Lady Merton raised a brow and Dotty remembered that she had not asked if she could visit. “If I may, my lady.”
“Naturally, I would welcome a call from you. Perhaps you can join me for luncheon?”
“Thank you. I would love to.”
At the end of supper, Dotty excused herself to go to the ladies’ retiring room. She was still behind the screen when two women, who obviously thought they were alone as they barely lowered their voices, began to speak.
“Merton standing up twice with Miss Stern and having his mother join them for supper is not a good sign,” the first lady said in low desperate tones.
“We shall have to act quickly. Fortunately, I have an idea,” a second lady responded. “You’ll give a footman a note for Merton asking him to meet you by the fountain at one o’clock.”
“I can’t sign my name to a message like that. What if it landed in the wrong hands? I would be ruined.”
“No, no, my dear,” the other lady said soothingly. “It will be anonymous. Better yet, I shall write it.”
There was silence for a few moments, then, “Very well. Though we must hurry, we’ve only got about twenty minutes before the hour. What will you be doing?”
“I shall ask two or three of the ladies to stroll in the garden with me, for some air. When you hear me laugh, throw your arms around him.”
Dotty put her hand over her mouth, stifling a gasp. What a wicked thing to do. Papa had warned her about men doing something of the sort, but that a lady would attempt to compromise herself was nothing short of shocking.
The first lady sounded worried. “Are you sure this will work?”
“Oh yes.” The other one chuckled. “Merton detests scandals of any type. His being a prig will finally work in your favor.”
There was that word again. He’d never acted stodgy around her. Really, where did people get these ideas?
“It’s as good a plan as any, I suppose,” the first lady said dubiously.
Dotty considered leaping out and declaring her intention to find Merton and reveal the plot, but that smacked of something a heroine in a novel would do, right before she was tied up. Besides, if she spoilt the scheme now, she might not be around when they tried again. Both women seemed determined Merton should marry the one lady.
“Good,” the second lady said. “I have some paper and a pencil.”
The soft scratching of the lead on paper was the only sound for several moments, then finally the door opened and closed. When Dotty peeked around the screen; the room was empty. She must find Merton and warn him. With any luck, he would have left the ball by now. She strode back to the ballroom as quickly as she could, without attracting attention. Why was it still so crowded? Across the room, Lady Merton sat with Grace and another lady. Drat, that meant he was still here. Skirting the edge of the room, Dotty made her way toward the doors to the terrace just in time to see him stride out.
She caught up to Merton as he reached the meeting place. “My lord—”
“Miss Stern, what is the meaning of this?” Holding up the note he frowned.
“I’ve come to warn you.” Her heart was beating so fast, she could barely speak, and she’d never before been alone with a gentleman. “You must go back inside now. Please!”
He shook his head. “I don’t understand. You asked me to meet you here.”
Of all times for him to pick to be difficult. Keeping her voice low, she infused it with urgency. “No, the note is a trap.” She grabbed his hand and tried to pull him toward the doors. Unfortunately, the dratted man stood stock-still.
“A trap?” He frowned. “What do you mean?”
She resisted the urge to rail at him. It must be almost one. They had no time to waste. “I’ll explain it to you on the way in.”
He stared down at her. “You’ll explain it to me now.”
Of all times for him to act like a . . . Grrr. Didn’t he read novels? As calmly as she could she said, “I overheard a conversation. There is a lady trying to force you to marry her.” Dotty took his other hand and tugged. “Please, you cannot be caught out here.”
Finally he moved, but the force of her pulling and him stepping forward brought them up against each other. Before she could move away someone gasped.
“Well, well, well, what have we here?”
Dotty recognized the voice as one of the ladies she had overheard earlier, but Merton’s broad chest blocked her view.
