“Well, it’s rather foolish, really, but we had a bit of an argument about propriety at Lady Bagshot’s ball the other night. Miss Tilbury said something about ladies not being permitted to walk or drive down St. James’s Street. I said I thought it an absurd rule, and so it is, Hyacinth. I don’t see why the ladies’ freedom should be curtailed because the gentlemen drink too much at White’s, and then loll about in the bow window, gawking at passersby, and forgetting their manners. Anyway, Lord Piece gave me quite a lecture over it.”
“I wish I’d heard that conversation. Lord Pierceisvery proper. What did he say?”
“Oh, some tripe about it being for the ladies’ own good, but I don’t believe that’s the real reason. I think it’s so the gentlemen can behave as badly as they like, without anyone about to take them to task for it. I didn’t hesitate to say so, and I’m afraid I was a bit, ah…livelywith him, but I do so hate to be lectured, and I particularly hate being told things are being done for my own good.”
“I wonder you came away from this discussion with a liking for Lord Pierce.” Hyacinth gave her a teasing smile. “I would have thought it would be just the opposite.”
Isla grinned back. “Not at all. I was so tremendously relieved to find an Englishman who wasn’t a biddable sheep like all the others, I found myself quite taken with Lord Pierce. He’s dreadfully stiff and correct, but I fancy there’s some unruliness lurking under his lordship’s propriety.”
If Lord Pierce had an unruly side, Hyacinth had never seen it, but she kept this observation to herself. “It’s a pity Finn isn’t here. Lord Pierce owns the neighboring estate to Huntington Lodge, and Finn knows him rather well, I believe.”
“Yes, that would have been helpful, but for the moment I’ll go on as I have been, poking at Lord Pierce every now and again.” Isla gave Hyacinth a cheeky wink, then rose from her chair. “I’d quite like to see what’s under there.”
Hyacinth laughed. “And what of Lord Clement? What if he falls in love with you, and asks Lachlan for your hand, and Lachlan commands you to marry him?”
The hem of Isla’s gown swept dramatically over the floor as she turned around to face Hyacinth, a grin on her lips. “I’m afraid I’ve never been very good at doing what I’m told.”
* * * *
The darker Lachlan’s scowl became, the more Lady Joanna seemed to admire him.
Foolish chit.
“Tell me more about your life in Scotland, Mr. Ramsey. Do the women really drink whiskey, and the men carry swords everywhere? Is it true the entire country is overrun with sheep?”
The ladies and gentlemen surrounding Lady Joanna tittered, but Lachlan was occupied with looking over her shoulder at Hyacinth, and he ignored Lady Joanna entirely.
That lady wasn’t accustomed to being ignored, and she stepped several inches to the right, so her face was directly in Lachlan’s sight line. “But you don’t seem amused, Mr. Ramsey. I’m afraid you’re distracted this evening.” She flicked a glance over her shoulder. “Oh, dear. It’s poor Miss Somerset, isn’t it?”
Another titter went around the group at Hyacinth’s name, and Lady Joanna’s malicious smile widened.
Lachlan gave her a bored look. “Miss Somerset looks happy enough to me. She doesn’t need or want your pity, Lady Joanna.”
“How silly you are, Mr. Ramsey.” Lady Joanna let out a tinkling laugh, but her dark eyes narrowed. “No young lady who’s obliged to spend an entire ball watching other young ladies dance while she herself is ignored can possibly be happy.”
Ignored? If only that were the case. Every aristocrat in this bloody ballroom had spent the entire evening gawking at her. The gossip had reached such a fever pitch Lachlan had even considered taking her into Lord Hayhurst’s library himself. At least then she’d be shielded from vultures like Lady Joanna.
“Poor thing. Such a sad state of affairs.” Lady Joanna shook her head in mock sympathy, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction. “There must be something we can do to assist her. Don’t you agree, Miss Tilbury?”
Miss Tilbury, who always agreed with Lady Joanna, no matter what nonsense she spouted, gave the required answer. “Oh, yes! Of course. But what?”
“Hmmm.” Lady Joanna tapped her fan against her lips. “Well, it’s rather difficult, given Miss Somerset’s pitiable situation, but there must be something…oh, I have it! Lord Chester, why don’t you invite Miss Somerset to dance?”
“Yes, you must, my lord!” Miss Tilbury looked as if she were trying to smother a sudden burst of laughter. “What a wonderful idea. I don’t know why we didn’t think of it before.”
A suspicious frown creased Lachlan’s brow as he turned to the young man in question. Lady Joanna and Miss Tilbury looked far too delighted for Lachlan to be easy about this suggestion, but he couldn’t find any reasonable objection to Lord Chester. He was younger than the other gentlemen, and hung about on the fringes of Lady Joanna’s set. God knew the boy was awkward and bumbling, but he seemed decent enough.
“I, ah, well, I’m certain Miss Somerset wouldn’t care to dance with me.” The young man’s face had gone scarlet, and he plucked nervously at his cravat. “I’m not a very accomplished—”
“Why, what nonsense! Of course she’ll dance with you.” Lady Joanna gave Lord Chester a little push forward. “She’s hardly danced all night, and is in no position to refuse you. Indeed, my lord, you’d be doing her a kindness.”
“Well, of course I’d be delighted to dance with Miss Somerset, if you think it a good idea.” Lord Chester bowed to Lady Joanna, but his face was pinched with worry. “If she agrees, that is.”
“Oh, she will.” Lady Joanna gave him another shove, her eyes gleaming. “Go on, then.”
Lachlan watched the lad make his way across the ballroom and bow to Hyacinth. Damn it, he didn’t like this. Lady Joanna was far too gleeful, but short of tackling Lord Chester to the floor, there wasn’t much he could do to stop it.
From across the ballroom Lachlan saw Hyacinth nod her head, and the red-faced young lord took her arm and led her to the center of the ballroom.
