Page 12 of Her Unsuitable Match

“Who would publish such a thing?” Elaine whispered, her delicate features awash in shock. “And who would want to gossip about Pippa? She is the very definition of a proper English lady.” Though her sister-in-law’s defense warmed Philippa’s heart, her anger yet mounted.

“I know exactly who.” Philippa flung the paper down onto the table. “Lord W. himself! That disgusting toad has been trying to make me an offer all Season. When I turned him down at the ball—”

“Our ball?” Adam interrupted, a scowl appearing on his face. “He approached you there? While you were alone?” Had he been a protective hound, his hackles would’ve gone up. As it was, he certainly bared his teeth as though preparing to let out a growl.

Philippa briefly considered calming her brother’s ire, but she rather liked him taking her side. Richard and Mother never did. “And made quite a spectacle of himself, coming to look for me in the gardens.” Rising from the chair, she went to the window, glaring out at Berkeley Square. “If it was not he who saw to the publication of that loathsome article, it was one of the matrons he made a point of speaking to when he sought me out.”

“Why is he such a persistent suitor?” Elaine asked, putting a hand on her husband’s arm as though to temper his response.

“He is a younger son,” Philippa answered with a shoulder shrug. “He feels it the duty of our lines to bolster one another. He wants my fortune and my bloodline.”

Adam huffed and sat back, tilting his chin up so as to better glare at the ceiling. “A crony of Richard’s, it sounds like.” He took Elaine’s hand in his and released a put-upon sigh. “It might not be all that terrible, Pippa. Perhaps if we ignore the gossip it will go away?”

“You know as well as I do how much a matter of chance that is.” Philippa turned from the window and massaged her temples with both hands. “If something scandalous happens in the next week, people will forget what they’ve read in the paper today. But if a popular, gossipy cat sinks her teeth into the story, I might as well withdraw from London in disgrace. And come back in a year or two.”

“Surely there are other options.” Elaine, for all her intelligence, still gave London Society far more credit toward kindness than it deserved. The former seamstress was undoubtedly blessed that she did not grow up amid the conniving, scheming crowds of the upper nobility.

Adam chuckled, the sound lacking genuine mirth. “She could marry someone other than Lord Toad.”

A tingle went down Philippa’s spine. She had no intention of marrying. And yet. That solution would also force Richard to release her inheritance to her. Without a battle in court, as she suspected it must come to since he refused to release her inheritance. But who would she marry? A woman gave up much when she took a man’s name. She needed someone honorable, a man without expectation of controlling her or the use of her fortune. A man of which Adam and Elaine approved, but without other important connections in Society. Then he would be less likely to get the unsavory ideas people like her mother and Richard often entertained.

Where was one to find such a man?

The butler entered the room. “Mr. and Mrs. Gillensford, a Mr. Cobbett is here, seeking an audience with you both.”

Philippa went still. Mr. Cobbett. Her garden rescuer? She met Elaine’s eye and nodded, not objecting to the interruption of the conversation. Adam said nothing, merely continued his upward glare.

“Lovely. A distraction.” Elaine sent a soft smile to Philippa, her eyes full of sympathy. “Send him in, Hopkins.”

Adam rolled his head forward again, his eyebrows drawn together. “The military gentleman from the ball. You danced with him, didn’t you?”

Elaine gathered up the paper from where it sat on the table in the center of the room. “I did. I found him most amiable. Where should we hide this horrid thing?” She held the newsprint between two fingers, as though it was a dead rodent rather than ink and paper.

“Troublesome newsprint.” Adam took it from his wife and stuffed it behind a cushion on the couch. He caught Philippa’s eye and scowled. “We’re going to have to talk about it eventually, Pippa. I have the feeling Richard and our mother will not let the subject rest, even should the rest of Society forget about it.”

“It is a problem for another day.” Philippa came to stand before her favored chair, adopting a properly welcoming pose. “For now, I am interested to see why Mr. Cobbett has called.” Did she dare tell Adam the near-stranger had rescued her from Lord Walter? The former soldier was a witness to the innocence of her garden stroll.

The door opened again, and the butler announced, “Mr. Cobbett to see you, Mr. and Mrs. Gillensford.”

Adam and Elaine both rose, and everyone performed the proper bows and curtsies. Philippa kept her eyes up as much as she could, taking in the appearance of the man once more. He dressed well, though his clothing was cut for practicality rather than fashion. And looked a little worn. His black leather eyepatch covered his left eye, and his scars were as she remembered. The left side of his face looked as though a giant cat had raked its claws across him, leaving jagged scars behind.

Standing upright again, as stiff and proper as any soldier, Mr. Cobbett did not smile. His countenance was quite solemn. “Thank you for admitting me into your home today, Mr. Gillensford. Mrs. Gillensford. It is a pleasure to see you both. I have no wish to take up your valuable time.” He cut a quick glance at Philippa, and for the briefest moment his brow creased, as though he had not seen her there before. “I beg your pardon, Lady Philippa. I hope you are well.” His eyes seemed to communicate a question, and she had to smile at his lingering concern over their last interaction.

“I am quite well, all things considered. Thank you.”

He nodded his acceptance of that response, then turned back to Adam and Elaine. He reached into his coat, withdrawing a folded rectangle of newsprint. Philippa’s heart jolted. He’d read the gossip and known at once what it alluded to!

He brandished the paper before him like a saber, his solemn frown unwavering. “After reading the paper this morning, I knew I had to come and offer your family my services in whatever way will help most.”

With a groan, Philippa lowered herself into her chair and dropped her face into her hands. Through her fingers she saw Adam’s eyes go round as a clockface, and just as white.

Mr. Cobbett looked from Adam to Philippa, his frown turning to one of perplexity. “I am completely at your service,” he continued, sounding entirely uncertain of himself.

A strange sense of relief flooded her at his earnestness. Did he mean to provide a rebuttal to the newspaper’s statements? Or had he come—her heart sped at the very idea—to offer another sort of fix altogether?

“Mr. Cobbett,” Elaine said quickly, stepping forward with hand outstretched to his newspaper. “Might I ask to what you refer? None of us have read the paper this morning.” Ah, ever practical, Elaine wasn’t about to jump to conclusions. Philippa blinked. It hadn’t even occurred to her there might be something else in the paper worthy of a visit from Mr. Cobbett.

The visitor focused on Elaine, his frown lessening somewhat. “There are several descriptions of the ball. Remarks about your proposed hospital, too. I had hoped I might prove useful. In regard to the hospital project.” He glanced again at Philippa, the confusion resurfacing. “But if I have called at an inappropriate time, I will happily return later.”