You’re making my head hurt worse.”
She plopped down in a seat across from him. “I would have thought a man of your… heritage could hold his liquor better, Mr. Hadley. You English boys are a rather tame lot, aren’t you?”
Gray lifted his head and glared at her. “No one has ever called me tame.”
Her brow rose in disbelief. “Indeed? That is surprising.”
“Elbows off the table, Mr. Hadley.” Lady Sophia strode into the breakfast room and smiled at Miss Mayeux. “I thought we might head into town this morning. It is quite fashionable to be seen in the Pump Room during the morning hours.”
“Take her, please. Then perhaps I’ll be allowed some quiet,” Gray complained.
Miss Mayeux shrugged. “I told him to eat sausage and drink a raw egg yolk, but he’d rather suffer in pain.”
Lady Sophia’s nose scrunched up. “Why would you tell him such a thing?”
“The poor man is suffering the aftereffects of too much imbibing.”
Lady Sophia scoffed. “Well, that is exactly what he deserves then.”
“You are too kind, my lady,” Gray grumbled.
Lady Sophia smiled at him. “ I did not pour drink down your throat, Mr. Hadley. Pray do not blame me if you do not enjoy the aftereffects.” Then she turned her attention to Miss Mayeux. “There may be some fashionable gentlemen in the Pump Room this morning. If anyone catches your eye, point him out to me and I’ll tell you what I know about the fellow.”
“Marrying her off before she’s even had a season?” Gray asked.
Lady Sophia shook her head. “We are here to practice for the season, Mr. Hadley.” Then her face lit up. “Actually, if you are suffering so badly, the healing waters might do you some good.”
The healing water was vile stuff, and given the choice, Gray would rather suffer all this day and the next than be forced to partake of “the cure.” “I’d rather drink the raw egg yolk.”
“Don’t forget the sausage. The greasier the food, the better, Mr. Hadley.”
Gray turned his attention back to the exotic American beauty. “Just how do you know so much about this, Miss Mayeux?”
“Well, I’ve known more than a few pirates and sailors and trappers in my day, Mr. Hadley. And one hears all sorts of interesting things.”
Lady Sophia gasped and covered her heart with one hand. “Liviana, you shouldn’t say such a thing.”
“But it’s true.” She blinked innocently.
“Be that as it may, I’d rather not have anyone else learn the particulars. Pirates, for heaven’s sake!”
“If I called them privateers, would that be better?”
Lady Sophia shook her head vehemently. “Absolutely not! On second thought I don’t know that an excursion into town is wise. Perhaps we should spend the afternoon determining the best topics of conversation for the musicale this evening.”
Gray groaned, his head pounding even harder. “Can’t you determine that in the Pump Room?” With his ears, he’d hear them no matter where they were in the house.
“Ready to be rid of us, Mr. Hadley?” Miss Mayeux smirked.
“I would dearly love a little peace and quiet.”
“Whether you’re deserving of it is another matter.” Lady Sophia sighed as she turned her attention to Miss Mayeux. “I suppose we can go into town, but only if you promise to stay at my side.”
“I would like to see a different set of walls. I haven’t left my grandfather’s house since we arrived in Bath.”
***
The half columns and honey-colored stone of the Pump Room gave the exterior a very grandiose feel. It did seem exactly the sort of architecture Livi would expect to see if she found herself in Rome. “It’s very pretty,” she muttered under her breath.
“Remember what we talked about yesterday, Miss Mayeux,” Lady Sophia directed. “Don’t mumble. Speak clearly enough for others to hear you, unless, of course, you shouldn’t be saying something. In that case, close your mouth completely.”
Livi shook her head. “I’m sorry.
She plopped down in a seat across from him. “I would have thought a man of your… heritage could hold his liquor better, Mr. Hadley. You English boys are a rather tame lot, aren’t you?”
Gray lifted his head and glared at her. “No one has ever called me tame.”
Her brow rose in disbelief. “Indeed? That is surprising.”
“Elbows off the table, Mr. Hadley.” Lady Sophia strode into the breakfast room and smiled at Miss Mayeux. “I thought we might head into town this morning. It is quite fashionable to be seen in the Pump Room during the morning hours.”
“Take her, please. Then perhaps I’ll be allowed some quiet,” Gray complained.
Miss Mayeux shrugged. “I told him to eat sausage and drink a raw egg yolk, but he’d rather suffer in pain.”
Lady Sophia’s nose scrunched up. “Why would you tell him such a thing?”
“The poor man is suffering the aftereffects of too much imbibing.”
Lady Sophia scoffed. “Well, that is exactly what he deserves then.”
“You are too kind, my lady,” Gray grumbled.
Lady Sophia smiled at him. “ I did not pour drink down your throat, Mr. Hadley. Pray do not blame me if you do not enjoy the aftereffects.” Then she turned her attention to Miss Mayeux. “There may be some fashionable gentlemen in the Pump Room this morning. If anyone catches your eye, point him out to me and I’ll tell you what I know about the fellow.”
“Marrying her off before she’s even had a season?” Gray asked.
Lady Sophia shook her head. “We are here to practice for the season, Mr. Hadley.” Then her face lit up. “Actually, if you are suffering so badly, the healing waters might do you some good.”
The healing water was vile stuff, and given the choice, Gray would rather suffer all this day and the next than be forced to partake of “the cure.” “I’d rather drink the raw egg yolk.”
“Don’t forget the sausage. The greasier the food, the better, Mr. Hadley.”
Gray turned his attention back to the exotic American beauty. “Just how do you know so much about this, Miss Mayeux?”
“Well, I’ve known more than a few pirates and sailors and trappers in my day, Mr. Hadley. And one hears all sorts of interesting things.”
Lady Sophia gasped and covered her heart with one hand. “Liviana, you shouldn’t say such a thing.”
“But it’s true.” She blinked innocently.
“Be that as it may, I’d rather not have anyone else learn the particulars. Pirates, for heaven’s sake!”
“If I called them privateers, would that be better?”
Lady Sophia shook her head vehemently. “Absolutely not! On second thought I don’t know that an excursion into town is wise. Perhaps we should spend the afternoon determining the best topics of conversation for the musicale this evening.”
Gray groaned, his head pounding even harder. “Can’t you determine that in the Pump Room?” With his ears, he’d hear them no matter where they were in the house.
“Ready to be rid of us, Mr. Hadley?” Miss Mayeux smirked.
“I would dearly love a little peace and quiet.”
“Whether you’re deserving of it is another matter.” Lady Sophia sighed as she turned her attention to Miss Mayeux. “I suppose we can go into town, but only if you promise to stay at my side.”
“I would like to see a different set of walls. I haven’t left my grandfather’s house since we arrived in Bath.”
***
The half columns and honey-colored stone of the Pump Room gave the exterior a very grandiose feel. It did seem exactly the sort of architecture Livi would expect to see if she found herself in Rome. “It’s very pretty,” she muttered under her breath.
“Remember what we talked about yesterday, Miss Mayeux,” Lady Sophia directed. “Don’t mumble. Speak clearly enough for others to hear you, unless, of course, you shouldn’t be saying something. In that case, close your mouth completely.”
Livi shook her head. “I’m sorry.
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