Page 7 of Discovering Her Earl

Meanwhile everyone else he’d encountered had been pleased to speak with him. Perhaps there was something wrong with her. He had to know.

Seeing Lady Archer and Lady Foxley across the room, he made his way to them. If anyone would know anything about anybody, it would be the two biggest gossips of the ton.

“My ladies, it is so good to see you this evening. I dinna realize we shared an interest in antiquary.”

“Oh, yes, my lord,” Lady Archer gushed excitedly. “Lord Archer and I have been continued supporters and have many artifacts attributed to us in the museum.”

“I generally prefer living specimens of a zoological nature,” Mrs. Foxley commented.

“But certainly, you can enjoy an interesting rock now and then?” he said, making the women laugh. As women often did in his presence. Except Miss Bantham.

The more he considered the puzzle the woman was, he was more convinced there was something wrong about her rather than a defect in himself. That had to be it.

“I hope to join the expedition myself. I am most looking forward to meeting new people.”

“That does sound exciting, my lord.” Lady Archer gave an approving nod.

“I wonder, what do you know of Lady Darlington’s niece?” As casual segues went, that wasn’t his best example, but this was the only question he needed an answer to. And his question was all it took to launch the women into a thorough accounting.

“Oh, the poor girl. As if her height wasn’t enough, she is cursed with that red hair.”

He followed their gazes and there she was. Miss Bantham. He found her hair to be a lovely shade between blonde and red. It reminded him of sunshine.

He shook his head. What the devil did sunshine even look like? It was much too bright to stare into the sun, not that it had been out much recently.

“Apparently they don’t allow bonnets in China and Egypt for she bears the marks of the sun.” This was said with a tut of disapproval from Lady Foxley whose skin was pale and almost waxy.

It took him a second to realize they were speaking of freckles, not large scars as she’d made it seem with her dramatic gasp.

Lady Archer leaned closer to whisper to their small group. “I’ve heard she took a lover in Morocco.”

“Morocco?” Lady Foxley challenged. “No. I heard it was Singapore.”

A lover? Miss Bantham? Not that he was judging, he’d had many lovers over the years. But the word lover indicated affection, not something he imagined her capable of after his brief interaction with the woman.

When she’d confronted him, he’d envisioned wild passion; nails digging into his skin, the nip of her teeth on his neck.

“Do you know if she takes to fits of anger? Or is slightly mad?” he asked, wanting to get to the more relevant information.

“No. Why? What have you heard?” Lady Archer practically drooled with interest.

“Nothing. Nothing at all.” It wouldn’t do to start up gossip. “I only like to be prepared.”

“She has always seemed pleasant when we’ve conversed. She tends to speak at length on things ladies shouldn’t discuss, but then she is the daughter of a vicar and is only in Society because she was fortunate enough to be raised by her uncle, the viscount.”

Julian didn’t know if Miss Bantham would call herself fortunate to have been orphaned at a young age, but he didn’t say so.

“I understood from Lady Darlington that Miss Bantham’s mother was her sister. Therefore, Miss Bantham would be the granddaughter of a duke on her mother’s side, is she not?”

Lady Archer’s eyes flared with intrigue.

“The late duchess was known to seek out other entertainments after the heir was born. The youngest daughter, Miss Bantham’s mother, was said to be a result of a liaison between the duchess and a painter.” She frowned and placed her fan on Julian’s arm before adding the required, “God rest her soul.”

“I see.” And he did see. There seemed to be quite a bit of scandal swirling around Miss Bantham. Perhaps this was the cause of her bitterness, which meant her unpleasant demeanor had nothing to do with him but with the peerage in general.

He caught sight of her across the room again. But watched in confusion as she smiled in what seemed to be pleasant conversation with an older couple. She seemed quite the opposite of bitter at the moment.

Still, whatever the reason for her earlier outburst, it couldn’t have been his fault. Everyone liked him.