Page 22 of One Waltz with the Viscount

Now he only had Lord Shrewsbury to stop from revealing his secret.

‘I don’t know...’ Shrewsbury began. Over the top of his father’s head, Henry shot him a pleading look. Shrewsbury clamped his lips together.

‘I think everyone is heading inside,’ Henry said, hoping it would prompt his father to go and find his seat.

‘Don’t let yourself get distracted, boy,’ Lord Burwell said, with one final, meaningful look at Miss Shepherd.

Henry nodded seriously, holding his breath until his father had disappeared into the crowd.

‘That was bizarre,’ Lord Shrewsbury said, raising an eyebrow at Henry. ‘Miss Shepherd is here I see. And apparently she is my wife’s distant cousin?’

‘Your wife is a rare gem.’

‘I know,’ Lord Shrewsbury murmured. ‘You’re lucky she likes you so much. She would not have gone along with that for anyone else.’

At that moment Lady Shrewsbury and Miss Shepherd reappeared, no longer arm in arm.

‘I know,’ Henry said, raising his hands in defence. ‘I have a lot of explaining to do.’

‘I suggest you start immediately,’ said Lady Shrewsbury.

‘As you know, my father has been increasingly insistent that I focus all my energies on finding a suitable wife to be the second Lady Routledge. He was not impressed to find me here with Miss Shepherd.’

‘From how I dress he could apparently see I was not worthy of being the sort of woman a Viscount would court,’ Miss Shepherd said. She did not look upset or perturbed, and even gave Henry a little half-smile. He reminded himself to thank her later—only her quick thinking had saved him from his father’s wrath.

‘He thinks my every waking hour should be dedicated to finding a wife, and with his threats to keep Sophia from me I thought it best he did not know Miss Shepherd’s true identity. I didn’t want him to think I was courting her.’

‘Are you courting her?’ Lady Shrewsbury asked, her eyes widening.

‘No,’ Miss Shepherd said, so quickly that in any other circumstance he might be offended. ‘Lord Routledge has been very kind to me, that is all.’

‘Wait a moment,’ Lord Shrewsbury said, ‘I can’t see how we got from Miss Shepherd being someone you met in the street and persuaded you to help her access an audience with our housemaid, to you two attending the opera together.’

‘Ah,’ Henry said. ‘Yes, I can see how that looks to be a bit of a leap.’

‘Was any of it true? The story about your missing sister? The need to talk to Agnes Pepper?’ Lady Shrewsbury fixed her gaze on Miss Shepherd, and Henry marvelled at how well she handled the scrutiny.

‘Yes. I came to London to try to find my missing sister, and in her letters she mentioned Agnes Pepper, which was why I wanted to talk to her.’

‘I have offered to help Miss Shepherd find her sister, if I can provide any assistance.’

Both Lord and Lady Shrewsbury turned to Henry, looks of incredulity on their faces.

‘Would you excuse us a moment, Miss Shepherd,’ Lady Shrewsbury said, stepping to close the gap between her and Henry, moving them a few steps away from Miss Shepherd.

‘Have you gone mad? Do you have a fever? Is there some sort of parasite eating away at your brain?’ Lady Shrewsbury whispered, her hands flying as she spoke.

‘Now, my dear, I am sure—’ Lord Shrewsbury began, but he was cut off by his wife.

‘You know nothing about the girl. It is obvious you are a wealthy man, have you not considered that she may be luring you in, hoping you will compromise her and then need to compensate her to satisfy your honour?’

Henry opened his mouth, but Lady Shrewsbury was not finished.

‘You cannot take in waifs and strays without knowing anything about them. She could be anyone, you know nothing of her family, her background. It is beyond reckless, Henry. You need to get rid of her.’

Henry had always prided himself on his even temper, but right now he was struggling to maintain his composure.

‘I have the utmost respect for you, Louisa,’ he said quietly, his voice low but dangerous, ‘but I cannot allow you to speak of Miss Shepherd like that.’