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And Cynthia did rather want a friend near her age.

Besides, as a married lady, Eleanor probably knew all sorts of things that Cynthia was curious about.

The Earl's thigh pressed against hers through her skirts, distracting her, but she couldn't move away without encroaching on the Countess' space. It was only then that she realized Eleanor had asked her a question.

Blushing, she forced herself to focus, wondering why she was so off-kilter. Surely it was the presence of guests, and not the attractive and surly man beside her.

******

Seeing the amusement in Edwin's eyes, Wesley wondered again why he hadn't sat down in the chair that had been left open for him. At first he'd told himself that he'd sat beside Cynthia in order to lessen the burden of watching over her from his mother. It was a well-known fact in the Spencer household that the Countess would keep whatever child she thought was most likely to misbehave close to her side. She was adept at knowing which one was up to mischief.

But now that he was sitting here, his thigh pressed against Cynthia's through her skirts, and his eyes wandering to that fantastic bosom - no matter that it was currently decently covered - he knew that he'd been lying to himself. He'd wanted to sit next to her. To discompose her the way she discomposed him.

Once he'd realized that she'd been listening at the keyhole, his hand had itched to spank her again. In fact, he'd found himself becoming aroused at the thought, despite the presence of Eleanor, Edwin and, most notably, his mother. Was it the temptation of forbidden fruit? Or was it the lush curves of the young woman in question?

Either way, he knew that it was a temptation he wasn't going to be giving in to. He had to get the chit married off, and quickly. Maybe he'd seduce her afterwards, he mused, once she was no longer a (possible) innocent, no longer his responsibility and had become acceptable prey for seduction. Then he wondered if the reason he insisted on casting a shadow of doubt over her innocence was for his own sordid desires.

"Wesley are you listening?"

"Ah - no, sorry Mother, I was wool gathering." Years of practice kept him from actually blushing. Nothing like plotting the possible future seduction of your ward only to be caught out by your mother. Besides which, he was going to need to convince some poor sot to marry her first. There had to be at least a few unobjectionable men that would want his favor and be willing to overlook her wild ways - unobjectionable to his mother that was. He could think of a dozen fortune hunters off hand that would be happy to take on a wife like Cynthia as long as she came with a good dowry, especially considering her looks, but his mother would never stand for it.

"I was saying that there's going to be a ball at the Assembly house on Thursday. As the Earl, you should be there." The glint in his mother's eye made Wesley feel a little uneasy. He assumed that she wanted him there to keep an eye on Cynthia and to assist with her chaperoning duties, but something about the way she said it made him think there was more to the matter. And that whatever the "more" was, it was something she thought he wouldn't like.

"You'll be going, won't you?" he asked, turning to Edwin and Nell. Bath tended to be dull as it was, but if he had to go then perhaps his friends would indulge him as well.

Eleanor glanced at Edwin, beseechingly. Good old Nell. He could always count on her to want to get out and have some fun. Edwin's eyes rolled upwards but he nodded his head.

"Yes, I'm sure Eleanor would enjoy an evening out." He smiled indulgently at her as she beamed at him. "I know how you love to dance."

"I'll save all my waltzes for you."

The Countess shook her head and tutted. "Scandalous." But she was smiling and there was no heat to her voice.

"Yes, we caused quite a bit of talk back in London," Edwin said unrepentantly. "I am unfashionably enamoured of my wife." Eleanor's cheeks turn a bright pink as he reached out and took her hand. Wes thought his mother looked a bit wistful. Glancing down at Cynthia, she was watching the couple with a strange kind of fascination. He wondered what was going through the little minx's mind.

"Well I think it's lovely," Wesley's mother said firmly. "As long as you're not completely improper about it."

Eleanor cleared her throat, still looking quite pink and pleased. "Would you and Cynthia like to come for tea tomorrow afternoon? I would love to have some company."

"I'm having tea with the Dowager Duchess of Camden," the Countess said. Wesley actually felt Cynthia wilt beside him in disappointment and he coughed to cover a snicker. The Dowager Duchess was a right old bag, he couldn't imagine that she had anything approving or complimentary to say to Cynthia. "I'm sure that Cynthia would love to join you, however."

"Really?!" Cynthia perked right back up before slapping her hands over her mouth, as if afraid the reprieve would be snatched away if she questioned it. Wesley didn't bother to hold back his laughter this time. When she glared at him he only laughed harder. Edwin was chuckling as well.

"I'm sure Lady Hyde will be much more... ah... convivial company for you than my own set," the Countess said, shooting a dark look at both Wesley and Edwin. He grinned at her and then winked at Cynthia, who was pretending not to notice him. But her cheeks darkened even further when he winked. There was something delightfully refreshing about her uncensored reactions; amazing that she'd managed to hold onto that trait when living with his mother. It also made teasing her quite a bit more enjoyable. "And it will be good for you to have some companionship of a proper young lady."

This time, Wesley and Edwin both manfully swallowed their laughter. While her husband might be working on her behavior, Wesley doubted that Eleanor would ever be completely proper.

Chapter 3

London was lonely without Hugh's friends and family. Irene was making new connections as his wife and a future Countess, but she had no idea whether or not those connections were because of her new position or because she was liked for herself. Eleanor would have been able to help her, but now she was taken away to Bath with her husband; which made Irene fret as it had been all her fault that Edwin and Hugh had learned about Eleanor's plans to leave town. While Hugh assured her that Edwin would never harm Eleanor, he'd looked so black and angry when he'd left.

Irene had sent a letter to Eleanor, apologizing profusely, but it took time for the mail to be delivered. And who knew if Eleanor would write her back? Perhaps she would be too angry.

Other than Eleanor, Alex would have been someone that Irene could count on to steer her in the right direction, but she didn't want to upset the wonderful new revelations between her and Hugh. After all, she'd only just barely realized that her love for Hugh was very different from her love for Alex; she worried that any further contact with Alex might make Hugh doubt those revelations.

She'd much rather stay in every night than go out. It was a strain to be the perfect wife in Society, to make up to Hugh for her embarrassing lack of restraint when she'd thrown herself at Alex, and all the while wondering which smiles directed her way were sincere and which were not. Staying in with her husband and his wonderfully inventive and exciting activities in their bedroom was much more preferable. Unfortunately Hugh's title and responsibilities, and effectively her own, made that an impossibility.

Standing at the front window of their house, Irene stared out onto the street, watching people passing without really seeing them. Hugh had gone out for the afternoon to his club

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