A Little Mischief (9 page)

“Miss Winslowe has made it clear to everyone she doesn’t want to make a match.”

It didn’t surprise Daniel that the lady would rather play her games than get serious about finding a husband to take her off the mart.

Thinking back to how she’d tried to trick him about Throckmorten, Daniel said, “My guess is that she’s not married because she hasn’t had any offers.”

“Think again, my friend. She’s had plenty of offers. At least three last year, maybe more.”

“Maybe less?” Daniel questioned.

“No. I’m sure of the three.”

“Suitable matches?”

“Yes. She even declined Viscount Traywick. She dances, smiles, and occasionally accepts calls but has shown no interest in making a match.”

“Have you called on her?”

“Me? No.” Chilton shook his head.

“Why?”

That same faraway expression that Daniel had noticed earlier eased across Chilton’s face. “For now, I’m satisfied with the mistress I’m seeing. As I told you earlier, I have no need to marry.”

That was Chilton’s second reference to being content, yet his friend didn’t have the look of a contented man. He didn’t seem restless as he had in their youth, it was more a sad resignation. Daniel sensed something was wrong, but tonight wasn’t the time to ask him about it. But Daniel would if Chilton didn’t speak up soon.

“Perhaps there’s a reason she hasn’t married,” Daniel said, thinking she must be up to all different kinds of trickery.

“There was a bit of a story about her father abandoning her for his new wife, but I have no idea how much of it is true.”

“That could be part of the problem. She has no father or older brother or uncle to keep her in line? Who’s her sponsor?”

“An aunt. Miss Pithany Winslowe.”

“Yes, I’ve met her in the past. She’s a well-respected lady.”

“Lord Colebrooke, may I be so forward as to intrude for a moment?”

Daniel turned and looked into the long lean face of Thomas Wright. A tall, thin, brown-haired young lady stood beside him looking down at the floor.

“Of course, Tom, it’s been a long time since I’ve seen you. How are you?”

“Good, my lord, and you?”

“Quite well.”

“If it’s convenient, I’d like to present my sister, Miss Amanda Wright.”

Daniel assured him it was, and introductions, bows, and greetings were exchanged by all, including Chilton, who promptly excused himself shortly after Amanda Wright was introduced. Daniel couldn’t help but notice that Amanda was comely enough with small brown eyes and shapely lips, but she barely opened her mouth when she talked and she wouldn’t look at him.

He kept thinking she’d be so much prettier if she looked him in the eyes and smiled when she talked to him. He wondered why she acted so shy. She would do well to learn a few things from the confident Miss Winslowe.

“Lovely party,” Tom said. “Lord Gleningwold and his countess always give a splendid affair.”

“Indeed. I trust the rest of your family is well, Tom?”

“In good health, yes.”

Daniel was certain Thomas had brought his sister over in hopes she would catch Daniel’s eye. Daniel wondered if somehow Tom knew that he was interested in him for Gretchen. He wasn’t the most handsome of men, but he came from a respectable family. He wasn’t much of a drinker, and as far as Daniel knew he wasn’t into gambling, either. That made him a far better catch for Gretchen than most of the acceptable men in London.

Daniel needed to make sure Thomas knew that a call on Gretchen would be not only acceptable but welcomed.

“Perhaps we can have a drink at White’s later in the week.”

Thomas’s face reddened with excitement. “I should look forward to it, my lord.”

“Good.”

Over Tom’s shoulder Daniel saw Miss Winslowe talking to Gretchen. He tensed. He’d told both of them to stay away from the other. He wasn’t surprised that Miss Winslowe hadn’t listened to him, but considering all the trouble Gretchen had been in, she should have heeded his warning.

“Excuse me, Tom, Miss Wright. I see someone I must speak to.”

Daniel made his way over to where his sister and Miss Winslowe stood. He was stopped three times for introductions to young ladies before he managed to reach the other side of the room.

Gretchen looked up at him with a big smile. Looking at her tonight no one would ever know that only a few hours ago she’d thought she’d killed someone. Beneath her spectacles he could see that the redness and swelling had faded from her eyes, and the worried wrinkles were gone from her brow.

“Gretchen. Miss Winslowe,” he said tightly, trying not to sound as adversarial as he felt when he stopped in front of them.

“Lord Colebrooke,” Miss Winslowe said stiffly, but not without an appropriate smile. “I’m surprised to see you here.”

“Why so?”

“I would have thought you’d be out slaying dragons for some damsel in distress.”

“Distress no doubt caused by some pranks you’ve been up to, Miss Winslowe.”

She gave him a dazzling smile, and Daniel’s lower body reacted to her. Knowing what trickery she was capable of, it was unbelievable how attracted he was to her.

“Well, if it weren’t for troublemakers like me… gallant gentlemen like you would have no dragons to slay.”

“I should love for that day to arrive so I can concentrate on important matters.”

“Are you two arguing?” Gretchen asked, confused.

“No,” Daniel and Miss Winslowe said in unison.

“Gretchen, I want you to come with me,” Daniel said. “I want to introduce you to Mr. Thomas Wright and his sister Amanda.”

“Oh, Danny.” Gretchen laughed with comfortable abandon. “I already know both of them quite well. Amanda is in our Reading Society that meets at Isabella’s house. You are the one who’s been away, not I.”

“In that case, just come with me. We don’t want to hold up, Miss Winslowe. I’m sure she has another ruse to attend to.”

“Really, Daniel, I’m not a child who—” Suddenly Gretchen stopped and her eyes widened as if she’d seen a ghost.

Isabella and Daniel turned around to see what had caused Gretchen to turn so pale.

Mr. Boswell Throckmorten walked into the room looking more dapper than any man had the right to look.

Daniel couldn’t help but smile, and his voice dripped with sarcasm as he said, “It doesn’t appear as if anyone touched a hair on his head to me. Certainly not with a marble statuette of Cupid. In fact, I do believe Mr. Throckmorten is the healthiest-looking dead man I’ve ever seen.” He looked specifically at Miss Winslowe and said, “Don’t you think so?”

“Must you gloat with so much enthusiasm?” Isabella asked.

Daniel’s smile turned to a satisfied grin. “It’s not every day a man gets to witness a dead man walking.”

“And it’s not every day that a lady meets so arrogant a man who passed himself off as a gentleman.”

“I’m so relieved he’s not dead,” Gretchen said.

“Yes. We all are,” Isabella added, looking pointedly at Daniel.

“Some of us never believed he was dead in the first place,” Daniel answered confidently.

Gretchen said, “I don’t know why I thought I had killed him.”

“You probably never even struck him, Gretchy,” Daniel said. “But I think you’ve learned your lesson about walking alone in gardens where you’re at risk. And what kind of people you need to associate with.”

Gretchen nodded in answer to Daniel but didn’t take her gaze off Mr. Throckmorten until he walked into another room.

“Good. I suggest we all put this matter out of our minds and forget it happened,” he said, looking straight at Miss Winslowe. He wanted to leave no doubt that he was mainly talking to her. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to speak to Mr. Throckmorten to make sure he doesn’t accidentally stroll into your back garden again.”

“How kind of you to offer, sir,” Isabella said as calmly as if she talked about the weather. “I’m quite capable of speaking to the gentleman myself. I don’t need you to handle anything for me.”

“Are you two arguing again?” Gretchen asked again.

“No,” Daniel and Miss Winslowe answered.

“Then, if
you
two will excuse me, I need to go to the retiring room,” Gretchen said and walked away.

At once Lord Colebrooke stepped closer to Miss Winslowe and in a low voice said, “I told you to stay away from my sister.”

She didn’t flinch but remained staring boldly into his eyes. “Or you’ll do what, my lord?”

“A word or two from me and you will no longer be welcome in anyone’s house in London.”

“I do believe you have me shaking in fear, Lord Colebrooke,” she snipped.

“You need to be. I will not let you ruin Gretchen’s reputation with your Wallflowers Society.”

Her shoulders lifted and her chin came up. “Are you always so boorish and ill-mannered to innocent ladies?”

“Just ladies like you, Miss Winslowe, are the only ones who need to fear me.”

“Fear you, my lord? That won’t happen.”

He wasn’t so sure he appreciated the fact he couldn’t intimidate her, but it did spark a bit of admiration in him. “I don’t care which way you take what I’m saying. Just stay away from my sister.”

“Gretchen approached me tonight, and I am not as impolite as you are. You do what you must. I will not rebuff her if she speaks to me.”

Someone clapped Daniel on the back. “Who’s this? My long traveled cousin, the Earl of Colebrooke. How long have you been in Town?”

Daniel forced his gaze away from Miss Winslowe to look into the blurry eyes of Bradford Turnbury. It was just Daniel’s luck that Bradford would show up while he was having a heated conversation with Miss Winslowe.

Daniel had never cared for his cousin. As a young lad he had been cruel to his animals, and he was always picking a fight with Daniel’s older brother. Bradford had learned early that Daniel didn’t have the passive personality of his older brother, so he made a point of not starting trouble when Daniel was around. On more than one occasion Daniel was forced to come to his brother’s aid.

“I hope I haven’t interrupted a serious conversation,” Bradford said. “You both seem so intense.”

“Bradford,” Daniel said tightly, refusing to even acknowledge his inappropriate comments. “You haven’t changed a bit, I see.”

Bradford smiled broadly. “So true, Danny. You haven’t bothered to write in over a year.”

Daniel grimaced. He hated for Bradford to call him Danny, but he had learned long ago that the more he tried to keep Bradford from using the name, the more he said it.

“I’ve been busy,” Daniel said, noticing his cousin’s flushed face, the puffiness and dark circles around his cousin’s dark brown eyes. He was well-dressed but looked much too thin for his tall frame. It was clear he’d already had too much to drink.

“No doubt.” Bradford bowed to Miss Winslowe. “How are you this evening, Miss Winslowe?”

“Well, Mr. Turnbury, and you?”

“Couldn’t be better. You are looking beautiful tonight.”

She smiled graciously. “Thank you, kind sir.”

Daniel didn’t like the expression on Bradford’s face when he looked at Miss Winslowe. It reminded Daniel of a man who wanted to ravish a woman.

Bradford faced Daniel. “And might I add that my son is in excellent health, too.”

“Good,” Daniel said, knowing he was going to see that this man did not inherit the title Earl of Colebrooke. By the looks of him, he was drinking himself into an early grave.

“I had heard you were returning to London—and to claim a bride.”

“I’m sure the thought chills you, Bradford, but it is time for me to marry.”

“Couldn’t agree more,” his cousin said. “The sooner the better as they say. We never know what the future will bring, do we?”

It didn’t surprise Daniel that Bradford referenced his brother’s death. That was just another of his bad habits.

“I believe you two gentlemen have a lot of catching up to do,” Isabella said. “Would you excuse me?”

“Don’t go,” Bradford said.

“I was…” Isabella said.

“She was…” Daniel said.

“Just leaving,” they said in unison.

“What a coincidence,” Bradford said. “So was I, but before I do—Miss Winslowe, I hear a dance about to start. Would you do me the honor of joining me, if you haven’t already committed this dance to another?”

“I haven’t promised, but I”—she hesitated a moment before smiling and saying—“I’d be delighted to be your partner. Thank you for asking.”

“Wonderful. See you later, old chap,” Bradford said to Daniel as he and Isabella walked away.

Daniel felt an unusual tightness in his chest as they disappeared into the crowd. He didn’t want his cousin dancing with Miss Winslowe. He didn’t want him touching her, smiling at her. And he didn’t even want his cousin looking at her and wanting her in the way Daniel wanted her.

It was crazy what he was feeling for her. It was clear she didn’t like him. Nor he her. Yet he wanted her. What kind of madness was this? Had she bewitched him in some way?