Hugh coughed unsubtly at that.
Everyone’s heads turned at the sound of footsteps in the foyer. They heralded the arrival of the Earl of Vaughn, back from a meeting with his Man of Affairs, and he swept into the room cheerfully.
“Good evening, all! And well, well, if it isn’t Mr. Cassidy! Welcome back from... Dover, did you say when we last met?”
They’d only met briefly a fortnight ago, long enough for Hugh to tattle on Lillias for smoking a cheroot.
Hugh was on his feet at once. “Yes, sir. Thank you. It’s a pleasure to see you again. I hope you’re enjoying your stay at The Grand Palace on the Thames.”
“We are, thank you. It’s been an adventure!”
Delilah and Angelique exchanged a look. This wasn’t precisely how they preferred to characterize The Grand Palace on the Thames. Though admittedly the description fit more often than not.
“As it so happens,” Hugh said, “I recently had the pleasure of meeting with your cousin, Sir Bentley Tigmont. I found him altogether amiable and knowledgeable. He mentioned your name when we discussed horses.”
“Ah,Tiggy!” The earl was thrilled. “Good man, good man, indeed. Bought a gelding from him just last year. We were at Eton together. Dear Tiggy. Are you also in imports and exports, like Captain Hardy, Lord Bolt, and Mr. Delacorte, Mr. Cassidy?”
“No, sir. I was flattered—and tempted indeed—when they invited me to join the Triton Group. And while my business interests are similar, I’ve long intended to run for mayor of my hometownof Wolfdale when I return to New York. And then, one day, for the United States Congress.”
The little silence that followed this sentence was total and impressed. Some of them were already aware of Mr. Cassidy’s ambition. It was the utter cool confidence and conviction of his delivery that made Mrs. Pariseau surreptitiously fan herself.
Lillias’s eyes were fixed on him suddenly in speculation.
“How very enterprising of you, Mr. Cassidy,” Lady Vaughn said. “Tell me, do they have gentlemen in America, or does every man work for a living?”
Hugh went still. Then he slowly, gingerly turned to her, his expression carefully neutral. In an instant, he could see at once that her question held no malice. It was entirely born of curiosity.
Lillias had one sardonic eyebrow up as if she wanted an answer to this question, too.
“Everyone is considered a gentleman until he demonstrates otherwise, Lady Vaughn,” he said gently. “And that goes for the ladies, too.”
“It must get lonely there in New York, with just trees and those little fellows with masks for company—raccoons,” she delivered brightly, but almost... tentatively. As though it was the first time she’d said “racoons” and she’d been looking for an excuse to say it out loud.
He narrowed his eyes. As surprises went, it was a good one. How on earth would she know aboutraccoons, of all things? They weren’t native to this part of the world. What other secrets was she harboring? She’d likely meant to startle him with quite a specifically American reference.
She looked a little triumphant.
“My best friend the bear and I sit on the porch and play the fiddle. And occasionally play chess. He lets me win. Unlike my friend Mr. Delacorte.”
“Well, that’s rather sweet of your friend,” the countess ventured, after an uncertain silence.
Lillias smiled slowly in sheer delight.
“It’s an actual city,” Hugh said gently to the countess. “We’ve shops. A pub. A church. Taxes. I’ve human friends.”
“Oh, shops!” The countess was relieved on his behalf, which was rather touching. “I don’t suppose it’s anything like London, though.”
“Is anything truly like London?” Hugh decided to say, with a smile that made the countess visibly melt.
Lillias snorted quietly.
But her father heard the snort. “Daughter, perhaps you’d like to knit or draw or something rather than snort at things.”
In truth, he sounded a little concerned. It was as much question as admonishment.
“The devil makes work for idle hands, Lady Lillias,” Hugh said gravely.
He was rewarded with a dagger stare from beneath her straight, dark brows.
