The Incorrigible Mr. Lumley (20 page)

They walked briskly to where the carriage
waited, and after dropping off the Clawsons, went straight to
Joanna’s town house. Scurrying at her aunt’s heels, Joanna asked
Starley if her brother was at home.

“He’s in his study, my lady.”

“Thank you.”

Aunt Ophelia entered the room without
knocking. Northcotte jumped to his feet. “Aunt, Joanna, I didn’t
know you had returned. Shall I ring for tea?”

“Not for me, thank you, Robert. I won’t be
staying. I’ve some concerns about one of the gentlemen who has made
his interests in your sister quite plain.”

He smiled, his features softening as if
relieved. “Splendid. Does he wish to meet with me?”

“He already has,” Joanna said. “Sir
Frederick.”

Robert’s reaction surprised her. He took a
step back and went pale. He quickly recovered after grabbing the
back of his chair. “Is there a problem with the man?”

Aunt Ophelia shook her head. “How can you
ask that? Can you truly say you are considering him as suitable for
your sister?”

“Aunt Ophelia, I know you understand how
complicated the matter of betrothals can be. There are many areas
to consider.”

Joanna studied him, trying to see beyond the
vague responses he gave.

Their aunt continued. “You cannot have seen
the man in a social situation. He’s awkward. No, that’s too kind.
He’s a social half-wit. Honestly, Robert. He cannot have any social
connections that would benefit either of you, and you certainly
don’t need business connections. You must tell the man his offer
will not be accepted.”

“I’ll take your opinion under consideration.
I appreciate your stopping by this afternoon. I’m sure Mother would
love to say hello.”

“I hope you do consider what I’ve said. Your
father would not wish his daughter to end up in such a
mésalliance.
” Aunt Ophelia turned, nodded to Joanna, and
left the room. Joanna followed her out, afraid to see whether
Robert seemed to be considering their aunt’s request or had set it
aside completely.

Chapter Fifteen

A collision between two carriages blocked an
intersection delaying the arrival of David and his family at a
grand home in Mayfair. A long line of carriages waited to draw near
and allow their passengers to disembark. David would wager the
delay was a plot from a merciless God trying to foil his plans to
show Lady Joanna how he felt about her.

“David, if you scowl like that when we get
inside, no one will ask me to dance,” Hannah complained.

“With the variety of rakes and popinjays who
are likely to attend, that would be a blessing,” he muttered.

“You could have gone to your club and no one
would have missed your curmudgeonly presence.”

Mother waved her lavender-scented
handkerchief beneath her nose. “Children, please, do not give me a
headache before we arrive. The crush will do that soon enough. Let
me have some peace while I can.”

Banished to the nursery until he could
behave. He was seven-and-twenty, for God’s sake. He should be due
some leeway in behavior now that he was a man. Allowed to have
moods on occasion. It was not as if he was always cross. Only when
his plans went awry.

Trey poked his arm. “Shall we divide the
ballroom again to find Miss Clawson and Lady Joanna?”

“That would be smart. Reserve whatever
dances might still be available.”

Mother turned her attention back on David.
“You dance often with Lady Joanna.”

“She’s pleasant company. If I must attend
these assemblies, I see no need to be miserable the entire
night.”

“No one is twisting your ear to make you
attend.” In the light from the carriage lamps, he thought he
detected a small smile on her face.

“You threatened me before the Season began.
I thought it was expected of me to accompany Hannah to as many
balls as I could.”

“That was before Trey came to Town. He
enjoys dancing as much as Hannah does. I suppose if you’d prefer to
travel with your horse, I’ll excuse you from further
obligation.”

Now he felt like a heel. He didn’t mind
watching out for his sisters. Truth be told, he couldn’t help but
feel protective of them. And now he needed to go to as many
assemblies as possible when Lady Joanna was in attendance. “The
Season is half over, and we’ll be leaving soon for Stephen and
Jane’s wedding. I won’t mind joining you for the short time I’ll be
in Town.”

“Besides, Lady Joanna will be there,” Trey
added.

Mother nodded. “Is that important to you? To
continue to see her?”

Her piercing gaze probed him. “She makes the
evening more pleasant.”

Mother smiled and looked out the window.
“That’s often how it begins. If one is lucky.”

His luck hadn’t been good on a regular basis
of late, so he would not look for that to be the foundation of his
marriage. He shook his head.

Luck.

Marriage
.

The word still made him quake. While that
was the logical progression of an acquaintance made during the
Season, the idea made his heart race. He needed to adjust to the
thought before speaking of it aloud.

The carriage lurched forward a few more
feet, carrying him closer to Lady Joanna. He pulled back the velvet
curtain to see how far they had to go. Still too far to suggest
Mother walk the distance with them. She would not be pleased if she
were glowing before she crossed the threshold.

Hannah also looked out her window. “Look at
all the people. So many are walking up to the house from here.”

“They most likely rented hacks,” Mother
said. “You will look all the more distinguished when you step out
of your father’s carriage.”

Hannah sighed. “But anyone who matters will
already be inside, and partnered.”

Mother lifted her chin. “Anyone who matters
will be waiting for you to arrive before asking the other ladies to
dance.”

David smiled. His mother played the countess
well. It was hard to look at his sister and think she might one day
be a countess, or a marchioness. She’d only begun wearing her hair
up.

Trey adjusted his waistcoat and tugged at
the sleeves of his coat. “I hope Miss Clawson thinks I matter and
saves a dance for me.”

When they finally made their way into the
ballroom, David spotted Lady Joanna first thing. She was in the
center of the floor, gaily bobbing through the dance steps. Her
cheeks were flushed most becomingly, her smile bright.

He looked for Lady Ophelia, believing that
was where Lady Joanna would return after the dance. Making his way
around the room, he took up watch near where the older woman stood.
He surveyed the room for familiar faces and realized with whom Lady
Joanna danced. Sir Frederick.

Bollocks.

That confirmed his suspicions the fates had
it in for him. However, if they danced this early, maybe he hadn’t
asked to sit with her at supper.

David found out soon enough, when the dance
ended and Sir Frederick escorted her back to her aunt’s side.

“Thank you,” Joanna said, sounding
dismissive to David’s ears, but apparently not to Sir Frederick’s.
The man remained with her.

Undaunted, David walked up. Before he could
speak, Sir Frederick dismissed him with a little wave of his hand.
“Move along, Lumley. The lady has a companion at the moment. You
are not needed, or wanted, here.”

Lady Joanna gasped. Her eyes popped wide
open.

David feigned a stab to his chest. “I am
wounded you aren’t delighted to see me, Sir Frederick. That was the
sole purpose of my venturing to this corner of the ballroom. I
suppose I must continue my turn about the room.” He bowed to Lady
Joanna. “Would you care to join me?”

Sir Frederick stepped forward, blocking
Joanna. “She is with me, as you can plainly see.”

“What I see is that your set of dances ended
and you neglected to offer refreshment or see if she’d prefer to
step outside where the air is cooler. Neither of which precludes me
from doing so.” He held out his arm. “My lady?”

Her blink broke her blank stare, then she
smiled. “Thank you, sir.”

David led her away before Sir Frederick
could say more. “Lady Joanna, how is your evening progressing?”

“Very well, now, thank you.” She smiled up
at him, her eyes sparkling in the light from the chandelier. “I’d
begun to think you would not be in attendance this evening.”

“I fear we were on the wrong side of a
collision and had to wait for the carriages to be moved.”

She frowned. “I hope no one was hurt.”

“There didn’t appear to be any injuries to
the occupants, and the drivers were fit enough to right the one
that toppled, with the help of some men on the street.” He saw her
concern increase, and added, “None of the horses were injured,
either.”

Her breath escaped in a sigh. “I’m glad to
hear it.”

“I would be glad to hear you have a set open
for me. That was my biggest concern while waiting on the
street.”

“I’ve the third set free.”

“It would be an honor to dance it with you.”
The room was not so large they could remain away from her aunt—and
Sir Frederick— for long, But David walked as slowly as possible.
“Which meeting will Patriot enter next? Does your brother tell you
his plans?”

“No, he doesn’t. Where is Triton
entered?”

“To be honest, I’ve considered taking him
north, seeing what the competition is like there.”

Her right eyebrow lifted behind the curls on
her forehead. “Are you afraid he’ll continue to lose to
Patriot?”

“I’m not afraid of anything.” He let that
hang in the air a moment as they completed their circle. “It’s
purely business. Give him the best record possible.”

Lady Joanna nodded. “Ah, yes, to increase
his stud fees.”

Sir Frederick must have been listening, for
he jumped in, his arms folded across his chest. “Really, Lumley, to
speak of such things with a lady, and in such a social
setting.”

“Mr. Lumley and I often speak of our horses.
We are both fond of runners.”

Shaking his head, Sir Frederick said, “I’m
certain Northcotte would not approve. And neither do I. My wife
will not discuss horses, or gambling—”

“Then perhaps you are considering the wrong
lady for your wife.” David forced himself to keep his voice down.
“Would not it make more sense to find a woman who already has the
qualities you seek, rather than mold one of your choosing into
something she isn’t?”

Lady Ophelia’s friend, Sir Jasper, stepped
in. “Is there a problem, gentlemen?”

David gave the man a slight bow of
acknowledgement. “None, sir. We’re merely discussing runners. You
know how passionate we can become over our horses.”

“Quite. I’m glad there’s nothing to be
concerned about.” Sir Jasper didn’t move from Lady Joanna’s
side.

The way Sir Frederick remained planted in
place, his legs spread slightly, arms still folded, he appeared to
be marking his territory. It wasn’t jealousy coursing through David
at that moment, but a need to protect a friend. Sir Frederick
rubbed him the wrong way, beyond his grating manner. There was
something pure evil in that man. Why had he singled out Lady
Joanna? There were plenty of pretty ladies seeking husbands. Any
one of them stood a chance of being the type of wife he claimed to
want, many even more so than Joanna. It didn’t make sense.

At that moment, a young lad who didn’t seem
old enough to have chin whiskers approached hesitantly. “Lady
Joanna, I believe this next set is mine.”

“Yes, it is.” She offered her gloved hand to
the lad. “If you gentlemen will excuse me?”

David watched her glide away. The moment she
disappeared into the crush, he turned on Sir Frederick. “You were
out of line. A gentleman would never speak so plainly at a
gathering such as this.”

“I only spoke the truth. If society cannot
stand to hear that, they should pay attention to their own
conversations and not mine.”

“So you say, but you hoped others would hear
so you and she would be forced into the situation you desired.”
David didn’t want to say the word
betrothal
for fear he’d do
exactly what he was accusing Sir Frederick of. He needed to end the
discussion before it got more heated. He casually moved to Lady
Ophelia’s side. “You are not dancing, my lady?”

She waved her fan slowly. “I prefer to watch
the younger set perform. Why aren’t you dancing? There are plenty
of ladies who lack partners.”

“Perhaps later.” He didn’t enjoy dancing the
way some did, and he only performed the steps with minimal grace,
if their tutor had been correct. Part of him felt guilty letting
young wallflowers wilt with each passing set, but he was not
certain partnering with them, letting them have some hope he was
attracted to them, was any kinder.

He didn’t have Knightwick’s cachet, so being
seen on his arm would not draw other men to the wallflowers. And he
didn’t have Trey’s exuberance in conversation to carry him through
a set. Therefore, he stood on the outside and watched Lady Joanna
move with joy.