The Fortune Hunter (8 page)

Nerissa glanced back to be sure that Annis was not lagging behind, becoming so caught up in the first flush of a flirtation that she forgot herself. “If you mean the warmth of attraction, I must agree with you in the case of your brother and my friend. They seemed overmastered by it from the moment they first spoke.” She laughed. “
Almost
from the moment they first spoke.”

“
Almost from the moment?
Did Philip bowl her over as I did you?”

Nerissa explained the meeting in the shop, then added, “Annis is a dear friend, and she leaps to my defense at every chance.”

“I see Philip has set her worries to rest about the accident, and you have to own that he chose a more charming way to meet her than I did to meet you.” His voice softened. “I am truly glad to see you out of your house. I trust that means you soon will be regaining the pretty pink in your cheeks. Savage that I am, I have endured the jesting of my good fellows which I so rightly deserve for failing to watch where I set Cirrus. No doubt I shall be forced to suffer their well-placed gibes this evening.”

“If you would as lief that I did not attend …”

“What a rapper! Of certainty you must attend, Miss Dufresne. There have been cruel rumors of your untimely demise circulating—at my expense, if you wish to know the truth. I beseech you to make your high health known before I find myself in deadly suspense at the end of a hangman's noose.”

Nerissa laughed. “My lord, humility doesn't come easily from your lips.”

His grey eyes twinkled with mischief as he took her gloved hand between his. She gasped at his forward motion as they stood in the middle of the walkway. A pulse of the same, delightful warmth she had felt when he stood so close to her in the parlor raced along her limbs, coiling through her middle. The slow smile on his expressive lips stirred the gentle heat to a flame.

Without speaking, he brought her hand to his mouth. His ashen gaze threatened to overwhelm her with the passions she could see within it. Her eyes closed when he touched her hand so fleetingly with his lips. All of her being focused on that spot where his breath seeped through her gloves to set her skin afire.

Something struck her sore face, and Nerissa choked back a moan. She opened her eyes to see Lord Windham looking skyward. Lazy drops of rain splashed into the puddle at her feet.

“Allow us to see you and Miss Ehrlich home and out of the storm,” he said, his voice once again unemotional.

“That is unnecessary. My carriage is right here.” She watched as Annis hurried to climb into the tired-looking carriage with Mr. Windham's assistance.

Lord Windham handed her in as graciously. “Then I bid you a farewell until this evening, Miss Dufresne.” He released her hand as his smile included both women. “If you did not believe my words before, I hope that you will now when I say that I look forward to that hour with great anticipation.”

“So do I,” she answered softly, so softly she was unsure if he heard them as he urged his brother to hurry toward their own carriage. Not that it mattered, for she suspected Lord Windham already had discerned the longings of her rebellious heart which pulsed faster at the thought of spending the evening with him.

Chapter Five

Hamilton watched Miss Dufresne's carriage drive away through the rain. Stepping back under an awning, he motioned for his brother, who was staring after the vehicle as if his eyes were tied to it.

“Philip!” he called, then laughed. “Miss Ehrlich will have little use for you if you prove you don't have the sense God gave a goose and stand out there in the rain.”

With a sheepish grin, his brother trotted beneath the awning. “She is wonderful.”

“I am sure she is.”

At Hamilton's distant tone, Philip turned to face him. “Is something amiss? I thought you were having a pleasant conversation with Miss Dufresne.”

“You can take the carriage home. I will join you later.”

“Hamilton …”

He forced a smile he hoped would soon be genuine. “I have just a bit of business I need to attend to while you think of what you wish to say to Miss Ehrlich in the note I'm sure you are composing in your head even now.”

“I had hoped to ask her to join us this evening at Rowland's,” he said in an almost shy voice.

Hamilton cursed silently. After seeing how low love had brought him, his brother should know better than to get so moony about a woman after a single meeting. He would have to set Philip to rights, but it must be later. He was already late for his meeting.

Bending his head into the drizzle, he strode along the street. It had been a pleasant conversation with Miss Dufresne, and he had been honest when he said he looked forward to seeing her this evening, but that would be the end of the matter. Once the “Polite World” discovered she was up and about, his duty to her would be ended.

If only her blue eyes were not so lustrous and her laugh so enticing.… He shook his head. He was no pup like Philip, who was ready to embark upon his first tangle with love. After Elinor had betrayed him, he had forsworn any such webs of sweet deception again. Better it would be for him to concentrate on the true reason he had come to Bath.

The vegetable stalls near the bridge were almost deserted, so Hamilton was able to spot his man immediately. Mallory, if he recalled the name correctly, looked as out of place among the few shoppers as a saddle on a sow. The man, who was bulky and cut off like a weathered stump, did not pause to look at any of the offered wares. Nor did he seek shelter under the roof of one of the stalls from the increasing rain. He stood, as resolute as a street lamp, and stared at the people passing him.

His eyes became dark slits in his full face as Hamilton walked toward him. In lieu of a greeting, Mallory simply nodded. Hamilton motioned toward the street. They would attract less notice if they walked through the surprisingly chilly rain while they talked.

“Arrived on the Mail yesterday,” Mallory said with an accent that labelled his birthplace as the heart of London. “I know what ye want me to be doin', milord.”

“You are familiar with what has been unearthed so far?”

He spat into the street and snorted. “Nothin' worthwhile. Can't find a man when all ye do is ask about. Should have sent fer me months ago. Now it'll be harder to find yer man.”

“Townsend recommends you highly.”

“I be one of 'is best.” Mallory hooked his thumbs into the lapels of his wet coat that strained across his full belly. “Not a thief whom I can't take, milord.”

Hamilton ignored the round man's boasting. Whether it was true or not mattered little to him. Townsend's Bow Street Runners had an excellent reputation for finding their prey, especially as thief-takers. The last man Hamilton had hired had proven to be a miserable failure. Mallory could be no worse, and there was a chance he might do better, even though the trail had grown cold in Bath.

“I shall expect regular reports on your progress,” he said coolly.

“Ye're paying, milord. What ye wants I'll get ye.”

“I will let you know where we can meet. Understandably, it would not do for you to appear on the doorstep of my house.”

“Understandably.” He rubbed his fingers against his unshaven jaw. “As fer an 'ouse, milord …”

Hamilton withdrew a handful of coins and dropped them in the man's palm which was lined with dirt. “This should be enough for you to hire a suitable lodging. Send me an address where I can reach you.”

“Aye, milord.”

The man appeared to be waiting for Hamilton to add more, but he had nothing else to say to the Runner. Mallory's smile faded when Hamilton remained silent, and the shorter man edged away. Hamilton brushed past him to find a hired carriage to take him back to Queen Square. He did not look back.

Mrs. Ehrlich flowed into the room, clicking her tongue at the bedraggled state of her least daughter. With her blond hair, that was laced liberally with silver, half-hidden beneath a frilled mob cap and an elegant gown of white cambric, which displayed her still superb figure, she always delighted in making a grand entrance, no matter how small the audience.

“Annis, look at you! As drenched and bedraggled as yesterday's newspaper.”

“Mama!” She ran forward to take her mother's hands. “I have had the most wondrous afternoon.”

Mrs. Ehrlich looked past her, still frowning. “And, Nerissa, you are as wet! Have you misplaced every lick of common sense? You both should be soaking in warm tubs before you catch your deaths of cold.”

“Mama!” Annis refused to be ignored. “I met a charming man while we were about on our errands.”

“How nice for you, my dear. Do bid Nerissa a good afternoon so you can get freshened up before Mr. Oakley calls upon your sister.”

“He asked if I would like to join him for a
soirée
this evening.”

Nerissa hid her smile when Mrs. Ehrlich opened her mouth to give her daughter another order, then slowly closed it, surprise widening her blue eyes. The startled woman gasped, “You met a man and let him offer you an invitation? Just like that?”

“Mama, Nerissa introduced us.”

Mrs. Ehrlich's smile returned, but it was calculating. Nerissa could almost hear the thoughts in Mrs. Ehrlich's head. With Annis's oldest sister married satisfactorily and Janelle soon to be if Mr. Oakley proposed as they expected, a chance meeting could prove a boon to a mother who had anticipated difficulty in finding a man to buckle himself to her youngest, most stubborn daughter.

“How sweet of you, Nerissa,” she cooed, all dismay gone from her voice. “You are so kind to do this for Annis when you are in the market for a
beau
yourself.”

“Mama!” Exasperation spilled from every pore of Annis's indignant body. She flashed Nerissa an apologetic smile. Nerissa wanted to tell her not to worry. By this time, she was accustomed to Mrs. Ehrlich's single-minded pursuit of a husband for each of her daughters. Nothing else—not even friendships—must be allowed to stand in the way of finding suitable matches for her daughters.

“Hush, Annis,” her mother said. “Calm yourself and then tell me about this lucky encounter.”

“We were at Mrs. Peach's shop when Mr. Windham—”

“Windham?” Her smile became a furious frown. “Where was your head, Annis? Do you think I would let you be seen in
his
company?”

“Not Lord Windham, Mama. His brother.” She sighed and closed her eyes, joy burning brightly on her face. “He is a gentleman, Mama, even forgiving me for my unthinking words about the viscount.”

“Which are undoubtedly true.”

“Which are no more than poker-talk,” Nerissa said quietly. She did not look away when Mrs. Ehrlich affixed her with one of her infamous glowers. Lord Windham had done nothing for her to cause her to disparage him or listen to his name ridiculed.

“This was your idea, I take it.” Mrs. Ehrlich's indignity burned in her eyes.

“As Annis said, we met Mr. Windham at Mrs. Peach's shop.” She saw no reason to complicate the conversation by adding that the viscount had been present as well. “He spoke with us and was most taken with Annis. You can be sure Annis did nothing to cause you alarm.”

“Except considering this untoward invitation—”

“Mama, Mr. Windham simply asked—”

“—which, of course, you cannot accept until Mr. Windham has presented himself to me for my approval.” The devious expression returned to her face. “That should prove most interesting.”

Annis turned to Nerissa, but Nerissa had no idea what to say. Mrs. Ehrlich would not change her mind on this, for she was determined that each of her daughters would marry a man of first respectability. Leaving Mrs. Ehrlich to contemplate that meeting, Nerissa went to the door with her friend.

“Shall I inform Mr. Windham of your regrets?” she asked, wishing she could find a way to convince Annis not to drop down on herself. So seldom did she see her friend melancholy, she was unsure how to cheer her.

“No,” Annis answered with soft sorrow, “I shall send him a note explaining Mama's insistence upon meeting him first.”

She smiled. “He will understand. It is
comme il faut.
”

“I hope so.” Her eyes began to glow with happiness again and just a hint of her mother's cunning. “I hope Mama understands, too. I intend to see Mr. Windham again—no matter what she decides.”

“Miss Dufresne, I cannot believe you intend to go out this evening.” Frye folded her arms over the drooping shelf of her breast. Frowning, she regarded her lady from top to bottom.

Except for the fringed sling, she could find nothing to criticize about her charge's clothes. Although almost a year old, Nerissa's gown was a lovely sprigged muslin of an ephemeral blue. Its high bodice and modest
décolletage
flattered Nerissa's delicate curves. With her hair piled
à la
Sappho about her crown, only the ebony lace draped around her neck to cradle her arm and her bruises marred the image.

Frye's frown became more rigid as her gaze settled on the puffy discoloring on Nerissa's cheek. “Miss Dufresne, are you listening to me?”

“Every word,” Nerissa said, smiling as she struggled to draw on her unheeled slippers. Rows of fine lace decorated their silk toes. She never had guessed it would be so difficult to manage otherwise simple tasks with one hand.

“Can I dare to believe that you have reconsidered?”

“Lord Windham would think me to have been born at Hogs Norton if I declined his invitation at this late hour.”

“Mrs. Ehrlich refused to let Miss Annis go until she had the opportunity to meet Mr. Windham herself to judge if he is suitable to call upon her daughter. I wish you would introduce the viscount to your brother.”

“Cole? Oh, Frye, you know he thinks of nothing but his canal.” She laughed merrily. “I would not ask him to concern himself with an invitation to a quiet gathering.”