“She seems to know a lot about these young ladies, approving of all but one. What she cannot know, though, is who I will be struck by. I’ve attempted to explain it to her a hundred times.”
“You are always trying to explain that theory to anyone who will listen.” Marcus paused. “Wait. You said your mother approved of all but one? Who did shenotapprove of?”
“Ah, that was a bit of nonsense, really. She claims I ought to steer well clear of the Duke of Pelham’s latest daughter. She says the duke is as mad as a bat in sunshine and his daughters cause the most shocking scandals.”
Marcus nodded. Radler’s mother was not half wrong. The eldest daughter had something to do with Lady Albright’s tiger escaping its cage and the second daughter was in a housefire at Lady Montague’s house. Marcus had heard she’d set it herself, presumably accidently.
“After all, how bad can they be?” Radler asked. “The first wed Stratton, everybody knows he’s a brick. The second caught Dashlend. Who ever thought Dashlendcouldbe caught?” Very suddenly, Radler squinted and peered over Marcus’ shoulder. “What on earth is headed our direction?”
Marcus turned his horse.
He had no idea what he was looking at. He’d never seen such a thing in his life. Four ladies arrayed in matching dark blue habits rode abreast of one another, mounted on short and muscular black horses, and galloping at a furious pace. Two grooms on like-built horses were on their heels.
They whooshed by him, their skirts billowing out and their laughter ringing in the air.
Marcus watched them disappear into the distance.
“Gad,” Radler said, “they are rather marvelous.”
“They are rather foolish,” Marcus said, despite the fact that the lady who’d held the lead by a nose had looked a lovely creature. “I am surprised they are allowed to create such a spectacle and risk their necks in the process.”
“Do you suppose it is some sort of new lady’s club? My mother says young ladies are becoming too daring these days, though I do not see it.”
Before Marcus could compose an answer, and he really did not know what his opinion was on the subject, a carriage rolled to a stop and a window opened.
A middle-aged and seemingly well-funded individual said, “Have you seen my daughters? Four girls on Dales ponies?”
So that was what they’d just witnessed. Marcus nodded. “Yes, my lord. They passed a few minutes ago.”
“Your Grace, if you wish to be precise,” the man said. “Duke of Pelham. Who are you?”
Marcus was taken aback. Though why should he be? After everything he’d heard of the duke’s family, he should have guessed that a feminine battalion on horseback would belong to him. As well, he would have been clever to notice the coat of arms on the carriage door.
“The Earl of Stanford, Your Grace. This is Viscount Radler.”
The duke nodded. A young girl peered out of the carriage with wide eyes. The duke seemed to notice her and said, “My youngest, Lady Valor Nicolet. And this is my housekeeper, Mrs. Right.”
He’d brought his housekeeper to the park. Marcus had assumed it was a nanny, and even that was odd. And then to introduce her was even more odd.
“Well! We’d best be off to track down this horde of daughters I’ve been saddled with,” the duke said. He closed the window and rapped on the roof. The carriage set off.
Radler laughed. “He’s every bit as eccentric as I’d heard.”
Marcus nodded. The duke was entirely eccentric. What did he mean, calling his daughters a horde and claiming he’d been saddled with them? For that matter, what did he mean by allowing them to ride breakneck in the park?
“I’ll be interested to be introduced to Lady Patience this evening.”
“Is that her name?”
“So says my mother.”
Marcus shrugged. He could not say if he were looking forward to such an introduction. What he’d seen so far did not bode well.
On the other hand, she was uncommonly pretty. And then her name, Lady Patience, thatdidbode well.
Perhaps he ought not judge a lady by her father. He certainly had never wished to be judged by his own.
“By the by,” Radler said, “Kendrickson wrote to me. Remember him from Eton? He is coming this season. He says we will see him at Almack’s.”
