The Incorrigible Mr. Lumley (17 page)

Her aunt’s face softened. “This need of
yours to nurture young horses might fade once you have children of
your own. I’m not altogether sure you should base the rest of your
life on a hobby you might outgrow in a few years.”

“But it’s not a hobby, it’s my whole life.”
Joanna’s heart raced at the very idea she might outgrow the horses.
“Would you advise Robert not to consider his fiancée’s feelings
toward racing?”

“Of course not. He’s older and has the
responsibility of keeping the family stable going. Or, if he
chooses, he may sell it off.” Aunt Ophelia leaned gracefully
forward and topped off Joanna’s tea. “I’ll not say, as you
expected, that he is a man so he doesn’t need to consider her
opinion. If Robert wishes for a happy marriage, he should look for
a woman who enjoys spending time in a similar fashion, or one who
prefers some time alone while he is away.”

“I thank you for that. I wish father had
left me a few horses that I may take with me when I marry.”

“Perhaps Robert will allow you to take your
mare with you.”

“I would rather have Patriot.” Joanna
quickly held up a hand to stem the admonishment she expected. “Yes,
I am aware he’s the future of Northcotte Stud and is probably not
available at any price. This is what upsets me most. No matter whom
I marry, the horses I train will never be my own.”

After leaving her aunt’s town house, Joanna
and her maid went to Amelia’s home by hack. She greeted her friend
with an excited smile. “I bear an invitation to play cards with us
Thursday week. Do say you’ll come.”

“I must check with Mama, but I believe we’re
available. Is this being held on your behalf?” Amelia sat opposite
Joanna in the morning room, where the sun had already moved past
the windows.

“It is. If all goes as we hope, Mr. Lumley
will be attending.”

Amelia raised her dark brown brows. “Do you
think he’s close to making his feelings known?”

“To be honest, I’m not even certain he has
any feelings toward me. Yes, he singles me out to sit with at
supper, and always dances twice when I’m available, but he hasn’t
escorted me to any activities. Nor has he called on me.”

“What about all the times you’ve gone
riding?”

“When we ride, I visit more with Lady Hannah
than Mr. Lumley. He’s really nothing more than her chaperone.”

“He could send a groom to ride with her, if
he didn’t wish to be in your company. Don’t be so hard upon
yourself. I am certain he has a high opinion of you.”

Joanna tugged off her gloves while she let
her friend’s words sink in. Could it be true? Did Mr. Lumley have
an affection for her? He certainly hid it well. Yet he was the only
man she’d met with whom she could imagine spending the rest of her
life. “Well, we shall have to wait to see if he attends the card
party. Then we can discover how strong his feelings are.”

“Who has your aunt invited? I’m afraid to
hope Sir Richard might be there.”

“He was not on her initial list, but I can
ask her. She might not know him well enough to extend the
invitation.”

“It’s no concern. I shall enjoy the
afternoon in spite of his absence.”

“We sent off invitations to the Lumley
brothers and sister, including Knightwick if he is in Town. Perhaps
you’ll be partnered with him.”

“I won’t get my hopes up. I doubt he’s in
London.”

“There will be ample young men to partner us
all, you can be sure of it. Some of my aunt’s friends’ sons have
been invited. And I begged her to be sure none of the young ladies
are prettier than we are,” she added with a giggle.

Amelia joined in her laughter. “Nor richer,
nor more talented…”

“In our case, that would prove a very narrow
list of ladies, indeed. It would be a very dull afternoon.”

“Not with our wit, and Lady Hannah’s. We
shall have everyone quite entertained.”

“I hope you are correct. And now you must
tell me what I’ve missed with Sir Richard. I haven’t seen either of
you at the assemblies I’ve attended recently.”

“He took me to the opera one night, and we
had ices at Gunter’s. He has invited me to ride in his curricle
this afternoon.”

“How exciting. It sounds as if he might be
close to speaking to your father. Has he hinted as much?”

“No, nothing as formal as that. He continues
to ask what invitations I’ve for the week, though, and shows up at
many of those events.”

“Is he very romantic?”

“I suppose. He has sent posies to me a few
mornings after we’ve danced together at a ball. And he always pays
me compliments.”

“Mr. Lumley flatters me often, but hasn’t
sent flowers. Sir Frederick sent some one time.”

Amelia shuddered. “I can’t imagine that one
has a romantic side. I should hate to see it, if he did.”

Joanna drew in a breath and let it out
slowly. “He has spoken to Northcotte about marrying me.”

Amelia gasped. “He didn’t. Your brother
turned him down, of course.”

“Not directly, no. I don’t know what sort of
pull the man has over Northcotte, but my brother left the
discussion open until a later time.”

“How could he? Did you tell him you would
refuse an offer from Sir Frederick?”

“I don’t have a choice in the matter. I must
marry by the end of the Season, or at least have a betrothal
finalized by then. He won’t say why it has to be now. He says it’s
best for the estate. I can’t be spending enough to be a hardship on
him, when I only take what he’s allowed me. I even offered to go
live with my aunt, if I haven’t found a husband by the end of
June.”

“You may stay with us for the summer. Mama
has mentioned returning for the Little Season if Sir Richard hasn’t
offered for me. I’m certain you could stay with us in Town then.
You would not need an entirely new wardrobe, just a warmer
pelisse.”

“I appreciate your offer, but I know
Northcotte won’t allow it. Aunt Ophelia has suggested I force Mr.
Lumley to realize he desires me for a wife, and thus he’ll ask for
my hand. That is why we’re having the card party.”

“Well, this shall be enjoyable to watch.
What will you do?”

Lifting her shoulders, Joanna said, “I’ve no
clue. I shall be vivacious and intelligent, and speak of nothing
but horses, I suppose. Whatever it takes to turn his head.”

Chapter Thirteen

That evening, David paused a moment at the
top of the grand staircase that swept into the Duke of Kemberling’s
ballroom. He’d insisted to Mother, Hannah, and Trey they should
arrive early, but apparently, all of London had done the same. He
would never find Lady Joanna in this crowd, and if he did, her card
would be full.

Trey nudged his arm from behind and spoke
into his ear. “Are you afraid of the marriage-minded mamas
below?”

“No, of course not. They won’t hound me
until Knightwick marries.”

Grinning, Trey replied, “Then I shall be
free for many years, if they leave me alone until you’re
leg-shackled.”

David nodded, his lips clamping together.
Although a small portion of his mind had opened to the thought of
marrying Joanna, the rest of his body turned cold at the very idea.
He wanted a family someday, but was nowhere near ready to take time
away from Fernleigh. A family deserved that time.

Trey took a step down as newcomers pushed
their way around the brothers. “Do you see Miss Clawson? I hope I’m
not too late to ask for the supper dance.”

“No, but she is likely with Lady Joanna.
Shall we hunt together?”

“We’ll divide the territory. I’ll circle to
the left, you go right.”

David began to descend. “And how shall I
notify you when I find them? The old banshee cry?”

“That would be effective, would not it?”
Trey laughed. “But it would not earn us the gratitude of Her
Grace.”

“Quite so. How about we say whoever finds
them first requests the supper dance of Lady Joanna and Miss
Clawson for the two of us? That way, we’ll both be set.”

“Perfect plan. Happy hunting.” Trey wound
his way through the mob at the foot of the stairs while David
worked his way to the right, following the wall.

His height had the benefit of allowing him
to see over most of the crowd, although some of the matrons’
turbans with their gaily-dyed plumage made him feel he was hunting
grouse in the brush. He doubted they’d appreciate him pushing the
offending feathers aside so he could see better. Worse, Mrs.
Brighthouse broke into laughter while he stood behind her, and when
the feather on her hat brushed his nose, he nearly sneezed.

He was partway down the short end wall and
approaching the French doors when he caught a whiff of Lady
Joanna’s perfume. She was nearby. Laughter rang out, sounding very
much like Miss Clawson. He pushed his way toward the sound and
found what he sought.

He smiled to the small group of Lady
Joanna’s friends, and his lips spread wider when he saw her. “There
you are. I’d begun to fear you were hiding from me.”

“No, never you, Mr. Lumley. We are always
happy to see a friend.” Lady Joanna’s eyes were warm and
welcoming.

His chest tightened, and all the air left
the room. What was wrong with him? “I’m glad to hear it. I promised
Trey I would secure the supper dance with Miss Clawson for him, and
would be honored to escort you, if that one is unclaimed as
yet.”

A grimace flitted across Miss Clawson’s
face, but was not there long enough for him to be certain. “As it
happens, I do have that dance open,” she said.

“As do I,” added Lady Joanna.

“Excellent. My sister is here, somewhere. If
I may, I’ll suggest she join us if she doesn’t have an escort.”

“That would be lovely. How is Lady Hannah? I
haven’t seen her these past few days.”

“She is well. I never see her anything less
than at her best.”

Lady Joanna’s slender brows rose imperially.
“How rude of her. I won’t invite her to any house parties if that
is the case. My looks are most frightful in the morning when I
wake.”

David swallowed at the image her words
brought to mind. He saw no flirtatious gleam in her eye, so he
assumed she had no clue how her words could be taken. And he was
not about to inform her. “If she has her way, she’ll be married
soon and too busy with her new life to attend house parties in the
country.”

He saw Hannah approach just as he finished
the sentence. She greeted everyone in the circle, then asked,
“Who’s having a house party?”

Lady Joanna chuckled. “No one. We were
speaking hypothetically. Your gown is exquisite. Is that design
from Paris?”

David watched Lady Joanna in awe. She
gracefully swept the conversation downstream with no lingering
trace of it. She would be a badger in the House of Lords. The old
codgers would not know what hit them.

Music began to play, and a pair of young men
appeared and led Miss Clawson and Lady Joanna into the center of
the room. Hannah was left behind with David and Sir Richard, who’d
just joined them. Before David could offer to stand up Hannah in
the dance, Sir Richard spoke. “It appears we are both in need of a
partner. Will you do me the honor?” He held out his hand.

Hannah smiled, her relief barely hidden. “It
would be a pleasure.”

Trey finally found David after the first
song in the set finished. “I saw Miss Clawson dancing already. Did
you reach her in time?”

“Yes, we’ll be their escorts.”

“Ah, good. Glad to hear it.” Trey patted his
unruly hair back into place.

“What held you up?”

“Mother insisted on introducing me to a
matron with six daughters, five of whom are out. Can you imagine?
Five girls, all of whom had the misfortune to inherit their
mother’s bulbous nose and weak chin. And I’ll be dancing with three
of them.”

Inwardly, David cringed. “You didn’t mention
my name in their hearing, did you?”

“No. Mother said she was certain you’d gone
off to play cards, so don’t make a show of dancing all
evening.”

“Thank heavens for that. I don’t plan to
dance with anyone other than Lady Joanna, but will stand up with
Hannah and Miss Clawson, should they lack partners.”

Trey’s eyes narrowed as he watched the
dancers move in their direction. “Is that Sir Richard with
Hannah?”

“Yes.”

“Blast it. I was afraid he’d be here.”

“Problem?” David asked.

“He’s always in the way at these assemblies.
He spends most of the night beside Miss Clawson. The only time I
can speak freely with her is when we dance.”

“Is he a friend of her family?”

Trey frowned. “I don’t know, but he appears
to be claiming her as his own.”

David studied his brother’s face, the
lowered brows and downturned lips. “And you wish to have that right
yourself?”

Trey shook his head as if awakening. “What?
No. I’ve no wish to marry yet.”