Loving a Fearless Duchess: A Historical Regency Romance Book(91)

“You’re welcome to visit me anytime. You know that.”

“And you know that’s not what I meant.”

“I came home to a plundered townhouse. Bennett liquidated everything of value, including Mother’s jewellery – that should have gone to Mercy.” Phin shook his head. “I should have known he would do that. The kicker is my cousin Elizabeth helped him. She’d take things to a pawnshop and give Bennet the money the pawnshop gave her less a ‘fee.’ I’m going to visit her tomorrow. It will be interesting to see what I learn.”

Phin wanted desperately to change the subject. “Ev, see that girl on the left side near the wall with what looks like a yellowish gown?” Phin was directing Everett to Charlotte. He needed to find out what Everett knew about her. She looked gorgeous tonight. Even from this distance, he felt an inexplicable pull towards her.

“I do. That is Lady Charlotte Abbott. She’s a stunner, isn’t she?” Everett gave a short laugh. “She’s not for you. Point someone else out.”

Phin looked affronted. “Not until you tell me why she’s not for me.”

“Your plan, the plan I happen to not like, mentions a wife who is a quiet homebody. Am I right?”

“Yes,” Phin said while moving his hand in a circular motion urging Everett to continue.

“Everybody likes Charlotte. She’s the life of the party. She is a flame; every man in this room is a moth. She tells jokes, she laughs aloud instead of tittering behind her fan. She never misses a ton event. And, she’s usually the first to arrive and the last to leave. C’mon Phin, let me introduce you to a couple of shy, retiring debutantes so you can get a special licence and head to Collinswood the day after tomorrow.”

Could he be wrong in keeping his search so narrow? Would he miss others that did not fit his description but might make him happy? Why did he feel drawn to her, even from the other side of the room?

“But I’m intrigued by Charlotte. I think I’m a moth.”

“If that’s the case, I’ll be back with my butterfly net. It’ll keep you away from that particular flame. There’s a gentleman here, Jasper Bernard, the Lord of Warwick, who is pursuing her, shall I say actively? He’s had a big head start over anyone here.”

Phin furrowed his brow. “Why is he pushing so hard? Does she have a sizeable dowry?”

Everett blew out a quick breath and hooted quietly. “I think the word sizeable minimizes how substantial it is. It is second only to Mercy’s. It’s quite the incentive.”

“We have to find out if this Bernard is broke.”

“Phin, why? She’s not your type. Let’s move on. Point out another.”

Phin scanned the room slowly. He saw a cute blonde exhibiting her ample breasts. He motioned his head to where she was standing. “Her. In the low-cut green dress.”

Everett’s eyes touched on the girl Phin described and turned to him. “Now you’re talking. They say she is shy. Me? I don’t think she has a personality. She is perfect for you. Go ask her to dance.”

“I will. I need one or two more.” Phin looked around the room, but his eyes kept stopping when he saw Charlotte. Everett called her stunning, and she was. Maybe she would be happy in a remote castle near a quiet village. Everett elbowed him. He woke from his musings and scanned the ballroom again.

“What about that brunette in the pink dress with the large Ruby necklace?”

Everett scanned the ballroom twice.

“Where?”

“Right-hand side close to the corner.”

“Seriously, Phin? She just came into town from her father’s estate in the Lake District. It’s her first time in London. I have no idea if she likes it here.” He shrugged. “She doesn’t look up to your standard.”

Phin let the comment go. How would Everett know what his standard would be? “You have been a great help, Everett. Introduce me to the pink dress and green dress. I’ll take care of the yellow dress on my own.”

Everett humphed. Then he looked Phin in the eyes and shook his head.

“Everett?”

“Yes, Phineas?”

“Are you my friend or my mother? My mother used to shake her head at me like that.”

“I’m your mother. Let’s go.”

Phin asked all three for a waltz. He figured he could talk with them while dancing and wouldn’t need to stand on the side of the ballroom trying to get to know them while their chaperones listened in.

Green dress had a great body. When he approached her, it was difficult to find a place to put his eyes. They were naturally drawn to her bosom. Her waist was tiny which somehow accentuated the size of her breasts. The dress did that also. A pretty seafoam green matched her pale skin beautifully. There was intricate white beading in the front, rising from her waist where the beads were close together, to the top of the dress where they were not. She certainly knew how to dress in order to emphasize her assets.

She was quiet and listened well. Phin thought he found what he was looking for until he figured out she either lacked an education or was not very intelligent or both. With reluctance, he crossed her off the list.

The next waltz brought pink dress into his arms. The pink in her dress was not a classic pale pink colour that seemed to complement any skin tone – it was rather bright. The top of the dress was a simple and tasteful satin. The bottom, however, was an abundance of tulle. Phin did not like tulle. It was a harsh fabric that looked good on very few women. He thought it should be outlawed on any female over the age of twelve.