Lovell bore her off with exquisite care, and Samuel and Lady Emma followed after them, leaving the older ladies to pursue their sedate walk along Rotten Row.
“I paid at visit at the Pink Pearl this afternoon, Lady Emma,” Samuel said, once they were out of earshot of the others. “Who do you suppose I saw there?”
“I don’t dare hazard a guess, Lord Lymington.”
“A very large, dark-haired fellow I recognized at once as Lady Crosby’s coachman. He was just leaving as I arrived. No.” Samuel held up a hand to quiet her when she opened her mouth to speak. “Don’t try and persuade me it wasn’t him. He’s not the sort of man easily mistaken for another.”
“I don’t see what’s so remarkable about him being at the Pink Pearl.” Lady Emma gave him a chastising look. “A coachman has the same, er…needs as a nobleman, Lord Lymington.”
Samuel gaped at her, a wild laugh threatening, but he bit it back, and settled for an incredulous glare instead. “There’s no need for you to explain a man’s needs to me, Lady Emma. Lady Crosby’s man wasn’t there to visit a courtesan.”
“Well, I can’t think of any other reason why he’d—”
“Can’t you?” For an instant, Samuel wondered what it would be like to simply walk along the Serpentine with Lady Emma, without all this maneuvering between them.
He doubted he’dever find out.
“I don’t know what tortures you think I intend to inflict on Caroline Francis, my lady, but I can assure you, I only want to speak to her. There’s no need to send your grandmother’s coachman to hide her from me.”
“I haven’t the faintest idea what you’re talking about, my lord.”
“I think you do.” He stopped, and turned her to face him. “From what I overheard in the library at the Pink Pearl, your friend Letty is in Caroline’s confidence. Since you’ve secreted Caroline away, I may have to pose my questions toLetty instead.”
“I wish you much success in finding her, but as I told you before, my lord, I’ve never been to the Pink Pearl, and I don’t know any Letty.”
The devil she didn’t. Samuel was just about to say he didn’t believe a word out of her mouth when Lady Emma added, “Your cousin and Lady Flora look well together, don’t they?”
Samuel blinked at her, surprised, then followed her gaze to Lovell and Lady Flora, who had moved some distance ahead of them. “They do, yes. She’s a lovely young lady.”
“She is, indeed.” Lady Emma was watching the two of them wandering along the pathway beside the Serpentine, her lower lip caught between her teeth. “Lady Flora knows him quitewell, I think?”
“Yes. They’ve known each other since they were children. Lovell’s fond of her.” A small smile curved Samuel’s lips as he watched his cousin. Lovell was gesturing wildly, and Lady Flora was smiling at his antics. It wasn’t quite the doting smile with which she’d used to look at him, but whatever had caused her earlier ill-temper, Lovell had coaxedher out of it.
He was good at making people laugh—at making them happy. Certainly, charm flowed like wine through Lovell’s veins, but there was nothing practiced about the way he spoke to Flora, or the way he looked at her. He’d never had to pretend with her.
“You don’t appear at all concerned your friend will steal away your favorite,” Samuel observed, with a sidelong glanceat Lady Emma.
He wasn’t sure what sort of response he expected, but Lady Emma only shrugged. “Lord Lovell isn’t a toy to be squabbled over. He may doas he pleases.”
Samuel had no reply to that. His had been an ill-natured comment, and such a rational, reasonable response was difficultto argue with.
Damn her.
“Or perhaps I should have said, he may do asyouplease.” A sly smile drifted over her lips. “Yes, I believe that’s more accurate. Don’t you think so, my lord?”
Despite himself, Samuel’s own lips twitched. “What do you imagine would please me, as far as my cousinis concerned?”
“I wouldn’t dare speculate on what would pleaseyou, Lord Lymington.”
“It’s nothing so mysterious. My cousin is like a brother to me. I simply want what any brother would want for another.His happiness.”
Lady Emma’s brow furrowed, as if she were troubled by his words. She was quiet for a moment, watching the breeze ripple across the surface of the water, but just when Samuel thought she wouldn’t answer, she said, “If you truly want his happiness, Lord Lymington, then why not let him doas he pleases?”
Because what pleases Lovell nearly killed him.
The words rose to Samuel’s lips,hovered there—
“Or do you think you know best what would make him happy?” She turned to him, the sun flickering in her eyes, turning them a blue he’d never seen before, like the blue fire at the base of a candle’s flame.
