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“But the sketch reveals my companion? Yes? And it is a good sketch? Recognizable?”
“It’s a good sketch,” Lissa agreed. “The truth is, I was forced to do it. I have it with me but I’m playing for time because I want to help you. I didn’t realize the...situation in which we’d find you. Anyway, I hoped you had a brother, someone with whom it was plausible you were with that evening. If you described him—or someone else—I could try and amend the sketch before I hand it to the man who insists that it will be given to your husband during the ball.”
“I have a brother,” she said shakily. “He is distinguished by his red hair. Wild red hair. Yes! Could that work? No, but the sketch will be charcoal.”
“Thin? Portly? Tell me. Quickly!” Lissa could see Mr. Crossing detach himself from Ralph. He was now making his way across to his wife, who saw him too, and Lissa had to remind her in a low voice not to lose her courage.
“Rake-thin,” she whispered, already turning with a shaking smile for her husband. “Square jaw, and he has a favorite waistcoat embroidered in half-moons. He’s an eccentric, to be sure,” she added in a rush.
Lissa excused herself as Mr. Crossing arrived. Quickly she made her way to Ralph’s side. “I need a red crayon or pencil. Now!” she whispered. “Oh Ralph, if I ever needed something from you, it’s this.”
Ralph’s initial surprise turned to fondness. “If only all your desires were so easily acceded to. Come, I shall ask Lady Smythe, and as I see Master Cosmo coming in our direction, I shall have a word in Teddy’s ear. Ah, I say, wonderful timing. Here he is. Teddy, can you waylay that gentleman there and ask questions later?”
“Gosh, but you do have an amenable brother,” Lissa remarked as she followed Ralph to the supper table where Lady Smythe had stationed herself with a garrulous old dowager.
“Teddy is far too kind for his own good, and quite fair game. I’m only surprised he’s reached eight and twenty without getting himself hobbled. Faithful chap, though. Never got over his first love.” He clicked his tongue. “Sad, sad affair. I’ll tell you about it someday. Still, he has a remarkably stoic and cheerful nature, so you’d never guess at his heartache. But then sentimentality runs in the family, as you can tell.
“And here is Lady Smythe, only, much as I would wish you to cleave to me like glue I think it’s dangerous, and I should release you into the care of your chaperone for a moment while I elicit the necessary tools.”
Reluctantly, Lissa returned to the matron into whose care she’d been supposedly placed to preserve appearances for tonight’s entertainment. She’d arranged to meet Ralph in the corridor outside the ballroom, later.
True to his word, he was waiting for her with a red crayon, which he handed to her, together with a piece of charcoal and a larger folded piece of paper, saying, “I know you didn’t ask me for both, but I thought they could be useful, if not necessary. Once you’ve amended the sketch, you can seal it in this parchment. I’ve brought wax for the task, since I thought you’d not want Mr. Lamont to see how you’d changed things. ”
“You have saved the day, Mr. Ralph Tunley,” Lissa declared on a sigh of relief. “And now I must send you away, because we cannot be seen together like this.”
And because it was too tempting to throw her arms about him and show her true gratitude in a most unseemly manner.
***
Araminta had never expected to enjoy the evening so much. It had given her a marvelous sense of superiority to dismiss Mr. Woking in such a belittling manner. He was quite repulsive, and the idea that Lord Debenham imagined she’d throw herself away on such an inferior piece, even if Mr. Woking was his nephew, was insulting in the extreme.
Now here she was, in the arms of the most handsome gentleman in the room, making them quite the most head-turning couple as they waltzed around the dance floor.
Not only was Lord Ludbridge handsome, he was also titled and, it appeared, charmingly pliant. He’d fetched her lemonade after their first dance and then promptly invited her for a second twirl.
“I cannot believe that your brother is secretary to Lord Debenham,” Araminta remarked as they navigated a couple who lacked their finesse. “It is the most remarkable of coincidences, for I recently became acquainted with your brother. A most charming young man.”
“Far too charming for the work he’s doing.” Lord Ludbridge lowered his head to speak with greater intimacy to Araminta. His sweet breath stirred the tendrils of dark hair that fell from her elaborate, feathered coiffure, and her heart thundered with anticipation and the keenest desire. Goodness, this didn’t happen often. Not since she’d sized up Sir Aubrey as a likely prospect before Hetty had stolen him. She decided not to think of her exciting, bruising encounter with Jem, or the danger-edged kiss she’d shared with Lord Debenham. These men were, as of right now, consigned to the past.
Strange that meeting Lord Ludbridge seemed to have entirely dispelled her despair over losing Sir Aubrey to Hetty. It only confirmed that the irresistible man with whom she was dancing must assuredly be her destiny.
“What do you mean, My Lord?” She smiled up at him, hoping to elicit more about Lord Debenham
’s proclivities or the nature of the work young Mr. Tunley was required to do on his account. Just because Araminta no longer wished to marry Lord Debenham didn’t mean it wouldn’t be to her advantage to know as much as she could about him.
She felt like stroking the darling man’s cheek, the way he was looking at her with such transparent admiration. Lord Ludbridge was quite charming. She’d need to find out more about his personal finances, though from first appearances he was plump enough in the pocket to satisfy Araminta when the alternatives were so very dire.
He looked about to say something then buttoned his lips. “My brother is far too tenderhearted to work for a man who has less of a charitable streak than he should have, given his circumstances. There, I’ve said nothing out of turn, even if you know Lord Debenham personally.”
Araminta blushed and dropped her eyes. But no, surely this young man knew nothing at all about her. He’d have no idea she once weighed up the advantages of making Lord Debenham her husband, and he’d surely have no notion of what had happened in the supper house at Vauxhall with Sir Aubrey.
She blanked her mind to the humiliation. She would never again make such a mistake. That, too, was in the past, never to be revisited. From now on she would look only to the future, and the future was right here, at her fingertips.
She squeezed Lord Ludbridge’s hand lightly and, surprised perhaps at what he might perceive as forwardness, he glanced down at her. Adopting her most artful, mischievous smile, she said, “I have met the gentleman but two dances were quite enough. I had to run to his nephew to save me, for I believe Lord Debenham has quite a fearsome reputation.”
Lord Ludbridge gave her hand a little squeeze in response and, to Araminta’s surprise, he actually colored as he realized what he’d done. “I am surprised that a young lady as innocent as you would even know he had a reputation,” he remarked.
“Promise me that if you see him coming in my direction this evening, you’ll cut in and ask me for the next dance.” Araminta adopted a look that was part appealing and wholly enchanting. She knew this by the way he looked at her with such a heart-melting smile.
