Frances glanced at her mother. The poor woman was the color of a ripe rutabaga.
“What is the meaning of this?” Sir Reginald demanded. He turned to Lord Clayton. “My lord, I demand you do something about your impertinent footman.”
“I am no footman,” Lucas pronounced, lifting his chin. “I am the Earl of Kendall.” He ripped off his wig and tossed it into the soup tureen near his feet.
Screams and shrieks went up around the room and one of the young ladies fell out of her chair in a dead faint. Two of the other footmen rushed forward to carry her away.
The rest of the diners stared in fascinated horror as Lucas shed his livery jacket and stood there clad in his waistcoat, white shirt, and breeches.
“By God, itisKendall!” one of the gentlemen shouted.
The Prince Regent dabbed at his nose with an ornate handkerchief. “I was wondering earlier why the Earl of Kendall was serving us all soup,” he drawled.
Frances covered her mouth with her bent fingers. If the entire thing hadn’t been so horrifying, she might have burst out laughing. Of all the people in the room, the only one who’d recognized Kendall was the prince? The prince who never appeared to notice anything beyond his own nose? Nowthatwas humorous indeed.
“That’s right,” Lucas continued. “I’ve been serving you, all of you, for days now. I’ve filled your wine glasses, I’ve ladled your soup, and I’ve placed your napkins on your laps.”
“The devil you say,” another gentleman added.
Lucas put his fists on his hips. “I’ve done all of this with no other change to my appearance than some livery and a powdered wig. And do you know what I’ve learned?”
The entire table was silent, staring up at him in rapt fascination.
“I’ve learned that our class is the most self-centered, vapid, inattentive, uncaring lot of horses’ arses there ever was. Notoneof you recognized me, because notoneof you took the time to look at myface.”
The table remained silent. Frances glanced around. There was a mixture of guilt and confusion on nearly every countenance. The tiniest hint of a smile tugged at her lips. Her anger at Kendall had not abated, but even she had to admit it was delightful to gaze around the room as the entitled diners each realized he was right. The man was a horse’s arse, but this speech was precisely what these people needed to hear and she couldn’t have said it better herself.
“That’s all fine and good, Kendall,” Sir Reginald snapped, anger and impatience etched on his features, “but you interrupted me in quite an important moment. I was about to announce my engagement to Miss Wharton.”
“I interrupted you on purpose,” Lucas shot back, “because I haven’t had a chance to ask for Miss Wharton’s hand first.”
Another gasp went up around the room and all of the dining table’s occupants swiveled their collective heads to stare at Frances. She took a deep breath. She could happily strangle the blackguard for making such a scene.
“Well, then,” the Prince Regent prodded, addressing his remarks to Lucas. “Go ahead, man, ask for her hand.”
Sir Reginald shot the prince a positively wounded look.
Apparently, Lucas needed no other encouragement. He jumped to the floor and swiftly made his way to Frances’s seat. When he got there, he dropped to one knee.
Her throat was closing. She could not breathe. The walls of the dining room seemed to be closing in on her.
“Frances Regina Thurgood Wharton,” he said, grasping her gloved hand in his. “Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
Lucas felt Frances’s hand trembling. Indeed, upon closer inspection, he realized her entire body was shaking. Her teeth were chattering, and she looked as if she might cast up her accounts.
“Are you all right?” he whispered to her, suddenly alarmed.
“I cannot breathe,” she gasped.
“Get her some water!” Sir Reginald called to no one in particular.
Frances ripped her hand from Lucas’s grasp and ran from the dining room.
Lucas jumped to his feet and made to follow her, but Sir Reginald lunged in front of him, blocking his path.
“Would you please shut up and leave?” Sir Reginald demanded, stamping his foot.
