Tristan’s startled gaze met Lyndon’s, and they both shot to their feet at once.
“Miss Monmouth! Attractive lady, Tribble? Looks rather like a pixie?” Lyndon’s voice had risen an octave.
Tribble blinked. “I, er…as to that, I couldn’tsay, my lord.”
“Never mind, Tribble.” Tristan shot Lyndon a warning look. “Did she say what she wanted?”
“No, my lord, only that she must see you at once. I tried to send her away, you not being home to callers, but the lady is rather…insistent.”
“Insistent?” It seemed an awfully tame word to describe Sophia Monmouth, but perhaps she was on her best behavior. “Yes, she is that, among other things. By all means, send her in, Tribble.”
Tribble bowed his way out, leaving Tristan and Lyndon standing there silently, staring at the door like a pair of fools. It wasn’t long before Tribble’s heavy footsteps sounded in the hallway, followed by alighter tread.
A few moments later, Miss Monmouth appeared on the threshold. “Good morning, Lord Gray.” She strode into Tristan’s library, as if she had a perfect right to be there.
Lyndon stared at her, his eyes about to fall out of his skull, then he turned to Tristan with a half-dazed, and half-pitying look. “It all makes perfect sense now, Gray.”
She was wearing a day gown the color of the sun just before it burst over the horizon. It was simple, plain even—nothing at all remarkable about it—yet somehow, she made it look as if she’d wrapped herself in sunbeams. It wasn’t a shade of yellow many ladies could wear, but with her dark hair and skin and those bright green eyes, she looked like a spring day.
Tristan, amazed and appalled at himself at once, shook the fanciful notion from his head. “Miss Monmouth.” He bowed. “What an unexpected surprise tosee you here.”
“Yes, I imagine it is. But my appearance isn’t as surprising as it might have been, my lord. I was planning to come through your window if your manservant turned me away.” She gave him a—damn it, there was no other word for it—asunnysmile. “I daresay I’d have managed it easily enough. Your pediment is very much likeLord Everly’s.”
There was a moment of stunned silence, then Lyndon gave a shout of laughter. “It’s a great pity you didn’t. I would have liked to see that.”
Miss Monmouth dipped into a polite curtsy. “I may yet be able to accommodate you, ah…ah…”
She turned to Tristan, who only stared at her like a fool until Lyndon cleared his throat. “Lyndon. I mean, the Earl of Lyndon. That is…Miss Monmouth, may I present Lord Lyndon?”
By the time Tristan finished this fumbling introduction his face was hot with embarrassment, and Lyndon was shaking with silent laughter. Miss Monmouth, however, only swept a cool gaze over Lyndon, then drawled, “How do you do, Lord Lyndon. I never realized Great Marlborough Street had such an overabundance of earls.”
Lyndon bowed. “Wherever you find columns and pediments, Miss Monmouth, you’ll find earls and marquesses and the like. Perhaps even a stray duke or two.”
Miss Monmouth laughed. “Which of the lovely townhouses on this street belongs toyou, my lord?”
“None of them, I’m afraid. I live in Berkeley Square. No one ever climbs onto our roofsthere, a circumstance I never regretted until now.”
Tristan’s gaze bounced back and forth between them with a frown. Lyndon wasflirtingwith Miss Monmouth. Rather pathetically, yes, but flirting nonetheless, and Miss Monmouth seemed to be enjoying it immensely, her greeneyes twinkling.
Tristan glared at Lyndon, more irritated with his friend than he had any reason to be. “What can I do for you, Miss Monmouth? I confess I can’t think of a single reason for yourpresence here.”
She waved a hand, dismissing this. “Yes, yes, this is all very irregular, but we haven’t time to ponder it now, Lord Gray.”
“I beg your pardon?” Tristan’s gaze narrowed on her, and for the first time he noticed the hectic flush on her cheeks, and the nervous way she fiddled with the fingersof her gloves.
Miss Monmouth wanted something from him.
Well, whatever it was, he’d already made up his mind to refuse her. “Are we going somewhere?”
She glanced at him, biting her lip, then drew in a breath and ceased fidgeting, dropping her hands to her sides. “Yes. We’re going to Newgate Prison.”
The silence that fell after this announcement was once again broken by Lyndon, who took up the coat he’d tossed aside with a low whistle. “On that note, I’ll just take my leave, shall I? Miss Monmouth, it was a great pleasure meeting you.” He gave her an elegant bow, then turned to Tristan, his lips twitching. “I wish you luck, Gray.”
“What a pleasant gentleman,” Miss Monmouth remarked, once the library door had closedbehind Lyndon.
Tristan ignored this. “Whatever mischief you’re up to this time, Miss Monmouth, I don’t want any part of it.”
“How do you know? I haven’t told you what it is yet.” She glanced up at Tristan from under her lashes. “It may be a perfectly charming mischief. Aren’t you the least bit curious?”
