He would not countenance a wife who punished evil men, and she had no intention of stopping. Some ladies needed a protector. If they were desperate enough to ask a Scottish debutante for aid, then she would give what she could.
The countess snorted. “Men say all sorts of things. It’s up to us to correct their misinterpretation.” The lady eyed hersideways. “I believe you said something to that effect last Season.”
Perhaps. Or definitely. She’d certainly voiced that sentiment when discussing Lady Vengeance’s targets. Men could not be allowed to hurt women without consequences.
“I would not make a good wife to Lord Heath,” she said flatly. “Did you know he’s a widower with two daughters?”
“Oh yes. Terrible thing when a lady dies that way, though I can’t say I’m surprised. His wife was a tiny waif of a girl. It was a miracle she survived the first child.”
“You knew her?”
“She came out at the same time as my Gwen. Well, with Gwen’s second season. Or was it her third? In any event, I have nothing bad to say about her. She was a lovely gel with a sweet disposition and a good family. Lord Heath was taken with her immediately.”
Sadie felt her heart squeeze. “They were in love?”
“Love? I don’t know about that. They were well matched between her dowry and his name. He appeared devoted to her.” She was muttering to herself while Sadie grew even more uncomfortable. “I’ll have to find out if he gambles. I haven’t heard anything, but you never know. Perhaps a picnic.”
The countess’s words flowed together so fast, it took a moment for Sadie to realize what the woman was planning. A picnic specifically to set Sadie and Lord Heath together? “Countess, no! He and I cannot be within a foot of one another without arguing.”
“Really? How very interesting.”
“It’s not!”
The countess waved her objection away. “I know several widowers of various ages with children. And ladies who would love to meet them. Yes, it would be charitable of me to have a picnic that brings those two sets together, don’t you think?”
“No, I don’t—”
“Matilda has caught a cough, you know.”
She had no idea who Matilda was.
“It was just an afternoon tea, but one can’t be too careful. I’m sure she’d let me take on the responsibilities of her event. Move it to a picnic with a very particular guest list. She’d want that, you know. Because of her health.”
“I don’t think this is a good idea. Lord Heath and I are not compatible!”
She might as well have saved her breath. The countess was already out the bedroom door still muttering. Which meant that the event was inevitable, and Sadie would have to explain to Lord Heath that despite appearances, she was not angling for a proposal from him.
Chapter Four
Lord Heath wasnot surprised to get the countess’s invitation. No matter what Miss Allen said, she was a debutante on the marriage mart, and he was a man looking for a bride. What startled him was the nature of the invitation.
A picnic for children. An afternoon delight in one of the less crowded London parks for parents and their offspring.
It was an obvious ploy to match him and Miss Allen, but it was also a useful one. There would be other ladies there. His girls were a bit young for an outing like this, but that made it all the better. He could see how potential brides handled his children.
An hour into the event, he had his answer.
Badly. Horribly, hideously, and embarrassingly awful.
The fault was his, or so Nanny informed him. The picnic was set during the children’s naptime, so to say they were irritable would be an understatement. Neither were his children delighted to be dressed up and then told not to eat the messy confections the countess set out on a blanket.
Other children sat nicely. His squirmed and fidgeted.
Other children were taken away when they became fussy. His flopped down on the ground and wailed as if a demon possessed them.
And most damning of all, other children clung to their nannies when they were shy or overwhelmed. His girls attachedthemselves to his legs like barnacles and refused to be removed with anything but a crowbar. And he was not willing to take such drastic measures with his own children.
The ladies present did their very best. They smiled and cooed at his girls. They offered them sweet treats, but once the sugary confection was smeared all over their faces and hands… Well, that was not something any woman would risk.
