Jack of Diamonds E-Book

Meredith Bond

• Herausgeber: Anessa Books
• Kategorie: Gesellschafts- und Liebesromane
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2019

Beschreibung

Can the Ladies’ Wagering Whist Society help a young woman with a dark secret allow light and love into her heart?
Lydia Sheffield is always laughing, always joking, always charming, always surrounded by adoring gentlemen. She wants to enjoy the season, and not yield to Regency society’s expectation that she quickly marry and have children. She also has a secret lurking within her—one that will keep her from ever taking a risk on love.
Lord John Welles has a secret of his own, but Lydia has discovered it. She noticed what no one else did, that this attractive, upstanding gentleman is filching diamonds from unsuspecting ladies. Lydia extracts a price for her silence—a fake engagement to her for the season. John never expected to want to make the arrangement real, nor that Lydia would be so dead-set against it. There’s something she’s not telling him, and he’s determined to find out what it is.
Can John discover Lydia’s secret in time to save his heart from breaking? He’ll need to convince her to take a chance on love, on life… and on him.

Leseprobe

Table of Contents

Book Description

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Jack of Diamonds

Copyright

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter Twenty-Four

Chapter Twenty-Five

Chapter Twenty-Six

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Chapter Thirty

Chapter Thirty-One

Chapter Thirty-Two

Chapter Thirty-Three

Chapter Thirty-Four

Chapter Thirty-Five

Chapter Thirty-Six

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Chapter Thirty-Eight

Chapter Thirty-Nine

Chapter Forty

Chapter Forty-One

Epilogue

The Games She Played

Chapter One

Ladies’ Wagering Whist Society

About the Author

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Books By Meredith Bond

Can the Ladies’ Wagering Whist Society help a young woman with a dark secret allow light and love into her heart?

Lydia Sheffield is always laughing, always joking, always charming, always surrounded by adoring gentlemen. She wants to enjoy the season, and not yield to Regency society’s expectation that she quickly marry and have children. She also has a secret lurking within her—one that will keep her from ever taking a risk on love.

Lord John Welles has a secret of his own, but Lydia has discovered it. She noticed what no one else did, that this attractive, upstanding gentleman is filching diamonds from unsuspecting ladies. Lydia extracts a price for her silence—a fake engagement to her for the season. John never expected to want to make the arrangement real, nor that Lydia would be so dead-set against it. There’s something she’s not telling him, and he’s determined to find out what it is.

Can John discover Lydia’s secret in time to save his heart from breaking? He’ll need to convince her to take a chance on love, on life… and on him.

It will take the Ladies’ Wagering Whist Society to help John win his diamond.

Jack of Diamonds

The Ladies’ Wagering Whist Society, Book 2

Meredith Bond

Copyright, 2019, Meredith Bond.

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means—graphic, electronic or mechanical—without permission in writing from the author, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review.

Cover Art by QuarterbackTB

Logo by Anjali Banerji

Edited by The Editing Hall

Published by Anessa Books

Chapter One

~May 10, 1806~

Lydia Sheffield grasped onto her friend Tina’s arm, certain that she had to be imagining things. “I’m sorry, but did you just see that?”

“See what?” Tina asked, following her line of sight.

“That man.” Lydia followed the man with her eyes across the crowded ballroom, trying to indicate who she was speaking about without outright pointing in his direction. “That man heading out the door, the one in the gray coat. He just stole two diamond pins from a lady’s hair!”

“What? You must be imagining things, Miss Sheffield,” said Lady Norman, Tina’s mother, with a little laugh. “No gentleman would steal pins from a lady’s hair!”

“No, I’m certain… Oh, he’s gone,” Lydia said, feeling strangely disappointed. She let go of Tina’s arm, but her heart was still pounding. She’d never actually witnessed a crime before.

“He must have just accidentally bumped into her,” Tina said.

“Yes,” Lydia said, not believing it for a second. “Perhaps it was that.” Truly, who would steal hairpins from a lady at a ball? No one could possibly be so brazen! Besides which, everyone here had been invited, and no member of the ton would be so desperate that they would resort to stealing. No, Tina was right. She had to have imagined it.

Lydia turned back to Tina and her mother. “Yes, you must be right.” She forced out a little laugh. “No one would steal hairpins from a lady at a ball.” She shook her head, trying to dispel the image from her mind’s eye.

“Perhaps you need some fresh air as much as I do,” Tina suggested.

“Oh, no. I’m fine. Truly,” Lydia said, giving another laugh. What she really wanted to do was follow the man and see where he went. But there was no way to do so politely. No, she was stuck right where she was.

“Well, then, if you don’t mind, I think I’m going to get step outside for a moment. If one more person insults me to my face, I’m not entirely certain I won’t actually scream,” Tina said, putting on a brave smile.

“Oh, dear!” her mother said, looking a little worried.

“It’s all right. I’m sure that a brief walk in the garden will make me feel better. If you’ll excuse me.” Tina gave them both a little curtsy and headed out the French doors to the garden.

Lydia had been doing her best to be a good friend to Tina Ayres when she’d imagined she’d seen the theft. Tina had just made her society debut that very evening and was having a hard time of it.

Lydia had been half-listening to Tina and her mother discuss how rude people could be when the man caught her eye. She’d been casually scanning the people crowding Lady Kershaw’s ballroom when she noticed the gentleman move in what almost looked like a furtive manner behind a group of ladies.

The women were probably discussing poor Tina, as every once in a while one of them stole a glance in her direction. It was what nearly everyone at the party was talking about after all. Before today, Tina had been known to a number of ladies of the ton merely as a modiste—granted, she was one who made beautiful, extremely flattering gowns, but this evening her father, the Earl of Ayres, had re-introduced her as his daughter. But for Lydia, it was the gentleman in the gray coat who’d held her attention.

He was incredibly handsome in a rather ordinary way. He was of average height with dark blond hair. His clothing was completely ordinary, nothing spectacular, or particularly memorable. It was true that his face was handsome and his physique on the athletic side, but other than that he was completely forgettable. Lydia had just been trying to figure out what it was about him that captured her attention, when she’d seen him pluck the pin from one of the older ladies.

Lydia studied the woman’s complicated coiffure. It was a maze of braids and curls all held together by a dozen or so diamond hairpins. Had the man—could she call him a gentleman?—pulled a pin from the lady’s hair?

“I can’t help but wonder who that gentleman was, though,” Lydia said to Lady Norman after Tina left.

“Maybe I know him. What did he look like?” her friend asked, even though she was still watching her daughter’s retreating back. Lady Norman was always so helpful and more than willing to step in as a sort of chaperone to Lydia since her father usually made himself scarce the moment they walked into any party.

Lydia pictured the gentleman in her mind. “He was tall but not very tall. Brown, maybe dark blond hair. He wore a dark gray coat and black waistcoat with gray embroidery. Quite elegant, actually, in a very understated way.”

Lady Norman turned back to Lydia. “I don’t believe I’ve seen the gentleman.”

“Oh, well. It’s all right. I’m sure I’ll see him again.”

“One always does,” Lady Norman agreed.

It was less than a quarter of an hour later when Lydia did spy the gentleman again, and oddly enough, he was once again lurking among the ladies. How was it that they didn’t notice him, Lydia wondered.

This time she was on her own, so she wound her way through the crowded ballroom, doing her best to keep an eye on the man. It wasn’t easy and she did, in fact, lose sight of him when she was waylaid by Mrs. Aldridge. The lady was a member of the Ladies’ Wagering Whist Society along with Lady Norman and herself.

Mrs. Aldridge looked quite fetching in a gown of deep pink with matching rubies circling her throat, wrists, and hanging from her ears. Lydia, never one to pass up such an opportunity, complimented her on her attire.

“Thank you, but why are you not dancing, Miss Sheffield?” Mrs. Aldridge asked in a good-natured scold.

Lydia gave the woman a wink. “I’m just on my way around the ballroom in the hopes of enticing a particular gentleman to ask me,” she said with a giggle before continuing on her way.

The older woman burst out laughing but quickly stifled herself when heads turned her way.

Sadly, when Lydia turned back to where her quarry had been, the man had disappeared once again.

Lydia harrumphed to herself. This was definitely the most elusive gentleman she’d ever seen. She was just about to turn back toward Mrs. Aldridge when there was a small commotion among the ladies by whom he’d been loitering.

“I was certain I had it on when I went into the lady’s retiring room,” said one rather rotund woman in a dove gray silk dress.

“Perhaps it fell off when you washed your hands?” one of her companions asked.

“But I didn’t…er, yes, perhaps that is the case. I’ll just go back and see if anyone has found it,” she said, turning slightly pink.

Lydia stepped up to the lady’s friend and asked, “Is everything all right, my lady?”

“Oh yes, Lady Fostler has just misplaced her bracelet.” The woman raised a lorgnette to her eyes and peered at Lydia. “Have we met?”

“Yes, the Duchess of Kendall introduced us at Lady Bradmore’s ball a few weeks ago,” she said, lying straight through her teeth but knowing no woman would ever deny knowledge of an introduction by a duchess. “I’m Lydia Sheffield. My father is Lord Daniel Sheffield,”

As expected the woman nodded slowly as she lowered her eyepiece. “Oh, yes, of course, Miss Sheffield. How lovely to see you again this evening.”

“And you, my lady. I do hope that Lady Fostler finds her bracelet,” Lydia said.

“As do I. It was apparently given to her by her husband for her birthday only last year. A beautiful diamond confection,” the lady said.

“Oh, dear,” Lydia tsked sadly. That gentleman in the gray coat… He wouldn’t have… he couldn’t have… Lydia shook her head. No! It would simply be too outrageous if he had stolen a bracelet right off a woman’s wrist.

But Lydia was more determined than ever to discover the identity of the man.

~*~

John, the Viscount Welles, didn’t like hiding behind potted plants. It made him feel ridiculous, and yet he had to make sure the girl who had been heading directly toward him a moment ago didn’t see him. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to speak with her—goodness knows he’d love to—but not this evening. Not while he was working.

The girl was not only beautiful, but if he wasn’t mistaken, she was the famous Miss Lydia Sheffield, considered one of the “diamonds” of the season. She was funny and charismatic—or so he’d heard. He’d never been introduced, and he knew he didn’t want to be. She was precisely the sort of girl he avoided at all costs.

He wasn’t quite sure how he’d drawn the attention of the lovely Miss Sheffield. He was dressed as always in his most unmemorable clothes. Black and gray, he’d found, usually encouraged eyes to slip right by him. His waistcoat was as understated as the rest of him, and carefully cultivated to be so.

Only a few years ago when he’d been at university, he’d dressed better. He’d been more outgoing and enjoyed his excursions to London as much as anyone in his group of friends, despite being “the quiet one”. Then, the world was his to discover and enjoy.

So much had changed since those carefree days.

He no longer enjoyed being social, or so he told himself. He didn’t have the time or inclination to stand about and discuss silly things like who danced with whom or who was seen riding in the park with another. No, now he simply hid behind plants, avoiding beautiful women instead of seeking them out. Now, he was stealing jewels straight out of the hair of ladies and off their wrists without them even realizing what had happened.

In a way, he hated taking advantage of unsuspecting people, but on the other hand, he rather enjoyed the challenge of relieving the wealthy of their jewels. After years of practice, he could lift a piece from its owner without them ever realizing it. There was a thrill to it, of course, but more importantly, it allowed him to do so much more for the poor than so many of his peers.

But in order to continue with his chosen occupation, he had to avoid the likes of Miss Lydia Sheffield, no matter how much he’d much rather be laughing and dancing with her.

Chapter Two

~May 11~

The next night, Mr. Meir was waiting in the far corner of the taproom of the Angel when John came in. No matter how early John came, Mr. Meir was always at the same table. John wondered if the fellow didn’t stay at the tavern while he was in London. He didn’t think there were rooms for rent, but perhaps he was mistaken.

“Good evening,” the man said as John approached the slender gentleman dressed all in brown.

“A good evening to you, sir.” They almost never used names, nor did Mr. Meir even call John “my lord.” It was safer that way. No one listening to their conversation would be able to say who they were.

“Have you had a good week?” Mr. Meir asked, raising a finger to call the barmaid over. His wire-rimmed spectacles magnified the size of the gentleman’s eyes giving them an odd, distorted sort of look.

“I have, thank you.” John waited while two ales were ordered and then delivered.

He took a long draft of his once it was set in front of him. When he put his mug back down on the table, he made sure the paper packet he’d slipped onto the table was well hidden behind both the large tankard and his arm.

When his companion put his own mug down, the packet had shifted to behind it, and within moments it had disappeared altogether into a pocket of the man’s greatcoat. Hardly a minute had passed between the time John had removed it from his own coat and the time it had disappeared again.

“My friend greatly appreciates the quality you are able to procure for him,” Mr. Meir said.

“I’m glad to hear that. And also happy that he does such fine work as well,” John commented. Mr. Meir’s “friend” was a jeweler in Amsterdam who took the pieces John provided him, broke them apart, resold the diamonds, and melted down the gold for reuse. No one would ever be able to trace the stones back to their source, and no one in London would ever know what happened to the pieces that disappeared from time to time among the ton. It was a foolproof operation, and John felt lucky to have fallen into it.

An envelope appeared on the table in front of John. He quickly and unobtrusively slipped it into his pocket.

“For the packet you delivered last time,” Mr. Meir said with a pleasant smile. He looked like a man John could potentially become friends with.

He had an agreeable disposition and shared an interest in the fascinating history of the Holy Roman Empire. Once their business had concluded, they’d spent a number of very pleasant evenings discussing the various emperors and the benefits, or lack thereof, of additions to the empire over the years.

The man’s sunken cheeks filled out pleasantly when he smiled, and his dull gray eyes positively twinkled when he became passionate about whatever point he happened to be arguing. But before they could move on to more pleasant topics, it seemed as if he had something more he needed to convey to John.

The man fiddled with his tankard of ale. “My contact has written to me and wishes me to return as soon as possible. He’s eager for what you’ve brought,” Mr. Meir said before lifting the mug to his lips.

John nodded.

“But I need more to make my trip even more worthwhile. You understand, I’m sure,” he said, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.

John drew his eyebrows down over his eyes. “I’m not certain… How much more?”

“At least three, perhaps four more pieces. Can you do that?”

John sat back and thought about what events were coming up on the social schedule. There weren’t many to which he was invited—one of the drawbacks of being an unassuming person. At least he still had friends from his university days who still remembered him fondly and the way he used to be. Perhaps now, however, he should use a different tactic. Perhaps something a little more direct than merely taking what was on offer at society parties.

“I’ll see what I can do, but you understand that I can’t make any assurances,” John said.

“Naturally,” his companion nodded.

John drained the last of his ale. “Very well, then. I’ll send word if I am successful.”

Mr. Meir nodded and then gave John a little smile. “On to more pleasant subjects?”

John gave a little laugh and a nod.

Mr. Meir proceeded to regale him with all that he’d read in a book he’d recently purchased, a new work focusing on the reach of the Holy Roman Empire into the more northern countries of Europe.

After an hour or so of very pleasant conversation and debate, John finished off his second tankard of ale and said goodnight to his companion. He still had some work to do that evening before returning home.

He stopped for a word with the proprietor of the tavern, leaving some coins with him should there be any sort of emergency that needed to be handled when he wasn’t around. They’d gotten to know each other well over the past few years, and John trusted him enough to look after the interests of the people in the neighborhood. They were Mr. Miller’s clientele. If they suffered, so did he.

John’s stroll through the Rookeries afterward churned his stomach and not just because of the stench of gin and humanity. It was the women and babes huddled in doorways, the street urchins who attempted to pick his pockets of anything of value, and the men staggering down the alleyways having just drunk their day’s wages, their hungry families be damned.

There were too many. He couldn’t possibly help them all. John knew that, so he did what he could with the money he got from his thievery. He didn’t keep a penny of the money he earned from Mr. Meir, but gave it all to those who needed it the most.

A discreet knock on a door next to a grocer’s brought the man to the door. He wore neither a coat nor waistcoat. His shirt was untucked and open at the neck.

“Good evening to you, Mr. Cartwright,” John said with a smile.

“Ah! Good evening, good evening, sir!” The man lost the suspicious look on his face immediately upon seeing who it was banging on his door so late at night.

“Would you have any outstanding debts owed to you this evening?” John asked as he always did.

“I do. Just one moment and I’ll get my books. Come in,” he said, stepping back and inviting John into the hall. Stairs led straight up to the grocer’s apartments above the shop. John followed the gentleman up and into a cheerful, if dingy, little drawing room. A boy of about four sat playing on the bare wooden floor with a small wooden horse. Two stones stood in for more horses, and John made a mental note to himself to pick up a few more toys for the lad the next time he was on Bond Street.

The boy’s mother sat stitching, leaning dangerously close to a candle, the only source of light in the room.

“Good evening, Mistress Cartwright,” John said, giving her a small bow.

“Oh, good evening, sir, how lovely it is to see you,” she said, smiling up at him. “You will forgive me for not getting up?”

“Of course. You go on with your work. I will be gone in but a moment after I have done some business with your husband.” He turned toward the child and knelt down next to him. “And I brought a little something for you if your mother doesn’t mind.” He pulled a napkin from one of his pockets and handed it to the child.

“Thank you, sir!” the child said, opening it. A pile of fruit tarts spilled out, but John caught them before they hit the floor.

“I think there might be enough there for you to share with your parents if you are of a mind,” John said with a wink.

“Oh, you are too good to us, sir, too good!” his mother said with a chuckle.

“It’s my pleasure.” John stood up and turned toward the grocer who had come in with his account books.

“Here you are, sir. Mrs. Brown, Mary Small, and little Johnny No Ear each owe us for groceries for the past two weeks totaling twelve shillings, four pence.” The man showed him the accounts.

John looked them over briefly and then handed over a pound. “That should take care of that, and keep the extra so Mrs. Cartwright can have another candle or two.”

“Oh, you are so good to us, sir. Thank you,” the lady said with a giggle.

“Indeed. It’s much appreciated,” the grocer added, taking the money.

“Well, then, have a good night. I’ll be back when I can.” John ruffled their son’s hair and started down the stairs with the family calling out their thanks and good wishes to him.

One more such visit to the owner of a secondhand store where many residents of the neighborhood bought their clothes, and finally he made a quick visit to the local parish church. The vicar there would distribute money directly to the people who needed it most. John’s pockets were nearly empty as he headed home, but his mind was content.

Chapter Three

~May 13~

There were very few diamonds John didn’t like, but what society called a “diamond of the first water” was one. He had no time or patience for the diamonds of society, not after what two of them had done to his sister when she had made her debut. No, his only interest in society now was the diamonds he could steal from the wealthy ladies who dripped with them and hardly noticed when one or two went missing, and he only liked the stones for the money they brought which allowed him to help the poor.

And yet it was a diamond who grabbed his attention this evening as she held court in the middle of a bevy of dandified suitors. His natural inclination and her brilliant charisma drew him to her, and at the moment, it was more than he could resist.

A burst of laughter drew him into her web of admirers. What in the world could this young woman be talking about that enthralled so many gentlemen? He couldn’t have moved away even if he’d tried.

“Have you seen Lord Macomb’s newest stallion? I declare, no horse that large should be allowed on Rotten Row at the height of the promenade, and then there was this child holding his reins!” she said with a broad smile on her full, pink lips.

“How old was the boy?” someone called out.

“He couldn’t have been above five or six, and hardly stood taller than the horse’s knees!” she answered with a giggle.

The group of men burst out laughing again. John was horrified that such a small child would be left to care for a horse of that size and strength.

“What did you do, Miss Sheffield?” another gentleman asked.

“Me? Oh, I stayed a few feet away—far enough so the child couldn’t see me, but close enough in case assistance was required,” the girl said.

John nodded approvingly but managed to keep his mouth shut. He shouldn’t even be here listening to her. He wasn’t here to enjoy the party, he reminded himself, and he was here to do a job. He should simply move off, but something kept him rooted right where he stood.

“Did Macomb come back when he said he would?” someone asked.

“No! He came back a full ten minutes later, and when he did, he started to hand the boy tuppence. The child stopped him from retrieving the reins and held out his little hand and said, ‘That’ll be five pence and a farthing, if you would, my lord.’”

The men all burst out laughing again, and even John had a hard time keeping a smile from twitching onto his lips.

“Macomb began to argue with the child,” Miss Sheffield continued, “but the boy stood firm. His lordship had promised him a tuppence for ten minutes, but he’d been gone for well over twenty. The child wanted his due!”

“Did he pay the boy?” John asked despite himself. The young woman blinked her lovely deep-green eyes at him before a smile lit her face. “Of course, once I had caught his lordship’s eye and let him know that he had to do so.”

“With just a look?” John asked.

“Oh, I can convey a great deal of meaning with a look, my lord,” Miss Sheffield said.

The gentlemen around her once again exploded with laughter.

“Indeed, Miss Sheffield, you could slay me with one glance of those beautiful eyes,” a man said, placing his hands over his heart.

“And I!” another piped in.

“I could only hope to be spared such a look,” a third gentleman said, reaching out an imploring hand in her direction.

The girl laughed. “Oh, gentlemen, you should be on the stage. I would come to see you all every night.”

John laughed and shook his head before moving off to scout for the sort of diamonds he’d originally come for.

~*~

When Lydia had finished regaling the gentlemen with her story, they all drifted away except for a few lingerers. She excused herself, however, and went in search of the gentleman who’d joined the group late.

He was the same man who she’d seen a few nights ago at Lady Kershaw’s ball, she was certain of it. He was the man in the gray coat who’d stolen the diamonds!

How had she never noticed the gentleman before? Somehow, he hadn’t come to her attention before this, although it was true she hadn’t been in town for very long. She’d been sure she’d met every eligible gentleman, and even a number of whom were not so eligible but wished they were.

She gave a little laugh at that thought and strolled deliberately through Lady Emmerton’s drawing room looking for him.

“Good evening, Miss Sheffield,” Lady Sorrell said, forcing Lydia to stop.

“Oh, good evening.”

“You seem to be looking for someone. Perhaps I can help?” asked her friend and fellow member of the Lady’s Wagering Whist Society. Joining that elite group of ladies had definitely been the smartest move Lydia had made since coming to London. With it, she immediately gained seven very good friends, nearly all of them older and wiser than she. Only one other woman was new to society like herself, and Lydia had quickly made fast friends with her. It was so wonderful being with someone as forthright and clear-headed as Diana Hemshawe.

“Thank you. There was a man in a dark blue coat who was part of a group of gentlemen I was speaking with, but he disappeared before I could ask for an introduction.”

“What did he look like?” her friend asked.

“Rather ordinary, actually. Dark blond hair, brown intelligent-looking eyes,” Lydia answered, still looking around.

“He sounds exactly like the sort of gentleman your father would be happy to see you with,” Lady Sorrell answered with a little laugh.

Lydia turned back to her friend, giggling. “You’re right. I’m certain he is. Papa would be so happy if I married someone who was as clever as he.”

“Well, lets see if we can’t find your mystery man,” Lady Sorrell said, tucking her hand into Lydia’s elbow.

They proceeded to promenade about the rooms, but it seemed as if the fellow had just disappeared!

~May 14~

“Did you see Tina driving through the park yesterday with my nephew?” Mrs. Aldridge gushed the moment she walked into Lady Norman’s game room the following day.

Many of the ladies were already assembled for the weekly meeting of the Ladies Wagering Whist Society and having a cup of tea before they all sat down to play cards.

“Who hasn’t seen them?” the Duchess of Kendall asked, depressing Mrs. Aldridge’s excitement quite effectively.

Lydia felt bad for Mrs. Aldridge. She was trying so hard to fit into a very well-established society. It wasn’t her fault her husband was in manufacturing. She was doing all she could to better the family’s social standing and provide opportunities for her son who, Lydia understood, was quite a catch in the marriage mart.

She, herself, wasn’t interested in marrying for money—not that her father was wealthy. As the third son of a marquess, he had had to work for most of his adult life, much like Mr. Aldridge, but at least she was not being compelled to find a rich husband. There were a number of girls her age who were, and therefore looking quite closely at the younger Mr. Aldridge when he actually attended society functions, which he didn’t do quite as often as Mrs. Aldridge wished. The family did have the benefit of being related to Lord Ainsby, who was an earl and the nephew under discussion at the moment.

The duchess, however, felt it was her job to keep the mushroom—the duchess’s word, not Lydia’s—in her place. Clashes between the two ladies were, sadly, growing each time they met. Luckily, things hadn’t come to a head yet, and Lady Norman or Lady Blakemore always managed to keep the women at different card tables so they wouldn’t have to spend too much time in each other’s company.

One thing the duchess absolutely hated about Mrs. Aldridge, which Lydia happened to adore, was her sweet little Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, which she brought with her nearly everywhere she went. Mrs. Aldridge’s husband had named the dog Duchess, which annoyed the Duchess of Kendall to no end. Lydia thought it was immensely amusing. She wondered at anyone who could not love such a sweet-tempered, adoring little pup!

Lydia reached down and scratched the dog in question, which was sitting expectantly next to her owner, behind her long, floppy black ears and got her hand licked in appreciation. “Haven’t they been seen together a number of times already?” Lydia asked.

“Three times in just this past week,” Mrs. Aldridge gushed.

“My word!” Lady Norman said. Since Tina was her daughter, Lydia was rather surprised she wasn’t aware of how many times they’d been out. “I wonder if I should have a word with her. Being seen so often with just one gentleman could make people talk.”

Chapter Four

“Oh, I think we’re past that,” Diana said to Lady Norman with a little laugh. “I’ve heard talk from the races I’ve attended as well at parties.” She bent down to help herself to a lemon tart from the plate on a low table. She then picked up the entire plate and moved it to a higher spot where the dog couldn’t get at the treats.

“Does your father know you attend so many races?” Lady Moreton asked the girl.

Diana gave a little giggle around her mouthful of tart and had to make use of her handkerchief. After she swallowed she said, “My father is always with me, my lady.”

“Oh.” Lady Moreton gave her a little smile, but she clearly was confused by a father who took his daughter to horse races. Lydia understood he not only took her but, in fact, encouraged her to ride in them! It was quite scandalous! Lydia loved it.

“I’ve had an unusual occurrence,” Lydia said, during a momentary lull in the conversation. She hadn’t intended to discuss the mystery gentleman she’d seen twice now, but somehow the comment just popped out of her mouth unbidden.

“Oh?” Lady Sorrell asked, turning toward her along with a number of the other ladies.

“As Lady Sorrell is well aware, there’s a gentleman I’ve seen twice now who I’ve never met. I have tried to be introduced to him, but he seems to keep disappearing on me,” she said with a little laugh.

“How could it be there is a gentleman who you haven’t met, Lydia?” Diana asked with a broad smile on her face. “I was certain every eligible man has made himself known to you.”

Lydia laughed out loud. “And a number of those who aren’t so eligible,” she added.

“How is it that you have met so many?” Lady Moreton asked. She seemed to be honestly curious.

“I don’t know, to be honest. I don’t have a great fortune—well, none at all to be strictly truthful. But somehow…” Lydia didn’t quite know how to finish her sentence because she didn’t have an answer.

“It’s your sweet temper and charm,” Lady Norman said without hesitation. “Everyone loves a girl who laughs.”

Lydia giggled. “You are too kind, my lady.”

“No, just honest,” the woman said.

“And correct,” Lady Blakemore said. “More girls should follow your lead, Miss Sheffield. You are always a pleasure to speak with. Deferential to your elders and, as Lady Norman says, always laughing about something. Quite charming!”

Lydia could feel her face heat with such effusive praise. “You are too kind! But as I say, there is clearly one gentleman who not only doesn’t wish to meet me but seems to be deliberately avoiding me. Do you remember when I pointed him out to you last week, Lady Norman? The man in the gray coat?”

“I do remember you trying to point him out to me, but I never saw him. He’d left the room by the time I looked,” the woman said, thankfully not mentioning the fact that Lydia had accused him of removing some pins from a lady’s hair.