“And yet the papers talk as if you spend all your time enjoying yourself,” Miss Bright said, sounding mystified.
Philip glared at her, but he had to defend himself. “During the day, I believe I work as hard as anyone.”
“And during the nighttime?” the magistrate asked, reclaiming Philip’s attention.
Blast!Regardless, he would continue to speak the truth. “I suppose I know well how to entertain myself. London is a marvelous city, and I missed it greatly while I was away.” He would leave it at that.
At last, Sir William set down his cup. “I will help you on one condition.”
“Yes?” Philip basked in relief until he noticed an unsettling glint in the man’s eyes.
“You will escort my daughter exclusively for the rest of the Season.”
Chapter Three
“Papa!” Miss Bright exclaimed before Philip could respond.
The magistrate lifted a hand to halt her protest, if that was what she’d been about to do. Then the man stared expectantly at Philip.
“Why would you want me to do that?” The question left his lips before he thought better of asking it, but why would any father trust him with his female offspring?
“To launch her, of course. It must be properly done with you as escort and a chaperone for every assembly. Not a whiff of scandal, mind you, merely your respectful admiration while taking her to every choice event and bringing her home safely. You may even dance twice of an evening if you wish.”
“Papa,” Miss Bright said again, shaking her head, unable to look Philip in the eyes. “Why would you ask Lord Major Mercer to do such a thing?”
The magistrate raised an eyebrow, and Philip understood at once.
“In order to bring suitors flocking to see what all the fuss is about,” Philip guessed, eyeing her again.
“Precisely,” her father said.
Miss Bright was a pretty enough chit, honey-brown hair, those curious verdant hazel eyes, and a full lower lip that would make most men think of one thing.
Besides all those attributes, she had a figure that was rounded in the right places.
The magistrate coughed, and Philip realized he had spent too long assessing Miss Bright, sizing her up as he would prime horseflesh at a Tattersall’s auction.
“It’s a good plan,” he announced.
“Is it?” Miss Bright asked doubtfully.
“The bucks will come running if they are anything like the young men of my day,” the magistrate said. “As soon as I started to pay attention to your mother, God rest her soul, so did the other single coves, every Tommy Tit and Jack O’Dandy.” Then he looked at Philip. “Naturally she chose me anyway.”
“Naturally,” Philip echoed, starting to like the man. “For the entire remainder of the Season, you say?”
The magistrate nodded.
“And in return, you’ll get me out of my plight?” Philip pressed.
“As long as you don’t disgrace my daughter in any way. No dishonor, shame, or even the smallest smudge to her reputation.”
“She will be with me, and my reputation is not that of a saint.” Philip hated to remind him, but it was the truth.
“Fair enough, as long as you don’t practice your raffish ways on her, she won’t be tainted. It will seem as if she has tamed a wolf. All the better. Everyone will wonder how she did it. Moreover, they’ll see her in the light of being someone quite extraordinary.”
As she already is,Philip thought. Then he rose to his feet and leaned over to offer the magistrate his hand.
MIRANDA WATCHED HER father shake Lord Mercer’s hand with her mouth hanging partly open. Normally she would have protested their belittling discussion. At least, she might have demanded they treat her as though she existed rather than talking about her and settling her future as if she were not present.
