Page 16 of A Hint of Scandal

Thinking of Captain Aubrey again, Serafina frowned once more. “Looks don’t mean a thing. It is steadfastness you need, and reliability of finances. I thought both those young men a little on the boisterous side—perhaps too young to be considered suitable husband material.” She smiled. “We have to remember that young men take much longer to achieve sensible adulthood than we women.” Not that Letty had reached that stage herself yet. Not by a long chalk.

Letty waved a dismissive hand. “I have the whole Season to find myself a husband. I know I said I would accept the first man who offered for me, but I’ve changed my mind. I would rather not settle for one particular gentleman too soon. Now I’ve been to one ball, and I know what they’re like, I want to have as much fun as possible before I tie myself down to anyone. It’s such fun having a crowd of men clamoring around me for the next dance or to fetch me a glass of lemonade or to fan me.”

Serafina’s heart sank. This did not bode well. How very like Letty, the girl who’d indulged in a romantic tryst with a lowly groom, to take to London society in this wholehearted manner. Thoughts of seeing her safely married off retreated. This was not going to be as easy as she’d hoped.

The first caller arrived in the early afternoon, and he was not, after all, a caller for Letty.

Araminta had ordained that she, Letty and Serafina should occupy the small parlor, maintaining an image of industry for when the expected gentlemen callers for Letty should arrive. Consequently, Serafina was employed in doing some mending, while Araminta and Letty held pretty embroidery on their laps, although neither of them was much good at it, and the bulk of the neat work had already been done by Serafina. But it looked good, Araminta said. Ogden had retired to the library, now with a fire lit in the hearth, ‘leaving you ladies to yourselves’.

Joseph, the new young footman Ogden had taken on, who had to also serve as butler, as Ogden said hiring a butler for so short a time was an unnecessary expense, brought the first caller to the parlor.

It was Captain Aubrey.

Even more devastatingly handsome in his blue topcoat and hessian boots, and with his dark hair swept carelessly back from his forehead, he filled the doorway with his presence.

Serafina’s heart bounded within the confines of her stays, but she managed to keep her face a calm blank. It wouldn’t do to betray her feelings in front of Araminta.

Captain Aubrey swept a bow to that lady. “Captain Aubrey, at your service, Lady Gilbert.”

Araminta was looking at him in almost but not quite open mouthed astonishment. No doubt she knew quite well that Letty had not danced with him, and probably she also knew exactly who he was. And who his brother was. She’d made it her business to compile a list of all the Season’s eligible men with their titles, or the titles they might inherit, and their monetary worth. The cogs in her brain must be whirling as she turned over the prospects of an earl’s younger brother for her daughter. “Please,” she said a little faintly. “Do sit down beside my daughter.” She’d positioned Letty on a chaise longue with a handy space next to her for ardent suitors. “How very kind of you to call.”

Letty was also regarding the captain with an astonished expression, the acquisitive glint in her eyes betraying the fact that she was finding him more than pleasing to look at, despite, or perhaps because of, the sling. It further enhanced his rather swashbuckling appearance.

Captain Aubrey surveyed the room, his gaze coming to rest on Serafina, whose chair was pushed back a little out of the way of the suitors Araminta and Letty had foreseen arriving. A smile lit his face.

Letty’s brow furrowed.

Araminta’s frown deepened to almost scowl-like proportions.

Serafina’s heart nearly burst, and heat crept up her neck to her cheeks, but she kept her face emotionless.

“Miss Gilbert.” He bowed to her, a deeper bow than he’d bestowed on her sister-in-law, to whom he now turned. “You mistake my intentions, Lady Gilbert. I am here for Miss Serafina Gilbert, and not Miss Letitia.” And he took a seat close to Serafina.

He must be able to hear her heart hammering.

Araminta’s face was a picture of thwarted shock. Serafina experienced a longing to capture that moment forever. Astonishment, anger, jealousy—all flashed across Lady Gilbert’s face before she had it under control again. “I had no idea Serafina had made your acquaintance.” Her words were frosty cold. Icy. Threatening. Serafina’s already upset heart quailed. There’d be trouble over this. For her if not for the captain, who seemed all oblivious to the volcano fulminating on the far side of the fireplace.

“We became quite good friends last night, as neither of us were dancing,” Captain Aubrey said, with a smile. “In the course of our conversation, we discovered we share a common interest.”

Araminta’s pencil-thin brows rose towards her hairline. “Indeed? And what might that be, pray?”

The captain still seemed not to have noticed her frostiness. No, her glacial attitude. He smiled. “Why, our love of antiquities. I promised Miss Gilbert I would call today to escort her, accompanied by her maid, of course, to the British Museum. She tells me she has long desired to explore its many exhibitions.”

Letty got her furrowed brow under control, but the flash of her blue eyes betokened clear disfavor that not only was the first caller of the afternoon not for her, but that he was both handsome and eligible and not interested in her. Serafina had been on the receiving end of Letty’s jealousies once or twice before, and it had not ended well. “How nice for you to have your own gentleman caller,” Letty said, her voice nearly as cold as her mother’s. “And to have met someone who shares your odd passion for old bits and bobs. I’m so pleased for you.” She did not sound as if this was remotely true. The mean streak, which Serafina hadn’t experienced for some time, was clawing its way to the surface at speed.

“The British Museum?” Araminta pronounced the three words as though they were alien to her. Which they probably were.

Captain Aubrey nodded. “It’s a wonder of the modern age. I’ve been there before, of course, but not for some years, as I’ve been overseas with my regiment. And I’ve been lucky enough to procure tickets for us. For today. They’re quite sought after, I gather.”

Araminta’s gaze settled on the arm he held in the sling. “I see you have received a wound.” Her lip curled. Perhaps she was dismissing anyone with a useless arm as beneath her notice and therefore also beneath appearing on her list of possible sons-in-law.

Itching to be away from Araminta’s scorn, Serafina seized her courage in both hands. “May I go, please?”

Araminta’s eyes narrowed, hard as a pair of diamonds. She was going to say no, and then everything would be over. She’d probably never see Captain Aubrey again. In fact, she was more than surprised that he’d actually fulfilled his promise to her. All morning she’d been imagining that he wouldn’t come, and now here he was. In their parlor. If Araminta now said no, she would have successfully chased away the only person, apart from Letty, with all her drawbacks, she’d ever consider calling a friend. And she’d be back to being alone, because Letty was bound to capture some handsome gentleman of the ton, and never return to Milford for another freezing winter.

Captain Aubrey must have suspected the same, because he stepped in before Araminta could reply. Standing up, he reached out and took Serafina’s hand. “I promise you I won’t keep her out late, Lady Gilbert. The British Museum is somewhere that can be explored over many days, and I hope to have the privilege of escorting Miss Gilbert there more than once, if I can again procure tickets.” He smiled, his dark eyes dancing a challenge. “And I can assure you that my intentions are of the most honorable.”

Serafina, rising to her feet to stand beside him, had to stifle the impulse to look smug as she caught sight of the new expression on Araminta’s face. Pure fury at being bested. “She does not possess her own maid,” she snapped, as though this would prevent the excursion.

Letty, perhaps anxious to meet her own callers without Serafina and her beau present, was quick off the mark, though. “That’s quite all right, Mama. She can take Roberts. I have no need of her until I have to dress for dinner this evening.” She managed a smile. Perhaps her mean streak had been vanquished. “Have a lovely time, Fina.” She sounded as though she might mean it.

Araminta’s mouth shut in a thin, angry line. Bested, now, by her own daughter as well. Letty was going to be in almost as much trouble as Serafina. But that would be later, and right now, Serafina didn’t care. A visit to the British Museum with Captain Aubrey would be worth all the reprimands afterwards.

Captain Aubrey released Serafina’s hand and held out his good left arm. “That is settled then. We shall progress to the museum in the company of the redoubtable Roberts.” He bowed to Letty. “Thank you for the loan of this sterling escort, Miss Letitia.”

Serafina drew in a deep breath, avoiding Araminta’s gaze, and slipped her hand into the crook of his arm. “Thank you, Captain Aubrey.”