Page 37

“True. In the past that method has been most effective. Most women like a man who is bold and assertive. But this woman is different.” Jason’s lips twisted in a rueful smile.

“Unfortunately, she is also accompanied by a harridan of a sister who is acting as her chaperon. I heard she nearly boxed the Earl of Aubrey’s ears for being presumptuous enough to request a waltz before learning if the girl had been granted permission for the dance. ”

“Cowed by a mere female, brother.” It was a challenge, not a question. “How disappointing.”

“Trust me, there is nothing mere about this chaperon. She seems to have perfected a fine-tuned ability to scare away every potential suitor within a hundred miles. I believe a simple stare from this gargoyle would freeze a man’s ballocks.”

“Jason!” Jasper’s eyes shot darts of censure at his brother.

“What?”

“Watch your tongue. There is a lady present.”

“ ’Tis only Merry,” Jason exclaimed. “She’s heard far worse from both of us over the years and has yet to be offended. You forget, she is a married woman now and therefore even harder to shock.”

“Meredith is a lady who would naturally find offense at such off-color language. But her reaction is only a part of the problem.” Jasper glanced about meaningfully. “What if someone had overheard you? Language of that sort is far better suited to Gentleman Jackson’s boxing salon, not a ballroom.”

“Reforming one’s character is a noble effort, but you are fast becoming a prig of the first water,” Jason ground out.

The men turned toward each other and stood toe to toe. While Meredith had initially enjoyed the distraction of their bickering, she determined it was time to intercede.

“Ah, look—there’s a waiter with a tray of filled champagne glasses. Would you fetch me a glass please, Jasper?”

Neither brother moved. Nor blinked.

“Please, Jasper,” Meredith repeated. With obvious reluctance he shifted his attention to her. Yet he did not move so much as an inch.

Jasper’s stony glare told Meredith he wanted nothing more than to refuse her request, but she had not successfully managed her high-spirited brothers for so many years without learning a thing or two.

Meredith kept her expression innocent, yet determined.

In less than twenty seconds Jasper strode off to do her bidding.

“I’m sorry.” Jason’s face assumed a baleful look. “I did not mean to insult you with my coarse language.”

“In truth, I was not offended, but please do not tell Jasper, else he shall start lecturing us both.” Meredith bent her head and murmured in her brother’s ear, “If he keeps this up, he will be impossible to live with by the end of the Season.”

Jason broke into hearty laughter. “You are a gem, Meredith. Most women would be near to fainting at our behavior tonight. Dardington’s a damned lucky man to have a woman as fine as you for a wife,” he said sincerely.

Meredith worked to muster a smile, biting back the taste of regret, not wanting to dwell on whether or not her husband believed himself to be a lucky man.

“Supper will be served within the hour. You must tell me all you know about this incomparable young woman you are determined to meet. If we can manage an introduction soon, you might be able to escort her to supper.”

Meredith’s distraction worked exactly the way she had hoped. Jason soon dropped any discussion of her husband and waxed eloquent about the young woman.

“ ’Tis just my luck this beauty has such a diligent watchdog,” Jason said in a disgusted tone.

“Why is it that the more alluring females are never accompanied by elderly, nearly deaf matrons who prefer to gossip amongst themselves before overindulging in the rich food on the buffet? Then two glasses of champagne later they are dozing off in a corner while their charges are left to fend for themselves.”

Meredith shrugged her shoulders indulgently. “I promise I shall do everything in my power to win over this chaperon and allow you a clear shot at the young miss. Ah, here is Jasper with our drinks. Let us all down a fortifying glass of champagne, and then we shall go in search of this paragon.”

All three clinked their goblets together in a toast.

“Good hunting, brother,” Jasper said.

Jason’s mouth edged up. Then he gulped back the bubbling wine. Meredith was sipping hers in a more reserved manner when Jason grasped her arm, demanding her attention.

“There she is, Merry. The blond vision in the aqua silk gown standing beside the marble pillar. Is she not perfection?”

With great interest, Meredith angled her neck and eyed the diminutive blond who had so enraptured her brother.

“Good heavens, I know that woman,” she exclaimed.

“How? I am certain she is newly arrived in town.”

“She is from the country, as you suspected,” Meredith said. “Your lovely young miss is Elizabeth Sainthill, the youngest sister of Viscount Dewhurst.”

“Dewhurst?” Jasper rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “Isn’t he the chap who married your good friend Faith last year?”

“Yes.” Meredith finished her drink and handed the empty glass to Jason, who promptly found a footman and passed it off.

“I met Elizabeth last fall when I went to visit Faith. Dear Elizabeth was a resounding success the night of the local harvest ball, yet all that attention only made her uncomfortable. She is a charming, genuine young woman who enjoys the simple pleasures of life. Her head will not be easily turned by your slick town manners, Jason.”

“Egad, Merry. It sounds as though you are having second thoughts about introducing me,” her brother replied in an indignant voice.

“I might.” Meredith paused, then stared meaningfully into Jason’s eyes. “You must promise me you will do nothing rash. I would be horribly disappointed in you if you did anything to upset Elizabeth.”

“I just want to meet the girl, Merry. Not seduce her,” Jason said. “ ’Tis a certainty her chaperon will have my head on a platter if I make so much as a false step. I freely admit I am too much of a coward to brave that female’s wrath.”

Meredith flicked a glance at the older woman who stood beside Elizabeth, but it was hardly necessary. Only one woman would stand guard over the lovely young blond with such fierce protectiveness—Harriet Sainthill, Elizabeth’s older sister.

“Well, at least I can credit you with understanding that situation correctly, dear brother.” Meredith took a deep breath. “Any sensible man would give that chaperon a wide berth. Unfortunately, you will never get near the rose unless you risk getting pricked by the thorns of her protector.”

“You express sympathy, yet your tone is amused at my plight. Since you know my fair Elizabeth, am I correct in assuming you also know the gargoyle who guards her?”

Meredith nearly burst out laughing. It was a cruel, though apt analogy. Harriet Sainthill was not known for her sweet temper or her meek countenance. She and Meredith were the same age and had made their debut into Society the same year.

It had become an instant rivalry, though in truth Meredith had never understood why the other woman had disliked her so much.

’Twas not till years later she learned Harriet had fallen in love with Julian Wingate, one of the many men whose proposal of marriage Meredith had soundly rejected that year.

Meredith was always unsure if Harriet had ever forgiven her for rejecting Wingate or if she was miffed by the attention he had lavished upon her.

This dislike and distrust Harriet harbored within her still existed despite the fact Harriet had in fact become engaged to marry Wingate several Seasons later.

This animosity had extended beyond Meredith and included Meredith’s dear friend, Faith, who was a neighbor of Harriet’s. When Faith had unexpectedly married Harriet’s older brother last year, Harriet had done all she could to make the new bride’s life a misery.

Fortunately, it appeared the two sisters-in-law had somehow worked out their differences. Faith was so in love with her husband and delighted over being a mother to his young son it seemed not much upset her.

“I give you fair warning, dear brother, Harriet will be the very least of your problems if Elizabeth comes to any sort of unhappiness,” Meredith cautioned.

“You will answer to me first and then be forced to confront her brother. Viscount Dewhurst spent many years captaining his own shipping vessel in the colonies. He is not a man to trifle with, and he is very protective of his women.”

“Is he here this evening, too?”

“No, Faith was unable to make the journey to town this Season.” Meredith bowed her head to hide a telltale blush. “She is increasing.”

As she spoke the words, Meredith was again in wonderment of the news.

Faith having a child! It seemed an impossibility, given the tumultuous start to her marriage, and yet there had ultimately been a happy conclusion, as her current condition implied.

Was it possible to believe somehow her own marriage would reach at least a level of comfort? Meredith was almost afraid to hope.

“I suppose Elizabeth is just beginning her sojourn into society,” Jasper commented, “though I think she picked a most unusual event to make her debut. Our host, the Duke of Shrewsbury, is hardly a social leader.”

“Must have been the older sister, Harriet, who made the choice,” Jason surmised.

Meredith jerked her chin up. “How foolish of me not to have remembered. Julian Wingate is a grandson of our host, so naturally Harriet and Elizabeth are in attendance this evening. After all, Harriet is engaged to marry Mr. Wingate.”

“Wingate is going to marry that sourpuss?” Jason let out a low whistle. “Her facial features seem to be fixed in a permanently pinched and unhappy expression. I almost pity the man. She must have buckets of money. And property. Or both.”

“’Tis my understanding Harriet has a modest dowry, as does Elizabeth.”

“Then Wingate will be in no rush to say his vows,” Jasper observed dryly.