Page 71 of Scandalous Heiress
Victor bristled.He wanted to box his ears for acting like such an ass.
“So, Billings, I suspect you are there to talk with Lady Jessica?I go to sit next to a certain American girl.What of you, Victor?”
Victor inhaled, more tired than irritated at Richard’s priggish behavior.Ada might converse with Richard…or she might find herself quite occupied elsewhere.“Good to see you this morning, Ridgemont.Thought you’d gone north.”
Richard stared at him with cold regard.“I’ve business in the City.Mama told me you do, too.”
The edge to his voice told Victor that their mother had shared some of the changes in their father’s will.Richard preferred the family money be regarded as his own, even when it was still their father’s.But the fact that their father would grant Victor a house and the prestige of the Brighton borough added insult to injury.Richard might not like politics, but he liked control of anything he thought should be only his.“I did.”
“Concluded well, was it?”
“Indeed.And not a subject for this moment.”
Richard thinned his lips.“Later, of course.”
“Good day to you,” Victor pre-empted any further discussion.
Richard inclined his head, none too politely, and off he went.
Victor resumed his chair.“He gets worse.”
“He’s old enough to become a bore,” Arnie complained.“What happened to his relationship with Esmerelda Moore?The scandal sheets had it he was to propose at your parents’ party?”
“He was.Then he didn’t.”
“Why not?”Freddie said, his eyes still on the egress of Victor’s brother from their presence.“What happened?”
He found another woman he preferred.“He got cold feet.”
Arnie smacked his lips.“My mother told me last night at dinner that she heard Miss Moore is to wed Edgecombe.”
So.Edgecombe must have asked the question yesterday.“Superb.I’m happy for her.Him, too.”
“Good man, that Edgecombe.”Freddie trained his attention on Victor.
“Ezzie is a lovely young woman,” Victor said.“They’ll be happy.”
“Ezzie, is it?”Freddie asked at Victor’s familiarity.
“Yes.I met her when I was home and have come to know her as simply Ezzie.”
Freddie looked at Arnie, then blinked at Victor.“Because…?”
“She is very good friends with—”
“Ada Hanniford,” all three men said at the same time.
“Do you both know her?”
“Who doesn’t?”said Arnie with a laugh and reached to pour a draught of brandy in each coffee cup.“Miss Hanniford was at Brentwood with Ezzie, wasn’t she?”
“She was.”He tried for a simple declaration but he knew his friends were on to him.
“That’s where Ridgemont saw her,” Freddie said with a sly look to the doorway, “And where Ridgemont decided he wants Miss Hanniford.”
He cannot have her.“That may be a difficult task for him.”
“Oh?”Arnie was all nonchalance as he reached for a muffin.
