Page 9 of King of Clubs (The Ladies’ Wagering Whist Society #9)

G wendolyn did mind him asking what sounded like a very impertinent question. She wondered if he were getting back at her for her rudeness to him. She wouldn’t blame him one little bit if he was. On the other hand, she’d been rude enough to him already, so she put on her best polite smile.

“I went to school with Cassia Benton. Her sister, Lady Sorrell, was kind enough to introduce me and asked the duchess if she would be willing to sponsor me this Season.”

“And she agreed, naturally. Her first husband was a watchmaker, from what I hear,” he said, nodding his understanding.

“That’s right, although she does come from the landed gentry. She married for love,” Gwendolyn explained.

“And happily, the second time she did so, it was to a duke.” He gave a little laugh.

Gwendolyn didn’t see what was funny in that, but she agreed. “Yes. It’s quite incredible that she and the duke fell in love as they did. It’s rare to see that in older people.”

He sobered even as he agreed.

Thankfully, the tea tray was brought in just then, allowing Gwendolyn to turn her attention to pouring out and offering cake. She just didn’t know what to make of this man. On the one hand, he was annoyingly handsome and clearly intelligent. On the other… well, he seemed to be barely tolerating her and, if she wasn’t mistaken, a little denigrating, as if he couldn’t believe that one with her background would have the temerity to attempt to enter society.

But he owned a club! He was a businessman just like her father. In truth, he was no better than she—well, aside from his title, of course. All right, maybe he was better, but still… the only thing she was absolutely certain about was that she did not like him.

“I am happy to see that you seem to be fully recovered from the accident,” she said, turning the conversation to something more pleasant or at least different.

“Yes, I am. Thank you.”

“I am so sorry, once again, that your horse was spooked. That is what happened, wasn’t it?” she clarified.

He nodded. “I had just purchased the mare and was warned that she was a little skittish. It was my own fault for riding her down Piccadilly. I should have taken smaller, quieter streets.” He paused to take a sip of his tea.

“Has she calmed down or have you not tried riding her again?” Gwendolyn asked while he did so.

“I have to admit, I haven’t tried. I know you should get right back up again when you’re thrown from a horse—it’s good for both you and the horse to do so. I’m afraid I just… well, I haven’t had the time.”

“I can imagine you wouldn’t what with running your club and attending social functions,” Gwendolyn commented.

“Oh, that’s easy. I have an excellent staff at my club.”

“Really? It’s not difficult doing both?” she asked. There was that idea tickling at the back of her mind again. She’d had this thought since Lady Bradmore’s party. As yet it wasn’t fully formed, and she wasn’t allowing it to be either—not when she had promised her father she would do all she could to find a husband and enjoy society this Season. If only it weren’t so boring! But that was neither here nor there. No, she would not let her wayward thoughts interrupt.

“No, not at all,” His Lordship was saying. “In fact, I find it quite enjoyable having both to occupy my time.”

“But it does leave you without an opportunity to ride,” she pointed out.

He smiled. “Yes. No worries, though. I’m sure I’ll find an opportunity. What about you?”

“Me?” She nearly jumped from her seat. Did he know what had been slipping through her mind? He couldn’t possibly…

“Yes. Do you enjoy riding?” he clarified.

“Oh!” She gave a little laugh. How ridiculous she was. Of course, that’s what he meant. “Yes, actually, I do. I even brought my horse down from Lancashire with me for the Season.”

“Excellent. I heard that Lady Welles is putting together a riding party.”

“Goodness, you are well informed!” Even she didn’t know whether she meant that as a compliment or an insult, she thought with some amusement. Either he was a horrid gossip or—well, she didn’t know what.

“I do try to keep up with what’s going on in society, and I believe your father mentioned it when I saw him at my club the other evening.”

“Oh, of course. He came in while Bel, Lady Conway, and I were discussing Lady Welles’s invitation. I believe we’re going to be quite a party.”

“Your father said something about it being all the younger members of the Ladies’ Wagering Whist Society and their friends?”

“Yes.” Gwendolyn thought about what she’d heard from Bel, who had actually helped arrange the outing. “There will be seven of us!” she said with a giggle. “I can’t imagine how we’re all going to ride down Rotten Row together.”

“You will take Hyde Park by storm,” he laughed.

She couldn’t help but agree. “And you will have to be there on your new horse to join us,” she suggested.

He shook his head. “Oh, no. I wouldn’t dare risk that. Thank you very much. I’ve already been thrown once. I’m certain my Sally would not be happy in a busy park at the height of the promenade. No, no. When I ride her again, it will be on a quiet morning, preferably alone.”

“I do understand.”

“But perhaps I will see you in the park—from the safety of my phaeton.”

She gave a laugh. “I would like that.” She said it automatically out of politeness, but after he’d left, she wondered whether she would like it. The man was definitely a puzzle. He evoked such strange, strong feelings in her, all in a tangled mess. Perhaps someday she’d be able to unravel them, but certainly not today. Not until she got to know him better.

~April 18 ~

Joshua couldn’t believe it when he found himself riding out the very next morning to meet Colburne. It was early enough that there were few people out, aside from those who needed to be about to earn their living. It made for much quieter streets, which meant a much less nervous horse.

“Is that your new horse?” Colburne asked as Joshua rode up to meet him.

“Yes. This is Sally, Sally Forth,” Joshua answered, giving his friend a smile and the horse a pat on her neck.

Colburne laughed. “I like the name. This is Brutus. He is the most docile mount my wife could find.”

“Yes, that’s right. You only started riding a few years ago,” Joshua remembered. He’d completely forgotten about that when he’d invited the good doctor out for a ride the previous evening. They’d run into each other at Powell’s, and Joshua had issued the invitation, saying that he thought it would be safest to have the physician on hand just in case anything happened. They’d laughed, but Joshua had been half-serious.

“If it hadn’t been for Diana, I might still have been refusing to get on horseback.”

“But you seem to have taken to it well,” Joshua commented. His friend’s form was impeccable.

“Thank you. I only ride for exercise every so often. I have to admit to still being a trifle nervous. Thank goodness, Brutus is too stupid to realize,” Colburne said with a laugh.

Joshua chuckled and led the way farther into the park.

“You’re not still getting headaches, are you?” Colburne asked as they walked along at a sedate pace.

“Sometimes. Not too often, happily.”

“Good. Good. So I suppose you’ll start going to parties again? Diana requested that I ask—it seems your presence has been missed among the fairer set.”

Joshua smiled. “It’s nice to be appreciated. And yes, I will. Actually, I need to. I want to find a wife this Season.”

“Oh, really?” Colburne turned toward him in surprise.

“Yes. The accident made me acutely aware of my mortality and the fact that I should probably be getting on with siring an heir.”

“Ah, yes. I do understand. So, do you have someone in mind?”

“No, no. I thought I’d meet the young ladies making their debut this Season.”

“Ah, well, I’m certain the Ladies of the Wagering Whist Society would be more than happy to help.”

A bark of a laugh burst from Joshua. “Oh, I know they would!”

“Let’s see, there is Miss Benton, Lady Sorrell’s sister, and Miss Sherman, of course,” Colburne said, thinking about it.

“No, thank you!” Joshua said with more vehemence than strictly necessary.

“You don’t like either of them? I thought they were both very nice girls,” Colburne commented, giving Joshua a sideglance.

“Miss Benton, perhaps, although I don’t know that a botanist would exactly be my sort. Miss Sherman… I don’t know what it is about that girl, but I cannot say that I like her.”

“What? I’ve found her to be perfectly pleasant. Granted, I’ve only met her once or twice, but still…”

“Pleasant? Only when she wants to be, I suppose. To certain people of her choosing. She’s also got a vicious side and can be extremely rude.”

“Really? Miss Gwendolyn Sherman?” Colburne turned to look at him in surprise.

“Oh, most definitely. I sat next to her at Lady Bradmore’s dinner, and the girl said a few words to me when she sat down—none of them polite—and then proceeded to ignore me for the rest of the evening.”

“I am surprised. You didn’t say something to offend her, did you?”

“I hadn’t thought so. But clearly, she did take some offense. Not only that, but I went to meet her yesterday. Her father insisted she was desperate to apologize to me for the accident, even though I assured him there was no need. And she was… I don’t know what it was, but while she was pleasant enough and did apologize, she just seemed… off-putting. There is something about that girl. I feel as if she’s… more intelligent than your average young lady.”

“But that’s good, isn’t it?”

“Yes, it would be, but there’s something… under the surface. It’s almost as if she’s hiding something. I can’t imagine what or why. The only thing I can think is that I’m not used to the daughters of businessmen. Perhaps I’ve been around these silly girls from noble families for too long. They’ve been taught how to be light and frothy and pleasant while Miss Sherman, I suppose, has not.”

“It sounds like she’s perplexed you. This isn’t a bad thing, you know. My Diana couldn’t be more different from me, and yet we get along famously,” Colburne pointed out.

“You two are perfect together,” Joshua said. “But no, Miss Sherman is not at all right for me. And besides, I’d like a girl from a titled family. A nobleman’s daughter. I think that’s the sort of girl who would be best. Someone who knows how to entertain and enjoys doing so.”

“Yes. Yes, I can see that someone like that would be right for you. All right, then. I must wish you the best of luck!”

“Thank you. I may need it to find someone this Season.”

~*~

Gwendolyn was trying on her new gowns, which had just arrived from the modiste, when her maid answered a knock at her bedchamber door.

“I think this is what I will wear to Lady Emmerton’s two days hence,” she informed the maid, turning around to admire the small train in the back. “The embroidery is so very much better than anything I could have gotten in Lancashire.”

“Very good, Miss. May I assist you back into your day dress? There’s a gentleman here to see you,” Mary said.

Gwendolyn just paused to look at the woman. “Who, do you know?”

“A Lord Portland.”

Gwendolyn frowned. This didn’t portend well.

A mere ten minutes later, she strode into her drawing room. “Lord Portland, do forgive me for making you wait.”

The gentleman jumped to his feet. “Not at all, not at all. I’m grateful you could spare me some time.” He smiled as he nodded to her curtsey.

“Of course. What can I do for you?” She came forward and took a seat on the sofa and was dismayed when he moved around to sit next to her.

“Miss Sherman, I have… I have come to ask a very important—”

“Sir, I do beg your pardon, but I certainly hope that you haven’t come to propose marriage to me?” she asked, interrupting him. She could already feel the anger growing within her.

“Er, I… well…” he stammered.

“My lord, we hardly know each other,” she said accusingly.

“Indeed, I would not presume, but you are so—”

“Wealthy?” she asked.

“I was going to say beautiful and clever.” The man was smart enough to realize that it was the right thing to say, but she didn’t believe it for a moment.

“Thank you, my lord. And I believe you to be a very kind gentleman. Now, do be good and say that you came for another reason, for I shall surely scream if you tell me otherwise.” She was doing her best, truly doing all she could not to just get up and throw the man out on his ear.

“I, er, I came to ask if you would grant me a dance at Lady Emmerton’s soiree.” His anxious eyes said it all. He had come to ask her to marry him. He had already admitted as much, but he was doing his best to change his story. She’d given him the opportunity, and he was wise enough to take it.

She gave him a smile. “Yes. I would be very happy to dance with you at Lady Emmerton’s. Thank you.”

He sighed with relief.

“But that does not mean I will marry you,” she added.

“I, er, I would not presume…”

“No, of course you would not.”

“But if I were—”

“You would not,” she stated firmly.

“No, I would not,” he agreed reluctantly.

She stood, and he followed suit.

“Thank you ever so much for coming, my lord. I shall see you in two days.”

“Yes, of course. Thank you, Miss Sherman.” He gave her a fleeting smile and left quickly.

Gwendolyn counted to ten slowly to try to regain her composure, failed, and then stormed down to her father’s study.