If I had any sense at all, I’d abscond with her and bed her until she surrenders.
“Lord Haddon.” A girlish voice twittered from behind him. “Is that you?”
Jordana’s displeasure was evident by the way her fingers twisted into his arm.
Marissa paused beside her carriage, a frown darkening her lovely features as her gaze focused on something beyond Trent’s shoulder.
“Lady Christina.” He turned and bowed smoothly as Jordana slipped her arm free. She spared a silent but polite greeting to Lady Christina before walking to greet Marissa who had moved several paces in Trent’s direction.
Lady Christina watched Jordana’s retreat, the smile gracing her rosebud mouth faltering when she noticed Marissa. Looking up at Trent, she composed herself. “Lord Haddon, how delightful. I had no idea you liked to walk so early.”
“I like the quiet of the morning,” he said.And you’ve disturbed it.He cast a sideways glance in Marissa’s direction, willing her to come closer.
“I do as well. What a coincidence.”
Trent didn’t believe in coincidences, at least in regard to Lady Christina Sykes. “A lucky one,” he said, blandly polite.
“May I present my cousin? Miss Regina Applewaite.” Christina pulled the plump girl she’d been walking with forward.
“Miss Applewaite.” Trent bowed again before nodding in the direction of Jordana and Marissa. “My daughter, Miss Ives. And Lady Cupps-Foster.”
“His daughter’s chaperone,” Lady Christina informed Miss Applewaite before smiling up at Trent.
He kept his own smile pasted on his face, refusing to react to Christina’s assumption. He supposed it was a natural conclusion for her to make. “If you’ll excuse me, Lady Christina, Miss Applewaite, we were just about to take a turn around the path.”
A frown pulled down the corners of Lady Christina’s perfect, pink lips. She batted her eyes and waited for him to suggest she and Miss Applewaite join them. When he didn’t, Lady Christina gave a small, quiet, barely noticeable sound of frustration. Looking again in Marissa’s direction, she said in a voice that was sure to carry, “I’m pleased you’ve found an older widow to act as chaperone for Miss Ives, my lord. I had considered suggesting just that thing.”
“Indeed?” Christina was barely older than Jordana herself. Trent found her know-it-all manner off-putting to say the least.
“I was relieved when my mother informed me that you’d engaged Lady Cupps-Foster to fill the role.”
“I’m not sure how Lady Stanton came to such a conclusion.” Trent had never referred to Marissa as Jordana’s chaperone. Ever.
Christina’s fingers fluttered boldly just above Trent’s wrist. The tiny curls spilling from her coiffure and down her cheeks trembled in a fetching manner. “I grew curious, my lord, after seeing you dance with Lady Cupps-Foster at the Cambourne ball. And I drew an incorrect conclusion.” She bit her lip. “But my mother assured me your interest in Lady Cupps-Foster could only be for the benefit of Miss Ives, as you are a widower.”
“And how did Lady Stanton reason so?” Christina was unlikely to catch the hint of mockery in his tone.
“Well,” Lady Christina stuttered, glancing at Marissa.
Marissa stared back, brow raised, one foot tapping with impatience.
Trent was certain she could heareveryword.
“Lady Cupps-Foster is many years your senior which would preclude—that is to say—your friendship with her is moreprofessionalin nature. My mother has cautioned me on jumping to ridiculous conclusions, especially when it clearly isn’t warranted.”
A sound of feminine outrage came from behind Trent.
“Itiscompletelyacceptable for you to ask an older widow to help you,” she hastily added, “in the absence of a Lady Haddon.” The fingertip of her glove dipped to Trent’s wrist. “Now that my mother has explained, I feel much better.”
Trent took a deep breath, momentarily shocked at Christina’s audacity. “If you’ll excuse me, I fear my daughter grows impatient. I bid you both good morning.”
“But they’re already wandering off,” Lady Christina said in a low tone. “They’ve left you in my care.”
Miss Applewaite made a nervous twitter.
He turned to see Marissa and Jordana retreating down the path, leaving him to his fate which he supposed he deserved for giving Lady Christina even a modest amount of encouragement.
Marissa’s skirts were twitching with agitation, her hips swaying with annoyance. She stopped abruptly and looked at him over her shoulder.
