Page 8 of The Lyon’s Paw

From the tone and tension in the woman’s voice, Diana would need to reserve judgment on whether or not she’d been saved until she saw this potential husband with her own eyes.

A heavy footfall in the hallway had Diana sitting straight up and leaning over to try to peer out the door. A spark of excitement, a sliver of hope that somehow this was all going to come right shot through her as she strained to see the promised gentleman.

“Mrs. Beaumont, Miss Egerton, may I present—”

A hulking figure filled the doorway, broad shoulders almost skimming the door jamb as he pushed his way into the room. Attired in an excellently cut double-breasted coat of navy superfine, accentuating his massive chest, the gentleman tipped his hat and raised his countenance to them. “Ladies, I am—”

He stopped mid-sentence, his almost jovial face crashing down into horrified lines. “Miss Edgerton.”

Diana stared, unable to breathe until she sucked in a gasp at last and spit out his name. “Lord Longford.”

Mrs. Dove-Lyon’s head tilted. “Do you know one another already, my dear? Then this should be as easy as a stroll in the park for you.”

Chapter Three

“This is not Sir Harry Bowles, Mrs. Dove-Lyons.” Miss Edgerton’s face had gone a deep red shade that was totally unbecoming to her. Not that he thought any color would be becoming on this inconsiderate woman. Geoffry had to clench his teeth in order to keep from growling in disgust.

Mrs. Dove-Lyons had miscalculated badly if she thought he would marry this…this irresponsible woman just to gain the money to keep his estates. He’d sell them all lock, stock, and barrel before he’d stand up with Miss Diana Edgerton. She must have heard, as had the whole ton, about their encounter last June. That was the reason the lady had neglected to tell him the name of the prospective bride when she asked him to come with her.

“I am quite aware of that, Miss Edgerton.” Mrs. Dove-Lyons’s tone said she would brook no fools—not being one herself. “One would have to be blind to mistake Lord Longford for Sir Harry. But I received word from my footman, who carried the message of your interest to Sir Harry, that the gentleman you sought is, shall we say, unavailable.”

Miss Edgerton shot a look of absolute horror at Geoffrey, then turned back to the Lyon’s Den proprietress. “I will be more than happy to wait until Sir Harry is finished with his business.”

“I’m afraid you won’t be able to, my dear.” Mrs. Dove-Lyons shook her head. “Sir Harry was found dead not two hours ago, according to my footman.”

Miss Edgerton gasped and clasped the hand of her aunt. Of course the two of them must still be thick as thieves. Neither one had acted with any decency that afternoon he’d give anything to be able to forget. That debacle at the Serpentine was etched into his memory, more’s the pity. Memories of afternoon walks should be pleasant, and not involve a plunge into murky water and the appearance of an amphibian that had made him such a laughingstock, he’d quit London the next day. Upon his return to Town he’d discovered, to his disgust, some irreverent members of the ton were calling him “Toad Longford.”.

“Do you know what happened to Sir Harry?” Mrs. Beaumont leaned toward, patting Miss Edgerton’s hand.

“His heart, the footman was told.” Mrs. Dove-Lyons shook her head. “He was found in his bed, as if sleeping, but the maid bringing in his morning tea found she couldn’t wake him. She screamed and the other servants came running.”

Miss Edgerton’s countenance drooped and she wrung her hands.

Why was the woman concerned at all about Sir Harry Bowles? Geoffrey frowned.

“When I heard that Lord Longford was in The Lyon’s Den,” the woman turned to him and chuckled, “at the gambling tables, I thought perhaps a match would be in order, if both of you would be willing to take a chance on the other.”

“No!” They both replied together, with almost identical emphatic inflections. His own voice was a tad deeper, but otherwise they might have spoken as one.

“Out of the question, Mrs. Dove-Lyons. You promised me Sir Harry and you must produce him, ma’am.” Miss Edgerton’s voice held equal parts of determination and desperation.

“I fear Sir Harry will do you no good at this juncture, Miss Edgerton. You cannot marry a dead man.” The figure in black extended her hand toward Geoffrey. “Won’t you reconsider, Lord Longford? He may have his shortcomings, but his desperate need to marry is one of his most appealing strengths. He is an excellent example of our usual crop of available gentlemen.”

Geoffrey winced at that description of himself, although he had to admit it was deadly accurate. He was now a gentleman looking to woo a lady with a fortune. Almost nothing else about the lady mattered—except she couldn’t be Miss Diana Edgerton. “I do beg your pardon, Mrs. Dove-Lyons, but I’m afraid I must decline to make any offer of marriage to Miss Edgerton at this time.” He looked down his nose and tried not to purse his lips in disgust. “As I do not think we would suit at all.”

The lady in question nodded her head so quickly, she seemed like a puppet whose strings were being yanked by the puppet-master. “I never believed I’d have cause to agree with you, Lord Longford, but I find that in this matter, we are in perfect agreement. I cannot marry a gentleman upon whom I … I,” the lady paused a moment, then straightened her shoulders, “cannot depend.”

Geoffrey bit his lip but managed to hang onto his temper. If anyone was undependable, it was Miss Edgerton. “As you see, Mrs. Dove-Lyons, the lady and I are in agreement, although not in the way I am certain you would have wished.” He cut his gaze toward the proprietress. “How did you come to the conclusion I wished to marry? I came to try my luck at your gaming tables and to see what other outrageous wagers were being put about.”

“Your friend, Lord Braeton, has been in contact with me regarding the procuring of a suitable wife for you.”

Geoffrey tried to keep his face from registering his deep displeasure. Damn Thomas’s meddling. He’d sent him off to the Lyon’s Den this afternoon, saying he’d meet Geoffrey here in time for them to walk around and dine at White’s. Damnation. That was another expense he’d need to forego in the future. He’d better savor tonight’s repast while he could. “I am afraid Lord Braeton may have spoken out of turn, ma’am. As I said, I came to waste some time at the tables before dining with Lord Braeton, nothing more.”

“Then you are not seeking to marry a fortune, Lord Longford?” Miss Edgerton cocked her head, her eyes bright with feigned interest. “I am certain I heard someone say just the other day that you were in need of a rich wife.” The lady smiled sweetly. “Why else would you come here to meet a lady of fortune at Mrs. Dove-Lyon’s request?”.”

Geoffrey hoped the smile on his face looked more like a grin than a grimace. “I do hope they have not been spreading that on-dit about me, as it is quite false. You of all people know how rumors fly, Miss Edgerton. Your cousins seemed to have made it their mission in life to disparage you and your relationship with your uncle. I’m certain it must have been a dreary business having to defend your virtue against your own kinfolk’s accusations.”

Miss Edgerton’s face drained of all color and she squeezed her aunt’s hand until her knuckles turned quite white.