Ezra frowned, irritated but not surprised when two single gentlemen, long on pedigree but short on material wealth, immediately begged an introduction. Her fortune meant that she would be bombarded with attention too, which Ezra sensed would be as unwanted in her case as it was in his.
The corners of her wide mouth turned up in private amusement at some extravagant compliment he overheard being paid to her. Ezra’s attention had been drawn to her mouth the moment she walked into the room. Her plump lips in particular. Ye gods, he clearly needed that sabbatical he’d discussed with Gaunt far more urgently than he had supposed. He was not, and never had been, in the habit of taking any interest in unmarried females. For a man in his position such interest could only end in one way.
Just when Ezra had managed to assure himself that his interest in her didn’t stretch beyond Gaunt’s need for information that might conceivably still be hidden amongst her father’s possessions, she looked in his direction. Their gazes clashed, her eyes widened, and Ezra felt his insides lurch in a fashion that was entirely alien to him. He looked away, cursing beneath his breath, wondering what the devil had just happened.
‘What do you think of our newest arrival?’
Ezra ground his jaw before arranging his features into a neutral expression and turning towards the lady who had just addressed him. ‘Good evening, Martha.’
Martha, Lady Sandwell, was an intimate friend of his aunt’s. She made little secret of the fact that she would also enjoying being intimate with Ezra, given the slightest encouragement. No such encouragement had been forthcoming, much to Martha’s evident frustration; nor would it ever be. Martha was a rare beauty and was well aware of that fact. But Ezra didn’t dally with married women in his own social circle. That would be a recipe for disaster and he had no particular desire to be called out by irate husbands. It simply wasn’t worth it. Besides he rather liked Sandwell, and felt some sympathy for his inability to keep his wife faithful.
‘Rather a plain little thing, is she not?’ Martha said, watching Lady Adela being besieged by her two determined suitors. ‘But still, she owns that massive house in Eaton Square and is rumoured to be worth a small fortune, so I don’t suppose her looks matter much.’
‘Feeling threatened, Martha?’
‘What?’ Martha waved a dismissive hand. ‘What a ridiculous thing to say. I cannot begin to imagine why you would suggest such a thing. Perhaps you know something to Lady Adela’s detriment and mean to put me on my guard. She seemed harmless enough when we were introduced a moment ago, but maybe I have it wrong. I have noticed you watching her closely and you always know absolutely everything there is to know about people’s secret pasts. I haven’t the slightest idea how, but still…’
‘I know nothing whatsoever to the lady’s disadvantage. It is our reaction to her that we were discussing.’ Ezra continued to watch Lady Adela rather that Martha as he spoke. ‘You are a beautiful woman who enjoys an advantageous marriage, so I fail to understand why you feel the need to criticise Lady Adela’s appearance, unless you somehow feel threatened by it, which is why I made that suggestion.’
‘Of course I don’t feel threatened, foolish boy!’ Martha tapped her fan against her décolletage in an attempt to draw Ezra’s attention to her powdered breasts. ‘The girl isn’t even officially out yet, and knows nothing about society’s ways.’
Ezra flexed a brow. ‘And that is a bad thing? Besides, if that’s the case then it would be a kindness if you were to take her under your wing, since there is absolutely nothing you are not well acquainted with.’
‘Naturally I shall be nice to the creature, but I have no intention of taking her up. Why would I? Besides, ladies don’t seem to like my company much, for some reason.’ She flashed a mischievous little smile. ‘I cannot begin to imagine why.’
‘Then we are in agreement on that point.’ Ezra’s impolite comment caused Martha to inhale sharply. ‘Pray excuse me, I believe I just saw my aunt beckon to me.’
Ezra walked away, unreasonably angered by Martha’s vindictiveness. Spiteful comments amongst the ton’s elite was not uncommon, but Martha had been especially vicious, perhaps because Ezra had been looking at Lady Adela for too long. He had no intention of explaining to the irksome woman that he had a particular reason for so doing.
He was heartily sick of Martha’s dogged determination to wheedle her way into his affections. Gaunt’s requirements aside, her unnecessary criticism had made him doubly determined to ease Lady Adela’s path. Not that it needed much easing, he realised as he approached her position and heard her tell Taylor, one of the coves attempting to engage her attention, that musicales bored her rigid. He chuckled to himself, thinking in that case they had something in common.
‘Ah, Lady Adela,’ Taylor said, clutching his hands over his heart, ‘you are too cruel.’
‘Why? Because I am honest?’ She sent him a look of innocent bafflement that, Ezra suspected, was anything other than innocent. ‘Is honesty discouraged in London society? If I have committed a faux pas already, then I apologise. I always believe in speaking my mind, you see, and now I imagine that will get me into trouble. Anyway, I don’t play any instrument, so cannot participate in musical evenings. However, I have sat through more than my share and cannot pretend to have enjoyed the experience.’
‘You must not say that, Adela dear,’ Lady Gantz scolded, looking rather bewildered. ‘I am sure you will give offence.’
‘To whom, Mama? Mr Taylor invited me to attend his mother’s next musicale evening. I politely declined and he insisted upon knowing why.’ Ezra remained on the periphery of the group, quelling a smile. He admired the manner in which Lady Adela had charmingly transferred the blame onto Taylor’s shoulders, where it belonged, for not accepting her refusal with good grace. ‘It is my understanding that young ladies attend these occasions in the hope of impressing the gentlemen with what, in my experience, is usually mediocre talent. In turn, the gentlemen find every possible excuse not to be there, and I’m afraid I cannot blame them for that.’
“Ah, Ezra, there you are.’ His aunt came up to him, bringing an end to Lady Adela’s remarks. ‘Belinda my dear, do allow me to introduce my nephew, Lord Bairstow. Ezra, this is Lady Gantz and her daughter, Lady Adela.’
Both ladies curtsied. Ezra offered them a bow and then gave Lady Gantz his hand. ‘Your servant, ma’am. Welcome back to London.’
‘Why thank you, sir. It is a great relief to be home, I don’t mind telling you. I was convinced we would never get here but Adela made all the arrangements, assured me that we would be perfectly safe, and she was right, for here you find us.’
‘Lady Adela.’ Ezra took her gloved hand and recklessly kissed the back of it.
The lady blinked up at him in evident surprise. ‘Lord Bairstow,’ she replied calmly, subjecting his features to a circumspect scrutiny.
‘I was acquainted with your husband, ma’am.’ Ezra released Lady Adela’s hand and returned his attention to her mother. ‘I was a great admirer of his skill as a soldier and leader of men. England needs more officers of his ilk.’
‘Hopefully we will now enjoy a long period of peace, and that need will become less pressing.’ It was Lady Adela who responded. ‘There has already been far too much needless slaughter. Good men have lost their lives in the fight for freedom from oppression, so the very least we can do is live in harmony with our foreign neighbours now that we are all friends again.’
‘Well said, Lady Adela!’ crowed the other cove who had been competing for her attention.
‘Anyone would think I had just discovered a cure for the common cold,’ Lady Adela said in an amused aside to Ezra.
He chuckled, now convinced that she saw through Taylor and would just as easily detect the true purpose of other men who targeted her for her fortune. He hadn’t met any other females of her tender age who were quite so forthright. But then again, if she’d been wandering around war zones since she was a small girl, her education had been f
ar from conventional.
He bowed to Lady Gantz, now in conversation with his aunt, offered Lady Adela his arm and after a moment’s hesitation she placed her hand on his sleeve.
‘Walk with me,’ he invited.
‘I did not require rescuing,’ she said, her eyes sparkling with amusement, ‘but thank you for your gallant act. They were becoming tedious, but I suppose I must expect a great deal more of the same.’
Ezra grunted an acknowledgement, taking pleasure from her refreshing candour. She wore a pale green gown that showcased a pleasing figure. At close quarters, he no longer considered her plain. The disposition of her features had not improved, but he sensed a presence about her that transcended physical beauty. Her large eyes gave her face character and her mouth, which frequently smiled with genuine warmth, was altogether too enticing. Ezra felt an embarrassing stirring in the region of his groin. Dear God, what was the wretched chit doing to him?
‘Fortune hunters of both sexes tend to be tenacious,’ he said in a languid tone.
‘Ah, but of course. I suppose you are a target, too.’ She grinned. ‘Don’t worry, you are perfectly safe with me. I am not on the prowl for a husband—and even if I was, I would not presume to aim so high.’
‘Perhaps I should not mind if you did.’
She stopped walking, removed her hand from his sleeve and stared up at him in open astonishment. ‘Are you flirting with me, Lord Bairstow?’
‘You know, Lady Adela, I rather think that I am.’
‘How delicious.’ That bewitching smile again. ‘Pray do continue. I have often wondered what the point of flirting actually is. I dare say it is harmlessly amusing if one is assured that the person doing the flirting is not serious, as I know you are not.’
‘Then you know a deal more than I do.’ Ezra looked up when his aunt’s butler announced that dinner was served. ‘Shall we?’
‘We probably should not. Lady Sandwell is glaring at us both from across the room. Do you and she have an understanding?’ she asked, tilting her head to peer up at him with genuine-seeming interest.
‘That is not the sort of question you are supposed to ask,’ Ezra replied, trying to sound stern but failing miserably when a chuckle broke free.
‘Oh dear, have I done it again? Sorry. Don’t mind me. I have a terrible habit of blurting out whatever questions pop into my head. I suppose I shall have to curb that habit now that I am mixing in elite circles.’
Ezra gave another grunt. ‘Hardly elite.’
‘Well anyway, Lady Sandwell appears to think she has some prior claim upon you, and I shall not press you for clarification. However, I am a contrary devil. If someone tells me I may not do a thing, it just makes me all the more determined to do it.’
‘I assume that is your way of accepting my escort,’ Ezra said with an impatient sigh.
She laughed. ‘Am I talking your ears off?’ She replaced her hand on his sleeve as they headed towards the dining parlour. ‘That is most unusual. I cannot think what has come over me. I am usually guilty of not talking enough.’
‘Excitement, perhaps.’ They reached the table and Ezra pulled out a chair for her halfway down one side. She thanked him as she seated herself and arranged her skirts to her satisfaction. He then flicked the tails of his coat aside and took her chair beside her. ‘Is not immersion into the delights of the ton what every young woman aspires to?’
‘Now I know you are teasing,’ Lady Adela replied, picking up her soup spoon. ‘Or perhaps you mean to insult me by likening me to every other female who crosses your path.’
‘I’m sure I would not dare.’
Lady Adela smiled. ‘How very sensible of you.’ She tasted her soup and, finding it to her satisfaction, nodded. ‘Did you really know Papa?’ she asked.
‘Quite well, as it happens.’
‘Did you serve?’
‘Not in a red coat.’
‘Ah, I see. You are, or were, one of those shadowy figures collecting vital information that helped us to achieve victory.’
‘Perhaps, or I could be telling you clankers in order to impress you. I might be a lazy, cowardly fellow who idled the war away safely here in England.’
‘It’s possible, I suppose, but I rather doubt it.’ She looked at him more closely. ‘In fact, I am sure that I saw you in Brussels just before that terrible final battle.’
Ezra inclined his head. ‘You are very observant.’
‘I like to think so. I noticed you because you made a point of skulking.’
Ezra chuckled. ‘I am not given to skulking.’
‘I beg to differ.’ Her mischievous yet disingenuous smile was infectious, and Ezra found himself enjoying her company enormously. ‘When I saw you, you were most definitely skulking, attempting to blend in with the crowd.’ She sent him a curious sideways glance. ‘I did not know who you were, of course. I don’t suppose you find blending in too easy, which must be a problem in your line of work. Anyway, it was a public place, you had your hat pulled low and were trying to avoid recognition. There were matrons there with daughters of about my age. Despite the fact that their husbands were about to risk their lives and they might never see them again, the wives were still more concerned about marrying their girls off. It was all they ever spoke about. Terrible sense of priorities, if you ask me, which you did not. Anyway, I concluded that you were either attempting to avoid their notice or gathering intelligence.’
‘You appear determined to strip me of all mystique, Lady Adela.’
‘Nonsense. Feel free to be as mysterious as you please.’
‘To answer your original question, from which we appear to have strayed, I did know your father and I did admire his courage and determination to serve his country.’
‘Thank you.’ She bit her lip and the playfulness left her expression. ‘I could wish that he had not been quite so committed to King and country but…well, it does no good to repine.’
Ezra didn’t ask for clarification. It was apparent to him that she had loved her father very much. She had certainly inherited his forthright character. He made a point of changing the subject, and Lady Adela brought it around to horseflesh.
‘I adore riding,’ she explained, ‘and plan to purchase a suitable mount, or would but for the fact that I don’t have the first idea where to look. I dare say Mr Taylor or his friend would advise me, but I would prefer not to be indebted to either of them.’
‘Whereas I will not expect a reward for helping you?’ he suggested with a playful smile.
‘I very much doubt that I have anything worth offering to a gentleman of your standing.’ Ezra turned a guffaw into a cough and hastily picked up his wine glass. ‘Anyway, I’m willing to take the risk. Where should I look?’
‘Tattersall’s is the best place, but it so happens that a friend of mine has a very spritely Arabian mare for sale. His daughter can’t handle her, but I suspect that you will have little trouble.’
‘How could you possibly have reached that conclusion?’ she asked, eyes widening with surprise. ‘I may be a complete novice.’
‘If you were, you would have said so. You are too honest to play games.’ He smiled at her. ‘Most ladies in your position would be begging information on the best modiste’s establishments and exchanging ideas on the latest fashions. Those subjects don’t appear to hold your interest, but horses, it seems, most definitely do.’
She lifted her chin. ‘I shall pretend not to be insulted by your obvious judgement of my attire.’
‘Now you are putting words into my mouth.’ He looked at her over the rim of his wine glass. ‘There is nothing about your attire that disappoints me. And having spent an hour in your company I am already not surprised to discover that you are very different to the majority of ladies in London.’
‘Thank you,’ she said with the sweetest of smiles. ‘I am sure you didn’t mean that as a compliment but nevertheless, I shall take it as one.’
‘May I arrange for you to try my friend’s m
are? You will have to ride in the park, of course. It gets horribly crowded in the afternoons but if you want a serious gallop and don’t mind getting out of bed early, it can still be done at daybreak.’
‘Thank you. Please do let me see the mare, if it’s not too much trouble. I don’t mean to put you out.’
‘It’s no trouble whatsoever.’ Especially, Ezra thought but did not say, because the mare in question belonged to him and was currently eating her head off in his stables, doing nothing. He had been asked to acquire the mare for an acquaintance who had disappeared off the face of the earth. ‘I shall be leaving here as soon as we are finished,’ he told her quietly. ‘I have somewhere else that I need to be. But I do need to talk to you about something important. It concerns your father.’
She half-turned in her chair and gave him her full attention. ‘Now I am truly intrigued.’
‘May I call at Eaton Square in the morning? All these other ambitious coves will call, you can be sure of it, but not until the afternoon.’
‘Fie, Lord Bairstow, you actually intend to make a morning call in the morning?’ She shook her head and tutted, setting curls dancing around her face. ‘The matrons will have collective apoplexy if they learn that you have broken the rules.’
He offered her the suggestion of a wink that caused her cheeks to flame. ‘I won’t tell if you don’t.’
‘Very well, call in the morning by all means. I shall expect you.’ She paused, as though considering the ramifications. ‘On second thoughts, if you want to speak with me in private, that would not be the best way of going about it.’
Ezra nodded, well aware that it would not be, but desperate enough to take the chance. Gaunt’s warnings about her safety, which he had not previously taken seriously, suddenly seemed more sinister. Gaunt seldom got things wrong and he didn’t want to think about this highly unusual young woman being placed in danger if it was within his powers to prevent it.
‘You have another suggestion?’ He smiled at her. ‘Or perhaps you would prefer not to speak with me at all.’
‘On the contrary.’ She bit her lower lip. ‘I hear tell that it is unfashionable to walk in the park during the morning hours. In fact, most self-respecting denizens of the ton are not out of bed before midday. I, as I am sure you will have no difficulty in believing, am no slave to fashion. In fact, contrary creature that I am, I despise behaving like a sheep.’ She paused. ‘I dare say my maid and I will feel the need to walk beside the Serpentine at ten in the morning.’
A Season of Romance Page 4
