Page 28 of Courting the Country Miss

Turning to Richard, Kensington smiled. “Oh? Friends of yours?”

Richard grimaced. “That windbag is no friend of mine, and we’re not shooting him, only ensuring he doesn’t hinder fundraising.”

Elizabeth appeared at Richard’s elbow and linked her arm through his as she smiled up at both Tristan and Kensington. “Gentlemen. I haven’t received your response to our ball.”

Tristan blinked. Ball? Had he received an invitation to a ball? He couldn’t remember the last time he went through his correspondence.

“This one is special,” Elizabeth explained. “It’s a subscription ball to benefit the charity school. We’ll have an auction for men to bid on supper dances.”

“You’re auctioning ladies?” Kensington sounded scandalized.

“Dances with ladies. It’s respectable,” Elizabeth said in a defensive tone.

“And you would know.” Richard smiled at her. “You’ve developed a reputation for being the leader in proper etiquette. Next year, everyone will be having auctions at their balls for charity.”

Tristan let out a snort. “Good luck with that one. Most men I know would rather hide out in the billiards room than the ballroom, much less pay for a dance.”

“Which is why we need your help.” Leticia nudged her way into the circle. “If we get enough of the right support, other gentlemen won’t want to be outdone.” She smiled meaningfully at all of them.

Tristan groaned. “I can already tell I won’t like this.”

“I hope you will help us,” said Elizabeth. “The Duke of Suttenburg has agreed to start off the bidding and Richard will, too, of course.” She shot Richard an adoring gaze. Richard looked helpless against her subtle attack, the poor besotted fool. “The Earl of Tarrington has pledged to bid as well. Even my father agreed to be an early bidder.”

An awed hush touched her tone. No wonder. If powerful men such as the Duke of Pemberton, the Duke of Suttenberg, and the Earl of Tarrington supported the auction and the school, the foundation would succeed.

Kensington nodded. “Two dukes and an earl will have enough clout to encourage others to bid.”

Leticia nodded at Kensington. “Not to mention the influence of a military hero—a captain, to be precise. Also, if one of the most confirmed bachelors in England helps us, we are sure to succeed.” She turned a blinding smile to Tristan that blew all rational thought out of his mind.

He almost stammered under the force of that smile. He recovered his wits and drawled, “My dear Leticia, I don’t pursue women; they pursue me.”

Elizabeth looked away and Richard leveled a stare on him so hard that Tristan dropped his gaze. Very well, he generally didn’t pursue women. He’d flirted with Elizabeth at that house party last year because he liked to see her blush, and he considered her a challenge. He never expected to connect with her in so many ways. Now she belonged to Richard, leaving Tristan blissfully free from entanglements.

Leticia broke the uncomfortable silence. “Which is why you must bid, Tristan. If you of all people do, others will follow your lead.”

Tristan raised a brow. “Is there an insult in there somewhere?”

With an exasperated laugh, Leticia shook her head. “Everyone knows what a rake you are, and they also know all you have to do is smile at a woman for her to proposition you. So, if you believe in the cause enough to bid on a dance, you will influence other gentlemen to follow your example.”

He wanted to squirm. Instead, he raised his hands in surrender, if for no other reason than to get Leticia off the subject of his rakishness. His reputation had grown into a thorn in his side. “Very well, I promise to bid the first time there appears to be a lapse.”

Leticia looked at Kensington with a clear question.

Kensington nodded, but looked less than enthusiastic. “I’ll help you.”

Leticia clapped her hands together. “Wonderful! I knew we could count on you both. I can’t tell you how much this means to us and to the school.”

With her face lit by excitement, Leticia transformed into a positively enchanting fairy princess. Tristan grinned, happy to have brought that expression to her face.

The group dispersed and Tristan turned his mind from the subscription ball and began planning the details of the outing to Vauxhall Gardens, mentally checking off the guest list to be sure he’d included enough men to parade in front of Leticia, and enough ladies to make her comfortable.

He’d never felt a greater sense of purpose.

Chapter Nine

Leticia sat next to her Aunt Alice in Madame DuBois’s establishment watching as the modiste did the final measurements on Isabella’s newest ball gown.

Leticia glanced outside at the misty afternoon. Too bad they couldn’t return home and cozy up next to a fire with a novel. The day seemed suited for nothing else. She sipped her tea and wondered if Isabella were as chilled as she. Leticia finished her tea and set down her cup. “Perhaps a visit to the sweet shop would be in order as well. Isabella looks as if she is in need of refreshment.”