Page 54 of To Steal a Kiss

“Of course,” St Clair remarked mildly, his lips twitching a little.

Harriet looked up and glared at him, her jaw growing tight. “The small tortoiseshell lays its eggs on stinging nettles, which is why it’s significant, and Aglaia was one of the three Graces, a daughter of Zeus admired for her beauty,” she added, sounding almost defiant as she stood once more and stared at the earl with undisguised hostility.

“My, my, the things you know, Miss Stanhope,” the earl said, holding her gaze.

Alice looked between them, there had been a teasing note to his words that suggested he knew Harriet and was deliberately baiting her. Harriet, for her part, clearly disliked him intensely for her response was immediate and cutting.

“Yes, books are an immense source of knowledge, my lord, if one troubles to read one on occasion rather than just keeping them as a vanity collection or merely to gather dust.”

“Well, naturally I’d know nothing about that,” St Clair replied, his voice as easy and urbane as before, yet Alice felt there was an edge to it now.

“Lord no,” Henry said, chuckling to himself. “St Clair wouldn’t sit still for long enough to read a book. Always in the basket for it at Harrow with the masters, weren’t you, Jasper?” he said, grinning.

The earl smiled, though it was a tight expression which didn’t quite reach his eyes.

“Quite so, Henry,” he said softly.

Alice frowned, wondering what she was missing and why Harriet was so brittle with the man when he was so clearly a good friend of her brother’s. Perhaps he led Henry into bad behaviour? The earl was a wealthy man and known to have a wild and rather extravagant reputation. No doubt Henry could ill afford to keep up with such illustrious company. He’d easily find himself in debt if he tried, that was for certain.

The mystery did not hold her attention for long, however, as she found her gaze drifting back to Nate. He gave her a sly wink, and she blushed and turned away to hide her smile.

“Stop it,” Matilda said, chuckling as she moved to take Kitty’s place and slipped her hand through Alice’s arm. “You’re both as bad as each other. It’s hardly subtle.”

“Sorry,” Alice said, hoping it wasn’t as obvious as Matilda made out. “I need to speak to him though, as soon as possible. Do you think it can be contrived?”

“Of course,” Matilda said at once, before giving her a searching look. “What’s happened?”

“Oh, Tilda.” Alice sighed and shook her head. “What hasn’t happened?”

With relief, Alice told her of the events of last night after Nate and Matilda had left her.

“The odious beast of a man!” Matilda exclaimed, appalled by her story. “Though how you can call such a creature a man I don’t know, and beast is an insult to animals. He’s a vile cad and a bully. My God, Nate will kill him when he hears this,” she said, her words not bringing Alice a deal of comfort. “But, however did you get away from him?”

“You’ll never believe it, Tilda.” Alice shook her head, still having trouble believing it herself. “Montagu rescued me.”

Matilda stopped in her tracks, her blue eyes wide with astonishment. “What?”

“I know.” She laughed a little, knowing her own bewilderment was reflected in her friend’s expression. “I was never more surprised. Who would ever believe I would be relieved to see the Marquess of Montagu? But I was never so grateful to anyone. Oh, Tilda, I shudder to think what might have happened if he hadn’t been there, and he dealt with Edgar like he was dirt. It was rather splendid to watch. He all but crawled away from the marquess on his belly.”

“Well,” Matilda said, her voice a little faint. “It seems the man has his uses.”

“Yes.” Alice smiled a little and looked up at Matilda, who appeared pensive in the light of this information. “Perhaps he isn’t as bad as we believed? Oh!” she added in a rush, remembering too late just why Matilda despised him so. “Not to say he isn’t a villain too, of course.”

Matilda’s lips quirked a little and she gave a wry chuckle. “Oh, indeed, a villain to his core, but a civilised one, at least.”

***

It was perhaps another half an hour before Matilda contrived to wrest her brother from Mr Stanhope’s and St Clair’s company. Though it was too improper for Alice and Nate to stroll together unaccompanied, the three of them dawdled until the others were a good distance ahead and then Matilda hung back a little farther to give them some privacy without actually leaving them alone.

“Is something wrong, love?” Nate said, the moment they could speak.

Alice nodded, though she decided now was not the time to share all the events of last night with him. Matilda’s words on his likely reaction had given her pause and reason enough to be cautious.

“My parents have instructed me I shall marry Mr Bindley. They are arranging a meeting with him and his parents as soon as may be to discuss the particulars. It is to be a short engagement,” she added, her voice bleak and heavy with anxiety and her hand tightened on his sleeve as she looked up at him.

Nate’s free hand covered hers. “Tell me you’ll not do it, Alice,” he said, his voice rough, his gaze searching hers.

“Of course not!” she exclaimed and then ducked her head as she realised she was drawing attention to them both. “I’d rather die,” she added with some heat, though less volume.