‘Oh I’m sure there’s no need to be cross, Phoebe,’ she interjected. ‘Lord Rotherby was only jesting, as all gentlemen are wont to do. You should know better than to pay my sister a compliment, sir. She’s pinked a man for less!’
‘Sophie!’ Phoebe objected, glaring at her sister.
‘But how intriguing!’ Rotherby drawled.
His eyelids lowered lazily as he took a pinch of snuff from an elaborate snuff box and smiled at Sophie’s guilty, dancing eyes.
‘Pray do tell all, Miss Fairfax. Is this a family trait, perchance?’
‘Dear Lord!’ Phoebe muttered, closing her eyes.
‘What a notion, my lord!’ Sophie chided with an even rosier hue. ‘It’s more a family expression for a set-down. Phoebe is quite famous for them! And my youngest sister is much the same, though Josephine and I tend to prefer a rather lessspiritedapproach.’
‘Is that so?’ Lord Rotherby replied, his forest greens alight with amusement.
‘And Miss Josephine is another of the refreshing Fairfaxes, I take it?’ he added. ‘Have I had the pleasure?’
At this, Sophie felt the heat of Phoebe’s gaze and looked pointedly at her lemonade. There was a strict dry rule enforced at Almack’s, and no opportunity to indulge the way her sister had with Devil’s Brew.
‘Miss Josephine Fairfax is not yet out, sir, and not likely to be for some time to come,’ Phoebe replied pithily. ‘And now, if you will excuse us?—’
‘A pity! Still, I hope you are both finding London society to your taste? Aside from impertinent gentlemen who ask too many questions of course– though I imagine the refreshing Fairfaxes must take it all in their stride!’
His eyes glinted roguishly as he took another pinch of snuff with a distinct flick of his wrist.
‘You really must excuse any frankness on our part, sir,’ Phoebe returned with a frown. ‘Fairfaxes aren’t exactly known for their fragility or meekness.
‘But, as to the rest, the season is yet young, and I’m certain my sister will continue to enjoy all theappropriatedistractions andsuitablecompany that London society has to offer,’ she added carefully.
‘But of course, and I’m certain the ton will be clamouring to become better acquainted with the Fairfaxes,’ he replied, with an amused smile. ‘Though it may be useful to recall that, in the midst of all the prestigious balls and select soirees of the season, it is usually theunsuitablecompany who make it the most fun!’
Phoebe shot Lord Rotherby a hard glance, as Sophie smothered a chuckle.
‘But isn’t that always the case, Lord Rotherby?!’ she exclaimed impulsively. ‘It’s all very well being primped and preened like a peahen for debutante balls, but no one says anything abovehow well one looks, or how daring Miss-so-and-so is for wearing the very latest French fashion…’—Phoebe eyeballed her sister despairingly—‘That is to say, we don’t look forunsuitablecompany, of course,’ she added swiftly. ‘Only that everyone seems to behave so particularly in town that one barely talks about anything real at all. And it’s not that I’mnotenjoying all the balls and races and musical soirees, and the shopping, of course, for I am partial to a pelisse and have been designing my own for some time now… but there’s just that feeling that if everyone could relax their hems a little it would beso much more?—’
‘Oh look, I do believe that’s Lady Worthing! Look Sophie, Lady Worthing!’ Phoebe interrupted, before Sophie could commit every crime known to polite society.
‘Fun?’ Lord Rotherby offered seamlessly.
‘Exactly so!’ Sophie replied, sparkling. She studiously ignored the sharp tug on her sleeve. ‘At home, we know everyone well enough to talk about real things, but here in town, one’s conversation is so restricted that you can’t get to know anyone, not really, and then there’s this feeling that beneath it all thedebutantesmight actually bethe…’
‘Fun?’ Lord Rotherby repeated, chuckling.
‘Yes! That’s it exactly!’
‘That’s because youare,’ he whispered theatrically.
‘Lord Rotherby!’ Phoebe gasped.
‘Miss Fairfax, I’ll let you in on a little secret which took me some time to fathom,’ he continued, unabashed. ‘While this year’s debutantes are whispering about the most handsome gentlemen with the fastest barouches and biggest estates, the very same gentlemen are placing wagers on the prettiest debutantes with the finest connections and largest dowries.
‘So, the London seasonreally is a game, and you gentlemen are no better off than us,’ Sophie sighed.
‘On the contrary, Miss Fairfax,’ he replied languidly, ‘I believe gentlemen aremuchworse off– you at least have female intuition on your side.’
‘Well, at least you know gentlemen aren’t alone in their love of a wager anyway!’ Sophie replied with a wide smile. ‘And on that, Phoebe taught me most everything I know.’
‘How edifying,’ Lord Rotherby replied, eyeing Phoebe with amusement. ‘The viscountess appears to be a veritable connoisseur of so many matters. Tell me, what wagers have you made recently, that are not bound by oaths of secrecy?’
