Page 65 of Three Weeks with a Princess
“I’m sure a footman will pass by any minute,” Lia said hastily when she saw temper stamp an ugly scowl on Sir Nathan’s arrogant features. She remembered the bruise on Amy’s shoulder and her uneasiness grew. “After all, our host is obviously most generous and attentive to his guests, and this is such a wonderful party. I can’t thank you enough for allowing me to join you and Amy tonight, Sir Nathan. So very kind of you.”
She sounded like a prattling twit, but Prudhoe seemed like a man who would take fawning as his just due.
He leveled a suspicious stare for a few moments, but then smiled and gave Lia a mocking little bow. “It was my pleasure, Miss Smith. Welby is always happy to invite unattached ladies to his events, as I’m sure you’ve been able to deduce.” He punctuated his remark with a leer that made Lia feel nauseated.
“Oh, yes, Mr. Welby,” Amy said brightly, obviously happy for the change in subject. “Will we meet our host at some point this evening?”
Prudhoe shrugged. “Perhaps. He frequently throws this sort of affair but only rarely attends them. The man’s as odd as the devil, but what can you expect from a cit?”
“Still, it would be nice to meet him,” Lia said.
“Because he’s so rich, my avaricious little dove?” he asked with a cynical smile.
“No, I’d simply like to thank him for his hospitality,” she said, swallowing the impulse to snap at him. It would be a miracle if she didn’t smash a vase over Prudhoe’s head before the night was out.
“He wouldn’t care. Besides, you and Miss Carson should have ample opportunity to meet admirers tonight. I would suggest, however, that you begin circulating. No one will be able to sample your many charms if you continue to hide yourself away in a corner.”
When his gaze dropped to her chest and stayed there, Lia’s gaze strayed to a large crystal vase with lilies and purple irises on a nearby sideboard.
“Come on, love,” Barbara said, taking her arm. “Why don’t we fetch something to drink, and then we can stroll about the room.” She gave Amy a nod. “We’ll find you later, shall we?”
“Yes, be sure to find us at midnight for the unmasking,” Prudhoe drawled. “I’m most eager to see Amy’s little friend without her disguise.”
That would never happen. And from the look on Amy’s face, she wasn’t too keen on the idea either. She already seemed to be having trouble affixing her lover’s interest, which wasn’t a bad thing as far as Lia was concerned. The man was a complete lout.
“What a right bastard that fellow is,” Barbara said as they skirted the dance floor. “Even if he is a rich nob.”
“He’s certainly not very kind,” Lia said. She thought that kindness in a protector was the first thing she should look for. All the money in the world couldn’t make up for a brutish man.
Perhaps the best thing to do tonight was compile a list of attributes she would wish for in a protector. Given the number of men at the ball—men who engaged in all sorts of bad behavior, she couldn’t help noticing—she would have plenty of material to work with.
As they squeezed past a crowd of young bucks, Barbara let out a squawk. When she spun around and glared at one of the men, he flashed her a leering grin.
“You keep your hands to yourself, you jackass,” she said. “Or I’ll show you what for, I will.”
“I’d like to see that,” the man said with a drunken laugh. “Why don’t you and your pretty friend join us? Then you can show us whatever you want, starting with your pretty boobies.”
“Not bloody likely,” Barbara snapped. “You’re nothing but a—”
“Thank you, sir, but no,” Lia interrupted. “Don’t get in an argument with them,” she hissed at Barbara as she dragged her in the direction of the refreshment saloon. “We don’t have anyone to protect us if things get ugly.”
“But he groped me right on the arse. My Anthony would take him apart if he saw me being treated like that.”
“Good Lord, Barbara, what are you doing here?” Lia asked, exasperated. “You already have a beau who sounds devoted to you.”
Her companion started to reply, but a heavily rouged vestal virgin and her male escort, garbed as one of the more flamboyant Stuart kings, separated them. Barbara ruthlessly elbowed them out of the way, ignoring the protests from the offended monarch.
“He is very devoted,” she said. “But his pa owns a cartage business and they’ve got a job transporting goods up to Glasgow. He knows I like to go to parties and entertainments and he don’t have a problem with that.” She winked at Lia, her generous mouth curving into a smile beneath her pretty feathered mask. “Besides, there’s nothing wrong with a girl making a little extra on the side, is there? This is just the sort of place to do it, what with all the gents around. My Anthony will be happy with the extra blunt when we set up housekeeping for ourselves.”
It was hard to believe that any man could be so tolerant and forgiving. Then again, Barbara did seem the practical sort, and perhaps her beau was as well. Lia had to admit that money and status trumped love more frequently than not. Given what had happened to her grandmother, who had allowed herself to be seduced by affection rather than commerce, perhaps it was better to be practical.
“The man who squeezed your backside was eager to spend time with you and he looked very well-heeled. Why not spend time with him?”
“I choose who I spend time with, love. Not the other way around. That’s Amy’s problem. She’s not choosy enough, if you ask me.”
Lia added that bit of wisdom to her list of things to remember when choosing a protector.
They eventually made their way forward with the colorfully garbed crowd to the refreshment tables at the end of the spacious ballroom. Beyond the tables, a wide set of doors led into another drawing room, one set up for supper. But rather than tables and chairs, the space was filled with chaises and settees, with low tables scattered among them. That arrangement was obviously intended to allow the guests to recline at their leisure, eating and drinking and engaging in . . . certain other activities.
