Page 2 of Miss Kimble Bites Back (Revenge of the Wallflowers #28)

CHAPTER TWO

Would it hurt you to be nice to at least one debutant this season? Esme, Lady Windermere, chided, after a prolonged silence of several minutes following the young lady s departure from the library.

If I had good reason, I might consider it, he assured her, sitting down again and crossing one leg over the other as he faced the fire, unconcerned about who he d offended tonight. That woman had been whispering about him, just like everyone else tended to do. The innocent ought not be allowed to wander alone into a dragon s den. And I ought never to have come.

Of course, you should attend my ball, Sebastian. I swear you ll never come out from the cloud of scandal and marry well the way you are going, Esme huffed, settling back to study him as if he was something she could fix.

My dear, whoever said I wanted to be married? he said. I enjoy my diversions immensely.

Seducing proper young ladies is not a diversion. Finding a wife should be your goal this season.

Sebastian shook his head. Your husband may have met his match in you, but that does not mean the rest of us need to. Women are capricious, stubborn, and close-minded. I ve enough to deal with at home as it is.

Gabby is none of those things.

Gabby?

Miss Gabriella Kimble, Esme pointed toward the door. The girl you just frightened half to death. She s my cousin Bennett s ward.

Gabby . Well, at least he had a name to match the silly pair of lips espousing to admire Viscount Brookes. Gabby. Small in stature, but in her eyes, he d glimpsed a firebrand willing but not quite ready to come out and play.

He should like to see her turn that temper toward that frivolous fop, Brookes, to see what he might make of her. Brookes would probably run rather than stand up to the challenge of taking on a passionate woman like that. She was ripe to be seduced, too.

But Brookes was undoubtedly leading her on, as he did all the other ladies of society. He would never return her feelings. His greatest love was reserved solely for himself.

But because Brookes was so handsome and attentive, the ladies of society just loved him to smile for them, even Esme. He thrived on admiration. It pained him that so few realized. Poor Gabby.

Hardly. She has the wits and intelligence to match even you, I suspect. If not for the loss of her parents, I might never have met her.

Sebastian refused to offer the required sympathy for a poor orphan and scoffed. She s an idiot, too, if she s set her heart on Viscount Brookes.

Esme s face fell. I have faith that it is merely a passing infatuation with his good looks.

Foolish girl, he complained, and then shifted in discomfort. He was already dealing with the results of one foolish infatuation at home and that was enough trouble. She ll learn the error of her ways in the end. They all do.

Let s hope it is sooner rather than later, and about you too, Esme murmured.

I hardly care what she or anyone thinks of me, he insisted.

Esme winced. How is Cordelia today?

The same. My sister keeps to herself and even prepares her own fire rather than let a servant into her rooms to do the task. If I wish to eat in her company, I am forced to dine in her chambers now, too, he complained.

She s getting worse, Esme said softly.

It seems so, Sebastian answered, and then tipped his head up to look at the ceiling rather than face the countess pity. He lowered his face eventually and thumped his fist on the arm of the chair. At least she stopped barricading her door against everyone. Once the London servants learned to leave her be, she s slowly settled down.

What will you do?

If I listen to the so-called experts I consulted, they offered two solutions for her condition—send for a physician to bleed her extensively or commit her to Bedlam.

And you won t do either, I know. Esme worried her lip. She needs to meet more people.

Hardly possible when she runs and hides from anyone who visits my town house or the estate, he warned. Even you couldn t get an audience with her still today, and she s known you forever.

If only she had met someone to marry in her first season this might all have been avoided. Esme made an unhappy face. At the time of her last call, they had only just arrived in London, and it had gone badly. Cordelia had mumbled and put Sebastian between them and then claimed fatigue so she could flee to her chambers to rest. She stayed there for three days straight, refusing to see all callers.

She d been miserable about a return to London, but then she would not allow Sebastian to leave her behind either. He d thought that was a positive sign at the time of their departure from his country estate. Now, though, he knew a change of scenery had done her no favors, or him either.

Perhaps if you married, a wife might offer her a more stable companionship, Esme suggested, gently. She d eventually become accustomed to the woman always being around and might not worry so much about any visitors.

Making a marriage will solve nothing and could make things ten times worse, Sebastian warned. Stop trying to inflict a wife on me. I ve no time for more than a casual dalliance these days.

It s not fair to you to put your life on hold, Esme said, wincing.

I am not complaining about the lack of permanent lovers in my life. Especially not when my last mistress insisted that slipping Cordelia laudanum would keep her calm and out of my way. I ended our relationship in the very next breath, I might add. No, it is better to keep things the way they are now.

I still say you need someone to help you. Someone to confide in. Not just a physician or the distraction of a lover, but a true companion who you can talk to about these problems, someone who understands what you are faced with each and every day.

Esme, he growled softly, but then the door to an adjoining room opened and her husband strode in, grinning from ear to ear.

Mamble, I ve come to save you from my wife s machination. Drink?

Windermere was merely teasing his wife, but he wasn t wrong. Esme wanted to help but there wasn t much she could do besides suggest he get more help. She would prefer he take a wife, while Sebastian had good reasons for not agreeing with her suggestion. Yes, please, he said with a heavy sigh.

Esme stood with a smile. Well, I ve spoken my mind again and I ll leave you two alone now to recover. Give my love to Cordelia in the morning, she said and then gave her husband a warm smile. Windermere, do something to make him smile, but try to remember we re hosting a ball, and they are your friends out there as well.

The pair kissed before Esme hurried out the door to oversee her party.

Sebastian scowled as the door closed behind her. You know, sometimes, I m not sure I forgive you for marrying that woman and bringing her deeper into our circle.

Best decision I ever made, Windermere promised with a laugh. She s usually not wrong when she gives me advice. Of course, I don t always act on it as fast as she cares for.

Well, she s hell-bent on seeing me leg-shackled this season, Sebastian grumbled to his oldest friend.

It s not all bad, you know. Being married. There are worse fates for a man than having a wife to wake up with, Windermere promised with his usual smug and satisfied smile that always appeared when he spoke of his beloved Esme.

Yes, syphilis springs to mind, Sebastian suggested.

At least you still possess a sense of humor, Windermere said, laughing as he sat himself down finally. Get married in your own good time, Mamble. You ll suffer no matchmaking efforts from me now or ever in the future.

Then I guess we will remain friends, despite your marriage to a woman determined to make me a match, Sebastian conceded.

He did like Esme as a friend. She had offered sound advice on many occasions. Windermere was also a good man as well and deserved to be happily married. He d been a valued confidant for many years. Of course, now, Windermere admitted freely, Esme was his first concern. But adjustments had to be made when good friends finally settled down.

And that future was ahead for him, too, one day, but not now.

Sebastian might tell others he would not marry, but the truth was that until Cordelia either improved or her living situation changed, his solitary path was carved in stone. He would not bring a wife home only to have her demand the removal of his sister, because Cordelia was highly unsocial and prone to bouts of sadness. He would not treat his sister as meanly as his parents had done by locking her up, either. They were the reason why Cordelia was the way she was now.

Cordelia panicked around his guests, was unwilling to leave the town house, and was determined never to let anyone stand close to her. She was unfit for the delights of the London season entirely. Many a family had carted such a problematic daughter off to Bedlam without a qualm. But their father had already tried that and made Cordelia ten times worse.

When Sebastian had inherited the dukedom, his first action was to fetch Cordelia home again and promise she never had to go anywhere she didn t want to go. And she didn t. She had kept to her room for that entire first month, refusing to see anyone—sometimes even him.

Everyone whispered that he kept Cordelia a prisoner. The truth was, she d made herself her own prisoner. And there was nothing he could do about her or the gossip that labeled him cruel.

A few trusted confidants knew the truth. Friends like the Windermeres, who were patient and forgiving of Cordelia s fleeting their company when they called on him at home.

He and Windermere talked and made plans to meet the next day at the club, but Windermere could not stay long in the library. He hurried out to support his wife and mingle with his other guests, leaving Sebastian alone…away from the whispers and accusing stares.

He should never have come. Ten minutes circulating the ballroom had excited the whispering again.

Rumor claimed that he had also banished his younger sister to the countryside. In Rosalind s case, she d gone off to marry her secret childhood sweetheart—with Sebastian s blessing. Father, of course, had forbid the match to the softly spoken and poor gardener. But Sebastian had known separating them would solve nothing. Rosalind might have married far beneath her status, but she was loved and in love, and that was all that ever mattered to Sebastian, especially after learning what Cordelia had been put through.

He should have been with Cordelia when his older sister had had her disastrous first season. If he d been the duke, he could have prevented so much misery. But he d been in school still, oblivious and enjoying himself far too much with his friends. He d come home to find her gone, and when he found her again, she was completely changed. Almost unrecognizable.

Sebastian burst to his feet, annoyed that his one night away from Cordelia still hadn t emptied his mind of regret and worry about her situation. He set his glass aside, largely untouched, and stood looking down at the fire for a moment. Sitting about in Windermeres library had only made him maudlin. He ought to rejoin the party and at least try to enjoy himself while he could.

He strolled from the library and into the ballroom again, braced to ignore the whispers and stares that followed him everywhere, but his eyes fell immediately on Gabby Kimble…and the whispers suddenly dimmed in their importance.

The little woman was staring forlornly at Lord Brookes, and obviously so.

Sebastian groaned and easily guessed the viscount had not noticed Gabby or asked her to dance.

He looked away and adjusted his cuffs, irritated with her behavior. It reminded him too much of what he d learned of Cordelia s actions during her first season. Following a fellow around at balls, seeking him out for private conversation. Of course, the fellow had no honorable intentions, but Cordelia hadn t realized that for quite some time.

There were so many better men in society who did want to marry, and Gabby Kimble was doing herself no favors by waiting for a disinterested man to grant her a crumb of his attention.

She ought to be mingling, meeting new people, but of course that required her to notice other men, and be granted introductions to the ones who might help her stand out of the crowd. All she needed was an ally in the room. And not just other women, either. She needed a man to notice her appeal.

Sebastian had noticed her, but they hadn t actually been introduced yet.

He thought of turning away, as so many had from Cordelia in her season after rumors had begun about her and gritted his teeth. He might have enjoyed shocking Gabby in the library, but out here, he could not turn her attention elsewhere without drawing attention. Yet any conversation they had, any dance they shared, might help this one woman make a match with someone who deserved her admiration.

And he suddenly wanted to do something truly reckless.

Esme was not far from Gabby Kimble, and Sebastian went to her and immediately leaned down to whisper in her ear, Introduce me to the kitten.

Yes, of course, Esme whispered back excitedly and drew him there by his arm, no doubt leaping to a wrong impression of why he wanted the introduction.

It took a moment to drag Gabby s attention away from admiring Lord Brookes, and that irritated him beyond belief.

She seemed surprised to see him standing before her again, but Esme had a knack for smoothing over any awkwardness as the introductions were made. Miss Kimble, may I introduce my dear friend Sebastian Spence, the Duke of Mamble, to you, she said loudly for all to hear, and beamed a smile for the crowd as well.

Behind Gabby, a pair of gentlemen immediately straightened to attention. Lord Throsby was known to Sebastian already and, beside him, a new face in Town. But judging by the similarity of his features to Gabby s, he was the cousin and guardian Esme had already mentioned.

Miss Kimble dipped a quick, shallow curtsy and smiled. A pleasure to make your acquaintance, your grace.

He liked that her curtsy was shallow and her response brief and to the point, rather than babbling about the honor like so many women seemed to find necessary with a duke. Sebastian s reputation might be besmirched with false accusations of his misdeeds, but no one ever forgot he was a duke, with a vacancy for a duchess—years overdue to be filled. And yours.

Esme, of course, had to introduce him to the pair of dumbstruck debutants flanking Gabby, and the unknown man, her cousin and guardian, Mr. Bennett Kimble. But it was clear to see that Gabby was the leader of their little group. They all looked to her for signs of how to react to his introduction.

As the next set was called, Sebastian glanced at the dance card Gabby clutched so tightly to her waist. She seemed anxious and not at all excited about the next set forming. Did she not have a dance partner for this set either?

If she was focusing all attention on the unworthy Lord Brookes, few gentlemen might have had a chance to approach her if she never looked away from him. It wasn t normally in Sebastian s nature to fret about debutants and their lack of dance partners, but he could do her popularity more good by dancing one set with her tonight.

Miss Kimble, might I tempt you to take the floor with me for the next dance?

Her friends were instantly delighted on her behalf, but not Gabby. In fact, her eyes narrowed on him with sudden suspicion. I should be honored.

Should be honored? He almost laughed out loud as that bit of sarcasm slipped off her tongue. The tongue that had innocently touched his finger no more than twenty minutes ago. He was right about her. She was no wilting wallflower, and she didn t trust him.

Clever girl.

No one seemed to notice her bright blush as she regarded him for several long moments, sizing him up. He had the ridiculous urge to laugh again. When she eventually handed over her card, he added his name to a completely blank page.

He handed it back with a flourish and held out his hand to her.

Gabby s touch was light in his grip and a strange whisper of anticipation thrummed through his entire being as he led her to the floor. He had perhaps enjoyed too much the speculation and temptation she had stirred in him in the library.

Gabby was an innocent, but her reactions to him had been honest. He d flustered her well and truly, but not enough to make her flee him…or encourage him, either. He ruthlessly quashed any disappointment over the latter, but it was probably for the best.

Their dance was to be a quadrille, which meant they could talk to each other, but not too often. He led her to their position and then turned to her to bow. Have you been close to Lady Windermere all of your life?

I ve only known her a week. We first met at Lady Triscot s ball, she murmured. It was quite a surprise for my cousin Bennett when he saw her there. He had not seen her for a very long time, I believe.

Sebastian had not attended that ball or heard the Triscots had returned to Town, either. But Esme knew everyone and everything worth knowing. Are you enjoying tonight s ball still?

I am, thank you, she said, her voice warm and her eyes demurely downcast.

He d rather have her looking at him than faking modesty. And the season in general? It is your first, isn t it?

Yes, the season is everything I expected. Agreeable, she promised, glancing around the room and smiling. With one recent exception.

That remark did make him laugh out loud.

Sebastian glanced around the room. The foolish Lord Brookes was braying like a donkey and torturing other ladies with his presence across the room. He seemed hardly aware that Miss Kimble even existed.

Not knowing the extent of Gabby s abilities on the dance floor, Sebastian remained watchful as they began the first steps. But it was clear to see Gabby was no bumbling beginner. She moved with utter confidence as she crossed the set to change partners again and again.

Sebastian had to admit he was grudgingly impressed with Gabby s poise by the time their dance neared its conclusion, too. She was in no way in awe of the honor that dancing with a duke might be to others. He was enjoying himself, which was unusual lately, given his problems at home.

You re a fine dancer, he whispered, hoping to bolster her confidence further.

So are you, she whispered back, a little more color pinking her cheeks. It was kind of you to ask me to dance after…

I was in the mood, he suggested. He would not have her read too much into his interest toward her tonight.

Her eyes narrowed on him slightly. I was in a similar state of mind, she promised, and then laughed.

The sound, a delicate invitation to share in her amusement, reminded him of how much he d enjoyed teasing the young woman in the library. She employed no tactics to lure a man in, but he found himself grinning back.

As they began the promenade to finish the set off, he heard the whispers grow louder as they passed others in the crowd. Who was she? Where did they meet? Does she know about him?

Sebastian gritted his teeth and did his best to ignore the whispers and stares as they finally came to a stop and bowed to each other.

Sebastian led Gabby back to where he d found her, among her friends and guardian, and bowed over her gloved hand. Miss Kimble, I do thank you for a pleasant dance.

When he rose, he observed a few bachelors of his acquaintance craning their necks and paying more notice to Gabby Kimble. Including Lord Brookes. The viscount had finally lifted his head from his circle of female admirers to see what everyone else was staring at.

Yet Brookes was not looking at Gabby, but at Sebastian…and for one brief moment, a look of bafflement appeared on the stupid man s face. It lasted for the blink of an eye and then that foolish smile of Brookes slammed fast back into place.

Gabby cleared her throat, subtly trying to tug her fingers out of his grip without anyone noticing he held her too long. He let her go, and she smiled brightly. But it was a smile that was utterly calculated to fool the world around them.

Your grace, I would like to express my deepest gratitude for the honor of sharing a dance with you this evening. I do hope we might dance together again soon.

He pursed his lips at her bold suggestion, aware that her popularity, and perhaps her very future in society, hinged on his response. Miss Kimble was aware they had an audience, and he could tell she was hopeful of a positive response from him. Cheeky morsel. Yet he could not commit to anything that might lead to any expectations arising. Perhaps.

Gabby Kimble curtsied deeply. Until next we meet.

Yes, until tomorrow, he replied, surprising himself. Tomorrow, he would make a call on her for the sake of politeness and it might seem to others that he was engaged in a pursuit—but he would make it clear to Miss Gabby Kimble that he certainly was not.

He bowed and strode away, though for some reason he itched to look back over his shoulder to see her face one last time. Miss Kimble was refreshingly direct, and he d always liked confident women.

Yet, with his dance and his call tomorrow he would set a lure for other gentlemen to discover why Gabby Kimble was the one who had captured the Duke of Mamble s attention tonight.

Well pleased with himself for the deception he would play upon society, Sebastian sauntered away in search of other amusements.

As he passed into the hall, a voice called out. Well, if it isn t the Duke of Mamble?

Sebastian spun about and grinned to see Lord Triscot. His old friend hadn t changed in the many years since they d seen each other. Triscot had been traveling constantly of late, without revealing where he d taken himself off to, though. Sebastian was wiser than most and did not ask. Triscot had forever been secretive.

They shook hands vigorously. It s good to see you again.

Triscot merely laughed. What on earth were you doing dancing with a debutant?

Sebastian grinned. A fleeting sacrifice for a worthy cause.

Triscot s eyes lit up. Did you find her as intriguing as I did?

Yes, but he would not admit to that out loud. Triscot was not in the market for a wife, anyway. Just another proper young lady meant to be leg-shackled.

Triscot laughed. Well, at least my mother has not lost her instincts.

Curiosity got the better of him. What does your mother say about Miss Kimble?

Triscot grinned. Mama claimed I could not do better.

High praise indeed, but Sebastian frowned at the comment. Gabby and Triscot would make a poor match. She could do better than both of us combined.

Triscot readily agreed. Relieved, he took Triscot to the library to toast their reunion. As he poured some of Windermere s finest whiskey into tumblers, his thoughts returned to Gabby Kimble. She was a mere kitten, but with claws that could be coached out to scratch a man s back if circumstances were right. Too inexperienced to perhaps understand when she was being led astray, too, so she could wind up ruined or married to someone truly unworthy.

Better not to be married at all than badly, in his opinion.

He winced. However, he d no intention of being cast into the role of matchmaker for anyone, let alone Gabby Kimble—but even as he tried to dismiss her he also knew he would keep an eye on the young woman.