“What are you suggesting? That I leg-shackle myself to one of the flighty young ladies on the Marriage Mart who are so anxious to snag a title and fortune that they will willingly marry a notorious rake?” Branford asked with a touch of bitterness. “I am well aware of what it expected of me. Are you, too, going to tell me that it is time to set up my nursery?”
“Ye heavens, no—not at all! Some young lady fresh from the schoolroom would not be at all right for you, but ...” She sighed. “Is there no one you care for?”
He stiffened, and after withdrawing his arm from the back of sofa, he fisted his hands in his lap. “Let us drop this subject now, if you please.”
Cecilia pressed her lips together, and regarded him with a searching stare before nodding. “Very well.”
The tea tray arrived and she poured them both a cup.
“I didn’t realize you had developed such an interest in botany,” she remarked casually as she offered him a plate of assorted cakes.
He declined.
“I understand you drove Miss Chilton to Kew Gardens,” continued Cecilia with an innocent air, taking two of the pastries herself. “Henry took me last week. The new specimens are marvelous, are they not?”
“Quite,” said Branford, torn between annoyance and amusement at how his friend refused to give up her probing into his personal life.
“I imagine Miss Chilton found them fascinating as well. I understand she is an artist with an interest in….”
The conversation turned to the newly-arrived specimen plants on display. Despite his initial reluctance, the earl found himself discussing the various things he and Alex had seen and describing the young lady’s reactions to them … He was even forced to admit that he had enjoyed the outing more than he had expected.
Cecilia polished off her cakes, and then guided the conversation back to the topic she really wanted to discuss. “You know, I find Miss Chilton extremely interesting.”
Before Branford could react, she quickly continued. ”It’s rare that one can actually have an intelligent conversation during all those tedious afternoon visits and teas we ladies must attend—you men wouldn’t know about such things, though Henry does say that some of the gentlemen at your clubs can be dead bores.”
That drew a grudging smile from Branford.
“Be that as it may, it has been pleasant to have an exchange with someone who has an opinion on something rather than prose on about the weather, or the refreshments at the last ball, or whether a certain lady looks well in red.”
“She does have a very firm opinion on a number of things,” agreed Branford.
“Well, I look forward to getting to know her better.”
The earl raised a brow. “By the by, you are being about as subtle as a sledgehammer.”
“I have no idea what you mean.” Picking up a silver bell on the table, she rang for the butler. “Now that we have had our little chat, I know Henry is looking forward to joining us for tea.”
Branford took a sip from his cup.Heaven forfend that he had ever been forced to face off against Cecilia Ashton on the battlefield. He had the distinct feeling that he had just been outflanked, despite his defensive maneuvers.
Two shots rang out.
The grizzled shooting gallery attendant scratched at the stubble on his jaw and gave a low whistle. “That be as nice a piece of shooting as I’ve seen in a while, guv.”
Branford allowed himself a slight smile. A low murmur ran through a small group of onlookers, some of whom were bold enough to nod in appreciation at the sight of the two wildly moving targets shattered within seconds of each other.
“Thank you, Lizard. From you, that is high praise indeed.” The earl slowly lowered the two pistols, savoring the exquisite balance of the deadly-looking weapons. He turned to where an ebony box inlaid with brass lay open, revealing an interior of deep forest velvet. After running a piece of chamois over the burled walnut and polished steel barrels, he placed the pistols in their compartments and snapped the lid shut.
The gentlemen lounging around the area parted with alacrity as Branford strolled away, Lizard at his shoulder.
“The young pup you sent over ain’t half bad,” said Lizard. “Raw, but willing ta learn, which is more ‘n one can say about most of them gents of quality.” He pointed to where Justin Chilton was facing a set-up of stationary targets. “I sent Jasper over to give him a few pointers.”
Branford left off putting on his jacket and watched for a few moments.
Justin reloaded and squeezed off a shot. It caught the paper target, but wide left of the small circle at the center.
“Has Jasper commented on your stance?” he called.
Justin turned quickly, a look of surprise on his face.
