Page 4 of Redemption of a Marquess

“Is that what you call your talent, ‘finding’?”

She scowled. “You don’t need it.”

“My dear, if you pawn this pin, you will surely find yourself hunted by Bow Street. Unless—tell me, have you already a relationship with a pawn broker?”

She gave him a haughty stare. “I do not.”

“Then we shall not begin now.”

She shook her head. “Everyone thinks they know what is best for me. I don’t not want—”

Valan grimaced. “Pray, say no more. Surely, Miss Peddington taught you not to use double negatives in a sentence.”

She dropped her gaze. “Aye, she did.”

“Will you throw away every penny your father spent to send you here by speaking like a common fishwife?”

“M-my mother sent me here.”

Valan regarded her. “Do you only stutter when you’re afraid?”

Her cheeks reddened even as her chin lifted. “I cannot help it. If you don’t like it—” her cheeks pinked more “—then you are no gentleman.”

“Your judgment of what constitutes a gentleman is sorely misguided.” She opened her mouth to reply, but he lifted a hand, palm out. “Please, we will save that discussion for another time. I happen to agree. You cannot help the stutter. You can, however, choose the words you speak. I suggest you make a habit of choosing them more carefully.”

Movement beyond the girl’s shoulder drew Valan’s attention. He recognized the tall man who approached.“Wedded bliss losing its luster so soon?” Valan asked when Sir Stirling James reached them.

Stirling grinned. “Not at all.” He looked pointedly at the young lady.

“I cannot make introductions,” Valan said. “I don’t know the young lady’s name.”

“Then allow me.” Stirling bowed. “Miss Jeanine Matheson, I am Sir Stirling James, and this is his Lordship, the Marquess of Northington.”

She extended her hand and Valan bowed over it. “A marquess?” she said. “You did not tell me you were a peer.”

“You did not ask,” he said, then looked at Stirling. “Do you know all the young ladies? Never say you come here often.”

Stirling shook his head. “I saw ye two together. Honoria told me who she was.”

“Ah,” Valan intoned. “It is Lady Peddington you came to visit.”

“Honoria and I are old friends,” Stirling said. “Not that kind of old friends,” he added when Valan started to reply. “But if we were, the past is the past.”

Valan angled his head. “As you say.”

“You knew Lady Peddington before she started the school?” Miss Matheson asked.

Stirling smiled. “Indeed, I did.”

“I want to have a school like this someday,” she said.

“Good God, why?” Valan asked.

“To be an independent woman. Lady Peddington says a lady will do best if she finds a nice gentleman to care for her. But that is not what she did. She started the school. She makes her own money and spends it any way she pleases.”

“Much responsibility comes with running a business,” Valan said.

She waved her hand dismissively. “Running a gentleman’s household is just as big a responsibility.”