“There’s for you, Raoul!”
He opted for bewilderment that took him unawares. “What in heaven’s name brought that on?”
“Don’t ask me, but I must say I am delighted to see you confounded for once.” Angelica retook her seat and waved him to another. “We need to talk, Raoul.”
“Yes, I dare say, but I still want to know what I’ve done to incur the chit’s wrath.”
“She’s not a chit. She’s mature beyond her years and very much her own mistress.”
“So it would seem.” He was annoyed to realise he was smarting still from the unprovoked attack. “Anyone would suppose I had staked a claim of some kind, instead of which…” He faded out, appalled to realise what he was about to say. To boast of voluntarily giving up thousands of pounds of debt rather than taking the girl in lieu was scarcely a worthy sentiment. He was surprised to find that it rankled. Miss Temple was not to blame for it, but he nevertheless felt deprived. Had he unconsciously assumed rights over her? It was what she supposed.
“Raoul, are you paying attention?”
He came out of his thoughts to the realisation his cousin had been speaking and he had not heard a word. “No, I am not.” He dropped into the chair the girl had originally occupied and was instantly reminded of that damned scent. He tried to ignore it. “What were you talking about?”
“Felicity, of course. I am saying we must decide how we are going to play the game in public after last night’s fiasco.”
“We?”
“Of course we. Do you mean to abandon the child?”
“I thought you said she was a mature woman.”
Angelica made an exasperated sound. “That is nothing to the purpose. I have been thinking and I believe I know how we may proceed.”
Raoul suppressed a groan. Angie thinking invariably ended in some plan he was bound to dislike. Was he not already embroiled enough? “Say on.”
She gave him one of her mischievous looks. “I intend to. You need not fret. It is nothing untoward. On the contrary, it ought to mitigate any harmful effect, although you will be obliged to participate.”
He sighed. “Don’t spare me.”
“As if I would.” Her characteristic business-like manner returned. “Our difficulty, as I see it, is the inevitable speculation about Felicity’s background.”
Raoul frowned. “Yes, about that. Has she told you anything of it?”
“I have not yet asked her, but I will worm it all out of her, never fear.” She pointed her fan at him. “Don’t interrupt me or I shall lose the thread.”
“I can guess what you are going to say. No one could cavil at Maskery’s antecedents, despite his excesses. Thus you suppose her parentage to be at least acceptable.”
“Not necessarily.”
The words damped Raoul. Miss Temple had been well educated, but was that her deceased father’s doing, or Maskery’s? Highly unlikely. “If you are thinking a reprobate like Maskery put the girl through school out of the goodness of his heart, I beg to differ.”
“I am not thinking it. But whether Felicity’s father is a gentleman or not is beside the point. We must make him one. If I say, as I plan to do, that she is a young acquaintance of mine, everyone will automatically assume it. Moreover, it will account for you bidding on her. We will put it about that I have taken her under my wing and chose to introduce her at the Latimers’ party.”
Raoul inspected the scheme and found a flaw. “Why then did you not present her to some of your acquaintance before this wretched auction of yours began?”
Angelica gave him an indignant look. “It was not wretched. It was eminently successful and will be talked of for the rest of the Season.”
He refrained from saying that the party had fizzled out once supper was over. Besides, his interest did not lie with the Latimers. “That does not answer my question.”
She threw up exasperated hands. “You are impossible, Raoul! Can’t you think of anything for yourself? I was busy. I had no time to be doing the pretty with the wench. Use your imagination! Are you going to help me do this, or are you not?”
Under normal circumstances, he would have given an unequivocal negative. But his involvement prevented that response. “What is it you wish me to do?”
“I’ve told you. When you are twitted about bidding on Felicity, as you no doubt will be, simply say what I’ve outlined.”
“And if I am further questioned?”
