Page 33 of Scandal’s Daughter

Chapter 16

“Wherein an imposter is discovered.”

Georgiana surveyed the chaos laid out before her with mounting panic and clutched at her footman’s arm.

“Oh, Thomas, we must get him back!”

“Yes, miss,” the man replied with a frown before casting himself into the fray. Georgiana ran to the grand staircase and stood on tiptoe and tried to see if she could find any trace of her wretched dog. A moment later she found him, enthusiastically engaged in trying to liberate a hamper from a very red-faced man who was just as enthusiastic in trying to hold on to it.

“Oh no!” she muttered in horror, before running across the room and hoping to grab hold of the idiotic creature. Too late. A moment before she arrived the clasp on the hamper ripped apart in his vigorous jaws and a multitude of cold meats, cheese, dried fruits, and, heaven help them ... Scotch eggs, went flying over the red carpeted floor.

Conrad was in heaven.

As far as her misbegotten dog was concerned it was raining manna from heaven and he ran around snaffling up the goodies as fast as his fervent nose could seek them out.

“Oh dear, I’m really most desperately sorry,” she said, approaching the red-faced man with caution as he looked like he would suffer an apoplexy at any moment.

He turned on her with undisguised rage in his faded brown eyes. They flashed with righteous indignation beneath bristling eyebrows as he found someone on whom to unleash his wrath.

Georgiana took a breath, awaiting her fate as the short, stout fellow drew a breath and prepared to vent his spleen, when the Adonis who had caught her just moments earlier stepped up to her.

“If you would allow me,” he murmured in her ear, before bestowing her with a devastating smile which he in turn brought to bear on the old man about to tear her off a strip. “General Denton,” he said, holding out his hand. “Well, I say, what a chance that it should be you my wretched hound has set upon. I am most dreadfully sorry. Dear, dear, what a to-do! But never fear, I will have someone replace your hamper forthwith, and what’s say we pop in a nice bottle of burgundy to go with it, as an apology you understand.”

Georgiana watched with astonishment as her handsome young hero deflected each furious attack from abused shoppers and turned it into something that somehow became the most charming anecdote for them to chuckle about with their friends.

Standing back at a safe distance she couldn’t hear what was said but indeed everyone seemed to know him. Thomas returned Conrad to her with a grimace which she had every sympathy with, but she couldn’t tear her eyes from the amusing scene in front of her. By now a group of ladies who had wanted Conrad’s head on a platter were laughing and flirting with the Adonis in the best of spirits.

Once every complaint had been dealt with and every ruffled feather smoothed to a nicety, Georgiana found herself standing outside the shop facing her heroic rescuer.

“Well, sir, I don’t know what to say,” she replied in all honesty. “I can never thank you enough for your intervention. I fear to think what might have happened if you hadn’t stepped in.”

“Think nothing of it,” he said, once more employing that devastating smile to good purpose. “I am a great animal lover and it would have been a shame to put a period to the life of such an intrepid canine.”

“Idiotic creature,” she sighed, looking down at her dog with chagrin.

“Oh, come, I’m not that bad.” She laughed in surprise as a pair of bright blue eyes twinkled at her with amusement. “But now,” he added, with mock seriousness. “After our great adventure, will you not do me the honour of giving me your name?”

Georgiana went to open her mouth and then paused. It was only too clear that this man, whoever he was, was a member of the ton.

He was exquisitely dressed, with everything from his carefully arranged hair to his cravat and boots, of the latest fashion. Far from being a dandy however, he was dressed with taste and restraint, a large sapphire pin winking in his perfectly tied cravat the only sign of obvious extravagance. Taking a deep breath she realised she would have to face this reaction sooner or later and reluctantly took his proffered hand.

“I am Miss Georgiana Dalton, Sir,” she replied, a little breathless as she waited to see disgust flicker in those beautiful eyes. She did see something there, surprise certainly and then curiosity, but not disgust.

“Well, well, so you are the Siren,” he whispered.

She stiffened immediately and tried to pull her hand free, but he held it tight. “Oh, please forgive me, that was ungallant wasn’t it. I did not mean to call you so, only that everyone is speculating about The Siren. I assure you I of all people would never hold your mother’s sins as your own.”

She unwound a little at the sincerity in his eyes. “Thank you, Sir, but I still do not have your name.”

“Good Lord, where are my manners today?” he replied, shaking his head with bemusement. “The trouble is after one look at your beautiful face I have quite forgotten it I assure you.”

She arched one eyebrow at him, and he grinned at her.

“Too much?” he asked with a look of such innocence she couldn’t help but laugh at him.

“Certainly, too much,” she nodded, trying hard not to look too obviously amused. Whoever he was he was the most outrageous flirt.

He gave a heartfelt sigh and then bowed to her. “I am Charles Stafford, the Marquess of Beaumont. But you, my dear, can most certainly call me, Beau.”