“Trust me, there is nothingmereabout this chaperon. She seems to have perfected a fine-tuned ability to scare away every potential suitor within a hundred miles. I believe a simple stare from this gargoyle would freeze a man’s ballocks.”
“Jason!” Jasper’s eyes shot darts of censure at his brother.
“What?”
“Watch your tongue. There is a lady present.”
“ ’Tis only Merry,” Jason exclaimed. “She’s heard far worse from both of us over the years and has yet to be offended. You forget, she is a married woman now and therefore even harder to shock.”
“Meredith is a lady who would naturally find offense at such off-color language. But her reaction is only a part of the problem.” Jasper glanced about meaningfully. “What if someone had overheard you? Language of that sort is far better suited to Gentleman Jackson’s boxing salon, not a ballroom.”
“Reforming one’s character is a noble effort, but you are fast becoming a prig of the first water,” Jason ground out.
The men turned toward each other and stood toe to toe. While Meredith had initially enjoyed the distraction of their bickering, she determined it was time to intercede.
“Ah, look—there’s a waiter with a tray of filled champagne glasses. Would you fetch me a glass please, Jasper?”
Neither brother moved. Nor blinked.
“Please, Jasper,” Meredith repeated. With obvious reluctance he shifted his attention to her. Yet he did not move so much as an inch.
Jasper’s stony glare told Meredith he wanted nothing more than to refuse her request, but she had not successfully managed her high-spirited brothers for so many years without learning a thing or two. Meredith kept her expression innocent, yet determined. In less than twenty seconds Jasper strode off to do her bidding.
“I’m sorry.” Jason’s face assumed a baleful look. “I did not mean to insult you with my coarse language.”
“In truth, I was not offended, but please do not tell Jasper, else he shall start lecturing us both.” Meredith bent her head and murmured in her brother’s ear, “If he keeps this up, he will be impossible to live with by the end of the Season.”
Jason broke into hearty laughter. “You are a gem, Meredith. Most women would be near to fainting at our behavior tonight. Dardington’s a damned lucky man to have a woman as fine as you for a wife,” he said sincerely.
Meredith worked to muster a smile, biting back the taste of regret, not wanting to dwell on whether or not her husband believed himself to be a lucky man. “Supper will be served within the hour. You must tell me all you know about this incomparable young woman you are determined to meet. If we can manage an introduction soon, you might be able to escort her to supper.”
Meredith’s distraction worked exactly the way she had hoped. Jason soon dropped any discussion of her husband and waxed eloquent about the young woman.
“ ’Tis just my luck this beauty has such a diligent watchdog,” Jason said in a disgusted tone. “Why is it that the more alluring females are never accompanied by elderly, nearly deaf matrons who prefer to gossip amongst themselves before overindulging in the rich food on the buffet? Then two glasses of champagne later they are dozing off in a corner while their charges are left to fend for themselves.”
Meredith shrugged her shoulders indulgently. “I promise I shall do everything in my power to win over this chaperon and allow you a clear shot at the young miss. Ah, here is Jasper with our drinks. Let us all down a fortifying glass of champagne, and then we shall go in search of this paragon.”
All three clinked their goblets together in a toast.
“Good hunting, brother,” Jasper said.
Jason’s mouth edged up. Then he gulped back the bubbling wine. Meredith was sipping hers in a more reserved manner when Jason grasped her arm, demanding her attention.
“There she is, Merry. The blond vision in the aqua silk gown standing beside the marble pillar. Is she not perfection?”
With great interest, Meredith angled her neck and eyed the diminutive blond who had so enraptured her brother.
“Good heavens, I know that woman,” she exclaimed.
“How? I am certain she is newly arrived in town.”
“She is from the country, as you suspected,” Meredith said. “Your lovely young miss is Elizabeth Sainthill, the youngest sister of Viscount Dewhurst.”
“Dewhurst?” Jasper rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “Isn’t he the chap who married your good friend Faith last year?”
“Yes.” Meredith finished her drink and handed the empty glass to Jason, who promptly found a footman and passed it off. “I met Elizabeth last fall when I went to visit Faith. Dear Elizabeth was a resounding success the night of the local harvest ball, yet all that attention only made her uncomfortable. She is a charming, genuine young woman who enjoys the simple pleasures of life. Her head will not be easily turned by your slick town manners, Jason.”
“Egad, Merry. It sounds as though you are having second thoughts about introducing me,” her brother replied in an indignant voice.
