He strained for another topic. “Have you been to the Brighton area before?”
“No, this is my first time.”
“And how do you like it so far?”
“Well, it seems a bit isolated. And the breeze off the water is a constant nuisance, isn’t it?”
“A cooling breeze is a good thing in the summers,” Rob remarked. “Otherwise, it can get quite hot, especially as the noonday sun beats down on you.”
“Yes, there is rather a lot of sun out here. Perhaps the Bromleighs should not have organized so many outdoor activities for us. It is not good for a lady’s complexion. And the constant wind makes it impossible to keep one’s hair properly styled. One has only to look at the Bromleighs’ neighbor, Lady Shoreham, to see what the ravages of time in this place have done to her.”
“She looks fine to me,” Rob muttered, doing his best to stifle his annoyance.
What in blazes? Why was this girl singling out Fiona?
“Her cheeks are too pink and will burn if she does not keep herself out of the sun. She is getting to that age where wrinkles will come fast and never disappear. For this reason, she has to be careful. And just look at her hair, all wild curls, and none of them properly held in place. But I suppose this is what happens when one is a widow and left with independent means. She has no need ever to remarry, so why bother maintaining her looks?”
“I see nothing at all wrong with her.”
“Perhaps your preference is for an earthier appearance on a lady, one whose aspect is more like a farmer’s wife than a countess,” she said, casting another barb at Fiona.
What was it with these waspish ladies? First Cordelia Milbury and now Anne Hastings.
Rob crossed Lady Anne off his list. Being educated and considered a bluestocking was no guarantee of charm. Frankly, the young lady did not strike him as being all that bright.
But she was a schemer for certain, and might have sensed he held Fiona in some affection. Why else would she have tossed out that insulting comment?
He doubted any of Fiona’s servants would ever tattle about what had transpired between him and her, and especially never utter a word to anyone working for the Hastings family.
But theon ditaround London at one time had been that he fancied Fiona. It was also known that she had rebuffed him, although they had remained on friendly terms.
It was obvious this arrogant young lady was seeking to raise herself in his esteem by tearing down Fiona. He knew Fiona would never have done anything so cruel to this young woman.
Rob could not wrest himself away from Anne fast enough.
He moved on to Lady Millicent Randall, no longer caring that Fiona was still seated beside the girl. “May I join you?” he asked, casting Lady Millicent a rakish smile.
The girl blushed. “Yes, of course.”
He settled between Millicent and Fiona, but pushed his chair back a little so that he did not interfere with their ability to see each other while the three of them engaged in conversation.
“Lady Millicent was telling me all about the new exhibits her father has sponsored at the British Museum,” Fiona said, obviously hoping to get a chat started between him and the girl. “Her father is quite the archeologist and has several teams digging for relics in the area of ancient Babylonia. Is this not fascinating?”
“Quite,” he said, not really feeling any excitement for the topic. Nor was he feeling anything for the girl, but he had yet to give her a chance. Also, he had to admit that this was a far more interesting subject than the weather, how to cure colic inone’s horse, or which modiste a young lady ought to use when ordering stylish gowns for her debut. “Do tell me more about these new exhibits.”
To her credit, Millicent went on to describe her father’s hunt for places and objects rumored by lore to exist or actually spoken of in the Bible in fascinating detail. She spoke so cleverly that Rob perversely ruled her out as too clever for him.
Not that he was a dullard by any stretch of the imagination.
He called Aubrey over, thinking he might be interested not only in the discussion but in the girl herself. Millicent obviously wanted to travel the world and continue her father’s work. Aubrey could do with getting away from England for a while and putting some distance between him and the Duchess of Lynton.
Fiona frowned at him when she caught on to his encouragement of Aubrey.
He ignored her frown, for he was doing nothing wrong. Millicent wanted to travel to far-off lands. He was a duke with responsibilities to his subjects and the Crown. Those responsibilities required him to remain solidly anchored to England.
Besides, he had already spent years touring Italy and Greece before the war, and then slogging through Portugal, Spain, and France during the conflict. He was done with all that and more than happy to set his roots here and never leave.
Aubrey, who was a duke in waiting, was the perfect one to undertake such travels as Millicent described.
