“Are you attending the Faulk’s musicale this evening?”
“I am not. It’s the theater for me tonight. It will be my first.”
“Ye gads,” Brandon said.
“Ah.Much Ado About Nothing, I take it?”
“You’ve seen it?” Her dark blue eyes flashed excitement that ignited his blood.
Would it hurt to remove her from the competition? Then, once he was ready to settle down, there she’d be. Waiting. For him. “I have.”
Looked like a stop at the Georgian Theater was in his immediate future.
Eight
T
he lights in the Georgian Theater dazzled the senses. Aunt Isobel had enlisted the Duke of Oxford to accompany Aunt Isobel, Lady Maudsley (whose husband declined the invitation) and Lorelei to Covent Garden. Lorelei sincerely hoped the show would let out in time to enjoy the fireworks she’d heard were legendary. Her only regret was that Brandon had been unable to attend as well. Her concern for him was growing. Aunt Isobel’s caustic remarks and unwarranted maltreatment had her gregarious, fun-loving brother withdrawing into a resentful, sullen stranger. Before the ride through the park that afternoon, she’d hardly heard a peep from him since coming to London.
“It was nice of the duchess to include me tonight,” Lady Maudsley said from Lorelei’s left. “I’m afraid I don’t get to the theater as often as I’d like.”
“I’m thrilled she invited you.” Lorelei frowned. “But why don’t you attend the theater much? If I were in your position, I vow, I would be there every night of the week.” She poked out her bottom lip. “Being married offers you considerably more freedom than someone in my position.”
Lady Maudsley’s expression shuttered, putting Lorelei at a sudden loss.
“Did I say something wrong?” Lorelei touched her arm, and Lady Maudsley flinched. Lorelei snatched her hand back. “I-I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be so forward.”
“No. No. Forgive me, you weren’t,” she whispered. “I’m just not used to… to anyone touching me.”
Lorelei leaned in and lowered her voice. “Did I hurt you, Lady Maudsley?”
“It-it’s nothing. You must call me Ginny. It’s short for Virginia.” Lady Maudsley seemed to shake off her angst. “Fainting like that last night was a brilliant notion. However did you think of it? It was all anyone could speak of when Kimpton carried you up those stairs. It was so romantic.” A wistfulness emanated from her that struck a chord in Lorelei.
But as Aunt Isobel had pointed out, Lorelei needed to dispel her idyllic notions. They were much too impractical. She didn’t know Lady Maudsley at all, but everything in her body language bespoke truth to that of a noble woman’s desires, and their lack of importance to one’s husband. Lorelei gave an indignant sniff. “It wasn’t a ruse. I say!” She leaned forward. “Is that how you landed Lord Maudsley?”
The expression on Lady Maudsley’s face could only be described as horror, then shifted to panic, then to fear. After glancing about, Ginny leaned in and said almost too low to hear, “I’m with child.” Her fingers covered her mouth as if she couldn’t believe she’d confessed something so intimate.
Lorelei didn’t have time to react, congratulate, or even ruminate on Ginny’s disclosure. But based on how quietly she spoke, Lorelei didn’t think she was keen on announcing the proclamation.
The floor shook and the duke’s large girth lowered into the chair on Lorelei’s right. “What do you think of our little theater, dear lady?”
“Quite lively, your grace. I’ve never seen the like.”
Lady Maudsley made a quiet retreat, or perhaps escape was the right word, to Aunt Isobel’s side at the back of the box.
“I think my daughter would adore your company,” the duke said. He spoke in a gusty way that vibrated the massive skin at his red-tinged jaws.
“How old is your daughter?” she asked for the sake of conversation.
“My little Felicity is seven.” His face lit up at mentioning her name. “She will be a beauty to rival your own someday,” he said. “You were quite the success at the Martindales’ crush. I expect you’ll be inundated with proposals.”
Her thoughts shifted to the man who’d brought out Brandon’s laughter that afternoon. One could not deny the Earl of Kimpton’s enticement. His shoulders were wide enough to take on the world. His very presence spoke of keeping the beasts like Shufflebottom at bay. But would he balk at restoring Spixworth to its former glory?Did he have children? Oh, dear. She was spinning him into hero material.
Lorelei’s heart thudded with panic. Aunt Isobel would certainly not hesitate to pressure her into marrying a duke. This had to be handled with extreme care. “Do you, er, think so, your grace? This is my first season, and the Martindale’s ball was my first ever. I hope I shall be allowed to enjoy at least a few weeks without the pressure of being expected to accept the first proposal offered.”
The duke blustered. “Yes, yes. You certainly should enjoy yourself. A first season is a once in a lifetime opportunity, my dear.”
Lorelei softened toward him. He sounded fatherly rather than ardent, and she greatly appreciated his words. “Thank you, your grace. I shall endeavor to enjoy my first season to its fullest.” It would not do for Aunt Isobel to get wind of this exchange.
