Page 9 of The Viscount's Seduction
“I shall find that footman to take it back.”
“Wait.” Bakeley reached for it, and his fingers covered hers, sending his nerves dancing.
Now that was interesting. Her eyes flared with a bit of unexpected heat, quickly concealed.
“May I?” he asked. “I’m parched.”
She released her grip and even colored slightly. Not easy to fake, that. And she had incited a deep glare in Father’s eyes. Even better.
Perry came round their father’s chair. “You are in good hands now, Father. I must go and chat with Paulette. Lady Sirena, Lady Jane, it has been a great pleasure to meet both of you. We are hosting a musicale next week. All the best people will be there. I would very much like you to attend.”
Lady Jane smiled. Lady Sirena glanced at her benefactress, but he saw a hint of tension around her eyes and felt a strong desire to poke at it.
“What an excellent idea, Perry. Ladies, we would love your company. Are you musical, Lady Sirena?”
“She sings like a lovebird.” Lady Jane’s gushing was more that of a proud mama than a mistress.
“Oh, go on with you, your ladyship. She would have you believing I’m better than I am, she would.”
The thick brogue sent one of his father’s furry eyebrows shooting up. Lady Sirena laughed that deep womanly laugh, the one he wanted to hear again.
“It is time that we take our leave.” Shaldon got to his feet. “We’ll send the carriage back for you, Perpetua. I will require your assistance, Bakeley.”
Bakeley made his farewells to the ladies with a mix of relief and regret. Perry would learn their direction. Perhaps she would pay a call and would need an escort to accompany her. He would see the fair Sirena again.
“I saw the gleam in your eye,” Shaldon said as Bakeley settled across from him in the town coach. “She is off limits. Better the war profiteer’s widow than that one.”
“Because she’s Irish?”
And why would that matter? Bink’s mother had been an Irish girl Shaldon had met while posted there. He’d never talked about Ireland, not with Bakeley. He’d shared no more about his time in Ireland than he had anything else.
And of course that had all been before Bakeley’s time. A few slips by members of Shaldon’s network had given him a picture of how bad things had been. Atrocities and horrors had been carried out on both sides.
The old man thumped his cane on the roof and the carriage pulled out. “Because she’s unsuitable.” He clipped the words as if they were his final statement on everything.
And if Shaldon thought they were done talking, he would have to have one of his fake swoons. “Come, Father, tell me why she’s unsuitable. I don’t even know her family name or where she comes from, but apparently you do. Do I have to snoop around to find out? Perhaps I shall ask Denholm when I see him riding in the park tomorrow. He was in Ireland for a bit, as I recall.”
The coach lights outside lit Shaldon’s sharp profile, but it was too dark to make out his expression.
“Why will you not just agree to marry Denholm’s daughter? You will unite two of the oldest titles in England, and I hear the girl is not ugly.”
“I have not yet met her.”
“You will. She is coming to your sister’s musicale.”
“Ah, well, perhaps she and Lady Sirena will become friends.”
His head swiveled in Bakeley’s direction. “Sheis not coming.”
“You would make Perry withdraw the invitation? You would humiliate the cousin of the Earl of Cheswick?”
“I have it on good account they have taken rooms. How they arrived tonight, I do not know.” They passed under a street light, dimly illuminating a scowl. “Though I suppose, Lady Hackwell no doubt persuaded her husband to send his carriage.”
His father could make many things happen, including sending a carriage to pick up two ladies. He was up to no good.
“Denholm will remember a daughter of one of the Irish lords named Sirena. He waxes eloquent on all things Ireland. Perhaps I shall seek him out at the club tonight.”
“You would, wouldn’t you? Forget your rich widow altogether and go nosing about town. And just to spite me. Well then, boy, have at it, but remember you won’t be hurting me so much as the lady. And if you care anything at all about her reputation, you won’t bring that family’s history to any one’s notice.”
