Page 52 of To Break the Rules

“And now, go to Nanny Johnson and insist she makes you look like a young lady again, and not a street urchin,” Montagu said, sounding rather stern, though the girl just flashed him an impish smile.

“Yes, Uncle,” she said, and ran off once more.

Montagu sighed and shook his head. “I despair of ever teaching her manners,” he said.

“Nonsense,” Matilda replied, getting to her feet. “She’s a delightful child, and manners are overrated.”

He raised one eyebrow at her. “I beg to differ, but coming from you, that does not surprise me in the least.”

Matilda wondered why the comment pleased her when it was really an insult, though she felt it hadn’t been meant as such. She regarded him with a touch of irritation as she noticed he still looked unaffected by the heat. Unlike most of the men around them, his cravat and collars had not wilted, and he looked as cool and immaculate as always.

“I was right, wasn’t I?” she said, her lips twitching as he returned a questioning look. “Well, this appalling heat doesn’t appear to bother you, so you really must have ice in your veins.”

He looked back at her, his pale eyes intent. “Only in my heart, Miss Hunt,” he said, with such sincerity she felt a little unsettled by it.

Matilda turned away from him for a moment, but she couldn’t resist the urge to needle him a little more.

“I believe you, and I admit I’m surprised to find you in company with a little girl. I would have thought the top-lofty Marquess of Montagu far too cold and proud to take small children for ices.”

Montagu narrowed his eyes at her with a look of resentful resignation. “Even I cannot withstand the constant nagging of an eight-year-old girl once she’s set her mind on a trip to Gunter’s. At least, not that of Miss Barrington,” he said with dignity. “She’s remarkably single-minded.”

“I wonder where she gets that from,” Matilda murmured.

Montagu chuckled at that and Matilda did her utmost to suppress the shiver of pleasure the sound elicited.

“Do you see a lot of her?” she asked, before her remark could divert the conversation into dangerous waters.

“As she lives with me, I do.”

“Oh?”

The marquess gave her a sceptical look. “My brother is dead, Miss Hunt. Surely you knew that?”

Matilda looked at him and coloured a little. “I didn’t,” she said, feeling a little guilty, though she wasn’t sure why. “I’m sorry for your loss.”

Montagu nodded, that cool, indifferent expression settling back over his face like a mask. “We are all that is left of our line. Imagine that,” he added with a sneer. “To think I am the only person she has in the world. Now your tender heart bleeds for her, does it not?”

Matilda stared at him, a little shocked by his tone, and by the challenge in his eyes. For a moment she almost agreed with him, but then she remembered the trusting look in the girl’s eyes as she’d begged her Uncle Monty’s pardon, and the soft look of affection Montagu had perhaps not realised he’d revealed.

“No,” she said, surprising herself. “I think she’s a lucky girl. For surely no one in England protects his kin with more ruthlessness than you, Lord Montagu?”

There was a long pause, and though she could read nothing from his expression, she suspected he was surprised by her comment. At length he gave a soft laugh.

“Well, Miss Hunt, you of all people should know.” He inclined his head a little, before walking away and leaving her alone.

Chapter 15

I’m sorry if I disappeared, Harriet, I thought I saw someone I knew, that’s all. Sadly, I was mistaken, but never mind that. I don’t understand how you can’t be excited to go to the country and attend St Clair’s ball? I know you’ve been lots of times, but even if you can’t stand him (which I simply don’t understand) there will be so much fun to be had.

At least you could console yourself at the idea of having my scintillating company!

―Excerpt of a letter from Miss Kitty Connolly to Miss Harriet Stanhope.

2Ist July 1814. South Audley Street, London.

Silas was unaccountably nervous as he rapped on the door. Lucia had promised to tell him her secrets today. He’d racked his brain and been quite unable to think of a single thing that could change his mind about her, short of murder or treason. Somehow, he didn’t think her capable of either of those crimes, so why he was so filled with misgiving, he couldn’t fathom.

Excitement and anticipation thrummed in his blood as the butler left him in the drawing room and went off to inform Lucia of his arrival. He didn’t have long to wait.