The Wagered Heart: Signet Regency Romance (InterMix) (15 page)

“Not for a deep or lasting friendship, Your Grace.”

“Hmmm. So, you propose that we stroll along and discuss the weather?”

“That sounds perfectly agreeable.” To her surprise, she quite enjoyed teasing him in this dry manner.

“Sounds deadly dull if you ask me.”

“Compared to high-stakes gaming, I am sure it does. But some of us may have had enough excitement, and a quiet walk may be an adequate form of entertainment.”

Slowing his gait, he looked down at her, a speculative light entering his eyes. “Ah, I have the measure of you now. Making veiled references to having too much excitement maintains the air of mystery you just alluded to. Well done, Miss Allard.”

“How vexing of you to read something into my words I did not intend.” She smiled softly to soften the rebuke.

“I beg forgiveness. I believe I have been vexing enough to you.” He grinned and gave her a slight bow. “So, has not the weather been uncommon kind to us of late?”

Glancing up at the tease in his voice, she met the warm humor in his brown gaze.
Drat the man, what did he truly know of how he vexed her?

“Yoo-hoo! Kel dear, over here!”

The duke stopped at hearing his name, and Julia turned to see two women and a young man approaching. The older woman waved a parasol; the younger lady was very pretty, with light brown hair, dark blue eyes, and a slim elegant carriage. Julia had to stop herself from staring at the gentleman, for she had never seen such a vibrant fop. His lime, yellow, and red-striped waistcoat was the most vivid thing she had witnessed since coming to Bath.

Turning to the gentleman, Julia was a little startled
to note that he was staring directly at her with the oddest expression. An inexplicable feeling of dread spread over her in a barely concealed shiver.

The three were upon the duke and Julia in an instant. The older woman spoke first. “Kel, why did you not tell me you would be here? Oh, it matters not. You will never guess whom I have found. Of course you can guess, silly me, for they are right in front of you. Look! Lady Davinia and Lord Mattonly have come to Bath! Is it not delightful?” On this breathless note, the lady gestured to the younger people next to her before turning curious eyes to Julia. “Kel, you may present this young lady.”

Julia did not know what to make of this vivacious, attractive little woman, who reminded her of Mariah’s frisky little terrier.

“Maman, I would like to present Miss Allard.” The duke turned to Julia. “This is my mother, the Duchess of Kelbourne, and our very good friends, Lady Davinia Harwich and Lord Mattonly.”

Julia curtsied, but before she could voice a greeting, the duchess was off again. “Miss Allard? I do not believe we have met. Tell me, how do you know my son?”

“We were introduced by mutual friends, Maman.” The duke put in smoothly before Julia could respond.

Lord Mattonly frowned at this statement, his eyes still on Julia. “What? Here in Bath? I say, Miss Allard, did we not meet in London last year? ‘Pon my word, you do look familiar to me.”

Julia opened her mouth to disagree, when a sudden memory of four men following the duke across Bolton Street, before he kissed her last year, flashed into mind. She felt her cheeks growing hot as her mind grasped the fact that Lord Mattonly had been one of those men.

J
 ulia’s arrested expression and flushed cheeks caught the duke’s attention. Frowning, he shifted his gaze back to Mattonly.

He realized it would not take long for Matt to recognize Julia as the young woman Kel had kissed in London. It would not do to have his wagered kiss brought up at this wholly inappropriate time. For now, until he could gain a moment of privacy with Matt to tell him to put a stopper in it, he would have to take the situation in hand.

Stepping smoothly into the breach of silence, he sent Julia what he hoped was a reassuring smile and said, “Yes, I believe you were in London last Season, were you not, Miss Allard? Quite possible you and old Matt met at some crush or other.”

“Yes, I was in London for a short time last year.” Shaken that the duke’s friend could so easily expose her in front of the duchess and Lady Davinia, her resentment flared anew at the injustice of it all. For even though she was a complete innocent in the matter, she would be the only one to pay for the duke’s lark.

“That explains it,” he said, then turned back to his friend. “I am surprised to find you here, Matt.” The
duke’s delusory tone did not convey pleasure in his old friend’s company.

“If Muhammad won’t come to the mountain…Besides, Town is dashed dull right now. All anyone can speak of is the upcoming royal wedding. Since you suddenly find Bath all the crack, I thought I would toddle over and see what you are about. Maybe we can bring Bath back into fashion, eh, Kel?” Lord Mattonly’s eyes shifted to Julia again. “‘Tis frustrating not to be able to place you, Miss Allard, for your face is extremely familiar to me—oh, well, no doubt it shall come to me.”

The duke turned to the other young lady with the intent of changing the subject. “Lady Davinia, how are your parents? Are they in Bath as well?”

“No, Your Grace, I am visiting my Aunt Harwich and am finding this quaint town a delight. And my parents are quite well, thank you.”

The duchess stepped forward then, waving her hands in a gesture that encompassed them all. “Well, are we not a merry party? But I must say, I am disappointed that there are no orange trees here. Why in the world call this place the Orange Grove? Silliest thing I have ever encountered.”

At this, Julia’s gaze inadvertently met Lady Davinia’s, and the look they exchanged conveyed to Julia that she was not the only one trying to stifle a giggle.

“This place is named after William of Orange, Maman. There is a plaque on that obelisk over there indicating so.” With great patience, he gestured to the circular garden in the center of the grove.

“Oh, well, that explains it. Still rather confusing. Now, what shall we all do?” Her smile took in the whole group.

“Actually, Miss Allard and I…” the duke began.

“We shall all promenade with the other Fashionables while I wrack my brainbox trying to recall
where Miss Allard and I have met,” Lord Mattonly interrupted with an engaging grin to Julia.

Setting his jaw with frustration, Kel shot Julian an apologetic look.

“Lovely.” Lady Davinia’s smile showed her pleasure at this plan as she gazed up at the duke. “We have not seen each other since New Year’s. We must catch up on all the friends we have in common.”

Lord Mattonly vigorously nodded his agreement to this suggestion. “Fine! While you old friends catch up on gossip, Her Grace and I shall quiz Miss Allard. I never forget a Beauty, and this is vexing me no end that I cannot place her.”

In spite of the razor-sharp look Kel sent his friend, Mattonly adroitly insinuated himself between Julia and the duke.

The duchess and Lady Davinia moved forward, but stopped quickly and looked back in surprise when they realized the duke and Miss Allard were still behind.

“Come along, now that we have found each other we must all walk together. I do so love to have young folks around me,” the duchess pressed.

In the face of the duchess’s urging, Julia knew there was nothing else for it but to go along, anything else would be rude. With an inward sigh of resignation, Julia continued next to the duke as his mother moved to his other side. Lady Davinia took her place next to the duchess. Lord Mattonly stayed near Julia.

In silent accord, the five of them began to stroll along the gravel pathway between the precisely spaced trees.

Breathing deeply, Julia tried to stem the flow of her rising panic. Oh, why had she been so foolish as to go out with the duke, she chided herself.

“Perhaps I am acquainted with your family?” Lord Mattonly asked after a moment.

“I have lived near Chippenham all my life, sir.”

“Hmmm, have only had the pleasure of passing through that village. And I own I am not acquainted with anyone by the name of Allard. Perhaps there is another connection?”

“I am visiting my cousins, Lord and Lady Farren. Perhaps you know them?”

Pulling a gold quizzing glass from his vibrantly striped waistcoat, he began to tap it absentmindedly against his palm. “Farren? I believe my mama is acquainted with Lady Farren. Does not Lady Farren wear very interesting bonnets?”

“I am sure you must be referring to the dowager Lady Farren. I am related to her daughter-in-law.”

“Then that must somehow be the connection! Still, it has not come to me in full. But I shall not give up,” he said with a grin as they all strolled beneath the trees.

Tilting her head up, Julia looked at the handsome lord. With his twinkling pale blue eyes and sandy hair, he presented an engaging figure. Nevertheless, she had no desire to be quizzed about where they had met. What she really wanted to do was go home—she had not bargained for this uncomfortable encounter with the duke’s mother and his friends.

As they continued to walk, the duchess and Lady Davinia monopolized most of the conversation, to Julia’s great relief. At least the friendly chatter prevented Lord Mattonly from asking any more questions.

Leaning forward, the duchess looked past her son and smiled at Julia. “Miss Allard, I have just realized that my mother-in-law is a great good friend of your cousin’s mother-in-law. We have invited the Farrens to join us at Sydney Gardens Tuesday next. You must certainly honor us with your presence as well. The
orchestra is very good, and if the weather stays fine, it promises to be a lovely evening.”

“I thank you, Your Grace,” Julia said with an inclination of her head, for she could think of no way to decline the kind invitation with any politeness.

“Very good!” Lord Mattonly exclaimed. “I must spend as much time as possible with Miss Allard, so that I may place our connection.”

“Unfortunately, you will not be spending any more time with Miss Allard this afternoon. I promised to return her home shortly, in time for another engagement.” The duke’s tone conveyed that he would brook no argument.

Julia could not help but throw him a grateful glance at this almost intuitive understanding of her desire to leave.

“Never say so! I have not had the chance to talk with Miss Allard.” Lady Davinia gave Julia a tentative smile, which Julia returned easily.

Despite the general protests at their departure, and promises to meet again, the duke lead her away after she offered a quick curtsy. Glancing back over her shoulder, she saw Lord Mattonly watching her with slightly narrowed eyes.

Once back in the phaeton, she was keenly aware of the same deflated feeling she experienced when she had been sent home from London. It was a feeling she did not like.

What a disaster the day had been. It started out with such promise and then fizzled to nothing. Again, her unvented resentment made her feel petulant. Even that caused her anger to simmer anew at the duke—this unpleasant emotion would not be plaguing her if not for him.

They traveled some distance in silence before the duke came to a decision. He thought it would be best
to address the situation forthrightly and set her mind at ease.

At a turn in the road, he sent her a reassuring smile. “Miss Allard, I will explain to Lord Mattonly that he is not to refer to the incident on Bolton Street. I would be immensely distressed if you suffered any ill effects from that foolish lark.” Smiling slightly, he took another moment to glance at her features.

The change in her expression took him aback. From beneath her bonnet, she was staring at him with such anger that her gray eyes flashed fire until he felt almost scorched.

“How magnanimous of you, Your Grace,” was her cold response.

To the Duke of Kelbourne’s surprise, Miss Allard said not a word, nor looked in his direction, the rest of the way home.

T
 he next day, at an hour too early to be considered fashionable, Lord Mattonly called on his old friend at the Royal Crescent. Upon finding the duke alone in the salon, attending to a stack of correspondence, Mattonly brought up the subject that had been on his mind since yesterday.

“I say, Kel, Miss Allard is a deuced pretty gel. Leave it to you to find the only entrancing female in this damned dull place.”

Pushing aside his quill and paper, Kel looked at his friend with an impassive expression, and leaned back in his chair.

“And good afternoon to you, Matt. How are you this fine day?”

Flopping onto a nearby chair, Mattonly snorted before responding.

“Cast your cold eye upon me all you like, you will not divert me from the subject of Miss Allard. I have the feeling you are being sly about her, but I shall winkle it out of you. I am determined to solve the mystery of Miss Allard’s familiar countenance.”

“There is no mystery where Miss Allard is concerned. She is familiar to you because she is the young lady I kissed on the street in London last year.
I would not like that ridiculous scene mentioned again; it would not do to have Miss Allard embarrassed. I have come to know that she and her family are fine people, and I would not like anything I have done to cause her pain.”

Pushing himself forward, Mattonly stared, his mouth opening and closing before he collected himself enough to speak. “I am all astonishment, Kel! For weeks Rayburn, Hammond, and the rest of us scoured London for that girl. The sums wagered on finding her are a ransom! And there is no time limit on when the wager could be concluded. I am sure if I had not been foxed that day in London, I would have recognized her straight off yesterday. Are you now saying I am to pass on the winnings because some unexpected streak of scruples has gripped you? Too mean of you, old man.”

“This is not another lark, Matt. I would prefer that the incident not be mentioned again.”

Lord Mattonly could not mistake the serious edge in his old friend’s voice.

“Of course, Kel, the matter is forgotten.”

“Thank you.”

Clearing his throat, Mattonly settled back in his chair. “So, how long do you plan on staying in Bath?”