Miss Whitehall lumbered off the settee to wobble politely as Jordan took his leave. She extended her fingers briefly but did not look up at him. Annoyance showed in every line of her stout little form.
Jordan bowed. “Until our carriage ride. Miss Whitehall. Miss Maplehurst. I bid you both good day.”
Chapter Eight
“You have beenoutmaneuvered.” Aunt Lottie pulled a sprig of mint from the cushions of the settee and handed it to Odessa as the sound of Lord Emerson’s carriage pulled away. “Chew. Thoroughly. Please.”
Emerson was an entirely unwelcome surprise. The gentleman she’d burped onion at for the last hour was nothing like his superior nitwit of a brother. Far more attractive, for one thing. The tangle of dark hair wasn’t styled artfully but worn far too long. The strands appeared uneven, as if cut haphazardly by a blind valet. If Emerson possessed a valet, which in observing the twist of his cravat, gave Odessa doubts. Coat moderately expensive, but not tailored with much care for his broad-shouldered form. The fabric pulled taut with each movement of his arms, suggesting an abundance of muscle with no hint of padding.
A nose which might have once been considered patrician, excepting for the bump at the bridge. Broken. At least once. The nose combined with the wild tangle of dark hair, and the ill-fitted coat gave Emerson a more roughened, wilder appearance than Odessa had expected. Manners decidedly rusty. No hint of anything soft about him.
Emerson was horribly,terriblymasculine. Odessa’s midsection had curled pleasurably every time he spoke or looked in her direction.
“Not what you expected, niece?” Aunt Lottie motioned for her to keep chewing the mint. “Emerson is not the self-indulged fop either one of us thought would arrive. He doesn’t look the sort to spend his time drinking and playing cards. His cravat wasn’t even tied properly.Bighands. And did you see the size of his feet?”
“Aunt Lottie,” Odessa admonished, though she was used to her aunt’s blunt way of speaking. “What a wholly inappropriate comment for a woman of your age and station.”
“Pah. I’m not dead, Odessa. I can appreciate a handsome gentleman caller.”
“Yes, but you must not appreciatethisone. The intent is to drive him away. Remember?”
“Determined. That is my initial impression of Emerson. He has the look of a man who has never shied away from a fight. You don’t break your nose wandering about discussing the weather.”
“Hmm.” Odessa pulled out the sprig of mint. “Better?” She breathed in her aunt’s direction.
“Mildly.” Aunt Lottie waved a hand before her nose. “I suggest you use a tooth powder when you return to your room.”
“You know quite a bit about his family, which you neglected to share with me. Papa told me a great deal about the previous Lord Emerson. His connections and such, but nothing aboutthisEmerson.”
“ThisEmerson’s father committed the great sin of marrying his mistress, an actress of little note but great beauty, a short time after his first wife died. Had he wed her any later,thisEmerson would have been born a bastard.
And saved Odessa a great deal of trouble.
“The first wife was a sickly thing who rarely left her bed. Well-bred, modest, ladylike, but tedious with a poor constitution. Emerson would have wandered even had she not been ill. Quite the scandal. Not the part about taking an actress as your mistress, of course, but marrying her and making her a countess. Lady Emerson was rarely received after their marriage. The family departed from London to reside in the country, visiting only when necessary. Once Emerson died, his second family disappeared. Having met Bentley, I can say he struck me as petty. Seems like something he might do, banishing his half-siblings out of spite. Likely somewhere far north of here. Emerson’s high-browed accent slips now and again. Did you notice?”
“I did. You feel sorry for him.”
“Somewhat, though I doubt Emerson would care to have my pity. He is notquitean earl, is he? Wild-looking. A bit savage.” Aunt Lottie shivered with delight. “Much more so than your cavalry officer.”
“Phillips is a man of mychoosing,which makes him far more attractive in my opinion.” Odessa stared at the drawing room door, frustrated that this new adversary would prove harder to dispel than she originally anticipated. “Why did you accept his invitation for a carriage ride?”
“He would have thought it odd had you refused,” Aunt Lottie said with a sigh. “I don’t wish to give him any reason to speak to your father about youraffliction, though I have the impression he doesn’t care for Angus. Or has any inclination to curry favor with him. Unlike those other suitors you found so unappealing. Despite your burping at the poor man, he was unfailingly polite to you. Cordial, even. Curious. He didn’t blink at your description of Madame Tussauds exhibit, though his brother turned green at the mention.”
“I suppose his constitution is stronger. Doesn’t mean a thing.”
“You’ve stubbornly set your cap for Captain Phillips after only one dance some months ago. Foolish, Odessa. Perhaps Emerson deserves a chance.”
“I will not be bartered off to some titled nitwit—”
“Emerson is the farthest thing from a nitwit,” Aunt Lottie interrupted.
“If not Phillips, then someone else.” She would need to hurry. Papa would only find another destitute title for her. “When he calls for our carriage ride, I want you to pad me excessively. Make it appear as if my stomach is about to burst the seams of my gown.”
“Odessa—”
“Hemustbeg off. Find me unsuitable as the others did. He is already disgusted with my appearance and my smell. Emerson only requires a more forceful push.”
“What if Emerson cannot beg off,” Aunt Lottie said quietly. “Have you considered it? The previous Emerson was in far more dire financial straits than your previous suitors, if the rumors are to be believed. I cannot imagine the situation has improved.”
