“The Old Ship dining room,” he proposed.
She wished it wasn’t so easy for him to put it on her account.
“Perhaps the Castle Hotel?” she suggested.
“Nonsense,” Lord Dodd said before Hargrove could respond. “We shall go to my house. It’s on the Steyne.”
Was it Glynnis’s imagination or was Lord Dodd puffing up his chest like a stuffed partridge?It was sweet he wanted to impress her, even humorous, but Hargrove didn’t look amused.
“We wouldn’t want to intrude on short notice,” Hargrove began, appearing all mulish and frowning.
“It’s the least I can do,” Lord Dodd insisted, “after you allowed me to join you in your box.” He spread his hands in supplication. “I was going to eat anyway.”
“But three instead of one,” Hargrove pointed out. “That can put a cook in a very bad humor. Besides, it is not in the lady’s best interest to be alone with two men in private should it be discovered.”
Glynnis pursed her lips. He was determined to ruin this, and yet she was even more resolute in her wish to go to Lord Dodd’s home. He was a perfect catch from what she knew. Granted, that was very little, but he was good-looking and well-spoken, and with a rented house on the Steyne, he had enough money to make her happy.
Or at least he might be able to remove that persistent nagging fear of insecurity she’d had since about the age of seven when she’d overheard her parents fretting over funds.
Before she could attempt to overthrow Hargrove’s reservations, Lord Dodd smiled and fixed everything.
“It will be four instead of two actually. My aunt is staying with me, enjoying the sea air. She’ll enjoy having your company and will make the perfect chaperone. What’s more, I have an excellent cook and can guarantee it will be a better meal than at a hotel.”
With that settled, they began the short walk to the Steyne.
“Why didn’t your aunt accompany you to the theatre?” Hargrove wanted to know, still sounding testy.
“She has only recently arrived. The journey from London left her spent.”
Glynnis pictured an elderly aunt sitting by the fire in Lord Dodd’s drawing room, her feet on an ottoman and a glass of sherry in her hand.
“I look forward to meeting her.”
However, a few minutes later when they entered the drawing room of his three-story home, the satin-clad woman who was stretched out on the sofa with her stockinged feet dangling over the arm at one end was anything but elderly.
“The aunt” was probably about the same age as Hargrove and Lord Dodd. Looking up with a wolfish smile at seeing company, the woman lowered her newspaper. Moreover, she didn’t stand or even have the sense to look discomfited when being caught in a state of deshabille.
Glynnis glanced uncertainly toward Lord Dodd.
“There you are Isabelle,” he greeted, as if he’d misplaced her. “These are my new friends. They’ve come to dine with us.”
With her glittering glance taking them both in, the woman slowly swung her legs to the floor.
“I’m thrilled we have company,” she said. Her tone was welcoming, yet her gaze swiftly passed over Glynnis to rest upon Hargrove.Who could blame her?
Then the so-called Isabelle held out her hand to Lord Dodd, who took it and drew her to her feet.
“Introduce them to me, Hugh,” she said softly.
“This is Miss Talbot and that is Lord Hargrove.”
“I don’t believe I’ve met you before,” she said to Hargrove. “Either of you,” she amended, glancing again at Glynnis.
“No,” Hargrove agreed. “I would have remembered.”
Glynnis didn’t like the way Isabelle and Hargrove were taking one another’s measure.
“Were you in London of late?” Glynnis asked her.
