Laura’s start of surprise went unnoticed in the flurry of introductions that ensued. When the momentary hubbub subsided she found herself beside a smiling Lord Hastings.
“You are looking rather bemused, Miss Marsh,” he said with a lifted eyebrow.
“Well, I am,” she replied frankly. “I was unaware that you were acquainted with Lady Bentley, sir.”
“Dear me, do I detect a note of censure? Is there some reason why I should not be acquainted with Lady Bentley? Shall I go away again?”
“No, of course not. I was just … surprised to see you here, that’s all,” she said hastily, hoping the heat she felt in her cheeks was not visible to the company.
Lord Hastings took pity on her discomfort, saying in a confiding tone, “You may find it difficult to credit, but Barney and I are those most desirable ornaments to society — extra men. We are invited everywhere,” he declared with exaggerated pride.
“How nice for you both,” she replied, her composure restored by his nonsense.
Speculation having been decided upon during this private exchange by dint of more vocal adherents, the young people arranged themselves around the table. As Lord Hastings pulled a chair out for Laura, Miss Thurlston, a young woman with a statuesque figure and a faintly equine cast of countenance, directed a toothy smile at him, begging prettily, “Oh, Lord Hastings, I am persuaded I shall never know how to bid without someone to advise me. Would you be so terribly kind as to sit here and keep me from making foolish bids?”
“I would have been delighted, Miss Thurlston, had I not already promised to assist Miss Marsh, who is an even worse case than yourself, having never played any card games as a child.”
Miss Thurlston’s rather bulbous eyes shifted from Laura’s blank expression to Lord Hastings’ face of smiling apology and back before she said, “Naturally I shall defer to Miss Marsh’sgreater need.” Her cool tone did not quite accord with the slight flounce with which she took her seat.
Sinking limply on to the chair being held out by Lord Hastings, Laura demanded in a hissing whisper, “How did you know I have never played cards?”
“Your mother confided your dark secret to me when I paid my respects a moment ago.”
Laura was not disarmed by his guileless expression, but took the prudent decision to desist from further questioning though she noticed the subtlest nuances of his mood and behaviour, a tightened lip, a sucked-in breath, a muscle twitch. The trick was to keep in mind that one’s own peculiarities were equally exposed to interpretation. After Lord Hastings’ masterful manoeuvring to sit beside her, Laura had experienced a fleeting apprehension that he would render her conspicuous by continuing his flirtatious overtures, but she had misjudged him.
Early in the game her cousin had begun a breezy flirtation with one of the gentlemen, something looked on with silent but patent disfavour by one of the other young ladies. Realising this within a few moments, Sophia subsequently switched her attention to Mr. Barnaby Castle, who proved an able partner in the art. Lord Hastings’ conduct, on the other hand, was everything that was admirable. His good-natured acceptance took the sting out of Miss Thurlston’s barbs. He had words of encouragement for the timid Miss Robbins, who was soon to make her first appearance at Almack’s, accompanied by the delightful smile that made him so likeable, and he initiated or abetted all efforts to keep the conversation light-hearted and inclusive. After observing his social adroitness over the course of the evening, Laura had no difficulty in crediting his joking claim that he was invited everywhere.
There was one other occurrence that contributed to Laura’s enjoyment of Lady Bentley’s party. Completely absorbed in thenoisy contest at the young people’s table, she was startled to hear her name sounded above her ear, and glanced over her shoulder into the smiling face of Lord Exton.
“Well met, Miss Marsh. Good evening, Miss Albright,” the earl added with a bow toward the lovely brunette, who dimpled in response.
“I am delighted to see you here, sir,” Laura said warmly, breaking into a smile that, did she but know it, brought an additional brilliance to her changeable greenish eyes and an arrested expression to Lord Hastings’ genial countenance as he glanced from the girl at his side to the distinguished stranger addressing her with a twinkle in his eyes.
“And I am delighted but unsurprised to see my prophecy fulfilled.”
“Prophecy? Oh —” Laura said, stopping with a self-conscious look. Aware that she was the cynosure of all eyes at this point, she gathered her poise about her, saying brightly to her now-silent table companions, “May I present Lord Exton, everybody?” Lord Exton acknowledged each individual she mentioned with smiling civility, his attention lingering on Lord Hastings, who returned it with equal interest.
“Have you spoken to my mother yet, sir? I believe she is in the next room.”
Laura’s inquiry brought Lord Exton’s eyes back to her, and he replied with the same twinkle, “Not yet, nor to my hostess, I must confess. I simply followed the sounds of merriment, and I do apologise to all for interrupting your game. No doubt I’ll see you later,” he added to Laura in an aside before turning away after a bow to the company.
Lord Hastings looked quickly at Laura, who nodded and smiled at the retreating earl before turning back to the now-resumed game, unaware of his curious glance. She returned happily to playing cards but was a trifle abstracted for aperiod. Her mood was too jubilant to dissemble completely as she hugged to herself the knowledge that Lord Exton must have sought out Lady Bentley and wangled an invitation to her party in order to see his former love again. Lord Hastings, a close observer, read the satisfaction in her dreamy expression but misinterpreted the cause. His jaw firmed with renewed resolution as he continued to keep the disparate elements among the players running in harmony until it was time for refreshments.
Lord Hastings and Mr. Castle excused themselves at that stage, citing prior plans to join a party of friends. Both said all that was polite, expressing their pleasure in the evening and regrets at its unseasonable curtailment, but somehow Laura received the impression that Mr. Castle was the prime mover in the exodus. Perhaps it was the warmth of Lord Hastings’ smile when she thanked him shyly for his steady assistance during the marathon card session that gave rise to this theory.
When Laura located her mother a few moments later she was disappointed to discover that Lord Exton too had departed at an early hour to keep another appointment. still, the fact of a prior engagement lent even more significance to his presence at Lady Bentley’s, she assured herself. Mrs. Marsh appeared to have had quite as good a time as her charges, and all three women were sincere in expressing their gratitude when they took leave of their hosts at last.
“I have the most wretched memory,” Mr. Castle said as he and Lord Hastings gratefully gulped brisk night air into their lungs after spending hours in Lady Bentley’s overheated rooms. “Tell me again why we gave up a snug evening with Ashcroft and Marley to play cards for chicken stakes with the infantry in the house of a total stranger.”
“As I believe I mentioned when I begged off this evening’s plans, it was a simple favour for a friend. Mrs. Marsh is launching her daughter, who has no acquaintance in town as yet. And I do thank you for offering to come along tonight; in fact, to show my appreciation, I’ll let you drive my new pair in the park tomorrow.”
Mr. Castle, undeceived by this attempt to draw him off the scent, snorted and continued to search for elucidation. “The girl’s more than pretty, I grant you, but she ain’t in your usual style. And I’ve known you forever and can’t recall your ever mentioning any friends named Marsh.”
“They live in Hertfordshire near my godmother’s place,” Jack replied blandly, elevating one eyebrow, “and I was not aware that I confined my attentions to a certain ‘style’ of female.”
“Don’t try to come the lord over me, my lad, because I wasn’t born yesterday. This one’s got too many brains for your taste. Those big eyes of hers drift all around the company, but you don’t know what she’s thinking behind that cool manner. I would have said — well, anyone who knows you would — that the cousin was the filly for you. A real dasher, that one, and beautiful too.”
“I quite agree that Miss Albright is a lovely and spirited girl, but how could you believe I would try to cut you out with her? Is that the act of a friend?”
