To Protect An Heiress (Zebra Historical Romance) (10 page)

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Authors: Adrienne Basso

BOOK: To Protect An Heiress (Zebra Historical Romance)
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Jasper skittered sideways, neatly avoiding an ominous looking puddle. “I know what I’m doing,” he replied, crinkling his nose in disgust at the admonishment. “I’ve been driving a carriage in London for years.”
“You have also had more than one accident, if I recall,” Meredith said pointedly.
“I’ve never overturned a vehicle when I was sober,” Jasper retorted.
Meredith bit her bottom lip and held it tightly between her teeth until they rounded the next corner. Now was not the time to begin a lecture on responsibility and acceptable behavior, especially given that her behavior last night was the reason she needed to make this fashionable appearance at the park.
So she focused her gaze instead on the high-stepping horses pulling the coach and realized she had never seen the pair before. “I do not recall seeing these animals in the stable. Are these the infamous bays you won in your bet with the marquess?”
“The very same,” Jasper replied cheerfully. “Dardington had them brought ’round first thing this morning. Aren’t they beauties?”
“Lovely,” Meredith responded dryly. “I assume I have your word as a gentleman that you will never again wager away these poor beasts?”
Jasper slanted her a jaded look. “ ’Tis hardly necessary to harp upon the matter, Merry. Jason and I have already agreed we would share the horses, therefore making it impossible for one of us to sell or otherwise dispose of them.”
Meredith turned to her brother with a cool smile. “Agreements between you and Jason are like the wind. They blow hot and cold with unfailing regularity.”
Jasper shrugged. “I cannot help it if my dear brother shows, on occasion, an utter lack of common sense. As the elder it is my responsibility to set him to rights.”
Meredith could not contain the grin that widened her smile further. “That is a fairly accurate and wholly frightening notion.”
She shook her head. If Jasper, who more often than not showed a lack of judgment and maturity when making a decision, was indeed the more responsible of the twins, then Jason should probably not be let out of the house without a keeper.
“I noticed the front parlor and entrance hall, not to mention the breakfast room and drawing room, resembled a flower shop,” Jasper said. “Could not one of your afternoon callers have taken you to the park? I assume you had several offers.”
Meredith turned to give her brother a sharp retort, reminding him that winning that ridiculous bet for him last evening was the catalyst for all of her current woes. But she caught him gazing rather wistfully at the cavalcade of horsemen riding toward the park and quickly swallowed her remarks.
“I understand escorting an old spinster sister is hardly befitting your image as a dashing rogue, but I need to be seen and acknowledged today. Since, as you so recently pointed out, you are the more responsible and respectable of my brothers, I felt the task should fall to you.”
“I will repeat, for the last time, Jason and I do not think of you as a spinster,” Jasper insisted.
“How quickly you change your tune, dear brother. Why only last evening I was considered enough of a spinster to win that ridiculous bet.”
“Ah, so that is your plan. You are determined to shed any vestiges of the spinster image and thrust yourself into the social fray on this rather soggy afternoon. That is the real reason you have dragged me out to the park today.”
Meredith felt a jolt of surprised embarrassment. Her brother’s assessment of the situation painted her in a frivolous light, and though it was completely incorrect, she realized it might be preferable to the truth.
“We are here today because I suddenly find myself to be the object of great interest, the majority of which is unfavorable. The events of last evening, specifically my kiss with the marquess, is providing the
ton
with an endless stream of conversation and speculation.
“The many bouquets of flowers you saw is only a prelude to the propositions I am certain will follow, now that I am thought to be easy prey to any number of unscrupulous males. That notion must be immediately dispelled.”
“What!” Jasper nearly lost control of the bays as he reacted to her disclosure. “If any of your gentlemen callers were disrespectful, you should have summoned me at once.”
“There were no gentleman callers,” Meredith stated flatly. “After a thoroughly unpleasant and enlightening visit from Lady Olivia Dermott, I realized I was the sensation of the hour. I therefore refused to see anyone. Better to deny them the chance to imply I am no longer respectable, that my
incident
with the marquess has somehow left me tainted. In this instance I thought it prudent to lead the attack instead of waiting for more scandal to touch upon me.”
Jasper’s indignant expression turned to one of admiration. “Leave it to you, Merry, to know exactly how to manage the situation.”
Jasper’s approval boosted her confidence, yet Meredith knew there could be several pitfalls of disaster awaiting her. “The plan is sound, but hardly foolproof. Only the proper execution of it will deem it a success or failure.”
“Then we must make certain all goes well.” He tipped his hat to a pair of ladies who were riding in the opposite direction. They smiled cordially in return.
“Bring the carriage round to the other entrance,” Meredith instructed as they reached the park. “I want to greet the Duchess of Barlow and her friends first. If she acknowledges me, others will quickly follow.”
Meredith discreetly pointed to a trio of ladies promenading on the gravel path. Their heads were bent close beneath their fringed parasols, which did not obstruct the view of their chattering mouths.
It seemed as though the instant the carriage entered the park, all eyes turned in their direction. It took a concerted effort not to squirm in her seat, but Meredith managed. She gave her brother a quick glance, yet Jasper seemed oblivious to all the scrutiny.
“Ladies, I bid you a pleasant afternoon,” Jasper called out. He expertly guided the carriage alongside the trio of elderly women. “I hope you are enjoying the sunshine.”
“There has not been a ray of sunlight the entire day, Lord Fairhurst,” the duchess replied sternly. “The thick clouds are effectively obstructing all attempts at the sun breaking through.”
“Are they?” Jasper tilted his chin toward the sky. “I had not noticed the clouds. Probably because you bring the sunshine wherever you go, Your Grace.”
The duchess’s eyes narrowed noticeably. The two women flanking her drew closer to her side, in a protective solitary gesture.
“Flattery, young man? To a woman of my advanced years?”
“Truthful observations, Your Grace.”
The duchess raised her eyebrow. “You have your mother’s charm, sir.” A smile grudgingly appeared at the corner of the older woman’s mouth. “And your father’s good looks.”
“Please, Your Grace, you’ll put me to the blush.”
The duchess laughed. After a moment’s hesitation, her two companions joined her. “You are a naughty boy, Lord Fairhurst,” the duchess declared, her eyes sparkling. She tipped her head in a girlish manner, but her expression sobered noticeably when her eyes lit upon Meredith.
“Mischievousness in handsome young lords is to be expected,” the duchess continued in a lecturing tone. “But it is neither accepted nor tolerated in unmarried ladies. Is that not correct?”
The duchess’s two elderly companions nodded their heads in enthusiastic agreement and glanced pointedly at Meredith. She could practically hear the clucking of their disapproving tongues, nearly read the censure in the sharpness of their gaze.
“A sad, though true comment on our society,” Meredith said. “Women have long been denied the freedoms men enjoy, even when we are older and wiser.”
“Hmmph.” A mulish expression crossed the duchess’ face, but to Meredith’s relief the older woman did not leave. “At least you have the good sense to allow your brother to bring you to the park. He is a far more appropriate escort than the company you have been keeping.”
“I quite agree, Your Grace,” Meredith replied.
“ ’Tis good to know that you have recovered some of your senses,” the duchess huffed.
“Whatever could you have been thinking, dear girl, to be so wildly indiscreet?” the woman standing beside the duchess asked. “I was all aflutter when I heard.”
“I can assure you whatever you heard is a vast exaggeration of the truth.” Meredith lowered her head and made a muttering sound, hoping she appeared sufficiently contrite.
The duchess sighed heavily. “I daresay this new sensation you’ve created will quickly become an old one. Why, I heard this very morning that Lord Robertson’s daughter was enamored with her dancing instructor. Not only is he completely unsuitable for the girl, he’s a Frenchman to boot!”
Meredith slowly began to release the breath she held so tightly in her lungs. All would be well. She would endure the admonishment of the duchess and her circle with a contrite expression, leaving them with the impression she was remorseful and planting the seed that she was also not entirely guilty.
Satisfied with the results, Meredith waited anxiously for the appropriate moment to depart. She knew this moment was critical. A slight misstep at this stage would quickly undue the strides she had made.
The sudden squeak of a carriage coming to a halt invaded her concentration. All eyes turned. To Meredith’s astonishment, she saw the vehicle stop in the center of the road. It was an open curricle, harnessed to a magnificent pair of pure white horses. The lively animals stomped their feet impatiently on the ground, huffing in displeasure at being forced to stand still.
Slowly, carefully the carriage pulled beside their own, effectively jamming all the traffic behind it. The driver subdued his spirited horses, then turned toward her.
The Marquess of Dardington stared at Meredith with clear blue eyes, a bemused expression on his handsome features. “Good afternoon, Lady Meredith. I called on you earlier today, but you had already left for the park. Since I was unable to escort you here, I do hope you would consent to allowing me to drive you home.”
The scrutiny Meredith had felt so keenly when first entering the park increased tenfold. Hordes of interested spectators seemed to press forward, attuned to her every word, observant of her slightest expression.
She deliberately avoided the marquess’s eyes as she tried to formulate an appropriate response. If she gave a direct cut, that might give rise to greater speculation about the relationship between them. Yet she could hardly greet him as a friend, or even a warm acquaintance.
“My sister prefers the company of her family,” Jasper said. “It is, after all, the proper and correct behavior for a lady of her stature.”
She glanced beneath her lashes, trying to gage Trevor’s reaction to her brother’s comments. He seemed to be fighting back a smile. Meredith frowned slightly, hoping he would let the matter pass.
“Lady Meredith’s behavior is always above reproach,” the marquess countered. “Yet she has the intelligence, wit, and character to ignore the rigid dictates of a stuffy, hypocritical society when it suits her needs. This strength has always been one of her greatest assets.”
Meredith was speechless. Stunned, actually. All of her hard work was ruined in a single moment. In any other circumstance, she might have been flattered by the complement, for he uttered it with such conviction. But this was hardly the appropriate instance, especially when she had been so close to convincing the duchess she was a contrite, remorseful woman.
Meredith had done everything in her power to downplay the association between her and the marquess, and in a few sentences he had ruined it all.
But it seemed Trevor was not content to leave well enough alone. For he next drew his carriage even closer to hers. Before she had a chance to reason a reply, he reached over and grabbed her hand. He bowed his head, and Meredith watched with tingling anticipation as his lips brushed across her glove.
It was an intimate, familiar gesture that brought forth a gasp of astonishment from the duchess and her companions. Recovering her composure, Meredith tilted her head at a challenging angle. This time she met his gaze directly. “I hardly think a man of your reputation is a fair judge of the character of others.” She folded her hands deliberately in her lap, yet she could still feel the burning imprint of his lips. “You must excuse us, my lord. I find I tire of the open air. Good afternoon, Your Grace. Ladies.”
Their unenthusiastic replies were drowned out by the crunching wheels of the vehicle as it maneuvered down the path.
Trevor watched with an admiring glare as the carriage turned the corner and disappeared from view. He gradually became aware of the swell of nearby conversations, as those who had been listening to the exchange gleefully shared their impressions with each other.
“She sure is a beauty. I’d wager a gold sovereign that blond hair of hers reaches below her waist. Must be a glorious sight to see her shaking it free, to watch it tumble down to her bottom.”
Trevor twisted his neck and looked over at the man with exasperation. “I’ll remind you only once that you are speaking of a
lady.
One who is far too good for the likes of you, Mallory.”

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