why you and Lady Astor were so foolish for a second time,’ she replied. ‘I mean, you had been caught out once. What in the world prompted you to be so foolish again?’
‘It isn’t foolish to – ah – make love to a lady, if the lady is willing and no harm is done,’ Hamersley said carefully. ‘And I can assure you, Lady Caroline will go to her marriage bed with her maidenhood just as it should be, firmly intact.’
Lucy tried to keep a straight face, she really did, and what he said was truly shocking, but she simply couldn’t help it. She laughed. ‘I am sure,’ she spluttered after a moment, ‘that his grace will be very appreciative!’
‘Well Caroline certainly was.’ Which only set her off again. It was dreadful and very wrong of her, but it did seem quite ridiculously funny. Hamersley watched her with a faintly pained expression. ‘I am glad you find it so amusing.’
Lucy pulled her handkerchief out of her sleeve and dabbed at her eyes. ‘I am sorry. It was the way you phrased it, as if Lady Caroline is a package that still has the ribbon tied, but the wrapping is a little crumpled.’
He grinned. ‘An apt simile. Gatton will still enjoy his present when the big night arrives. If he knows what to do with it. I have my doubts.’
This elicited another snort, but Lucy had herself under control now. She took a sip of coffee, but before either of them could speak again, Lady Landon walked into the room. She paused at the sight of Lucy sitting with an unidentified man.
‘Lucy, I did not know you had already come downstairs.’ The words were directed at her daughter, but her attention was all for the gentleman sitting with her. Lucy watched the dawning recognition struggle with incomprehension as her mother tried to fit the Earl of Hamersley into Lord Billingsworth’s breakfast parlor. ‘Why? Could it be? Is that really you, my lord?’
Hamersley half stood, inclining his head respectfully. ‘Lady Landon.’
‘Well!’ There was a wealth of meaning in that one word. ‘I had not expected you to be attending.’
‘Why should you?’ His lordship said amiably. ‘I’m such a flighty fellow.’
Lady Landon gave a little titter, the kind she made when she was in the presence of an Eligible Man. Lucy knew what would come next and sure enough, ‘How very nice.’ She made a pretence of looking around the room, ‘Dear me, I don’t see Phoebe. Have you seen your sister, Lucy?’
‘I expect she is still in bed.’
‘Nonsense! The girl is such an early riser. Up and about with the larks. I’ll just see what’s keeping her. Be sure to… ah… keep his lordship entertained.’ And she hurried from the room, no doubt to rouse poor Phoebe from her bed and ensure that she looked her best.
Hamersley watched her rapid retreat with surprise. ‘Dear me. Did I miss something?’
‘Mama has gone to get the pretty one for your attention. I am to keep you occupied so you don’t wander off. I can see some apples in that dish over there. Would you like me to juggle?’
Hamersley laughed. ‘Can you?’
‘No, but sometimes I drop things in a very amusing manner.’ She shook her head at him. ‘You have made a foolish mistake, coming here. Mama has been looking for an earl or a duke for Phoebe. Now you will be besieged.’
‘An earl or a duke? She’s very optimistic.’
‘More like forceful, although dukes have been very hard to come by this Season. She had hopes of the older Wentworth dropping dead, thereby promoting his halfwit son into the title, but I do believe the son is proving to be skittish.’
Hamersley leaned back in his chair and grinned. ‘I am not going to marry your sister.’
‘A good thing, too. Mama would be on your doorstep every second week. She’s a fearful snob.’
‘Miss Landon, how long have you been on the marriage market?’
‘Seven years, although it is not very polite of you to ask,’ Lucy returned severely. ‘Why?’
‘It just seems unusual that
‘It isn’t foolish to – ah – make love to a lady, if the lady is willing and no harm is done,’ Hamersley said carefully. ‘And I can assure you, Lady Caroline will go to her marriage bed with her maidenhood just as it should be, firmly intact.’
Lucy tried to keep a straight face, she really did, and what he said was truly shocking, but she simply couldn’t help it. She laughed. ‘I am sure,’ she spluttered after a moment, ‘that his grace will be very appreciative!’
‘Well Caroline certainly was.’ Which only set her off again. It was dreadful and very wrong of her, but it did seem quite ridiculously funny. Hamersley watched her with a faintly pained expression. ‘I am glad you find it so amusing.’
Lucy pulled her handkerchief out of her sleeve and dabbed at her eyes. ‘I am sorry. It was the way you phrased it, as if Lady Caroline is a package that still has the ribbon tied, but the wrapping is a little crumpled.’
He grinned. ‘An apt simile. Gatton will still enjoy his present when the big night arrives. If he knows what to do with it. I have my doubts.’
This elicited another snort, but Lucy had herself under control now. She took a sip of coffee, but before either of them could speak again, Lady Landon walked into the room. She paused at the sight of Lucy sitting with an unidentified man.
‘Lucy, I did not know you had already come downstairs.’ The words were directed at her daughter, but her attention was all for the gentleman sitting with her. Lucy watched the dawning recognition struggle with incomprehension as her mother tried to fit the Earl of Hamersley into Lord Billingsworth’s breakfast parlor. ‘Why? Could it be? Is that really you, my lord?’
Hamersley half stood, inclining his head respectfully. ‘Lady Landon.’
‘Well!’ There was a wealth of meaning in that one word. ‘I had not expected you to be attending.’
‘Why should you?’ His lordship said amiably. ‘I’m such a flighty fellow.’
Lady Landon gave a little titter, the kind she made when she was in the presence of an Eligible Man. Lucy knew what would come next and sure enough, ‘How very nice.’ She made a pretence of looking around the room, ‘Dear me, I don’t see Phoebe. Have you seen your sister, Lucy?’
‘I expect she is still in bed.’
‘Nonsense! The girl is such an early riser. Up and about with the larks. I’ll just see what’s keeping her. Be sure to… ah… keep his lordship entertained.’ And she hurried from the room, no doubt to rouse poor Phoebe from her bed and ensure that she looked her best.
Hamersley watched her rapid retreat with surprise. ‘Dear me. Did I miss something?’
‘Mama has gone to get the pretty one for your attention. I am to keep you occupied so you don’t wander off. I can see some apples in that dish over there. Would you like me to juggle?’
Hamersley laughed. ‘Can you?’
‘No, but sometimes I drop things in a very amusing manner.’ She shook her head at him. ‘You have made a foolish mistake, coming here. Mama has been looking for an earl or a duke for Phoebe. Now you will be besieged.’
‘An earl or a duke? She’s very optimistic.’
‘More like forceful, although dukes have been very hard to come by this Season. She had hopes of the older Wentworth dropping dead, thereby promoting his halfwit son into the title, but I do believe the son is proving to be skittish.’
Hamersley leaned back in his chair and grinned. ‘I am not going to marry your sister.’
‘A good thing, too. Mama would be on your doorstep every second week. She’s a fearful snob.’
‘Miss Landon, how long have you been on the marriage market?’
‘Seven years, although it is not very polite of you to ask,’ Lucy returned severely. ‘Why?’
‘It just seems unusual that
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