‘More for me then,’ said Jacob.
Hesitating, Dora pushed her ice cream towards him. ‘I did promise you half.’
‘You know that I would never deny you anything you like.’ He pushed it back and their eyes met in a charged gaze that said so much about things that had nothing to do with ice cream.
‘Look at the pair of you! Turtle doves could learn a thing or two.’ Ruby smiled with a hint of cynicism.
Shaking herself out of the moment, Dora turned her attention back to Ruby. ‘How are you settling in at the house?’
Ruby wriggled with excitement. She was always at her happiest when the conversation turned to her. ‘I’m getting new paper hung in all the reception rooms– Chinese scenes.’
‘That sounds’—expensive—‘pretty,’ said Jacob.
‘I’d love to see that when it’s finished,’ said Dora.
Ruby dipped into her reticule and pulled out a calling card. ‘I’ll hold a party. My parties are going to be famous.’
Jacob had no doubt about that.
Dora reciprocated with their business card. ‘We’re just around the corner. My room is two doors down from the office, in lodgings let by a retired wigmaker.’
Ruby read the address and sniffed. ‘Dr Sandys, really? Can’t you set her up in more style than this?’
Dora glanced nervously at the nearest table, but fortunately there were two strangers talking loudly in what sounded like Russian. ‘Ruby, how many times do I have to explain that I do not rely on Dr Sandys for my living.’
‘You’re an idiot. You need me to look out for you.’ Ruby turned in a businesslike fashion to Jacob. ‘Dr Sandys, your brother stumped up in a fine fashion for me. I want for nothing. I’m swimming in silks and jewels.’
‘How lovely for you,’ he said tightly, wishing she would get the hint that neither of them welcomed these confidences.
‘I realise you are a younger son so not as plump in the pocket, but you can surely do better than a mouldy old room in a mews? Not even a view of a garden square. It will not do!’
‘I’m perfectly happy where I am,’ said Dora with a bite in her tone.
Ruby patted her hand. ‘If he’s frigging you, he should pay for it. And I know he’s frigging because I saw the proof in the Lakes.’
Unfortunately, the clientele chose that moment to lapse into one of its periodic silences and her last words were clearly audible to the nearest tables.
The engaged lady got up with a huff. ‘Well, really!’ She drew in her skirts as she passed, as if Dora and Ruby were polluting her.
‘Ruby, you are the worst!’ said Dora, not sounding too upset that her reputation had just been traduced in the heart of the ton.
Jacob couldn’t act so sanguine. His anger rose at his brother’s ladybird’s carelessness. ‘And how many times do we have to explain that Miss Fitz-Pennington is not my mistress,’ he said, not caring that his voice carried to the fascinated listeners. ‘In fact, you may congratulate us. During our recent sojourn in the Lakes with my brother the Viscount’—that should suggest all manner of respectable things—‘I asked her to be my wife.’
‘No!’ All colour drained from Ruby’s cheeks and she looked dangerously close to fainting. Jacob felt a qualm of conscience. Pregnant ladies should not be startled. ‘Dora? Is this true?’ Ruby asked.
Dora was looking at Jacob with exasperated amusement. ‘In a manner of speaking.’ She was probably remembering how he’d chosen the moment when he’d saved her from drowning in Windermere to spring his proposal upon her.
‘Therefore, you may banish any idea of impropriety you thought you witnessed. You were merely seeing my transports of delight at being accepted by the lady I love and respect above all others.’ Jacob knew he sounded like a prosy bore but he was too furious to care.
Dora frowned at him and said in an undertone: ‘I said I would think about it, remember?’
Ruby turned horrified eyes on him. ‘You aren’t joking?’
‘I’ve never been more serious in my life.’
To his displeasure, tears welled– and he didn’t think they were tears of joy. ‘But you can’t!’ Ruby wailed. For someone who so often played a part, he sensed he was seeing true emotion from her. ‘You can’t spoil it all for me! Dora!’ She turned to her friend. ‘Please, just live with him. I’ll stop disparaging his arrangements for you. If you want to live in a shoebox, that is perfectly acceptable. But please don’t marry him!’
Dora frowned. ‘Ruby, this isn’t the place?—’
