At Astley’s, Dominic had thought Carew was flirting with Miss Whitford in order to vex him—it had always been their way to compete over ladies—not that Dominic was trying to win Miss Whitford—but it seemed Carew was intent on repeating the performance.
“What is he about?” Dominic muttered to himself as he entered his mother’s drawing room and saw Miss Whitford smiling up at Carew.
“Good evening.” He made his bow to them both.
He looked on Miss Whitford’s toilette with approval. No longer dressed in dowdy country clothes, she would do any man of fashion credit in a robe of silver net over white satin, with short, plaited sleeves, and trimmed with pearls.
Dominic raised his brows at Carew, who smiled knowingly. “There seems to be a surplus of protectors tonight.” He looked over towards Patience and Grace, who were laughing at his brother and Captain Fielding.
“I suppose there are.”
“If you would prefer other entertainment tonight, it does not appear your presence is necessary.”
“Trying to be rid of me, are you? If it’s all the same to you, I think I’ll stay,” Carew remarked casually.
Dominic inclined his head while Miss Whitford looked back and forth between them as though sensing some undercurrent.
Carew might be surprised to know that Dominic had no intention of playing such games over his wards. If Miss Whitford preferred Carew, then the Irish rogue would have to toe the line. It was just as well if Dominic was not always seen with Miss Whitford on his arm.
He looked aroundand appreciated the others in their evening finery—there was little doubt all eyes and lorgnettes would be on the Westwood box. Currently, however, they were gathered around little Freddy Tiger, watching him as he chased a feather that had been tied to a string. Joy pulled the cord tauntingly, and the kitten would pounce on its prey.
“Who would have thought Freddy would make such ado about a cat?” Rotham asked as Dominic approached the gathering.
“Not I. But apparently, his namesake is more entertaining than a play. Would that I had known, we could have been saved the bother. I’ve little fancy for Shakespearean drama tonight.”
“I wish to try it!” Grace exclaimed, then took the string and laughed as the kitten sprang on the feather.
Not to be outdone, Freddy held out his hand for a turn. “By Jove! Look at him go!” However, Freddy was not content to drag the feather along the floor. He began to wave it in the air.
The little tiger lived up to his origins, attacking and jumping—straight onto Freddy’s evening coat.
Instead of the horror with which the vision instilled in his friends, Freddy only laughed and peeled the little monster off, leaving behind claw marks and a puff of yellow fur on the exquisite silk.
“Oh, dear! Please let me see if I can repair your coat, or I am afraid you will be obliged to change,” Miss Whitford said.
“No time to change,” Freddy responded with a careless shrug. “I will miss the play. Not fond of Shakespeare, myself.”
“Excellent! You may stay here and keep us company for a while,” Joy decided.
“Don’t mind if I do,” Freddy said as he resumed his frolics with the string and feather and delighting in the cat’s antics.
Dominic, Rotham, Carew, and Montford could only look on with disbelief.
Carew slapped him on the back. “Are you not now glad that I stayed on?” he teased.
“I am unconcerned either way,” Dominic said coolly.
Soon, Lady Westwood, the sisters, and gentlemen were loaded into three carriages and on their way to the theatre. By this point, they were late and the crowd had already settled into their boxes. Chance could not have timed it more perfectly.
The sisters, of course, did not realize there was any disturbance at all about their appearance, but many heads swivelled their way, speech was halted and given a new direction, and the young bucks in the pit were straining their necks to see if the rumours about Dominic’s wards were true.
The farce on stage had begun, and the Whitford ladies were every bit as enraptured with the scene as they had been at Astley’s. Dominic settled in for boredom until the intermission, only taking note of where Sir Julian and his friends were in a box just around a bend in the tier, but with a clear view of theirs. He fully expected another move by the blackguard soon.
He looked at Rotham and Carew, who nodded that they had also seen and noted the enemy’s position. Dominic had no doubt his brother and Fielding had as well, but he did not turn his head to look behind him.
When the intermission came, the gentlemen positioned themselves around the ladies, waiting for the results from the onslaught of gentlemen who would wish for introductions. Dominic was not opposed to the sisters meeting respectable gentlemen, but he had not seen any there that night who he would place in such a category.
The guard tactics appeared to have worked through the intermission. Sir Julian and his friends had not had the opportunity, or had not made the effort against the sea of admirers. Many vied for entrance to the box, but only a few were successful. There was no sign of Sir Julian. However, Dominic was not fooled into thinking Sir Julian would give up on the affair.
