Page 90 of Regency Whispers: Scandalous Matches

He plastered an exaggerated smile on his face and watched as Maria recoiled.

‘For the love of everything that is holy, please stop,’ she said. ‘How old are you?’

‘Thirty-two.’

‘Then, why must you act as if you were five?’

‘Only for you, my dearest sister.’

Maria was only a few years older than him. She had married his older brother, Robert, when she was nineteen and Robert twenty-three. Simon had been thirteen at the time and reeling from his father’s sudden death. Maria had seen a boy struggling with the world and given him the kindness that no one else in his family could at that moment, grieving as they all were, and Simon would never forget it. Over the years their relationship had grown and changed with each new stage of life, but now he was blessed with a sister-in-law who he loved as if she were his own flesh and blood.

‘She is pretty,’ Maria said, motioning to where Miss James twirled on the dance floor.

‘Mmm...’ Simon responded. Maria didn’t know of his plans to leave England yet. He hadn’t told her of the passage he had booked to Europe or his expectation he would never be back. His sister-in-law had suffered so much over the last few years, he knew his departure would devastate her. He would tell her: he wasn’t so much of a brute as to leave without saying goodbye, but he didn’t want there to be too much time between his revelation and his departure. If anyone could get him to change his mind, it would be Maria.

‘Do you know her from somewhere?’

‘No,’ Simon said, and then glanced over his shoulder. ‘But if Lady Salisbury asks, she’s a distant relative of my mother’s.’

Maria raised an eyebrow. ‘What are you doing, Simon?’ Then her face lit up with pure joy. ‘Are you courting her?’

‘Good Lord, no,’ he said, pulling Maria to one side, looking round to check no one else had heard her words. He was considered a highly eligible bachelor, with his title, wealth and single status despite being into his thirties. Everyone was waiting for him to declare he was finally ready to start looking for a wife. He didn’t need any flames being added to that fire.

‘Then, who is she?’

‘A pleasant young woman I met about an hour ago.’

‘Why are you watching her so closely?’

‘I’m not,’ he said, realising his eyes were on her again. With an effort he looked away and focussed on his sister-in-law.

‘Whatever you are doing, be careful,’ Maria cautioned him. She flitted between the role of a protective older sister and an excitable friend. There were many people he was going to miss when he left, and Maria was close to the top of that list.

The music swelled and the dance finished, and Simon watched as Forrester bowed to Miss James. They lingered for a moment, talking quietly, before Forrester escorted Miss James to the edge of the dance floor.

‘Excuse me,’ Simon said, hoping Maria did not follow him, moving quickly to scoop Miss James up before anyone else could. Lady Salisbury was on the other side of the room now and seemed to momentarily have lost interest in the young woman. It would be a good opportunity to sneak Miss James back out the way she had come.

‘Thank you for the dance, Miss James,’ Forrester said as Simon approached. ‘I think Northumberland would run me through with a sword if I asked you to dance again, but I do hope you have an enjoyable evening.’

Once Forrester had left, Simon leaned in as close as he dared and said quietly, ‘Lady Salisbury is otherwise occupied. I wonder if it would be best to sneak you out of here now.’

Chapter Three

With her heart hammering in her chest Alice tried to act nonchalant as she followed Lord Westcroft from the ballroom. She looked all around for Lydia but could not see her anywhere and wondered if Lady Salisbury had recognised her as an interloper as well. It was more likely Lydia had realised Lady Salisbury was watching her and slipped away herself. Her friend was highly excitable but astute and observant. Hopefully she was halfway back to the village by now.

‘We stand here, pretending to talk, until no one is looking, then we quickly walk down the steps into the darkness of the garden.’

‘What if someone sees us?’

‘They won’t.’

‘Would it be safer for me to go by myself?’

She saw him grimace and then shake his head. ‘We do not know if anyone is roaming the gardens. There could be all sorts of dangers out there.’

‘You make it sound as though wild animals prowl through the flower beds.’

‘The truth is much more dangerous. There are unscrupulous people in this world.’