Page 34 of Give Him a Chance

Bernard did not, and his natural nosiness grew as he watched Lady Lucy and Lord Percy exchange glances. This was none of his business, obviously, but he would be no spy of any real talent if he did not want to understand precisely what it was that was happening around him.

Whatwashappening around him?

“And we have been invited to a carp party,” the countess continued, her voice slightly tight as she clearly sought a way to fill the silence.

Lucy blinked. “A—A what?”

“A carp party,” repeated her mother, blinking as she held the paper before her. “A cart party?”

“You really should wear your spectacles, Mama,” said her daughter fondly.

As expected, the countess bristled. “I don’t need the blasted things, I just need—a card party. We’re invited to a card party!”

“Good,” said her husband quietly.

“From Lady Romeril.”

“Oh, no!” The cries echoed around the table from all three other Chances, and Bernard could not help but grin to watch them.

It was pleasing, in a way, to see that nothing had changed since he had been a part of Society. Lady Romeril clearly still struck fear in the hearts of men—or at the very least a distaste for her company, which in polite Society was essentially the same thing.

“You do not like Lady Romeril?” he asked innocently, reaching out and putting a pair of kippers on his plate.

When he looked up, it was to see Lord Percy making a face, his mother glaring at him in the clear hope it would make himdesist, the Earl of Lindow sighing, and Lady Lucy pressing her lips together to prevent laughter.

Bernard could not help but grin.Oh, I like this family.

“I am not saying that Lady Romeril is a tiresome woman who does her best to make everyone feel inferior,” said the earl slowly.

Bernard, along with the rest of the table, waited for the rest of the sentence. It did not come. The earl instead took a bite of toast and honey, chewing slowly and methodically as though he were in no rush.

Which, Bernard supposed, he wasn’t.

“Papa!” Lady Lucy said sternly, though still plainly attempting to stifle her giggles. “You cannot say such things! Is there a letter for me? I’m expecting one from Zander.”

“I think you will find that I did not say such a thing,” said her father with a smirk. “Now, we’ve received an invitation and there’s nothing we can do about it. Percy—where the devil did that boy go?”

Bernard looked around. Wherehadthe man gone?

Lord Percy’s mother was sighing. “He’s been doing that more and more lately.”

But Bernard’s attention was immediately distracted by the beautiful woman who shifted seats around the table to be closer to him.

“You will attend, won’t you?” asked Lady Lucy with a brief smile.

It was on the tip of Bernard’s tongue to say he would do whatever she wanted, whenever she wanted it, but he managed to restrain himself and instead utter the far more incomprehensible, “Wh-What?”

“Lady Romeril’s card party. You will attend with us, won’t you?” Lady Lucy repeated patiently, as though she frequently had to invite known criminals twice to famous women’s parties.

Oh, hell no.“I would not dare intrude on your family,” Bernard said smoothly.

But as it turned out, not smoothly enough. “Oh, you are included on in the invitation too,” the countess said helpfully, handing him the piece of card that appeared to be edged with so much gold, Bernard was a tad surprised it had not been delivered in the parcel post instead of with the letters.

The Lady Romeril invites you,

the Earl of Lindow, the Countess of Lindow, the Lord Percy and the Lady Lucy,

and their guests