Bronwyn Scott's Sexy Regency Bundle (66 page)

Squire Bradley pumped Brandon's hand with bonhomie and began a round of introductions immediately upon their arrival.

Most everyone had met Brandon at various functions, but many had yet to meet his bethrothed.

Witherspoon was there, oozing a barely masked jealousy that Brandon had been right about The Cat halting attacks. But Brandon didn't have time for such petty nonsense. He swept the ballroom for a sign of Jack. He found him across the ballroom, gleaming like crystal. Good lord, the man carried fashion to its furthest extreme.

'Lud, man, are those real diamond buttons on your waistcoat?' Brandon asked incredulously when Jack finally wended his way to their group, dressed opulently in evening attire and

Pickpocket Countess

sporting a highly dandified waistcoat with buttons that sparked beneath the chandelier.

'Indeed so, you've quite the eye for fine things, Stockport,'

Jack said smoothly to Brandon while taking Nora's gloved hand and bending over it adroitly to make sure no one missed the
double

of his words.

'Viscount Wainsbridge, it is splendid of you to come,' The Squire, standing next to Brandon, offered.

'Squire Bradley, this is a lovely affair. Your wife has outdone herself,' Jack complimented. 'I dare say a London hostess could have done no better.'

'Why, thank

The squire fairly preened under the admiration lavished on him by the foppish Viscount Wainsbridge.

'I'll be sure to pass your compliments on to Mrs Bradley. She'll be thrilled.'

The Viscount turned to Brandon. 'Might I have a word with you, Stockport?'

The Squire jumped in before Brandon could respond. 'We are ready to make the announcement and have our honoured couple lead out the first dance.'

Brandon silently cursed their bad luck. He had hoped the squire would opt to make the announcement before the exit to supper. It would give him time to hear what Jack had to say.

Brandon studied Jack's face, trying to guess in what direction his news lay. He sent Jack a silent appeal.

'Ah, Squire Bradley, I had hoped S tockport would have arrived earlier so that I could have conversed with him before the announcement,' Jack filled in. Brandon didn't miss the pointed look Jack cast his way as if to say he

exactly what Brandon had

been up to and why he and Nora had

in the nick of time.

The bluff Squire didn't take the hint. Instead, he clapped Jack on the shoulder. 'I am sure it can wait. After all, this is Stockport's betrothal party. He doesn't want to talk business on a night like this.'

Scott

Brandon recognised defeat when he saw it. He acquiesced to the Squire's request. At least he could lay plans to speak with Jack in the immediate future. 'Wainsbridge, if you could wait until we open the festivities, I would be happy to speak with you.' He hoped Jack saw the message in his eyes. He understood there was urgent business, but he could not address it just
yet without raising eyebrows.

The Squire made his way to the front of the ballroom and banged on a goblet until he garnered everyone's attention.

Then, puffed up with importance, he formally introduced the Earl of Stockport and his lovely bride-to-be, Nora Hammersmith. He made a polite speech about Brandon's dedication to their

but Brandon heard little of it. He was too busy staring at Nora,

in her beauty and pretending in his

mind that this was indeed their engagement ball.

Of course, if it was, it would have been held at the townhouse in London, which would have been weeks before

the actual event by his sisters and countless second and third cousins, great-aunts and all their progeny. What would his pre-dominantly female extended family have thought of Nora?

Nora looked like a natural Countess in the family jewels, her head held high while the squire prattled on to the crowd. He was proud of her. It had taken consider gumption to carry off her role with such success.

past Nora, he saw Jack standing close behind Witherspoon and a few of the other investors. Whatever news Jack brought, he'd find a way through it. There was always a way.

He was a man who knew how to get what he wanted and he wanted Nora. She could not doubt his intentions or affections.

Yet he sensed she still wavered. Something unknown to him held her back from committing unequivocally to their passion.

Nora coughed discreetly at his side. 'Brandon, the Squire expects you to say something.'

Brandon uttered some glib nonsense that was met with

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applause and he gratefully heard the orchestra strike up the opening dance. At a usual ball, the first dance would have been a quadrille, but, in honour of the engagement, the orchestra played a waltz. He took Nora in his arms and made a wide sweeping arc that caused comments to ripple throughout the ballroom.

He smiled as he caught bits and pieces. 'It must be a love match.' 'Look how much he adores her.' 'They make a handsome couple.'

'We've put on quite a show for them, sweetheart,' Brandon said as they took the last

Too bad the waltz was over. He'd

have to share her with other well-wishers.

'I have to go find Jack,' he said reluctantly as the music finished, relinquishing her to a group of well-wishers. 'Stay here-we can't deprive the Bradleys of all their honoured guests at once.'