Always a Maiden (The Belles of Beak Street #5)(34)

*

Heat crept across Susanah’s face, and she didn’t know where to look. She couldn’t believe she’d just agreed to an illicit rendezvous while in Almack’s, that bastion of propriety, of all places. In front of Lord Hull. In front of the patronesses, and the cream of society. She hadn’t intended to meet with Evan ever again. What was the point? She risked her reputation being destroyed and being ostracized by the ton.

“My lady, are you all right?” asked Lord Hull.

No doubt her consternation showed on her face. There wasn’t any use in pretending she hadn’t been at the masquerade. Lord Hull had to know it had been her with Evan. “I cannot imagine what you must think of me.”

“I haven’t quite got past wondering what to think about Mr. Cooper, yet.”

What was there to think of him? He was a shameless rakehell, flirting outrageously with his partner, at the same time insisting Susanah meet with him. He’d paid the other woman dozens of compliments and then ordered Susanah to name a night to meet as if she’d jump because he said so. She closed her eyes and fought for composure. She tried to think of a pattern to stitch or exactly what shade Lord Hull’s waistcoat was. Ivory, cream, or a light ecru.

He would think her insane if she asked him to name the exact color. Or he’d just say it was white.

“It isn’t like him to…to…attach himself to a marriageable maiden,” Lord Hull continued as if oblivious to her consternation or perhaps because of it.

“I beg you not to speak of him.” It was no use, she couldn’t think of anything else but Evan. “It is not what you think.”

“What is it that you think I think?” Lord Hull asked.

She realized she was frowning at him. Shaking her head, she measured the thirty feet to her mother’s side. It was too close a distance to risk candid conversation with Lord Hull. But once back at her mother’s side she wouldn’t have to explain at all. “Thank you for the dance, my lord.”

Lord Hull stopped. “I don’t think I can agree to be complicit in the ruination of a young lady.” He paused. “Or any more complicit than I already am.”

“Please,” she whispered. “My mother has the ears of an eagle.” Which wasn’t what she meant to say. “Or rather she has ears like an eagle has eyes.”

“I see,” he said. “Let us take a turn about the room then.”

He turned and began a circuit around the ballroom. The cold angry gazes of Lord Farringate and her mother bit at her back. She resisted the urge to put her hand over her nape as if to protect it.

“We need not…” She bit her lip. Although if her parents thought Lord Hull was interested in her, she might be granted leave to try and fix his attentions. And walking about would give her time to compose herself.

When they were a little space away from everyone, she said. “He isn’t trying to seduce me if that is what you think. Nothing could be further from the truth.” After all, he hadn’t paid her half as many compliments as he did his flirts. She could see that now. If he’d wanted to seduce her, she had made it incredibly easy for him, practically begged him to. But he’d only just kissed her the last time they had been together. “I just asked him to assist me with something. And you said yourself that he is leaving town soon.”

Lord Hull gave her a skeptical glance.

“Could we please change the subject?” she asked.

“Yes, of course.” He cast a glance over his shoulder as if he felt the animosity coming their way. “Do you have an understanding with Lord Farringate?”

“No.” Not yet, she should have added.

Lord Hull’s voice pitched upward. “Does he think you have an understanding?”

“I don’t know what he thinks,” she said shortly. More shortly than she should have. She reminded herself she shouldn’t be rude to a man who knew enough to destroy her.

“He is very dog-in-the-mangerish about you.”

“My parents are encouraging his lordship,” she confessed.

Maybe she should accept Lord Farringate’s offer when it was forthcoming. She would, after all, become a countess, and he had his own castle to which he would remove her. He was not young. Perhaps she would only need to be his wife for a decade or so before she was widowed. Although the thought was beneath her. A lady didn’t marry a man hoping he’d pass. And to fulfill her duty she should have a son, so the marquessate could be restored.

“You’d do better to marry Mr. Cooper.”

She stiffened all over. “Mr. Cooper has not offered, nor would my parents welcome his suit.”

He had only offered to take responsibility for having her out in the middle of the night. If she thought on it, she wasn’t really his type. His lovers were often dark-haired, like the woman he’d been dancing and flirting with tonight.

“And they welcome the addresses of a man whose wives expire like flies?” Lord Hull asked as they rounded the far edge of the ballroom.

“Hardly like flies,” she objected.

“All right. They don’t live as long as dogs then. He marries women and they disappear to his castle never to be seen again.”

Although Lord Hull wouldn’t know it, going away to some castle and never having to see her parents again might be a point in favor of Lord Farringate’s suit.