexlady or a simpleton. Gideon shrugged. He would have his answerafter dinner.
As couples took to the floor for thesupper dance, Moira was left alone with her mother. Even Nyledecided to dance, and he swept Alvina around the floor. Pippa,Georgie, and Patience stood not far away, watching the dancers aswell. This was the perfect opportunity to speak withthem.
“Mother, might I beexcused for a moment?”
“What, whereto?”
Moira nodded to her friends. “I wouldjust like a few words with them.”
“Oh, very well. But stayclose.”
“Thank you, Mother.” Moiratook a deep breath and slowly walked to her friends when she reallywanted to dash across the short distance.
She pulled them close, stuck up herhead to look around, making sure no one could hear her, and thenwhispered, “Have any of you told anyone that I wish to live inScotland?”
The three shared blank looks and shooktheir heads.
“Don’t. That is to be oursecret.”
“But, I thought your planwas to live in Scotland,” Georgie began. “Wouldn’t it make the mostsense—”
“Did you see theone Scot in attendancethis evening?”
Georgie grimaced.
“How did your talk withLord Lydell go?” Patience asked. “I thought for sure you’d take himoutside.”
“He won’t do.” Moira shookhis head. “His estate is outside of Bath.”
“That would be lovely,”Pippa piped in.
“Only two days from myfamily estate, where my mother rules from the dowerhouse, is quitethe opposite of lovely.”
“I still don’t understandwhy Scotland is to be a secret,” Patience said.
“Because Scotland ismentioned in the bet. Apparently, London’s ingenious gentlemenassume it is because I wish to elope, not that I actually want tolive there.”
“You should
