Landing a Laird (4 page)

She quickly glanced about the room and to where her mother was speaking with other ladies.  Moira maneuvered herself to the side of her friends, directly out of her mother’s line of vision.  Perhaps if she wasn’t seen, she would be forgotten and allowed to enjoy this ball.  Not that she held out any hope.  Last night had been a crush, and the Davenports’ ballroom was barely half-filled; most of the guests were young ladies and their chaperones. Where were the gentlemen tonight? Too busy placing stupid bets in stupid books?

She focused back on the door and waited.  “Perhaps he attended another function.”  

Patience smiled sadly. “This is hardly the event of the year.”

“
Hopefully we’ll have better luck tomorrow,” Georgianna Bexley-Smythe added.

Moira couldn’t agree more.  Having listened to the names announced, not one sounded remotely Scottish.  

Patience tugged Pippa’s arm, pulling her closer into their group of four. “What did happen last night?”

Pippa shook her head. “I don’t remember a thing.  I don’t even remember arriving at the Heathfields’. I don’t remember encountering Mr. Potsdon. I don’t remember St. Austell.”

“
He is quite handsome,” Moira offered.  “Pity he’s not a Scot.”

“
So you said earlier, but I can’t believe he could even hold a candle to Lord Colebrook.”

Moira focused back on the doors as two gentlemen appeared. She hadn’t been paying enough attention to hear their names announced, but she’d met one of them in the park earlier.  His eyes scanned the room slowly, stopping when they found her.  He nudged his friend and nodded in her direction so slightly that Moira would have missed it had she not been paying so close attention.  The gentleman accompanying him narrowed his eyes and peered at her.  Who was he and why were the two so interested in her?

She turned her back and tried to focus on the conversation occurring between her friends, but his eyes burned into her back. Not the stranger, but Lord Ainsely.  Now there was a gentleman who could make a girl’s heartbeat increase.  While his friend, Mr. Jordan Trent was not without his charms, it was Ainsely's deep brown eyes that caused her heart to hitch earlier today. Goodness, the man was so tall, and from the looks of him strong, unless he padded his clothing as so many gentlemen were rumored to do.  

“
Lord Brody McTavish.”

Moira perked up at the announcement and wheeled around to see a gentleman standing in the door, and her heart sank instantly.  He was all of five foot two, and almost as round, with a balding head.  

“
There is your Scot.” Georgie nudged her.

The man couldn’t be younger than fifty years.  “This may be more difficult than I thought.”

Too bad Ainsley wasn’t Scottish. He would do perfectly.  Moira sighed and let go of that dream as her brother appeared at her side.  “Mother is asking for you.”

A groan escaped Moira.  “Do I really have to go? Can’t you just stand here with me?  That will take care of propriety.”

A smile pulled at Nyle’s lips.  “That would be my preference as well, but she is demanding that both of us be at her side.”

Moira turned to her friends. “Sorry, I must go.”

She crossed the vast ballroom floor and took a place by her mother.

“
I hear arsenic works,” her mother stated out of nowhere.  

“
For what?” Moira was almost afraid to hear the answer.

“
Hair.  We need to do something about that dreadful color.”

Moira’s hand went to the back of her head.  She rather liked her hair as it was. She’d inherited it from her grandmother, Fiona MacLachlan. At least that was how the woman had been known before marrying Moira’s grandfather.

“
It won’t do and is probably the very reason you have not received a voucher yet.”

“
Voucher?”

Her mother turned to her and huffed.  “To Almack’s.  What other voucher is there?”

Moira shrugged and glanced toward Nyle. His shoulders shook with silent laughter.

“
Ah, there is Lady Aldridge.  I’ll be right back.”

Moira relaxed when her mother finally moved away.

Nyle leaned in and whispered, “You do know the real reason you won’t be receiving a voucher, don’t you?”

“
Oh, hush. I hadn’t considered
that
ramification of the silly bet.”

“
There is nothing silly about your name being in the book at White’s.” he hissed before glancing around. “Does Mother know?”  

That was Moira’s biggest fear, and she didn’t know how harsh a reaction the woman may have. “Not yet.”

 

Gideon stood beside Lydell, sipping a glass of wine.  Lady Moira was directly across from him, dressed in a lovely lavender gown, a few shades lighter than the heather that dotted the landscape back home. Her hair glowed like a burst of sunlight beneath the candles.  She was a lovely lady indeed.  And soon she would be Lydell’s.

A pain stabbed his gut.  Why should it bother him? It wasn’t as if he even knew the chit.  Her brains could be nothing but mush.  While she may fill out the gown to his preferred specifications, she could easily bore him into madness.  He would much rather have a plain, thin, interesting wife than a buxom, beautiful featherbrain for those weeks they could be trapped together at the estate.

“
She is rather pretty, I suppose,” Lydell muttered. “But she is more endowed than I prefer.”

“
Whereas her dowry is the perfect size,” Gideon reminded his friend quietly.

“
There is that.” Lydell heaved a sigh. “I suppose we should go over so you can make the introductions.”

As much as he wished to speak with Lady Moira again, Gideon didn’t relish introducing her to Lydell so his friend could waltz away with her.

He placed his glass on the empty tray as the waiter passed and stood his tallest.  The two men took their time in walking the perimeter of the room instead of straight across.  Gideon didn’t want to make his destination obvious, especially with Lydell by his side.  By now every gentleman in the room probably knew about that blasted bet, and he didn’t want to draw any additional attention.  

They paused to speak with acquaintances, meet daughters, and sign dance cards as they went.  Gideon hated this part of the evening because he could never remember who he was to dance with and when. Why couldn’t gentlemen have similar cards?  It would make the whole evening less confusing and potentially less embarrassing.

Eventually they arrived and stood before Lady Moira, Hearne, and their mother.    

“
Ainsely, you met my sister earlier in the park today.”

He bowed toward her. “You look lovely this evening, Lady Moira.”

That same secret smile came to her lips. What he wouldn’t give to know what she was thinking about.

“
May I introduce my good friend, Lord Lydell?”

Lady Moira’s eyes widened at the name. Surely, she didn’t know about the bet, or did she?  Maybe Hearne had warned her.

“
Such an honor, Lord Lydell and Lord Ainsely.” the dowager Lady Hearne gushed.  “I don’t remember that we have met previously.”   

Apparently the girl’s mother wasn’t aware of the wager, because Gideon was fairly certain she would not be particularly welcoming, especially to Lydell.

“
No, I don’t believe we have,” Lydell answered.  “Had I known you had such a lovely daughter I would have rectified the matter much sooner.”

“
Oh, do go on.”  

Please, don’t
.  

“
Would you care for a turn about the room, Lady Moira?” Lydell offered his arm.

“
That would be lovely, thank you.”

Hearne reached out and put a hand on Lydell’s shoulder. “Stay close.”  The warning was at the edge of the man’s voice and in the narrowing of his eyes.  

“
Yes, and don’t be gone long. The dancing will begin shortly,” the dowager countess called after them.

Gideon watched the two stroll away, and Hearne leaned in. “If anything happens to my sister, I will hold you personally responsible.”

Gideon turned away from Hearne, keeping an eye on the two as they traversed the ballroom.  “He simply wanted an introduction.  It is up to Lydell to woo her.”  

Lydell and Lady Moira stopped beside a long window.  Gideon wasn’t the only one watching the two of them. In fact, several more interested eyes focused on the pair.  An open door leading to the gardens below was but a few feet away.  Would Lady Moira take Lydell outside and make both Mr. Fiske and the Marquess of Lydell richer for having done so?

 

Moira stopped just short of the doors leading outside. She and Lord Lydell had dispensed with all pleasantries during their short partial circuit of the ballroom, but she would not take another step until she had answers.

“
It is a lovely evening outside.” Lydell nodded toward the door. “Would you care for a stroll in the gardens?”

Moira studied him for a moment.  “You approached me because of that bet, did you not?”

The man flushed a bit.  “We shouldn’t discuss such a subject so blatantly in polite company.”

“
I would have honesty and frankness, Lord Lydell.”

He pulled at his neck cloth.  Goodness, why was he the one nervous?  Was he afraid she would actually try to compromise him?    

“
Yes, I was told of the bet yesterday,” he finally answered.

“
And then you learned of my value.”

The gentleman straightened and looked around before he bent forward. “Such matters should not be discussed with a lady.”

The fortune hunter thought to censure her? Well, she had enough of that from her mother already. Besides, upon first glance she’d determined they would not suit. Though it seemed unfair to dismiss him out of hand, she couldn’t help herself.  Perhaps had the man not been standing next to Lord Ainsely when they met, she could have looked at him in a more favorable light. Unfortunately, Lydell did not have the same warm brown eyes, height, aquiline nose, chiseled cheekbones, or broad shoulders. She almost pitied Lord Lydell, especially since he was apparently also broke.  “Why pretend it doesn’t exist when we both know that it does?”

“
Yes, well, um, that is beside the point.”

“
Lord Lydell, you approached me after learning of the bet and my dowry. I believe I have a right to ask you a few questions.”

He pursed his lips and inhaled.  “Very well. What would you have me tell you?”

“
Where is your estate?”

“
Outside of Bath.”

Perfect
. “I am sorry, Lord Lydell, but you just will not do.”

The man’s mouth popped open and his chin dropped.  “Excuse me. I thought you wished to be married right away, the reason for Scotland and all.”

She stared at him.  Did they all assume she was intent on an anvil wedding?  Perhaps it was best.  “Once I set my mind to nuptials, I don’t wish to spend months planning a wedding for society to attend, to see and be seen.  Scotland is more expedient for my purposes.”

“
But…”

“
I would also like to determine where I will live, and Bath will not do.”

Moira turned on her heel, about to return to her mother, when Lydell gently touched her arm. “Allow me to escort you.”

She glanced down at his offered arm and accepted.  

“
What lady does not wish to live close to Bath?”  The question was barely a whisper in her ear.

“
This one.”

“
If not Bath, then where?”

Moira considered telling him, as the information would spread and perhaps a Scotsman would come looking for her.  However, as the only Scot she had seen thus far was the older gentleman, shorter than she, Moira decided to keep that information to herself.  Perhaps it was best if she looked for her Scot and not the other way around.