Angel in Scarlet (Bound and Determined #4)(48)

An extra man? Was he referring to the fiasco with Granderson? He wouldn’t do that in public, would he? Yes, evidently he would. Well, if he could be just a bit devilish, so could she. “Yes, an extra man is an insurmountable problem for some. I’ve always much preferred even numbers.”

He turned fully to her. “And do you have much experience with such things, Miss Ripon? I would not have thought you would yet…have arranged your own tables.”

Her mother stepped forward, perhaps not understanding whatever it was that flew between them but not liking it either. “I don’t believe my daughter’s tables are any concern of yours. You made that quite clear this summer.”

“Perhaps I had not yet developed a proper appreciation of the potential she had to set a good table.”

“Oh, hush!” her mother exclaimed. “Don’t think I don’t know when something improper is being said, just because I am not of your set, Lord Colton. Now, I would thank you to go and bother some other guest.” She turned her back on him.

He stood there for a moment, then gave Angela a wink over her mother’s shoulder before turning to speak with Lady Johnson.

“Was that really called for, Mother?” Angela asked. “You have always counseled me never to be rude in public—or indeed in private.”

“I am afraid that when it comes to you, my dear, I am quite the mama lion. I will protect you from any who seek to injure you.”

And what if I don’t want protection? “Mother, I am quite able to protect myself.”

“Nonsense. If that were true, you would not have cried for a full week when he did not propose when he ought to have. I don’t know what he thinks he is doing trying to seek you out now. I am most suspicious that he decided to attend this party.”

“I did not cry for a week, and he is a neighbor of Lady Perse—hardly suspicious.”

“Who happened to be in London until two days ago.”

“Well…”

“And don’t think I don’t know he is the one who sent that pretty little mare for you to ride. I am not quite sure that was even proper, but I had decided to overlook the matter, as he did provide Miss Pratcher as a proper chaperone. But to have him show up here—and be assured, you were seen walking back to the house on his arm. I don’t know what he is about, but I do not like it. If he had a true interest in you, he would have done the right thing at the right time.”

“You mean propose?”

“Exactly. He is after something far less honest now.” Her mother did everything but stamp her foot to mark how serious she was.

“Perhaps he just wants to be civil, Mother. He did not realize how deeply I allowed my affections to become attached. He is only being friendly.”

“?‘Friendly’—that’s one word for it.”

“Mother.”

“I am far more experienced than you, Daughter. That man was looking at you as if he was going to reach out and pluck your breasts right out of your dress.”

“Mother,” Angela said again, with some vehemence.

“Well, he was.”

And he probably had been—perhaps he might later. A delicious heat raced through her. A moment ago she’d been regretting her choice of dress, but if Colton had been staring in such a way that her mother noticed…“Then perhaps he is regretting his actions at the end of the summer and is reconsidering.” Oh drat, she should not have said that.

“Do you think so? Has he hinted that he is actually serious?”

What to say to that? If she said no, then her mother would watch them like a hawk, to be sure that Angela was not hurt again, but if she said yes, then her mother would be expecting an announcement before the end of the week. “I am not sure. I have never understood how the man thinks, as you should well know.”

“True.” Her mother turned and stared at Colton, as he laughed politely at some comment by Lady Johnson. “Perhaps I should…No, I remain convinced that he will only bring trouble to you. Stay away from him.”

“But surely I cannot be so impolite as to avoid him while we are here. It would cause Lady Perse even more difficulties. I am sure most of the activities are for us as a group.”

“Still, I do not wish to see you alone with him when it is avoidable. If he wishes to speak, you can easily include someone else in the conversation. And you must be sure that you are always with others. It is not good for you to wander alone anyway.”

“If you are referring to this afternoon, I was always within sight of the house.”

“I am aware of that, and still you managed to get into trouble.”

“I would hardly call a walk on Lord Colton’s arm in plain sight trouble.”

“Yet you are arguing with me now. That man has always upset you, and he is doing it again now. I do not wish you to speak with him more than you must.” And then her mother’s tone softened. “It broke my heart too, to see you so miserable. Stay away from him. You do not need that pain again.”





Chapter 13


Small tables had been set up on the terrace so that the guests could sit in the cool of the evening air and listen to the tenor that Lady Perse had hired to entertain them this night. Angela sat at one of the farthest tables and enjoyed the brief moment of solitude. She had been sandwiched between Lord Thorton and Lord Johnson for dinner, and while the one had continually hinted that her mother thought they would get along very well together, the other had discussed nothing except the new litter of puppies his prime bitch had just had and how they didn’t look quite right. He’d almost come out and said that he was quite sure that some mongrel had fathered them, before he’d caught himself and considered to whom he was talking. Both conversations had given her the start of a headache.