With a nod, Aurora’s agreement was half-hearted, and they went to the parlor where Wesley was already greeting Poppy, Rhys, and Mercy’s Aunt Phyllis.
Mercy played the pianoforte in the parlor while they waited for the rest of the guests to arrive. Her play was so riveting that Aurora could escape into it for a while. The strains of some piece she thought might be Handel nearly brought tears to her eyes. Of course, Mercy cried openly whenever she played, but Aurora couldn’t allow herself to show that kind of emotion. In fact, she wouldn’t allow such sentiment into her heart at all.
While seeing her friends was always a delight, her mission was to see if the Marquess of Potsum would suit as the father of her children. She shrugged off how merciless it sounded in her own head.
Aurora knew the moment Garrett arrived. Her skin seemed to warm, but that was not possible. She had decided irrevocably against any additional emotional or physical contact with Garrett and that was the end of it. The fact that the memory of his hands and mouth on her skin was the only joy in her life, made no difference. Actually, those realizations were even more reason to dismiss him as nothing more than a friend.
Refusing to turn and look at him, Aurora kept her attention fixed on Mercy at her pianoforte.
The warmth of Garrett reached her through his coat as he sat down next to her. “Good evening, Rora.”
“Hello, Garrett. Did you bring Lady Mary with you?” Why had she said it? She didn’t know why she couldn’t bare the idea of Mary Yates becoming Garrett’s duchess. It should mean nothing to her. Yet, Mary would play his heart out and he was too kind to take such a beating.
A low chuckle quashed any jealousy. “I noticed some of my favorite people do not care for Lady Mary. As I’m fond of spending my leisure time with the Wallflowers and their spouses, I thought it best to end any pursuit of that particular lady.”
Mercy stopped her play and smiled as she rose and crossed to where the last of the evening’s guest had joined the party. Paul Trout, the Marquess of Potsum and Lady Prudence Harcourt were the last to arrive.
Aurora met Garrett’s kind gaze. “I would never presume to tell you whom you should or shouldn’t court. Though, I’ll admit to some relief that Mary will not be joining our circle.”
“Would you care to tell me why this gives you such ease?” Garrett rose as she did to join the others.
With a shake of her head, Aurora bit her bottom lip. She could go on and on about everything that was wrong with Mary Yates, but that would be unkind. “To tell you my thoughts on the matter would make me no better than those I despise. It will have to be enough to say she and I do not get along well.”
A curl of his hair fell forward on his forehead. It was all she could do to keep from brushing the lock aside. He ran his hand over his hair to adjust the curl, but only succeeded in making himself look rakishly handsome. “Perhaps I will ask Poppy for more information. She tends to be more loose-lipped.”
Taking her cue from his devilish smile, Aurora covered her laugh with her gloved hand. “You might do better.”
They reached the others and Lord Potsum immediately sought her out and Garrett slipped away from her side. The room seemed to cool at his departure, but Aurora brushed the foolishness aside and made a curtsy for the marquess. “Lord Potsum, it is good to see you.”
Paul Trout had inherited his title from an uncle who’d had no sons. Aurora had been encouraged by the fact that he’d arranged a nice home for his aunt and her daughter rather than toss them out in the cold. “I was honored to be invited.”
His bow was economical but gracious. His mouse-brown hair had begun to recede, and his blue eyes never quite remained on her face as if he were uncomfortable with any direct address. Several inches taller than her, he was still the shortest man in the room, and she noted he’d chosen to wear boots with a heavy heel to raise himself up.
Vanity was no crime and if it were, she would be as guilty as anyone, so she shrugged it away. “How is your family?”
“Well enough. My aunt has taken her daughter to buy clothes for the season.” He sighed. “Mother is still in the country and will not arrive until the true season begins.”
It was indeed early for gatherings among the ton. Most of society would not arrive in London for another month, but his tone was more snobbish than she would prefer. “I’m sure your cousin will enjoy her season. I hope she makes a good match.”
Aurora knew her response was the expected one, and she privately hoped whomever his cousin chose would be kind and of her own choosing and not some sop foisted upon her. She kept those thoughts to herself.
Potsum sighed yet again. “Margery is a plain girl, but a good sort. I shall try to do my best by her as it is what my mother and uncle would wish.”
“It is good of you to look after them.” Aurora wondered at his sour expression.
He waved a hand and gave an eye roll. “Trying, but necessary I suppose.”
Unsure of what to respond, Aurora just nodded and excused herself to join the others as dinner was announced.
It was probably just the shock of seeing Garrett escort Prudence into dinner as it couldn’t be jealousy that made her gut tighten. She’d liked Prudence when they were in school. She was a nice girl and likely a fine woman. Aurora should be pleased that a nice man was looking after her at the dinner party. After all, they had widowhood in common as well as having attended the same school.
Potsum offered his arm and Aurora had no choice but to take it as they entered the dining room. She should be pleased that her plan to find a disinterested husband was working out. Potsum was attentive, but certainly not in any kind of romantic light. He seemed as if he were going through some assigned steps like one would during a dance. That should suit Aurora perfectly.
Garrett pulled out Prudence’s chair and said something quietly into her ear that made her smile and joy lit up her wide brown eyes. He smiled too and the sight sent a jolt through Aurora. It took all her years of training to keep her expression reserved and calm. It wouldn’t do to make a fool of herself in front of Potsum when she might want to marry him.
Mercy had seated Garrett next to Prudence and the two chatted quietly throughout dinner. Potsum sat beside Aurora, but it was torture to get him to speak at all.
“My lord, do you have any hobbies which you enjoy?” Aurora asked after an entire course of peahen had gone by without a word from him.
“I ride.” He put his fork aside and dabbed his lips with his napkin. “I enjoy a good ride. Do you ride, Lady Radcliff?”
Now she was getting somewhere. “I do. I’m sure not so well as you, but I’ve had training.”
“Women rarely ride really well.” He turned to speak to Wesley as if his statement should have been sufficient conversation.
It was not his attitudes or dinner chat she was after. It shouldn’t matter if she even liked the man as long as he was kind and preferably absent, which his treatment of his relations indicated he was.
Rhys leaned in from her other side. “What do you think, Rora? Is he for you?”
“He could use a bit of polish,” she admitted.
“Then you will make a project out of him?” Rhys might be her brother and tended toward protection, but he also had a way of putting things into perspective.
“I don’t believe so. Though I’m running out of options.”
The look of sympathy on her brother’s face was worse than if he’d teased her about her plans. “You shall work it out. You are a brilliant woman and will certainly find the right person to spend your life with. Now that mother isn’t badgering you, it will be easier.”
There was some pleasure in knowing the incident in Cheshire had cured her mother of her terrible matchmaking habit. “I’m thinking of going back to the Castlewick School for a few weeks. I probably should have just stayed there and seen to the new students as they arrived.”
Wesley leaned in. “I had a letter from Malcom yesterday. My cousin is quite taken with the place.
He’s still on his treasure hunt, of course.”
Aurora grinned. “Helen wrote me last week to say he’s been a big help to them and has an astounding knowledge of geometry and engineering. He’s been teaching the girls.”
A strangled noise drew everyone’s attention to Poppy, who listened from across the table. She swallowed down a mouthful. “I would have thought it beneath him to teach girls such manly pursuits.”
“Evidently not.” Mercy smiled at the footman who filled her wineglass. “He quite enjoyed the teaching and seems not to care about the sex of his students.”
Aurora liked it when they all talked across the table like family. Of course, it was not proper, but she loved it just the same. “Helen said he barely spends two hours a day on his hunt for treasure. He arrives at first light from the village, breaks his fast with them and then if any of the girls are interested teaches them something of building or how much weight might a stool hold depending on the width, height, and bracing.”
A scoff from her right and Potsum said, “What would any girl need to know this for? It’s totally impractical. Better she learn to balance the household accounts and play the harp for catching a husband.”
The table was silent for longer than was comfortable.
Faith looked ready to jump across the space and poke out Potsum’s eyes with her fork.
Prudence cleared her throat. “It might be nice to know more than how to decorate a pillow and add a column of numbers. I for one find the notion intriguing. Do you have room for me at your school, Lady Radcliff?”
A twitter of laughter vanquished the unease at the table.
Aurora could tell she would still like Prudence. “For you, Lady Harcourt, we shall always make room.”
Prudence had a small yet charming gap between her front teeth. She grinned and blushed perhaps from the attention of the full table. She’d been shy in school and it seemed some of that had continued into her adulthood. “I think it an admirable pursuit to wish to educate women. We did not have much kindness in our schooling.”
Faith sighed. “Agatha Wormbattle could be very harsh and had little nice to say, that is true. However, we did get an education and we had the other girls to support us.”
“You four certainly were lucky to have each other.” Prudence’s voice was kind but also sad.
Had she had any close friends? Aurora couldn’t remember her with any particular group of girls. She’d been friendly with them and others, but had she been genuinely close to anyone?
“We were.” Poppy said with a smile.
Garrett asked, “Did you get into as much mischief as these four, Lady Harcourt? When Rhys and I visited Switzerland, they were always taking advantage of our good nature and getting into trouble.”
“I had my fair share of fun and even wandered around Lucerne with these ladies a few times. I helped Lady Castlewick find a music teacher for some strange instrument from Spain. That was quite an adventure.” Her eyes looked far away, and she was as innocent as that young girl for a moment.
Mercy clapped. “You did! It took an entire day. I had heard from a violin player in town that there was a Spaniard musician on the east end. It seemed impossible, but we found him.”
Potsum bristled. “Two young girls wandering the streets of a big city like that going to men’s establishments. What kind of school was this?”
“We were a bit wild,” Aurora admitted. “But we survived quite nicely and even learned a few bits about living in English society.”
“I should not like to think of a daughter of mine running wild in a foreign country without a proper chaperone.” Potsum’s face had twisted like he’d bit into a lemon.
“Nor I, my lord.” Prudence’s sad admission quieted the fury floating around the table.
Aunt Phyllis rescued the dinner. “The happy ending is, that Mercy did learn to play the guitar and it’s the most magical sound imaginable.”
Mr. Arafa who had silently watched the byplay throughout dinner, grinned. “That is a certainty. Our hostess plays each and every instrument with such skill. If she wished to be at court entertaining kings and queens, she would be famous.”
Mercy cringed. “I think I shall be satisfied with playing for friends, Mr. Arafa, but I thank you for the compliment.”
After dinner, Aurora escaped up the stairs to a small parlor that Mercy kept for when her close friends called. It was meant to be the lady’s bedroom, but since she and Wesley shared a bedroom, she’d converted the space into a warm oasis of calm and femininity.
The place where a bed should have been held two chairs and a long, overstuffed sofa. A long table separated the seating and a fire burned low in the hearth.
It was unladylike, but Aurora sat leaning against the arm of the sofa and closed her eyes. Potsum was out. She couldn’t possibly spend any time with a man that shortsighted and fussy. Not that she had any intentions of sending her daughters away to school as punishment. But, if she were gifted, tenacious and wanted to study, Aurora wanted her father to support her endeavors. Potsum was not that man.
The door opened.
Aurora didn’t open her eyes. Faith had probably come to check on her. “I’m fine, Faith.”
“It’s not Faith, I’m afraid.” Garrett’s warm soft voice whispered from near the door.
She sat up as if a fire had been lit under her. “You shouldn’t be in here.”
He inched closer. “I was worried when you didn’t return.”
Had she been gone so long? “You will have to stop worrying over me. When you marry a nice lady like Prudence, she’ll not be pleased to have you seeking out another woman no matter your innocent intentions.”
“Lady Harcourt is lovely. I’m sure she would understand. However, as I’m not currently married to anyone, I see no harm in checking on an old friend.” He sat across from her in one of the wine-colored chairs.
“People will talk, Garrett.” Her heart hammered so hard her chest hurt.
He cocked his head. “Most of the people in this house tonight are our closest friends and besides, the men other men are smoking while the ladies take cake. I have never cared for cigars. No one else will even notice I’ve slipped out for a few minutes.”
Of course, he was probably right, but she’d been determined not to repeat their intimacies and being alone with him fleshed out those memories and made her delightfully uncomfortable. “I’m fine. I just needed a moment to think.”
“About Potsum?” His frown caused deep lines around his beautiful mouth.
She nodded with a sigh. “He’s not very enlightened, but he’s handsome enough and needs an heir.”
The fury in his eyes made her think he would give her the fight she’d fished for, but he remained silent a long minute. His jaw ticked and his fists relaxed. “I’m glad you are well, Rora. I will return to our party. Don’t remain up here too long or the Wallflowers will come looking for you.”
He got up and crossed to her. For a moment, she thought he would lean down and kiss her, but a breath later, he left the room and closed the door behind him.
Chapter 23
Garrett hadn’t lied. Prudence Harcourt was lovely. She was also smart and constant. A widow, so there should be little hysterics. Garrett even liked her.
He drank down his brandy and stared into the fire blazing in the large hearth at White’s Gentleman’s Club.
A hand waved in front of his face. Rhys stared wide eyed. “Where were you just then?”
“Sorry, did you ask something?” Garrett couldn’t remember what they’d been saying but it had something to do with Lady Harcourt.
“You said you called on Lady Harcourt and I asked if you like her.” Rhys said slowly as if he were speaking to an imbecile.
Garrett laughed at his friend. “I do like her. She’s a nice woman with a good head on her shoulders.”
“Will you offer for her?”
Shrugging, Garrett said, “She’s barely out of mourning for a husband she loved very
much. I don’t think the timing is quite right.”
“You may be correct, but she has a good income and other men will go sniffing around, so if she’s the one you want, you shouldn’t tarry long.” Rhys finished his brandy and called for a footman to bring them both another.
“I will keep that in mind.” He told the lie with ease. Lying about his marital intentions had become second nature to him. Since he had no idea what he was going to do beyond finding a wife he could tolerate that wasn’t Aurora, all he could do was fib until the situation sorted itself out.
“Speaking of callers.” Rhys took his brandy and set it on the table beside him. He sank back into the leather chair and steeped his fingers under his chin. “Aurora seems to have embraced the idea of remarrying.”
Garrett’s gut pressed up into his gullet and he had to swallow hard to keep his brandy from returning. “Has she?”
“My mother told me that Lord West has joined the fray of men bidding for her hand and Potsum is a daily caller at West Lane.”
“You might want to look into Potsum’s finances before you give your sister any advice on the matter.” Garrett tried and failed to keep his disgust from his voice.
Leaning forward, Rhys frowned. “Have you already done so?”
With a shrug, Garrett couldn’t quite meet his friend’s eyes. “That would be inappropriate as I have nothing at stake. I’m just making a suggestion to a friend.”
Deep creases around Rhys’s mouth spoke of his rising anger. “Bollocks to that, Garrett. What do you know?”
Several men turned and stared as Rhys’s voice rose.
Suddenly his brandy didn’t appeal. “It would be unwise to speak of it here.”
Rhys rose immediately. “Fine. Then you will accompany me back to your home where you will divulge anything and everything that might pertain to this subject, or you and I shall have a problem.”
It was understandable that Rhys wished to protect his sister, but Garrett had no idea of the passion that hid inside his oldest friend on the subject. It was clear it would never do to keep withholding the information. He had planned to wait until it was certain Aurora would accept an offer. “Very well.”
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