Page 16 of The Viscount's Seduction
She felt certain the English government would know. Shaldon would know.
Lady Jane stabbed a finger at the paper. “Here it is.” She cast Sirena a grim look and went back to the newssheet. “Wealthy Lord S was seen frowning as his heir danced with a golden-haired lady reputed to be of a noble family fallen from favor.”
Blast the man, Bakeley. For certain, she’d found a way into Shaldon’s home through Lady Perpetua’s kindness, but she’d hoped she’d be merely another speck-on-the-wall genteel companion, unseen, unheard, invisible. Not prey to a randy lord who’d never be anything but above her, and in all the worst ways.
Bakeley foundhis brother Bink alone in the breakfast room of the townhouse he shared with his wife, Paulette, their infant son, her uncle Kincaid, and a handful of servants.
None of them footmen, unfortunately. Bakeley walked straight to the sideboard and poured himself coffee.
Bink looked up from where he was scanning the morning news sheets and raised a bushy red eyebrow, in much the same irritating way as their father. “Went home to shave, I see.”
“Just had a jaunt in the park with one of the Connemara geldings.”
Bink grunted. He didn’t share the Everly passion for horses.
“He’s a spirited fellow. Where’s Paulette this morning? Still abed?”
“She’s in the nursery. Our son is always hungry. Do you want breakfast?”
“I wouldn’t mind.”
“Ring the bell.”
He laughed. Only at Bink’s home would the heir to an earldom be required to summon his own breakfast. “Anyone else would have the food on the sideboard.”
“And footmen fetching and carrying, but this here is a commoner’s home.” A maid appeared and he looked up from his paper. “Fanny, bring a plate for his lordship. Some of everything will be fine—no, make that plenty of everything.”
Bakeley plopped into a chair, feeling envious. Bink could breakfast at his leisure without being harped upon. But of course—his marrying according to the old man’s wishes hadn’t been easy either. “What a difference marriage lines make.”
He had Bink’s full attention now. “Feeling sorry for yourself, your lordship? The old man pairing you up with some white-clad lass?”
His stomach rumbled. “Denholm’s daughter.”
“And? Let me guess, she’s a pretty young chit who can discuss the weather in twenty different ways without offending anyone, and can execute a perfect country dance as well as singThe Yellow Hair’d Laddie.Will she be performing at Perry’s musical evening?”
Lord, but he hoped not. “I have not yet met her.”
“Ah, well, I’ll hover nearby and watch the fireworks as love strikes.”
The maid entered carrying a steaming plate. Silence reigned until the door closed on her.
“I don’t plan to marry on Father’s whim.”
Bink sent him a quizzical look. “Like I did, you mean?”
He sighed. “I’ve already apologized for my part in that.”
“Yes, well, as it turned out, Paulette and I do suit, quite well.” He grinned. “I would never say it to his face but he was right about this match.”
“Well, he is not right about the Denholm chit.”
“After the musicale, you might wish to eat those words as avidly as you’re plowing through that bacon.”
He took a bite of toast. Bink might be right. Perhaps he should keep his options open, at least until after he’d met Shaldon’s intended candidate.
“I did hear that you were quite taken with a young lady last night.”
That got his ears twitching. It was the same sly tone their father used when he was up to something. “Shewasquite stunning,” he drawled.
