“Lady Lovejoy’s coachman’s dog had puppies a month ago, and he’s been trying to find homes for them. I chose one of the girls, whom I named Texas, and brought the boy to you. I thought a new puppy might help take your mind off of Hamlet.”
Juliet’s heart melted. “That’s so thoughtful!” She studied the dog a moment. “I’ll call him Robin Hood.”
She set the dog down and gave Stephanie a warm smile. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” She glanced over her shoulder at a stout maid lingering in the doorway. “Emma, will you take Robin Hood to the kitchen? Perhaps one of the servants can find a box where the dog can sleep, and you might have a glass of water.”
“Yes, Miss Gryphon.”
Emma retrieved the pup’s leash and led him from the room. Juliet gestured toward a sofa and invited Stephanie to sit.
“Mama should be back from shopping directly. Will you stay for tea?”
As Stephanie shook her head, her curls danced. “I’m afraid I can stay only a few minutes since Lady Lovejoy is expecting me back directly.” She smoothed her skirt. “I’d like to take all the credit for Robin Hood, but giving you the puppy was actually my brother’s idea.”
Juliet’s eyebrows rose. “Oh?”
“Cody asked me not to say anything, actually, but I thought you ought to know. My brother might not be the most serious man where romance is concerned, but he can be kind.”
“Please thank him for me. It’s a shame you weren’t here fifteen minutes earlier. Augustus came to call.”
“I’m sorry to have missed him.” She frowned. “I confess, I’m becoming increasingly apprehensive about meeting Lord Elbourne. I know you admire him greatly, but what if he doesn’t like me? Papa will be crushed.”
“Why? I understand your father hasn’t even met Augustus yet.”
“Since Papa is a second son with only a courtesy title, his heart is set on my marrying into nobility. Rather, he promised Mama to see me wed to aristocracy.”
“Augustus will adore you…in due time.”
“Do you think so?”
“I’ve heard arranged marriages can be some of the happiest ones.”
Stephanie looked at her askance. “How would you feel if it were you?”
“I suppose it would depend on the person. Since I know Augustus very well, I honestly believe you two will suit one another.”
Stephanie frowned. “My father has all but ordered me to fall in love with him.”
“And so you shall, Stephanie. I’m sure of it. Come have a look at one of his sketches. Papa had it framed.”
Juliet brought Stephanie next to the fireplace, where a myriad of artwork had been hung, and pointed at one of the drawings. “This is Augustus’s work.”
As Stephanie examined it, she made a sound of admiration. “Why…he’s captured you perfectly.” Her gaze shifted to the Beaucroft family oil painting over the fireplace mantle. She pointed to the young brunette girl depicted therein. “Is that your sister?”
“Yes, Kitty’s a famous beauty, and we’re quite proud of her.”
“She’s very lovely, but her coloring is vastly different from yours. I think I prefer your looks over hers, actually.”
“You’re all politeness, I’m sure.”
“No, I’m not just being polite.” Stephanie tweaked one of Juliet’s curls. “How fortunate you are to have hair that shade. I believe my brother referred to it as Palomino gold.”
“Did he?”
“Cody also said under certain lights it’s almost flaxen. I believe he finds it quite arresting.”
“I’m sure you’re wrong.” Juliet hoped she wasn’t blushing. “I can’t imagine he’s given my hair any thought whatsoever.”
“I don’t mean to pry, but did you two quarrel last night?”
Her eyes widened. “Why not at all. Your brother didn’t say anything to the contrary, did he?”
“Oh, no. It’s just you both seemed so distracted after dinner.”
“Since the Season is rapidly coming to a close, perhaps we’re both feeling a little sad.” Juliet smiled. “I’m to visit Kitty in Grovebrook in a few days. You’re most welcome to come with me if you have no other plans. I’d enjoy your company very much.”
“Thank you! I’ll ask Papa, but he hasn’t mentioned anything. If I can, I’d love to come.”
“Good.”
Chapter Five
Trouble
LADY LOVEJOY’S BUTLER gestured toward a pair of open doors. “I’ll let the countess know you’ve come to call, Lord Elbourne.”
“Thank you, Yeats.”
After Augustus passed through the entrance hall and into the spacious drawing room, he was shocked to discover Lord Gryphon standing behind an easel next to a window.
The earl’s eyes narrowed and his knuckles tightened. “You’ve got a nerve, showing your face here!”
The man glanced up, startled. “I beg your pardon?”
To Augustus’s utter embarrassment, he realized he’d been mistaken as to the stranger’s identity. “Oh…please forgive me. I thought you were someone else.”
“Lord Gryphon, by chance?”
“Why, yes.”
“You wouldn’t be the first man in London to mistake me for him. I’ve been challenged to several duels since I arrived here.” The man bowed. “I’m Cody Gryphon. Zachary Gryphon is my cousin.”
So this was his future brother-in-law? “Lord Elbourne.” Augustus bowed. “Again, I apologize for my rudeness. I’m afraid your cousin and I left things very badly between us not too long ago. I don’t wish to give offense, but I must be perfectly frank about it.”
“I’m not offended. The last I saw Zachary we were still wearing short pants. He was a rapscallion then, too.” He chuckled. “It’s been over seventeen years and I’m still being blamed for his transgressions.”
Augustus crossed the room. “I’m pleased to make your acquaintance.” His gaze fell to the easel. “You draw?”
“Er…this is my first stab at it.” Cody gave his handiwork—an awkward still life of a fruit bowl—a dubious glance. “I’m just a beginner.”
Augustus examined the sketch. “See here, your subject is a bit ambitious for a beginner.” He reached for the fruit bowl on the adjacent table and picked up an apple. “You might start with something like this. And think about drawing the negative space around your subject instead of the apple itself.”
A furrow formed on Cody’s forehead. “I hadn’t thought about it that way. Perhaps you’ll make an artist out of me yet.”
Augustus bit back a smile. “I wouldn’t go that far.”
Cody burst into good-natured laughter.
“Is your sister at home?”
“Why no, she’s gone on an errand, and my father is out looking at houses. How did you know we were staying with Lady Lovejoy?”
“Miss Beaucroft, mentioned it. I’ve just come from speaking with her.”
“Really? I’m surprised you didn’t run into Stephanie. She was going to the Beaucroft residence to deliver a puppy.”
Augustus was taken aback. “By any chance, was your sister wearing a blue dress, and was she accompanied by a maid in high dudgeon?”
“Yes, to both questions.” Cody peered at him. “Then you must have seen Stephanie?”
“We’ve not been formally introduced, but we did meet in Hyde Park.” Augustus’s thoughts slid agreeably to the brief encounter. “I’m sorry I didn’t know who she was at the time.”
Cody gave him an appraising glance. “So…you intend to marry her?”
“Why yes, if she’ll have me.”
“She’s a bit headstrong about the whole arrangement, and won’t give her assent until after she’s met you.”
“I approve of her caution wholeheartedly. It shows a great deal of intelligence and spirit.”
Before Cody could reply, Lady Lovejoy appeared. “Lord Elbourne, how kind of you to call! I see you’ve met Mr. Cody Gryphon. He and his family hav
e recently arrived in town from overseas.”
The countess invited him to sit, and for several minutes she prattled on about the end of the Season. Although Augustus ventured the occasional remark, Cody said little. No doubt the man was trying to take his measure, the better to report back to his sister.
Lady Lovejoy pressed him for details about how his brother, Philip, and Kitty were getting along together. Augustus gave her vague answers, but that didn’t seem to bother her at all.
“Such a beautiful couple was never seen, Mr. Gryphon. It’s too bad you weren’t in London for the wedding.” The countess pouted. “Such a shame about Lord Trestlebury’s daughter, though. I understand the poor man’s not come to terms with Prudence marrying down.”
“Philip writes that our cousin Prudence is extraordinarily happy.” Augustus shrugged. “Lord Kirkham is a devoted husband and a very amiable fellow. I truly hope Trestlebury accepts him before too long.”
Although he would have liked to linger until Stephanie returned, he had no wish to gossip further about his family. He reached for his hat and stood. “Excuse me, but I must be going.”
Cody rose as well. “I’m sorry you’ve missed my sister.”
“As am I. Please convey my sincere desire to make her acquaintance.”
The countess stood. “I hope you plan to attend Lord Ferndale’s ball tomorrow night? Mr. Gryphon and Miss Gryphon will be there, and Lord Horatio is to escort me.”
“I’m looking forward to it.” Augustus exchanged a brief glance with Cody. “It should be rather eventful.”
Cody put down his pencil, stepped back, and peered at his drawing with dismay. Although it was supposed to look like a shiny, perfect apple, it more closely resembled a piece of rotting fruit. Rather, it appeared to be a child’s drawing of a rotten apple, without any sort of artistic merit whatsoever. Scowling, he wadded the paper up into a ball and tossed it into the fireplace. He’d never shown any artistic ability before, so what had made him think he would do any better now? Certainly, nothing about him seemed to appeal to Juliet.
Stephanie appeared in the doorway of the drawing room. “Hello!” She removed her hat, tossed it onto a table, and took a seat on the sofa. “Juliet adored the dog and said you were very thoughtful to think of her.”
“You told her it was my idea, did you? In that case, I’m surprised she accepted him.”
“Why not?”
Nothing would induce him to mention that scene in the library. “Er…because you’ve blackened my name to her quite dreadfully. Thanks to you, she has reason to think I’m a rake.”
“Well, you are.”
“No, I’m not!”
“You’re four and twenty years of age and have never been serious about a girl in your life.”
“That doesn’t mean I’m a rake. I just haven’t yet met the right girl.”
Stephanie’s mouth formed an O. “You’re not suggesting Miss Beaucroft is the right one, are you?”
“Don’t be absurd.” Cody decided to change the subject as quickly as possible. “By the way, Lord Elbourne was just here.”
She gasped and her eyes grew wide. “He was? Quick, tell me everything about him!”
“He’s a complete troll, I fear.” Cody shook his head with mock sorrow. “Curly molars, hairy knuckles, and the smell nearly knocked me senseless at twenty paces.”
“Oh, stop!”
He laughed. “I’m teasing, of course. You met him yourself, in Hyde Park. Apparently you had a conversation about the pup.”
“No!” Her eyes grew even wider. “That was Lord Elbourne?” She squealed with glee as she jumped up and down.
“I take it you’re pleased?”
She ignored his inquiry. “Did he say anything about me? Did he think me pretty?”
“We didn’t discuss your appearance, but you evidently made an impression since he asked if you were wearing a blue dress.”
“Did you like him?”
Cody could hear the eagerness in her voice. “Very much. Elbourne is everything Miss Beaucroft said he was. Furthermore, he said he was looking forward to meeting you at the Ferndale ball.”
His sister’s expression grew dreamy. “I’ll wear my most splendid gown, and my hair must be magnificent.”
“He’s already seen you, Stephanie. Besides which, there’s little you can do to improve on perfection.”
“Thank you, kind sir.” She giggled. “I just might be the luckiest girl in England!”
Since the Ferndale ball was the final event of the Season, Mr. Beaucroft had agreed to escort his wife and daughter to the event. Mrs. Beaucroft had taken several days to mourn the loss of Juliet’s impending engagement to Augustus and was beginning to suggest other eligible noblemen to her. Even in the carriage on the way to the party, she was counting off possibilities on her kidskin-gloved fingers.
Finally, Juliet had had enough. “Mama, for all intents and purposes, the Season is finished and we must face the fact I haven’t managed to secure a husband. That being said, it’s only my first Season and there’s always next year.”
“Yes, but after your sister’s rather scandalous courtship, your engagement to an earl would have lifted the family to another level entirely.” She pouted. “With so few earls to choose from, I’m afraid we’ll have to lower our sights to a viscount. Under no circumstances, however, should you go lower than a baron. That would be insupportable.”
“And what if I should choose a terribly wealthy gentleman with no title at all?”
Her father chuckled. “A sizable amount of wealth might take the sting away as far as I’m concerned.”
Her mother made a sound of disgust. “Don’t you care about your legacy? Why shouldn’t your grandchildren be aristocrats?”
Juliet averted her eyes. “That’s exactly how Stephanie’s father feels.”
“Don’t lump me in with that social climber!”
Mr. Beaucroft chuckled. “I believe it was Shakespeare who wrote, ‘The raven chides blackness.’ The phrase fits in this case.”
Juliet bit back a smile, but Mrs. Beaucroft seemed to swell with umbrage. “I’m nothing at all like Lord Horatio!”
He patted his wife’s hand. “Not at all, dearest. At any rate, I’m glad the Season is at an end. I long to return to the country and leave the delights of town for another year.”
“Kitty invited me for a visit to Constance Hall, Papa. I hope you haven’t forgotten?”
“That’s right.” He nodded. “You have my permission to go, so long as you take that puppy with you.”
“Of course! I couldn’t bear to be parted from Robin Hood. Also, Stephanie may accompany me, if she has no plans.”
“You’re a better person than I,” her mother murmured. “I can scarcely bear to look at the girl who’s ruined your chance of happiness.”
Juliet lifted her chin. “Since she provides the means by which the Butler estate can be saved, I can look at her all day long. Besides which, I like her.”
Her mother glanced out the window. “There’s no accounting for taste, I suppose.”
As Cody waited with Stephanie in the receiving line, he could tell his sister was nervous by the way she clutched his arm.
“Are you all right?” He gave her a crooked grin. “Do you feel an attack of the vapors coming on?”
“Oh, hush. I’m just excited to meet Lord Elbourne.”
“Try to remain calm, if you can. He’s a rather nice troll, as trolls go.” At Stephanie’s sound of frustration, he laughed. “Did I say troll? I meant chap. The digraph at the beginning of both words sound quite similar to my ear.”
“Stop teasing me!”
“Sorry. I’ll try to behave.” He glanced at her pale lilac gown, which was the same shade as her short gloves. “You look absolutely beautiful this evening, may I say? Although your neckline is perhaps a trifle low.”
His criticism elicited a giggle. “You think all my necklines are too low, even when they’re up to my chin.”
/> When Cody was introduced to Lady Ferndale a few moments later, the older woman peered at him. “Merciful heavens, but I mistook you for Lord Gryphon!”
He hoped his smile covered his irritation. “Yes, milady. Although I haven’t spoken with Cousin Zachary in many years, I’m told our current resemblance is uncanny.”
He presented his sister to Lady Ferndale, and thereafter they joined Horatio in the entrance hall, where crowds of beautifully-gowned women and dashing gentlemen were chatting in groups or pairs.
Their father rolled his eyes. “Lady Lovejoy has gone off to make the rounds and left me to my own devices.”
“Have you seen Lord Elbourne?” Cody asked. “Perhaps he’s already in the ballroom.”
Stephanie bit her lip. “He might not be here yet.”
“I’ll locate Lord Moregate. He’ll have a better idea when his son will arrive.” Horatio excused himself.
As the man strode off, Cody’s sister gave him a sympathetic glance. “I expect you’ve become sick of hearing how much you resemble Zachary.”
“It wouldn’t be so bad if our cousin had a sterling character. As it is, I seem to remind people of an unpleasant smell.” He frowned. “The longer I remain in London, the more attractive Texas seems.”
“Once everyone gets to know you, it will be different.”
“I won’t be in England long enough to care.” Over Stephanie’s shoulder, he saw a familiar couple approaching. “Prepare yourself, sister. You’re about to meet the earl.”
“If you’re joking, I’ll—”
His sister’s threat was interrupted by the arrival of Juliet and Augustus. Juliet’s stunning ball gown was also cut off the shoulder, similar to Stephanie’s, but Cody enjoyed the view far more. The white satin concoction, with its elaborate pearl trimmings and aquamarine ribbons, served Juliet’s delicate coloring to perfection. Cody’s mouth went dry.
“Miss Stephanie Gryphon, may I present Augustus Butler, the Earl of Elbourne?” Juliet said. “Augustus, this is Miss Gryphon.”
The earl bowed and Stephanie dipped into the low curtsy she’d been practicing. Cody was impressed by how unstudied his sister managed to make it appear.
Rake & Romance Page 6
