A Devil Named DeVere (The Devil DeVere)(49)

"Undoubtedly!" Vesta exclaimed.

"Do you care to elaborate? Although it probably is best not to be seen alone in my company, why were you so insistent on avoiding Hyde Park?"

Vesta plucked at her skirts. "Because they must not know I have spoken with you."

"They?"

"Aunt Di and Captain Hew," she answered.

"Ah." He nodded. "And why is this?"

"Because they would neither understand nor approve."

He scowled. "Of you speaking with me?"

"No, of what I speak to you about."

He probed further. "And that topic would be?"

Vesta bit her lip. "Aunt Di and Captain Hew."

"Ah, but of course."

Vesta exclaimed, "It's all wrong, don't you see? Aunt Di is lovely, but she's far too old. And she has already been married once! Should she not give others a chance? It's only fair, after all."

"Undoubtedly." He smirked.

"And Captain Hew, he is far too distracted by her."

"So distracted that he sees nothing...or no one else?" he suggested.

"Precisely! I just knew you of all people would understand."

"So what do you propose as an answer to this dilemma, my dear?"

Vesta wrinkled her brow. "I haven't quite decided. 'Tis why I seek your advice. I first thought about asking her to return home. It is my father's house, after all, but then who would I have to chaperone me? Polly couldn't do so."

"Polly?"

"My maid. Well, she's only a borrowed maid to begin with. So you see why that wouldn't answer at all."

"No, borrowed maids are always an inferior lot."

"Even if I found my own abigail, she still wouldn't be an appropriate chaperone, so you see why I can't send Diana home."

"Indeed, I do. Have you another solution?" Her godfather took up the lines and signaled the horses to turn about.

"I do, but it's a thorny one." She gave him a sidelong glance. "It would require the assistance of one with considerable resources, one who might be in harmony with my proposal."

"Go on, my dear," he urged, now cueing the team into a brisk trot.

"It's simple, really. If Diana cannot be sent home, then Captain Hew must be taken away from her. It's the only way as I see it. And it's purely for his own good."

"Then you have only my brother's best interests at heart?"

"Of course I do, godfather!"

"And that would be..."

"Because I love him."

He snapped his head in her direction. "You are in love with Hew?"

"Madly. Desperately. Passionately."

"Does my brother know of his good fortune?" he asked. "Moreover, does he share your sentiments, Vesta?"

"But how can he when he is blinded by her?" Her voice quivered. "He hasn't even had a chance to look in my direction."

"So in truth, you seek only to enlighten him of the treasure that lies under his very nose?"

"Yes! Do you not see that this is the only way?"

"But of course I see, my pet." She was a wily little wretch, he would surely give her that.

"Then you will help me?" Vesta asked with a wide-eyed look that undoubtedly never failed to bamboozle tender-hearted Ned.

He considered the question and then turned a brilliant smile upon her. "My dear, should I search the world over, I can't imagine finding a more perfect match for my revoltingly straitlaced brother, Hew. Moreover, I have considerable—some would even say nearly infinite—resources, all of which I am willing to unwaveringly place at your disposal."

***

"Pratt!" Lord DeVere ran his head groom to ground upon his return. "I wish to know all about this misadventure in Hyde Park with Lady Vesta Chambers."

The groom studied the toe of his boot with a crimson flush. "Cap'n Hew told you about that, eh?"

"Damned right he did!" DeVere thundered. "Why didn't you apprise me of the incident? Did I not put the girl under your protection?"

"That ye did, milord." The groom's shoulders slumped.

"Then how the devil did you let a horse get away with her?" DeVere demanded.

"Wi' all due respect, my lord, 'tweren't no accident."

"The devil you say!"

"Aye, my lord. There be no devil like a she-devil."

DeVere gave his groom a piercing look. "And what does that mean?"

"'Tweren't quite what the cap'n and my lady thinks."

DeVere felt his temper subside. "Talk to me, Pratt. What really happened?"

"Well, when we rode to the park, to my mind the wee miss was in a fit of pique, hot as her little mare she was that cap'n be fawning all over my lady."

"Was she, indeed?"

"Aye, my lord, a wee rogue wrapped in a pretty package is that one. I begin to think sommat amiss when she lost her hat. The cap'n and my lady was riding ahead, so they didn't see when she asked me to fetch it for her. ‘Tweren't really the hat what spooked the horse, as the hat were already on the ground. After I dismounted, I seen the miss throw away her reins and spur the horse."