“Is there a problem?”
Shrugging, he tried to put it delicately. “I haven’t been there for about three years, but my impression was the gardens had lost their sheen of respectability even then.”
This time, she chuckled. “Did you just hear yourself, my lord? That sounds like something I would say.”
“True enough.” He was enjoying their companionable chatter. Not as much as he would enjoy tupping her, but he would take what was given, like a starving man with crumbs. “But I wouldn’t want you to be shocked by the vulgar guests.”
The whores who lingered upon the Dark Walk at Vauxhall were not the caliber of whom he ever partook, even as a randy youth. The food, too, was considered to lack the quality of its heyday. As for the entertainment, he simply wasn’t sure. It had gone from being theatre-level to something one might witness at a country fair.
“My parents have a warm place in their hearts for Vauxhall since they went there when they were young and falling in love. They don’t care how the Pleasure Gardens have changed. They still enjoy the fireworks and sometimes stroll around the less seedy sections at the front. Maybe tomorrow night, they will take me and my brother, too.”
She cocked her head, looking more knowing than he’d previously believed. “Hehas an interest in looking at some of those vulgar guests you mentioned.”
Matthew was shocked she was teasing him over hedge whores where young Diamond was concerned. But he thought she was also asking him a question.
“I have no interest in looking,” he promised.
She frowned.
“Or touching,” he amended. “What I am hoping to convey is that I do not go to the seedier parts of Vauxhall for any reason.”
She smiled. “Good. You have enough trouble not causing a scandal in a ballroom or the theatre. I cannot imagine what you might get up to in a dark garden.” Then she laughed heartily at her own words.
The sound was like water bubbling from a spring, enchanting him. She became more appealing the more he knew of her.
“Perhaps I shall see you and your family at Vauxhall tomorrow night.”
“Perhaps,” she agreed.
Chapter Nine
It was late, Vauxhall was growing chilly, and Purity had been denied the excitement of Foxford’s presence all evening. It was vexing. When she’d mentioned attending, he’d expressed an interest in the place since he hadn’t been in years.
Stupidly, she had pinned her hopes upon seeing him. Moreover, she’d been vain enough to think he might go merely to spend time with her.
The excursion hadn’t been for nothing. She and her friend Harriet thought the music to be fine and the fireworks great fun, despite how fewer people of quality attended ever since the Pleasure Gardens had declared bankruptcy in 1840.
As Foxford had mentioned, some considered it a shabby shadow of its former glory. Regardless, her parents and brother had readily agreed to her suggestion to go, and Clarity had come with her husband, Hollidge, simply for a lark.
Purity had tried — and failed — to keep from looking for Foxford from the moment she’d arrived. Hours later, having eaten the less than palatable food, seen all the various amusements, including the well-known Cascade with its mechanical carriage and waterfall, and a wondrous show by a fire-eater, they were ready to leave.
When they turned from the Grand Walk and headed toward the gate leading to the ferry, she caught her breath. Therehewas, directly to her right, standing before one of the supper boxes. For a moment, she stopped to gawk.
Foxford was laughing with his friend, Lord Quinn, and with three females! He had probably been at Vauxhall all evening, and she simply hadn’t encountered him. Since he was with women of obviously low repute, given their state of disgraceful undress, and since Purity had not been anywhere near the infamous Dark Walk, the reason for not running into him was clear.
He had lied to her about his interest in the vulgar, scantily clad women of the night.
Embarrassed for him to be with such low company, she hoped he didn’t notice her, nor did she want her parents to see him either. Yet as she hurried to catch up to her family, who had continued walking, Foxford spied her.
His laughter halted, and from the corner of her eye, she watched him say something to his companions before rushing to intercept her.
“Lady Purity, well met,” he said jovially.
“Hardly,” she quipped, having to stop for politeness’ sake, seeing her family halt up ahead and wait for her.
“Hardly?” he repeated. “Have you not enjoyed yourself? I know the food is mediocre, but you were correct that the entertainment is still worth the shilling admittance.”
She could not tell him it was he who had displeased her and not Vauxhall.
