“No apology needed, Miss Poncenby. Is your brother here?” Derrick eyed the coach that had stopped in front of the steps leading up into Asgil Hall.
“Freddie! Lord Seabright’s here,” Pepper called as the coach door opened again and a tall, dapper dandy emerged. He had the same red hair as Pepper and the same light freckles across the bridge of his nose, which gave him an air of boyish charm even though he was as tall and well built as Derrick.
“I am here, dear sister.” Freddie marched up the steps, his maroon trousers and gold waistcoat surprisingly subdued compared to his usual bright colors. He saw Derrick and grinned, holding out his hand. “Well met, Seabright.”
“Well met, indeed.” Derrick shook his hand and shot Arianna a bemused look.
Derrick had always liked Freddie, even though he enjoyed teasing the man. Freddie was a good sort of fellow, one who embraced the extravagant beauty of life with no reservations. He didn’t seem to see any need to be dour or moody the way some men would. He was just an excellent man and a good friend.
Freddie took a step back and pulled out his quizzing glass and gave Arianna a slow perusal.
“Jonquil... a magnificent color for you, my dear.” He nodded in approval. “Let’s hope the rest of our party is as well dressed as you. I shall need my smelling salts if I see some fool with a poor choice of trousers. Come, Seabright, let’s go judge the others and see if they are wanting.” Freddie flashed Arianna a mischievous smile before he nudged Derrick toward the drawing room, where her parents were ushering in the other guests.
When Pepper and Arianna were alone in the hall, Arianna whispered to her, “Your brother seems more rake than dandy today.”
“Oh yes, every now and then he has a quite sensible, serious spell, and away go the colorful clothes. It never lasts, however.” Pepper rolled her eyes. “Men always insist we are the mysterious creatures, but it’s not true. The inner workings of a man’s mind can be just as puzzling.”
“That is the truth,” Arianna murmured. She and Pepper stepped inside to allow the butler to close the door against the winter air. A footman rushed over to sweep up the clumps of snow brought in by the boots of the guests.
“Would you allow me to ask a sensitive question?” Pepper asked, keeping her voice low.
“Of course.”
“Lord Seabright... he is usually not in the same place as your brother. Dare I hope they have reconciled?”
“What? Oh no, Lucas is staying in London for Christmas, so Mama invited Derrick. He recently did me a great service.”
“Oh? What sort of service?”
Arianna told Pepper of the events in Hyde Park and what Solomon had tried to do. Pepper swore she wouldn’t breathe a word of it to anyone.
“Heavens, how did you not know about Scandal Lane? Candace Mayweather was compromised there last season and had to be married off to some grumpy old vicar in the country.”
Arianna sighed. “It’s not as though there is a sign that says, ‘Welcome to Scandal Lane.’ It looked just like any other spot in the park, only a bit more secluded. And I had no reason to think ill of Mr. Cumberland until it was too late.”
They paused in the doorway of the drawing room. Three middle-aged couples were speaking with her parents in a cluster. Derrick and Freddie were ensconced at a table where they had laid out a game of chess.
“Devilishly poor attire these chess pieces are wearing,” Freddie muttered as he studied the intricately carved pieces made to resemble the members of a royal court.
“Just make your move, Poncenby,” Derrick snorted and leaned back in his chair with confidence.
Pepper grinned. “Oh dear, Lord Seabright may not know it, but he’s about to be soundly beaten.” She tried to hide her expression when Derrick glanced their way.
“Is Freddie a master of the chessboard?” Arianna whispered.
“He is. He learned to play one winter against Lord Lennox.” Pepper swelled with pride for her brother. “Since then, he hasn’t lost a match.”
Arianna’s brows rose as she studied Freddie. “Truly?”
He had that quizzing glass out again, studying the board. It made him look so comical, except that when she forced her attention away from the monocle, she saw a serious man with clear, intense focus, much like Derrick. Not just clever or witty, but brilliant. Was there more to Freddie Poncenby than she imagined? Why hadn’t she seen it before? Or perhaps he wanted to keep that hidden with his often humorous antics.
Then she felt the weight of Derrick’s gaze on her. When their eyes met, she saw a flash of something. Jealousy? Concern? Was it because she had been staring at Freddie? She did not like jealousy as an attribute—it either betrayed a lack of trust or at the very least was presumptuous—but if he was jealous, that did mean he had feelings for her. That was something that she would cling to while she convinced him to give her another seduction lesson. Her plan to win him just might work.
Derrick stroked his chin,examining the board. When the devil had Poncenby learned to play chess? He reached for his knight, then paused and lifted his gaze to his opponent. Freddie’s face was almost comically stoic, his quizzing glass perched on his nose, one hand holding it up as he studied the board. His lips twitched ever so slightly, and if Derrick hadn’t been closely watching him, he would have missed it.
“Er...,” Derrick began as he returned to studying the board. He had imagined himself to be rather decent at chess, but at the moment he felt a rank amateur. How had Freddie Poncenby beaten him? After playing ahead a few more moves in his mind, he sighed. “I believe you have me cornered. Well done.” He toppled his own king and held out his hand.
“You are a worthy opponent,” Freddie said solemnly and shook his hand. “What do you say we try something the ladies might enjoy? A winter walk, perhaps?”
