Lady Easton suddenly blinked. “I just thought, did you notice, that Easton called him Prinny? You do not suppose that he has become…an intimate of that circle? Could that be why he suddenly has ideas and opinions? Didtheyput the notion in his head?”
Both Lady Easton and Lord Bertridge appeared horrified by the idea.
Caroline concentrated on keeping the smile from her face and scratched Edgar’s ears. She did not know if the Regent had encouraged Lord Easton to have opinions and ideas. She did not know if the Regent had any plan regarding her whatsoever. What she did know, though, was that she was going to a rout.
That was quite enough to know for now.
Chapter Five
Richard had retiredto dress for the blasted Regent’s rout. A rout, of all things. It was the worst sort of party to take a lady like Miss Upton. She was at once bold and naïve to the ways of the world. A rout presented far too many ways to get into trouble far too easily.
What outrageous things he had viewed in routs past!
He had seen unmarried ladies slip off with some young buck and eventually come back again decidedly disheveled. He’d wait for the inevitable marriage announcement, it never came, and then the lady hurriedly married another.
He’d seen married ladies cavort with gentlemen who were not their husbands, the husbands often not even present! Behind draperies, in alcoves, exiting servant’s closets, it seemed no location was off limits.
And that was just what he’d seen. There were the things he’d heard the following day but had not witnessed himself. Lord Mantinay discovering his wife in the arms of Mr. Bruster, which had resulted in a duel and Mr. Bruster’s now permanently damaged arm and even more damaged reputation. Mr. Jacobs meddling with a female servant. Sir Michael attempting to lure a duke’s daughter out of view of her mother. What else had gone on that nobody even knew about?
He would have to keep a close watch on Miss Upton. He would not allow her to sully his family’s reputation. He did not think she would purposefully do something shocking, but he very much thought she was a lady ruled by her passions and might fall into something she would regret.
As Kingston worked on his neckcloth, Richard looked dolefully at Edgar. “And you,” he said, “you have been a traitor of the highest order. One would think I don’t feed you. I was very much counting on you to ignore Miss Upton, not to throw yourself at her like a long-lost friend.”
Kingston, well-used to him talking to his dog, did not betray any surprise at hearing of Edgar’s traitorous afternoon. As for Edgar himself, he only wagged his tail.
Kingston finished his cloth and brushed his coat one last time. Richard sighed and went to Edgar, patting him on the head. “Now, no barking while I’m out. Neighbors never like it and we don’t even yet know who they are. Kingston, if you hear him, do come and get him and take him to the servants’ hall until I return. I pray it will not be late.”
As he jogged down the stairs, he met with some confusion in the great hall.
Lady Easton said, “But I do not understand why we must take two carriages when we can all fit in one very easily.”
“The Regent wishes me to introduce Miss Upton,” Lord Easton said. “He was very particular about it. I will take Miss Upton and then you and Richard can follow behind. It is not far, after all!”
Despite the explanation, Richard had not the faintest idea of why his uncle and Miss Upton should go separately. He wished to inform his uncle that it was not ideal. He needed to keep his eye on Miss Upton, not be separated in the crush, though he could not very well say so with the lady standing there.
As for Miss Upton herself, she was dressed neatly in a white muslin with a bright green ribbon at the waist, topped by a pelisse of pale green satin that he was sure was Lady Easton’s. Miss Upton’s hair was done beautifully, taken up and with soft curls allowed to frame her face. She really was wonderful looking, if only she could be persuaded not to speak.
“But Easton, this is all very irregular,” Lady Easton said.
“Throw over your habits and schedules, my dear,” Lord Easton said cheerfully. “We are in Brighton now.” He held out his arm and said, “Miss Upton?”
Miss Upton took Lord Easton’s arm and they sallied out to the first carriage.
Richard reached the last step of the stair and entered the hall. As his uncle and Miss Upton disappeared into the first carriage, he said, “What is going on?”
“I have not the faintest idea, Richard,” Lady Easton said. “It seems nothing is as it should be and we are living in a topsy-turvy world. I feel quite off balance.”
Richard agreed with that assessment. It felt as if the ground beneath his feet was not as solid as it had been.
“I really do not care for Brighton, Richard.”
“Nor I, Aunt, nor I.”
*
Caroline had beenseated across from Lord Easton after their very odd departure from the house. She did not mind it, she only thought poor Lady Easton was entirely confused.
The carriage started up and the lord leaned forward confidentially. “Miss Upton, I wonder if it were possible, that is, I would not like my wife to be intimately acquainted with any wagers I may make…or have made in the not very distant past…”
