The Incorrigible Mr. Lumley (5 page)

“Not until I have proof,” David said.

“And how do you plan to find this proof?
Last I’d heard, Northcotte was not overtly welcoming to the Lumley
clan.”

David smiled and sat back in his chair.
“With a little help from a new acquaintance. My mother has been
pleading for me to escort Lady Hannah to whatever events strike her
fancy; that is the whole purpose of my being in London at this time
of year. I shall endeavor to see that my dear sister and Lady
Joanna become fast friends.”

He didn’t care to know Northcotte’s sister
any better, but she might know something that could solve the
mysteries plaguing him.

Joanna and Miss Amelia Clawson pranced down
the front steps of the small town house belonging to Amelia’s
parents, their maids following in a more subdued manner. Joanna
laughed and circled in place when she reached the curb, her arms
spread wide. “Isn’t it a beautiful day?”

Amelia shook her head, but laughed. “You act
as though you’ve fallen in love, and we haven’t yet been to our
first ball.”

Joanna laughed once more, then the warmth of
a blush traveled over her face. She was not in love. “I did meet
someone. He’s too cold-natured for my liking, but he gives me hope
for the other gentlemen in Town.”

With a loud gasp, followed by a clap of her
hand over her mouth, Amelia gaped at her with wide eyes. “Who is
he? Does he have a handsome brother for me?”

Tipping her head to one side, Joanna thought
for a moment as they began strolling down the street to shop for
ribbon. “Why yes, he does have a very handsome brother. Do you know
Lord Knightwick?”

Another gasp. “You met Knightwick?”

“No, his brother, Mr. Lumley.”

“How? Where? Why was I not there with you?
You’ve just arrived in Town.”

Joanna plucked at the button on her Spencer,
straightening the front of the blue garment distractedly. Shrugging
her shoulders and sighing dramatically, she spoke. “You won’t ride
with me, so you won’t have the opportunity to meet gentlemen such
as these. I was riding Patriot this morning when I had the
opportunity to do a service for Mr. Lumley.”

She detailed her chase, adding theatrical
flourishes to her run while riding sidesaddle, and the reactions of
the two stallions upon Triton being caught. In truth, she knew she
could easily have been thrown if the two animals had been more
upset, but she had been quite lucky.

Amelia looked suitably impressed. “You
didn’t! Isn’t his horse a runner?”

“Just so, as is Patriot. My horse will prove
himself on the courses this year, you’ll see.”

Patting Joanna’s arm, Amelia apologized. “I
didn’t mean his horse is better. Or faster. Or whatever. But should
you not have let your groom catch him? What must people think?
Surely you were seen.”

“Oooh, you sound like my mother. You are
exactly the daughter she wishes me to be. But I can’t undo chasing
the stallion, and I don’t wish to undo meeting Mr. Lumley, which
was my true point in mentioning the event to you.”

“I forgot. If he resembles Knightwick, he is
likely very handsome as you say. Was he grateful for your help, or
embarrassed to be saved by a lady?”

Joanna considered the way he had ridden off
so abruptly. She would not share that part of their meeting. There
was no fun in that. “He seemed suitably gracious. He was well aware
he might never have caught Triton on his own.”

“And did he ask to call on you? Perhaps
thank you again?”

“Well, no. He didn’t say anything suggesting
he wished to see me again.” Not that she cared to speak to him
after his rude departure. “It doesn’t matter. The promise of what
lay ahead makes me happy this morning. He is handsome and he loves
horses. Those two qualities are very high on my list for an ideal
husband. If there’s one like him in London, there must be more.
Perhaps one of them will be able to look beyond my work with
horses, and will think I make the perfect wife.”

“It’s likely we’ll run into him at some
assembly or other. And he now has reason to request an
introduction.” Amelia always saw the brighter side of a situation.
“Perhaps he’ll have his brother with him, and perhaps I’ll be with
you.”

“You never told me you have an interest in
Knightwick, Amelia.”

Her friend looked off at the row of houses
across the street. “I’ve no aspirations to marry an earl’s heir. My
grandfather was in trade, and my father is only a baron. My income
isn’t enough to attract a titled gentleman.”

“Well then, you may marry any man you
choose. Many would want a wife like you. Your hair is such a rich
shade of brown, and the shape of your eyes is so striking. You are
enjoyable to talk to and you carry yourself well in company. You
are the perfect bride for any gentleman.”

Amelia laughed. “If only the right gentleman
would come along. I’ve had two Seasons for some man to think I am
perfect, and I stand before you an unmarried, unattached
woman.”

“I’m very grateful for that. Who would I
talk to if you were an old, married woman already?”

They reached their intended shop and walked
inside. “I need just the right shade of lavender, not too wide, to
match one of my dresses,” Joanna explained.

Joanna examined the goods for sale, asking
for cuts of laces and ribbons for various garments, and thread to
match. Once they were back on the street, her thoughts returned to
Knightwick. “You don’t really want a man like him, do you?”

“Who, Knightwick? Why would I not? You
aren’t referring to that Cambridge incident, are you?”

“No, silly. I meant that he’s such a rake,
of course,” Joanna said.

“Why, because he keeps a demimonde? I’m
certain even your brother has used the services of one.”

“Amelia!” Joanna glanced about, but the
people walking near them appeared not to have overheard. “His
employment of a demimonde is reason enough. But there are other
allegations. What about the young lady Lord Knightwick jilted?”

“I heard that was all gossip,” Amelia said.
“He’d not made any declarations toward her, nor paid her any
particular attention. She was merely the daughter of a friend of
his aunt’s whom he called on once or twice out of consideration for
the older ladies’ friendship.”

“Hmm. I suppose people do tend to make too
much of many tidbits they hear. But I’m still not certain I’d care
to have such a man as a husband.”

“He would be your brother if you married Mr.
Lumley.”

Joanna shook her head with a laugh. “I never
claimed I wished to marry Lumley. I only hope to find a man such as
him, who would let me continue to train horses.”

As they rounded the corner, they stopped
abruptly to avoid collision with a man who was barreling down the
walk while reading a piece of paper in his hand. He halted and
nodded at them. “I beg your pardon, ladies. How rude of me. Why,
Lady Joanna, it’s delightful to see you again.”

Joanna recognized the scarecrow who’d been
with her brother at Newmarket. “I don’t believe we’ve been
introduced, sir.”

He bowed. “Sir Frederick Aldwen. Your
brother and I are…business associates.”

She was no more comfortable in his presence
there than she’d been at Newmarket. Taking Amelia’s arm, she
stepped around him. “I shall let my brother know we saw you. Good
day.”

He spun around and fell into step beside
her. “Yes, it is a nice day. Very pleasant for walking. You’ve been
shopping?”

“Yes.” She tried to tread the fine line
between polite and disinterested.

“I planned to call on your brother this
afternoon. Perhaps, if you aren’t otherwise occupied, I could give
you a ride home?”

Closing her eyes for a moment, Joanna
searched for another obligation. Amelia piped up for her. “You
haven’t forgotten you said you’d call on my aunt with me, have you,
Lady Joanna? She is so looking forward to your visit.”

Joanna smiled. “Of course I won’t disappoint
the dear woman. She has suffered so much of late.”

“Well, perhaps another time.” Sir Frederick
stopped and bowed again. “Good day to you both.”

As he walked away, Joanna hugged her friend,
grinning widely. “Do you even have an aunt?” she whispered.

“I do, but she lives in Yorkshire. I don’t
believe we could visit her and be back in time for Lady
Harrington’s ball tonight.” They both laughed and continued on
their way.

Joanna was quiet for a moment, recalling
their earlier topic of conversation. “What did you mean, ‘that
Cambridge incident,’ regarding Knightwick?”

Chapter Five

Joanna took the offered glass of lemonade
from her dance partner, desperately trying to recall his name. Mr.
Digby? Rigby? No, that was not correct. “Thank you, Mr. Bigby.”

He bowed, his puffy, pink complexion aglow
in the bright ballroom. Admittedly, the crowded space was
uncomfortably warm, but surely that didn’t account for the way the
man’s pale, thin locks were plastered to his head. Even the cup
he’d handed her was damp.

Seeing Mrs. Clawson seated on a chaise
beside Joanna’s mother, Joanna rose on her toes in search of
Amelia. Her friend was so petite she was impossible to find in any
crowd. Her distinctive laugh often gave her away but she was
certain to be on her best behavior at Lady Harrington’s ball and
refrain from such outbursts. She should have returned directly
after the last set finished, so her next partner would find
her.

Unable to see her friend, Joanna wondered
how long she must converse with Mr. Bigby. No one had asked to
stand up with her for the next few sets, so she might be trapped
there until the supper dance.

Mr. Bigby cleared his throat. “Miss Smithers
looks quite recovered from her recent complaint, does she not?”

The miss in question appeared quite robust,
enjoying the attentions of three young beaux. “Yes, she does.”

Mr. Bigby’s next observation was lost when
Amelia appeared on the arm of a lord whose title Joanna couldn’t
recall. Handing her cup to a footman passing by with a tray, Joanna
exhaled a sigh of relief. “There you are, Miss Clawson.”

The lord greeted Joanna before taking his
leave. Joanna wished Bigby would follow suit, but the man hovered
just behind her right arm. Amelia glanced his way and tilted her
head in question, but Joanna couldn’t say anything untoward in his
presence. Instead, she asked, “Who is your next partner?”

Amelia’s smile widened. “Sir Richard Tanton.
I cannot believe he approached me,” she added in a whisper.

Lowering her voice and speaking close to
Amelia’s ear, Joanna said, “The marquess’ son? But I thought he had
an acknowledged
tendre
for Lady Elizabeth.”

“As did I. But the
on dits
has it her
father turned him down.”

Joanna swallowed a gasp of surprise, and
looked for Mr. Bigby again. She was relieved to see he’d left her
side. “The poor girl! She must be heartbroken. And you do not mind
that Sir Richard had set his cap on another before you?”

Her shoulders lifted briefly, but her face
didn’t betray any emotion. “This is my third Season. Every eligible
gentleman has most certainly considered some richer or prettier
lady before me.”

“Do not believe such a thing. There are new
faces at the assemblies each Season, gentlemen as well as ladies.
Perhaps we will both find husbands by summer.” The likelihood of
her own success depended on being partnered with someone other than
Mr. Bigby and his perspiring palms.

Sir Richard approached just as the musicians
were warming up for the next set. After acknowledging Joanna, he
led Amelia toward the center of the room. Joanna glanced back at
her mother, who was deep in conversation, then made a slow perusal
of the large crowd.

Her gaze landed on one striking visage
drifting above the sea of coifs and curls around him.
Mr.
Lumley
. His brown hair was perfectly styled, his cravat
elaborately tied. He spoke to someone at his side as they walked
her way, but his companion was not visible through the crowd.
Joanna’s stomach quivered when he smiled down at the lady. She knew
it had to be a lady because of the way his eyes laughed. He looked
up, catching Joanna’s stare, and his eyes brightened even more. He
guided the young woman at his side around a clutch of giggling
wallflowers.

Joanna refused to admit her heart dropped
seeing how pretty the lady on Mr. Lumley’s arm was. She cared not
if he’d escorted someone to the ball or found a willing partner for
whatever entertainments he had planned for the evening. The
gentleman was not her concern. Schooling her features, she smiled
politely as the couple stopped before her.

The lady spoke. “Lady Joanna, my brother,
Mr. Lumley, has asked to be made known to you.”

Her brother? Looking more closely, she saw a
resemblance in their coloring, slender build, and the laughing
glint in their eyes. She realized she’d met Lady Hannah, along with
a dozen or so other young ladies, at a tea upon her arrival in
London. “Mr. Lumley, Lady Hannah, how lovely to see you both
again.”