Page 32 of Rules for Ruin

Lord Compton stiffened. Withdrawing his empty hand, he dusted it on his trouser leg, as though the barest contact with Franc had sullied his glove. “That dog would benefit from a muzzle.”

“Doubtless you’re right,” Effie said, even as she took another step backward, the swell of her skirts enforcing distance between them. Muzzle Franc? The very notion!

“A dog that bites a man is liable to be destroyed. The law permits it.”

Her blood ran cold. “I couldn’t bear to contemplate it. Franc means more to me than anything in the world.”

“Then you must enforce civility on him.”

“I shall,” she lied.

The viscount’s mouth curled in a thin smile. “Less radicalism and more obedience, that’s what I recommend, Miss Flite. You will find it a suitable recipe for young ladies—and for dogs.” He bowed to her, his eyes lingering for an extra moment on her face. “Until we meet again, my dear.”

She inclined her head, her mouth gone dry. “My lord.”

The viscount strolled off, heading for the counter to purchase his daughter’s book. Effie was left standing in front of the ragtag shelf of women’s philosophy books, her nerves all ajangle.

She’d been warned Compton was a villain, but to threaten Franc? That was taking things rather too far. Indeed, the odious man had just made things personal.

Effie gave Franc a reassuring kiss on the head. “Dreadful man,” she murmured to him. “You were exactly within your rights.”

“Excuse me.” A woman approached the shelf behind Effie. “If you wouldn’t mind?”

It was a young lady, somewhat older than Effie in appearance. She wore a plain gray dress and was possessed of an unusually serious air. The impression was aided by the glass in her silver-framed spectacles. It was surely over an inch thick.

Effie moved out of her way. “I beg your pardon. Is it these titles you’re interested in? I fear the selection is rather scant.”

“So I discern.” Reaching up, the young lady selected the book Lord Compton had just returned to the shelf. She offered it to Effie. “I believe this is yours.”

Effie met the young woman’s eyes behind her spectacles. She wondered just how much the girl had overheard. “Thank you,” she said.

“Not at all.”

“Ruth! Oh, there you are.” A slim, handsomely dressed gentleman came to join them.

Effie recognized him at once. It was Lord Phillip Mannering, one of the young men who had danced with her at the ball and sent her flowers the day afterward. He’d returned to Brook Street once more since then, calling on Effie yesterday afternoon. A harmless enough fellow—unobjectionable in appearance, courtly in manner, and just amusing enough not to be a bore.

His face spread into a grin to see her. “Miss Flite!” He swept off his hat, sketching her a bow. “How do you do?”

“Lord Mannering.”

“I see you’ve met m’sister. Ruth? This is Miss Flite.”

Effie exchanged curtsies with Miss Mannering. “I wasn’t aware Lord Mannering had a sister.”

Miss Mannering gave her brother a pointed look. “I’m not surprised. My brother rarely recalls my existence himself.”

Lord Mannering flushed. “Ruth’s been in the country, at Luxford Place, with m’mother. She’s only returned to town yesterday evening. Had to come straight to the bookshop, didn’t you?”

“I’ve exhausted my reading material,” Miss Mannering said. “I had hoped Hatchards would offer replenishment. Alas.”

“Alas,” Effie agreed.

Miss Mannering’s eyes smiled, though her mouth remained set in a neutral line. “Farrer and Devonport in the Strand stocks a greater number of titles on the subject. I shall visit them myself when I’m not pressed for time.” She turned to her brother. “Philip?”

“Yes, yes. We must dash. We’re due for tea at my old aunt’s house in Green Street. Can’t miss it, you know. She’s a right old tartar.” He bowed to Effie once more. “Until we meet again, Miss Flite.”

Effie bid them both good day. She was heartened to have met a fashionable young lady with some level of fellow feeling. Granted, it wasn’t enough to offset the unpleasantness of her exchange with Lord Compton, but given the circumstances, Effie must take success where she could find it.