“Of course it won’t.” He chuckled as he winked. “It is patently obvious that there is nothing going on between the pair of you.” Before she could stutter any sort of denial, he yanked open the carriage door. “If you would kindly shuffle up, ladies, you need to make room for one more.”
“Shecannot come in here!” That came from the pompous Lady Lynette, who was displaying every bit of her Mayfair superiority as she sniffed down her nose at Lottie. “There is barely any space left as it is without one more. Especially one more ofherstature.” As that could mean she was either too lowly or too tall, Lottie decided to take offense at both statements but bit her lip rather than show it. Instead, she politely waited for Longbottom to deliver the bad news.
“As this is where his lordship’s beloved aunt has expressly stipulated Miss Travers sits, I suggest you take that up with her. However, if you would like more space, my lady, there is plenty in some of the other carriages.” He wafted a hand behind. “It would be no trouble at all to help you move.”
From her sour expression, Lady Lynette did not like that answer, but she backed down. “As Lady Frinton expressly stipulated that I should also be here in this second carriage, it would be ungracious to go against her wishes.” She shuffled a reluctant two inches closer to her precious window seat. “You can try and squeeze in here.”
With gritted teeth, Lottie bobbed her thanks and did her best to wedge her lengthy frame into the smallest gap possible. Knees and elbows clenched in as far as she could clench them, she clasped her hands in her lap and stared at them. Doing her very best to merge into the upholstery as the carriage lurched forward. Feeling—in her sensible gray traveling dress amongst this crowded box full of the finest, most fashionable, boldly colored expensive silks available—very much like a common pigeon in an aviary of exotic birds.
Despite taking up more than her fair share of the limited space, Lady Lynette wiggled her bony elbows to eke herself out a little more the moment they started moving. “I sincerely hope Rochester Castle is worth all this discomfort. If it is naught but a ruin, I shall be most aggrieved at the inconvenience.”
“Oh, it is a ruin,” said Miss Maybury, “but a pretty one.” Then with a superior expression, she couldn’t resist staking her prior claim some more. “Being a local, I have visited here frequently with the Wenningtons. Our two families have always enjoyed aspecialfriendship.”
“As do we.” Not to be outdone, Lady Lynette was keen to embellish her acquaintance to their hosts too. “Mama and I have often taken tea with Lady Wennington in her Mayfair house. And the occasional dinner, of course, during the season. Have you ever attended a season, Miss Maybury?” They all knew she hadn’t. Miss Maybury’s father was a country squire and not aristocratic enough for the ton.
“The odd ball, here and there.” Miss Maybury flicked that blatant falsehood away with a superior chuckle. “But I confess high society holds little appeal. Like his lordship, I detest all the ludicrous pomposity of the ton. I much prefer life here in Kent than all the competitive and shallow silliness of London.”
“Is that because you do not feel able to compete in London?” Miss Yates had now decided to enter what Lottie’s brothers would call the pissing contest. Lottie might be more than a little envious of the heiress’s beauty and status here today, but she could not help but admire her forthrightness. Miss Yates had clearly judged both the awful Miss Maybury and Lady Lynette and found them both wanting.
“Compete with what?” Even Miss Maybury’s fake laughter made her sound like a donkey. “All the ladies there falling over themselves to secure a husband with a title? Much like yourself, Miss Yates. Why on earth would I do that when I have an eligible and titled gentleman right here on my doorstep already?”
“It is too bad that he shows you no particular favor though,” said Lady Lynette, reaching opposite to squeeze Miss Maybury’s hand in mocksympathy. “Know that I take no pleasure in saying that I witnessed he has displayed no particular partiality toward you so far. In fact—and please do not think me cruel in mentioning this, Miss Maybury—I thought he looked more disinterested than thrilled at your overt attempts to flirt with him this morning.”
As catty barbs went, that one was so sharp and so sudden, everyone in the carriage except the maligned Miss Maybury and her tormentor took in a sharp intake of breath.
But rather than take offense or appear wounded by the uncalled-for comment, Miss Maybury laughed—brayed—instead. “That is because Guy”—she covered her mouth with her gloved fingers as if his Christian name had accidentally slipped out—“I mean,his lordshipand I have known each other for a decade and are such good friends we usually do not bother with the formalities. Inprivate,at least.” She managed to say that with a knowing smile, as if they didn’t bother with more formalities in private than merely using each other’s names. “There is so much local speculation about the pair of us hereabouts, it is embarrassing. Although hardly a surprise since we have always been instinctively drawn to one another. Some have even said the frisson between us is palpable, hence we are feigning disinterest so as not to fuel the rampant gossip further.”
Lady Lynette scoffed. “I witnessed no hint of any frisson this morning.”
“Guy is a private man who keeps that side of himself to himself. He would never dream ofpublicflirting.” Miss Maybury smiled her secret smile again. “Which is precisely why I tease him with it at every available opportunity. Let it all build up within…” She now looked so smug, Lottie almost rolled her eyes. Miss Yates, to her credit, did roll hers. “Then wait for his feelings to erupt the next time we are alone.” Miss Maybury stroked her empty ring finger. “I hate to be the bearer of bad tidings, ladies, but I suspect a proposal is imminent.”
“If you are such a certainty as his future viscountess, why has his mother invited all of us here?” Miss Yates was nobody’s fool and said exactly what Lottie wanted to. “If she was satisfied that you and he werea match made in heaven, she wouldn’t have thrust fourteen other eligible ladies at him to take his pick from, would she?”
That cold dose of reality thankfully shut Miss Maybury’s flapping jaws like an insulted vise. But as one mouth closes, so another always opens.
“I take issue at the idea of a man picking me when, in my case, the shoe is very definitely on the other foot.” Lady Lynette sat higher on the carriage bench as if she was about to chair a meeting. “I have several excellent beaus currently courting me in London. Most have titles andallhave fortunes, and at least two of them would make me a very suitable husband should I deign to accept them. However, it is always prudent to weigh up all the options before one makes such an important decision. That is why I accepted Lady Wennington’s invitation. If I feel that the viscount passes muster, I will give his suit due consideration.”
His suit!The arrogance of the woman was staggering when Lady Lynette was the one throwing herself at him.
“As will I—if I can be the one of the fifteen of us to convince the viscount to turn his head my way,” said Miss Yates with refreshing honesty. “So I suppose all that is left to say on the matter is may the best woman win.”
“Oh, I will win.” Miss Maybury’s secret smile was back with a vengeance. “By hook or by crook, he will be mine.”
ChapterNINETEEN
Dante was wrong.
There weren’t nine circles of hell, there were sixteen of them. All bar one were part of the harem Guy’s mother had curated to tempt him, and all bar one were currently vying for his attention in some way but not tempting him at all. The one—the only one he reluctantly still wanted—was currently uncharacteristically quiet and subdued while he tried his best to ignore her. An impossible quest he was failing miserably.
“This has always been my favorite view of the castle and the cathedral.” Miss Maybury had attached herself to his arm a quarter of an hour ago, as they had toured the cathedral’s crypt, and refused to relinquish it. No matter how hard he tried to prize it out of her viselike grip. Short of wrestling the woman to the ground, he was stuck with her until he could shove her back into the carriage. A moment that, frankly, could not come soon enough.
“The cathedral actually predates the castle. I believe there was one on this site as far back as the seventh century, which rather boggles the mind.” Miss Maybury had also appointed herself the tour guide for this interminable trip and was leading the rest of the pack around while she tossed random bits of history to them as if she owned the castle too.
She was certainly behaving as if she owned him and he didn’t like that at all. But listening to her witter on was marginally preferable to listening to Lady Lynette’s self-obsessed droning. He had never met a person so in love with themself. Lady Lynette was the walking embodiment of Narcissus and likely still lacked half of that fool’s charm.
Guy glanced longingly at the line of carriages waiting for them on the lane below and the promise of a couple hours’ peace once they returned before the horror of the lawn bowls tournament began at four. He sincerely hoped that ordeal would not drag like this morning had. That had, so far, been the longest morning of his life! But at least his mother was enjoying herself. Each time she sent a grateful smile his way, he felt wretched for the eight years of birthday distractions he had denied her. Today was about being a good son. And so were the next five days—if he survived them. Then it would all be over.
And Lottie would leave with his aunt.
