She only blamed part of her frustration on society. The other part of the blame lay at her father’s feet, who allowed all his daughters to pursue their own interests with his full support. Once Teddy had been born to her father’s younger brother, she had no doubt her father gave a sigh of relief not to have to be the one to groom an heir for the Mabry estates.
“I hope you do find a passionate love one day.” Mariel’s quiet voice spoke of experience and to neither of them specifically, effectively silencing them all.
As soon as they arrived at Vauxhall’s Pleasure Gardens, they paid the fee, strode through the front building, and entered onto the grand walkway. Though Vauxhall included twelve acres of sculpted gardens and outdoor buildings laid out in a grid pattern, she’d never gone beyond the supper boxes that were built in a crescent on either side of the center square. She had no interest in walking among planted trees beyond the main buildings that were a poor substitute for a true forest.
The orchestra, on the second level balcony in the tall rotunda, played a waltz, though they could not see it from the entrance. The music gave the lantern lit area a dreamlike quality.
“This is the perfect setting for falling in love.”
Teddy’s exclamation had Joanna taking his arm. “More like a perfect setting for wayward actions.”
Mariel took his other arm. “Remember our primary purpose, cousin.”
He looked at them both. “But I was.”
Joanna opened her mouth to lecture, but Teddy laughed. “Yes, I know. To the supper boxes, so my ladies can indulge their palettes.”
She smiled, unable to help herself. Though Teddy was often irreverent and humorous, he was rarely hurtful in his comedy. She tried to imagine him as a husband, but just couldn’t do it. “If I could just convince Monsieur Armand to offer his mascarpone ice cream in his establishment on Bond Street, I’d forgo the Pleasure Gardens altogether.”
“And miss all this?” Teddy splayed his hands despite having each of them on his arm. “You won’t see that fire swallower on Bond Street or those dancing dogs in Monsieur Armand’s shop.” He brought them to a halt to watch the ladies and gentlemen dancing outside the rotunda. “It appears Lady Emily has found a new protector. Is that not Lord Reddington holding her tighter than a chimney sweep holds his broom?”
“Teddy.” Mariel’s warning tone floated across them. “It is not appropriate to point out someone’s mistress to ladies.”
He started them forward again. “I apologize, Lady Beaumont. I’m so used to escorting Joanna, that I forget myself.”
“And you don’t have to watch what subject you discuss with me?” Joanna frowned at him, though he kept his gaze ahead.
“You are the one who told me women and men are equal, so that means whatever I discuss with men I can discuss with you.” He finally met her gaze, “correct?”
Reluctantly, she nodded. He’d never treated her like a lady because she’d refused to allow him to do so, but he’d never before brought up such a brazen subject. Elsbeth’s interest in him must have him feeling overly confident.
“Come Joanna.” He gave her his most charming smile. “Is it really so onerous to see people enjoying themselves? Isn’t that why you’re here, to enjoy your favorite ice cream?”
“I suppose you have a point.”
Even as he chuckled, Mariel spoke. “I prefer the parmesan cheese over the mascarpone myself.”
Joanna’s heart tightened. “Belinda’s favorite was strawberry.”
Teddy squeezed her arm in his. “She loved it all, even your favorite, as long as it was ice cream.”
That was true. Belinda was the reason why they had an ice house on their grounds, and when she became ill, Cook had experimented with flavors not even Monsieur Armand had thought of. She missed her sister sometimes more than she could bear.
As they strolled toward the supper boxes, Joanna scanned the crowd for people she knew. Many of her friends enjoyed coming to the Pleasure Gardens with their husbands or families. She preferred her entertainments be separated. She didn’t mind the mixing of classes that some objected to. Nor did she find objection to those couples who took advantage of the many hidden avenues between the greenery to steal a kiss. For her, it was the chaotic feel of so many activities happening at once, that one could not reasonably enjoy any single one.
As they approached, Monsieur Armand turned from the couple he spoke to and extended his hands toward them. “My favorite family. So good to have you here tonight.” He pulled them each forward by the hands and kissed them on both cheeks. Then he winked, waving a finger at her. “I know why you are here tonight. You see my advertisement inThe Times, non?”
She played ignorant and set her hand upon her chest. “You placed an ad inThe Timesjust for me?”
Monsieur Armand laughed. “You jest, mademoiselle, but if you did not grace us with your presence tonight, I would most assuredly create one only for you.”
She was truly touched. “No need for that, Monsieur. My father reads that paper from beginning to end and is always on the lookout for items that may interest me.”
“Bon, then let us get you seated.” He clapped his hands, and a waiter strode across the grass to receive his instructions. “Please seat my very special guests.”
As they followed their waiter, Monsieur hurried off to greet more visitors.
Teddy leaned toward her as they walked. “He was only flattering you so you would come back next month.”
