Miss Spalding held out her hand to the girl. “I should very much like to get to know you better, Lady Rebecca. The Season can be so hard without another woman to talk with.”
“But Mama will say even at three o’clock—”
“Then make it two, hm?” she pressed.
The girl wavered, then suddenly brightened. “Yes. Yes!” she said, as if she was thrilled to make a decision of her own. “I shall meet you there at two. We shall meet as if by chance. Mama can’t say anything against that.”
“I’m so pleased,” Miss Spalding said as Lady Rebecca giggled, then dashed back to her mother.
Reuben was thrilled. No matter what was about to happen now, a walk in the park with a titled lady would do wonders for his consequence. Though guilt threatened his composure as his gaze returned to Miss Spalding.
Her clansmen would be there. They would catch her unawares and he would not stop them. After all, if she were well and truly married, then she deserved… No, she probably didn’t deserve what was coming to her, but then who did?
Besides, he had other things to worry about as Lady Finley and her lord approached with dark expressions. Time for him to make his escape.
“And now I must offer my apologies,” he blustered as he kissed the hand of Miss Allen. “I’m afraid I am due to another event. Nothing so grand as this, but I must dash away.”
Miss Spalding looked over his shoulder and spoke in a dry tone. “I’m sure it’s very pressing.”
She knew he was about to be tossed on his ear. “I look forward to tomorrow,” he said as he bowed over her hand. He took his time with his kiss. Her hands were so elegant, he couldn’t resist stroking her for a few seconds longer while the memory of how she’d looked in the moonlight teased at his composure.
But then he spun on his heel to bluster and apologize to Lord and Lady Finley that he had had a delightful time, but simply must depart. No one with any brain would be fooled. He was about to be tossed out on his ear. But a great many in thetonhad feeble minds that could be swayed in his favor.
Or so he hoped.
Indeed, he had wagered nearly his entire life on that one wish.
Chapter Seven
“What do youmean, you don’t know?” The dowager countess set down her tea hard enough that it clicked in its saucer. She was glaring at her son who had arrived ten minutes ago, well after the summons sent that morning.
Iseabail and Sadie were in the room as well, supposedly to practice their penmanship. Neither had put pen to paper since the earl had arrived. Meanwhile, the man leaned back in his chair with a heavy sigh. His gaze encompassed all three women as he spoke, his voice showing his irritation. Or perhaps a lack of sleep, given that he was a new father of a baby boy. One who, apparently, barely slept.
“Reuben Bates has a great deal to recommend him as a husband. He’s wealthy, knows secrets about half theton, and he is more honest than gentlemen of excellent parentage. But he also comes from common stock, has rough edges, and his assistance can be bought.”
“How common? And how wealthy?” the countess pressed.
That was not what Iseabail focused upon. She was more interested in exactly how much assistance could be bought.
The earl shrugged. “There are thieves and bootblacks in his lineage.”
Sadie spoke up. “The same could be said for all theton.” She’d been reading about the history of most of the peerage. Iseabail had been shocked to discover how many came from pirates and rebels.
“Half theton,” the earl said dryly. “The thing is, he doesn’t have a title to overcome it.”
The countess nodded. “But he wants one. Yes, yes, we all understand why he is making up to Lady Rebecca. He wants an entrée into society and my two charges gave him that.” She cast a glare at Iseabail. “Why didn’t you discuss this with me first?”
“I promised him a dance, my lady,” Iseabail answered. “I thought if he were allowed into the Finley ball, then he would be an acceptable partner.”
The lady sniffed. “But he wasn’t invited. He snuck in like a common thief!” She waited a moment after that dramatic pronouncement, then turned back to the question at hand. “How much money?”
“Enough that it’s causing him a problem.”
Sadie snorted. “How can anyone havetoo muchmoney?”
“The man’s brilliant. Everything he’s managed has turned to gold. But now he’s got people who want to take over, take away, or just take. He needs to delegate his interests to the ones he trusts. There’s too much for one man to handle, but then what is he to do?”
“Get a wife, obviously,” his mother said.
