Page 33 of A Date with Dishonor

Bea shrugged, turning her head to and fro as though she’d given little heed to her sister’s homily. The ball was coming to an end and the crowd had thinned out considerably. The orchestra were packing away their instruments. ‘Oh...where is he? Do you think he’s gone without even saying goodbye, as the viscount did?’

‘For goodness’ sake, Bea!’ Elise snapped. ‘Don’t make your pining quite so obvious. You’ll have every tabby in town knowing you’re besotted with a certain gentleman. Do you want to end up a laughing stock when nothing comes of it?’

‘Miss Elise, Beatrice...’ Hugh had materialised beside them, bowing gallantly. ‘Would you like to promenade on the balcony and take some air before departing?’

Elise feared her sister might swoon with relief at the sight of him. It was obvious Bea wanted to have Hugh to herself, so with a sigh Elise let her have her way. ‘I’ll go and say goodbye to Aunt Dolly and Mrs Vickers. I expect Mr Chapman will want to leave very shortly, Bea, in case all the hackneys are taken.’

* * *

‘Well, what a wonderful evening.’ Mrs Chapman sighed, settling back in the squabs of the cab conveying them home from the Clemences’ ball. Mr Chapman had gone on ahead with Fiona and Bea. Maude had elected to accompany Elise and Verity to Marylebone in the hope of discovering what had occurred between the viscount and Elise when he had singled her out for a chat.

‘It was a shame Alex Blackthorne left so early.’ Maude squinted through the dusk to read Elise’s expression. She was disappointed when the young woman gave her usual amiable smile. She tried again. ‘The viscount is not usually persuaded to attend such functions. I think he came along to see you, my dear. He certainly didn’t seem interested in talking to any other young lady.’ She sniffed. ‘I couldn’t engage him in a conversation although he did talk to Mr Chapman for some minutes.’

‘He was no great loss to the party in that case,’ Elise said lightly. ‘We all had a fine time without him, didn’t we?’

‘Oh...a fine time indeed.’ Maude frowned. It wasn’t quite the reaction she’d hoped for. Most spinsters with a modest country début some years behind them would have been elated to have the undivided attention of such a rich and influential man. ‘So...did Viscount Blackthorne ask after your family...your papa?’

Elise gazed into the night, wondering if Maude was worried the noble fellow might lose interest on discovering her family’s name was sullied. In fact, it had seemed to her the opposite were true. From what Alex Blackthorne had said, Elise suspected he desired seeing her again because of the scandal in her background.

Their prickly exchange had been playing over and over in her mind during the evening although she’d refused to allow it to spoil her enjoyment. He’d demanded she didn’t run off because he’d more to say to her and the thought wouldn’t quit tormenting her that he’d been on the point of probing into things she’d no wish to discuss. Yet she must be nice to him because she knew he had the power to ruin not just her future, but Bea’s, too. What she didn’t know was whether he’d be mean enough to use her folly against her. He hadn’t liked her lecturing him on how to behave and...she inwardly sighed...it had been impertinent of her. She wished she hadn’t provoked him. The last thing she wanted was a tiger by the tail, for this particular one could quite easily turn and maul her.

‘Did the viscount speak of his relatives?’ Maude tried a different tack.

‘No...but we did briefly mention my family,’ Elise informed, aware that Mrs Chapman was peering at her, awaiting an answer. ‘Oh...and the viscount also said he would call on us in the week. He might have been jesting, though.’

Elise received a nudge from Verity sitting beside her; it was her friend’s way of congratulating her remarkable achievement. Mrs Chapman was momentarily stunned into speechlessness, but her wide beaming smile was replete with gratitude.

Elise stared again through the window, wishing she could shake off a prickle of foreboding that the Chapmans might eventually view the viscount’s patronage as a curse, not a boon.

Chapter Ten

‘Lily...you are a good girl.’

‘Am I, sir? I try to be.’

‘Sometimes I think I should marry you.’

Lily Watson ceased fluffing up her fiery curls in front of the spotted glass. She turned on the rickety stool to look askance at the fellow reclining naked on the bed, his fleshy top lip hiked in a libidinous smile. She’d sooner marry her pimp Johnny and he was no good. But at least Mr Whittiker seemed to have money to flash around at last. He’d been one of her clients for many months and had always haggled with Johnny over her price. The sight of him huffing up the stairs to her dingy room had previously dispirited her.

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