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“Come, let us join our group.” With Mrs. Dressel trailing along behind them, they stepped up to a nice-sized area where several people already stood. She recognized Lord Hyatt, Lady Priscilla, and the annoying Lord Chadwick, chatting with a few others she did not know.
“Allow me to introduce you to those unfamiliar to you.” Cam led her over to the group. “May I make known to you my ward, Lady Bridget MacDuff?” He waved at three people standing to Lady Priscilla’s right. “Miss Lockhart, Mr. Davies, and Lord Barclay.”
The men bowed and Miss Lockhart made a slight curtsy. “You are such a lovely young lady,” the young girl gushed. “I imagine it will take you no time at all to find a husband.” She turned her attention to Cam. “I’m sure his lordship will be delighted to see you happily settled with a husband and no longer his worry.”
…
Cam inwardly groaned at Miss Lockhart’s rudeness and thinly veiled suggestion that he would be happy to blithely pass Bridget off to another man without a second thought. Even though that had been his intention from the start, Miss Lockhart made it sound like a warning to Bridget that she need not consider him a potential husband. Not that he had any ideas along that line. Nor did Bridget, he was certain. But a couple of the other guests looked startled at her impolite inference.
Miss Lockhart had been tossing not-so-subtle hints to him about wedded bliss ever since her come-out two years before. She’d been an Incomparable her first Season, and rumor had it she’d turned down several proposals, claiming that with her beauty she was deserving of either a marquess or a duke. And plenty of money, of course. He’d had a few near misses with the scheming chit and had stayed as far from her as he possibly could.
“I don’t believe I am Lord Campbell’s worry at all,” Bridget said with the sweetest smile. “Furthermore, I don’t need someone to see me happily settled. I can attend to my own happiness and make my own choices.” Bridget could definitely hold her own with the snippy Miss Lockhart.
The chit shook her head and laughed. “Oh, my dear Lady Bridget. How very naive. You will certainly not have whomever you choose. And you certainly must know your guardian is on the very short list of Most Eligible Lords.”
“Indeed? Then perhaps it is a good thing I don’t read lists. In fact, I find it quite odd that people have nothing better to do than invent lists on which to place people.” Bridget turned to Cam. “May we take the promised stroll in the gardens, my lord?”
Cam almost choked on his laugh. With her chin held high, Bridget sailed off on his arm, smiling and nodding at those she passed.
“Well done, my lady.”
“Ha! I spent enough years at a girls’ private school where I was not accepted because of my heritage. Miss Lockhart had no chance.” Bridget’s wide smile turned into a soft laugh.
The soft laugh did something to his insides. The huskiness of her voice reminded him of sighs and moans in the bedchamber. Is that how Bridget would sound as he pleasured her? Would her face flush with passion, her blue eyes darken with desire?
Cam took in a deep breath and held it, willing himself to think of other things, which was difficult with Bridget right next to him and the scent of her hair wafting toward him. “I don’t believe your chaperone has followed us.” He looked behind them at a few couples, but no Mrs. Dressel.
Bridget laughed. “I saw her take a seat at the back of the supper box. I am sure she is fast asleep by now.”
“Wonderful chaperone.” He shook his head.
After about another ten minutes, Cam turned them around. “It is getting close to suppertime. I believe we should return. You do not want to miss the performers and the fireworks.”
“No, indeed.” She tugged on his arm. “Let’s hurry.”
The others had taken their places at the table, leaving only two openings. As soon as they arrived, Lord Chadwick stood and pulled out a chair. “My lady, would you be so kind as to join me for supper?”
Although he was quite annoyed at Chadwick, Cam left Bridget and headed to the only other empty seat. Right between Miss Lockhart and Lady Mallory, a charming elderly woman who was almost deaf.
Bloody hell.
Miss Lockhart smiled brightly as he sat. “My lord, I am very excited about the fireworks. They are always so entertaining, are they not?” She patted him on the hand and leaned toward him. “I hope you will escort me to the Prince’s Pavilion, where the view is so much better.” Her eyes narrowed as he glanced down the table at Bridget and Lord Chadwick conversing.
“Have no fear, my lord. There are several men here who would be more than happy to escort your ward. Besides Lord Chadwick, she has garnered a great deal of interest among the other gentlemen. I am sure your duties as a guardian do not encompass minding the young lady like a child.” She tittered.
Actually tittered.
He hated being manipulated, and Miss Lockhart was quite adept at it. Naturally, he wanted other men in the group to escort Bridget to the fireworks display. That was the reason they were socializing—so she could find a man tolerable enough to marry. Then his duties would be finished.
“Yes, Lady Bridget will no doubt find a partner to escort her.” He would be sure Mrs. Dressel kept her eye on Bridget. Right now the woman was looking a bit peaked. She should leave off the wine. It would make her drowsy.
They enjoyed the food offered, and Miss Lockhart kept up a constant chatter about London, the upcoming holidays, and how very, very bored she was with just about everyone who was anyone off to the country.
A horn sounded and illumination from gaslights began to appear throughout the area. “Oh, it’s time to go, my lord!” Miss Lockhart jumped up as the others all rose to move to the Prince’s Pavilion. He caught a glance of Bridget being led by Lord Chadwick. Bloody hell, didn’t she know he was the worst choice as an escort?
Miss Lockhart practically dragged him to the area where hundreds of others had gathered. Within minutes he’d lost sight of Bridget, and then reminded himself she was a fully grown adult—with a chaperone—and he had no cause for concern.
What he should be more worried about was the woman on his arm. She would like nothing more than to have them discovered in a compromising situation. He shuddered at the horrifying thought of being attached to Miss Lockhart for the rest of his life.
