Page 27

“No, Sutcliffe, I saw it too. Thought I might be still feeling the effects of our late night.” Pennington made a pretense of examining Jules’s face with his quizzing glass.

“You’re both utter twiddlepoops.”

Jules stepped around them and continued on his way. He wasn’t ready to explain his happiness, nor was he prepared to endure their sarcasm and mockery. Not when it came to his feelings regarding Jemmah.

“Twiddlepoops? Twiddlepoops?” Sutcliffe repeated, affronted. “Damn. Dandridge, are you getting soft? Dandies, fops, and moon-eyed bucks are twiddlepoops.” He thumped his chest. “Pennington and I are knaves, scoundrels, jackanapes, blackguards, rakehells, reprobates. But never anything as tepid and asinine as a twiddlepoop.”

“I should say not,” Pennington agreed with a sharp jerk of his head. “I’m truly offended.”

Sutcliffe fell in step beside Jules, his expression contemplative.

Pennington came alongside Jules as well, and eyes narrowed, rubbed his chin. “Does this have anything to do with the chit you kissed at Lady Lockhart’s last night?”

Jules stalled mid-stride.

“You saw?”

How, in bloody hell?

“Old chap, the draperies were wide open.” Pennington slapped Jules on the shoulder. “Not to worry. Sutcliffe and I were having a smoke. No one else ventured to the house’s rear. Only we witnessed the pathetic peck you gave the pretty thing before she tore from the room. You really need to work on that, old boy. I was almost embarrassed for you.”

Ah, so they’d only seen the last kiss.

“Who is she?” This from Sutcliffe, wearing a sly grin.

“None of your business.”

Jules resumed his walk and lengthened his stride.

He couldn’t compromise Jemmah.

“Devil it,” Pennington said as he replaced his quizzing glass. “He’s protecting her. Must be serious then. I didn’t recognize the gel. Did you?”

He leaned around Jules to poke Sutcliffe’s shoulder.

Sutcliffe shook his dark head. “No. But she did look familiar. We could ask Lady Lockhart, I suppose.”

“Oh, for God’s sake. She’s someone I knew a long time ago. Someone I shall do anything to protect from gossip and speculation.”

Hands on his hips, Jules glared back and forth, prepared to wipe the smirks off their faces.

Instead, both regarded him with calm, keen interest, but not a hint of ridicule.

Pennington grinned, his one green eye and one blue eye twinkling with suppressed mirth. “Are we to wish you happy?”

Jules sighed and shook his head. “Not yet. But I intend to change that as soon as possible. And you,” he jabbed a finger at each of them in turn, “are to keep my confidence in this matter. I’ll have your words, gentlemen.”

“Of course,” they murmured in unison, a trifle too quickly and subdued for Jules’s comfort.

Sutcliffe nodded at an acquaintance, and after he’d passed, extended his hand. “We leave you here, but please accept my heartiest best wishes that you are successful. Just be careful, my friend. Such behavior is totally out of character for you, and that’s why I’m inclined to believe you actually love Miss Dament.”

Thundering hippopotamus’s hooves.

How the hell had they learned Jemmah’s name?

“Damn it, Sutcliffe. We agreed not to reveal we knew who she was.” Pennington scowled darkly. “You never could keep a secret.”

“True, but look at him.” Pennington gestured toward Jules. “I cannot bring myself to taunt someone so obviously smitten. Can you? ’Twould be cruel, and we do profess to being his closest chums.”