“What did they do?” And why couldn’t he tear his gaze away from the lady in pink?
“My dear Prestwick, whatdidn’tthey do? Emmeline Templeton, the next eldest after Euphemia, swept into London last season—a perfect nobody, mind you—and snatched up Lord Melrose right out from under everyone’s noses. She’s now the Countess of Melrose, much to theton’s disgust.”
“Well, what of it? It hardly seems fair to blame the lady for—”
“Oh, I’m not done, Prestwick. Not two months later, her sister Juliet attended a house party at the Earl of Cross’s estate in Oxfordshire, and what do you think? She’s now Lady Cross. Then the middle sister—Helen, I believe her name is, or Helena—has recently been elevated from the Earl of Chatham’s governess to hiswife. Agoverness, and she’s Lady Chatham now!”
“What, all three of them became countesses in a single season?” That was a trifle unusual.
“Yes, indeed. It nearly sent London’s matrons into an apoplexy. The gossips claim all five of the Templeton sisters are sorceresses—fatal beauties who mesmerize gentlemen with their wicked wiles. It’s utter nonsense, of course. Howdelightful, that they should be in London.” Darby rubbed his hands together gleefully. “Perhaps the season won’t be as dull as I feared.”
Delightful? There was nothing delightful about it. “The lady in pink? Which Templeton is she?”
“Let’s see. Emmeline, Juliet, Helena…” Darby counted the names off on his fingers. “Euphemia, the eldest, is the lady in yellow, so that leaves… Mathilda. The lady in pink must be Mathilda Templeton. She’s the youngest.”
“Mathilda Templeton,” Kit repeated, staring hard at her.
“I’m going to ask her to dance before these other scoundrels fill up her dance card.” Darby tugged on his coat, straightening it. “Perhaps she’ll mesmerize me with her wicked wiles. I do hope so. My, I never dreamed the season could prove so entertaining.”
“Wait, Darby.” Kit caught him by the arm before Darby could rush off. “Ask Lady Harriett to dance the next two dances first, will you?”
“Lady Harriett!” Darby’s lips turned down. “You dance with her, Prestwick. She’s your countess.”
Not yet, she wasn’t, and she might never be, now. “I have some business with Miss Mathilda Templeton, and I’d just as soon Lady Harriett was kept out of the way until I’ve concluded it.”
“Business, with Mathilda Templeton? Do tell, Prestwick.”
“Later. Do this for me first, will you? There’s a good fellow, Darby.”
“Oh, alright, if I must.” Darby let out a dramatic sigh, but he wandered off in Lady Fosberry’s direction.
Meanwhile, Kit retreated to a quiet corner, his gaze fixed on Mathilda Templeton, her pink silk skirts tumbling gracefully around her, her heavy chestnut locks brushing her bare shoulders.
And waited for his chance to pounce.
ChapterSix
“Here you are, girls! I’d begun to worry you’d miss the first dance of the evening.” Lady Fosberry hurried forward to kiss Harriett’s cheek. “Is this the gown we chose for your first ball? It’s not as I remember it.”
“Oh yes, Aunt, the very same.” Harriett glanced at Tilly, biting back a grin. “If you recall, you insisted upon the blue one.”
“So I did, and I was right to do so, because you look lovely, my dear. Mathilda, that shade of pink is stunning on you. I don’t believe I’ve ever seen you look prettier.”
“Thank you, my lady.” Tilly fluffed the skirts of her gown. It had been a lucky choice, this gown, as she’d blend seamlessly with the dozens of ladies wearing a similar shade of pale pink.
A lady teetering on the edge of a scandal did well not to draw attention to herself.
“Come, girls, and I’ll introduce you to Lord Griffiths and Lord Wrexham. They’ll make excellent partners for the first dance.”
“No thank you, my lady.” Tilly linked her arm with Phee’s. “I believe I’ll keep Phee company this evening.”
Lady Fosberry stared at her. “You mean to say you won’t dance, Mathilda? But it’s your first ball of the season!”
Goodness, people did make a fuss about the season, didn’t they? It was quite freeing, to have the luxury of not caring a whit about it. “I prefer observing to dancing.”
Lady Fosberry huffed. “I hope you change your mind, Mathilda, but I know the futility of arguing with you. Come along, Harriett. I believe Lord Wrexham is smiling at you.”
Phee turned to her once Lady Fosberry and Harriett were out of earshot. “Observing, Tilly? I’ve never known you to stand back and observe a single thing in your life. What are you up to?”
