Louise Allen - Scandal in the Regency Ballroom - No Place For a Lady / Not Quite a Lady

‘I am flattered that you should take such heed of my advice.’

‘Indeed. But how could I not, after you had demonstrated the need for one so clearly.’

‘Demonstrated?’ His eyebrows went up.

‘By your lucid explanation—or should I say example?—of the dangers to a lady’s reputation when in society.’ She felt the need to provoke a reaction, any reaction. This was like talking to a polite feather pillow.

‘It is a sad fact that a lady, incautiously without chaperonage, may find herself kissed, or worse,’ Max remarked blandly.

‘Outrageous,’ Rosa contributed, her face studiously straight.

‘Of course, the lady might allow such liberties,’ Max added. ‘A gentleman would do well to reflect that this may simply be the expression of innocence, inexperience or a certain naive generosity of spirit.’

‘Or all three.’ Bree could feel her colour rising. He was telling her—in a patronising manner—that he understood, excused and dismissed her behaviour last night. ‘Doubtless the gentleman in question would also reflect that a further attempt would be doomed to failure.’

‘I feel sure that would be the safest path for him.’ His smile was rueful and Bree thought she had glimpsed the first sign of genuine emotion since he had arrived. She decided that she was not being dismissed as wanton, nor was he bent on seducing her, which left the rather embarrassing situation of having kissed him and now not knowing how to behave with him.

‘You may be interested to know that Miss Thorpe will also be taking over some of the office work at the Mermaid for me.’

‘Have you any experience of such a business, Miss Thorpe?’ Max turned his dark eyes on her.

‘None at all,’ Rosa smiled austerely. ‘But I have run a large girls’ school. I am sure my experience with accounting, keeping discipline and managing a complex timetable will come in useful.’

‘I must congratulate you, Miss Mallory, on finding such a well-qualified candidate so quickly.’ His eyes found hers and Bree racked her brain to decide exactly what colour they were. A very dark hazel, or brown? She pulled herself together and concentrated.

‘I was lucky my lord. I hope you also mean to congratulate me upon taking your advice.’

‘I do. And I wonder why.’

‘Because it was sensible advice, of course.’ Bree flushed at her own sharp tone and reached for the tea pot. ‘Cream or lemon, my lord?’

‘Cream. Thank you. Are you from London, Miss Thorpe?’

‘Nottinghamshire originally, my lord.’ He waited, his silence an invitation to prattle that Rosa ignored with a prim smile, much to Bree’s admiration. She knew she would have plunged on with every detail of her life story, confronted by that coolly interrogative voice and the amount of sheer personality behind his bland expression. What is he here for? I thought he was coming to ask me to drive with him .

‘Have you been able to solve my other problem and rein in your friends of the Nonesuch Whips?’ she asked.

‘No,’ he said baldly, putting down his cup and crossing his legs. Bree forced herself not to stare at the length of tightly stretched pantaloons vanishing into glossy Hessians. ‘I hinted, I suggested—and I found myself beginning to sound as though I had an ulterior motive. And that, I would suggest, is more dangerous than the original threat.’

‘Oh …’ Bree mentally passed in review a number of highly improper expressions she had learned in the inn yard. ‘Drat,’ she concluded regretfully. It really did not do justice to her feelings.

‘Drat indeed,’ Max agreed.

‘Will they get bored and find something else if Piers gives them the run of the place for a couple of days?’

‘I doubt it—not unless you let them drive. That’s the big attraction, you see—driving a stage in cold blood, not as the result of a drunken spree. They are good drivers, all of them, they have a serious interest and an inn yard is a public space, when all’s said and done.’

‘Well, they are not getting anywhere near my passengers,’ Bree declared robustly.

‘You let me drive,’ Max said softly.

‘I knew of your reputation. In any case, I had no choice.’

‘And were you satisfied?’

Bree swallowed. ‘I was entirely satisfied with your driving.’

They sat silently looking at each other while the tick of the clock on the mantel seemed to fill the room and Bree felt her own heartbeat stuttering out of time with it.

‘Ahem.’ Rosa leaned forward. ‘May I pass you a custard tartlet, my lord?’

‘Thank you, but no.’ The shutters were back. No, not even that—his expression was so unreadable that she had no idea whether there even were any shutters or whether there were simply no strong feelings for him to hide.

‘I have had an idea,’ she said suddenly. Goodness knows where it came from, other than from her desperate desire to distract the Whips and her equally urgent wish to be anywhere but here exchanging stilted conversation with Max Dysart. ‘Do the Nonesuch Whips have club days when they all drive to a specific destination, as the Four Horse Club does?’

‘Yes, but we are not so hidebound as to insist on the same destination on every occasion, nor do we confine ourselves to trotting in single file the entire way as is the FHC rule. We seek out interesting inns and eating houses and make them the goal for the day. Why do you ask, Miss Mallory?’

‘Because it occurs to me that on some days we do have a spare coach and that we might be prepared to allow that to be driven, without paying passengers, of course, on such an expedition. Would that slake your friends’ thirst?’

‘The very answer, Miss Mallory, I congratulate you. You and Miss Thorpe must be my guests in my drag.’

‘I must insist on my own groom with the stage and Piers on the box as well,’ she cautioned.

‘That seems eminently reasonable to me,’ Max agreed.

‘And no racing.’

‘I promise.’

‘You can offer that on their behalf?’ Bree realised she must have looked as dubious as she sounded when she saw the quirk of amusement at the corner of Max’s mouth. Thank goodness, some sign of humanity at last!

‘I will ensure that everyone who wishes to drive must give me their word to that effect before we start. Does that satisfy you?’

‘Yes. Yes, my lord, it does. Thank you.’

‘The Club will, of course, pay whatever a return journey for the trip would be, assuming a full waybill of passengers.’

Bree opened her mouth to agree that that would be very acceptable and closed it again. Now she had Rosa she did not have to fear curious strangers at the Mermaid any longer, not if they had an acceptable outlet for their desire to drive the stagecoaches. Piers had blossomed in the company of the Whips: he had enjoyed it and it was far better that he had his introduction into society with men who spent their time driving rather than frequenting gaming halls and brothels.

‘No,’ she said slowly, considering it. ‘No, we will not charge, unless any damage is done. If it is successful, then we may repeat it. I see no harm, and perhaps it may give the Challenge Coach Company a certain cachet .’

And it also propelled her into the unsettling company of the Earl of Penrith. And that of a number of other pleasant and attractive gentlemen , she added mentally. Max’s words about finding a husband echoed with Georgy’s teasing matchmaking. Not a gentleman of title, not with her pedigree. But there might be a nice younger son. She tried to feel enthusiastic about that possibility and found the thought strangely flat.

‘That is very generous.’ Max removed his pocket book and consulted it. ‘The next meeting will be on Saturday the tenth.’