Julian peered over the edge of Cam’s box at Drury Lane and swept his gaze over the crowd. “What the devil is everyone staring at?”
A mass of unwashed bodies swarmed in the pit, craning their necks and shoving at their neighbors to get a better look into the tiers above. Julian scanned the boxes to either side of them, but aside from an unusual number of opera glasses pointed in his direction, he didn’t see anything worth noting.
Cam turned to him in surprise. “Why, you, cuz. You’ve teased London into a frenzy with your elusiveness. You’ve been in the city for several days without anyone catching a glimpse of you, and now here you are.”
Julian stared at Cam, his brows drawn together. “That’s ridiculous.”
Cam laughed at this irritated denial. “I agree, but true nonetheless.”
“Oh, Mr. West is quite right, Captain West,” piped up a feminine voice from behind them. “All of London has been holding its breath, waiting for your first public appearance.”
Julian turned around in his seat to find Ellie’s three young sisters-in-law, Iris, Violet, and— well, damned if he could remember the other one’s name—gazing at him, their identical blue eyes wide with admiration. Before he could reply, the eldest sister, Iris, added in a rush, her face coloring, “TheTimescalled the tenth Royal Hussars ‘the most gallant regiment in His Majesty’s service.’”
All three girls giggled at that, and the youngest one—Cynthia? Or was it Hydrangea?—placed a fluttering hand to her breast and heaved a heartfelt sigh.
“Gallant, is he?” Their grandmother, Lady Anne Chase eyed Julian with suspicion. “Humph. It’s the gallant ones who cause all the trouble, especially for foolish young girls who don’t know the difference between a gentleman and a scoundrel.”
Ellie’s brother Robyn stifled a laugh. “Doyouknow the difference, my lady?”
Lady Chase turned her disapproving glare on Robyn. “That smirk does you no credit, sir. I know the difference well, and indeed my one regret is I was unable to impart my wisdom to my granddaughter Lily in time to save her from marryingyou.”
Robyn laughed outright at this, and turned to wink at his sisters-in-law, who did their best to smother their giggles.
Julian paid no attention to their banter, but stared at the three young ladies, horrified.Jesus. This absurd hero business had gone further than he realized. He’d never get any peace with every chit in London sighing over him. Why, the match-making mamas alone—
“Good God, West,” said Robyn, who’d left off teasing Lady Chase. “You look as if you’re ready to hurl yourself into the pit. There’s no need for such desperation. London will forget you soon enough.”
Robyn’s wife, Lily, leaned across Ellie to give Julian a sympathetic look. “It’s true, Captain West. You should be safe enough by the start of next season.”
Next season?He doubted he’d make it through nextweek. “I feel like the bloody elephant at the circus,” he muttered to Cam.
Cam shrugged. “London is an inconstant mistress. Before long she’ll throw you over for someone more exciting, and perhaps—”
His voice trailed off. Julian glanced at him to find Cam’s gaze fixed on a box eight or ten rows away, closer to the middle of the theater.
Ah. The Marchioness of Hadley had arrived and taken her seat, a cloud of deep purple silk billowing around her.
“Perhaps sooner than you think,” Cam finished.
“Oh, she’s so elegant,” Iris Somerset sighed. “That gown is divine.”
Lady Chase sniffed. “If you approve of a purple gown for half mourning, which I don’t, and certainly not one so revealing as that.”
Cam leaned over and spoke under his breath. “Are those the three ladies who accompanied her to the brothel?”
Julian looked over her companions one by one. A redhead and two blondes, one tall and willowy, the other petite and curvy. They’d worn masks last night, but he recognized them instantly. “Without a doubt.”
“Just as I thought.”
Indeed, it was difficult to mistake them, as their behavior at the theater was only marginally more discreet than it had been at the whorehouse. The petite blonde hung halfway over the balcony railing, her opera glasses to her eyes, seemingly unaware that a generous expanse of her lush bosom was visible to anyone who cared to look.
At least no one was gawking at him anymore. “Who are they?”
“They are the wicked widows, cuz, and each one is more notorious than the last.”
“The wicked widows?” How appropriate. “I suppose the scandal sheets came up with that name?”
Ellie, who was sitting on Cam’s other side, leaned over and nodded. “Yes. The tall, slender blonde is Lady Annabel Tallant. She isn’t really a widow, but as Lord Tallant disappeared to the Continent four years ago and hasn’t been heard from since, she may as well be.”
