The Betting Season (A Regency Season Book) (7 page)

“
I knew you would help me.” Pippa squeezed her friend’s hand. “He said he would be at Vauxhall tonight. Did I tell you?”

“
Lord Colebrooke twice in one day?”

“
Isn’t it wonderful?”

“
Wonderful,” Georgie agreed with a smile.

Vauxhall Gardens. Jason could barely believe his luck. If Pippa would just arrive, it shouldn’t be difficult at all to get her into his arms along one of the darkened walkways. And once she was in his arms—

“
Jason!” Heath’s voice somehow carried over the din of revelers at Vauxhall.

Jason’s head snapped up to find his old friend gesturing for him to join Heath in his supper box. Hard to be incognito when someone was waving his arms and calling one’s name. Jason quickly scanned the other supper boxes, again, for any sign of Pippa or her brothers. They hadn’t been there moments ago, but one could never be too careful, especially with Heath bellowing his name.

Luckily, Jason didn’t spot his lady or either of her overprotective brothers in the crowd. So he made his way through the throng towards his friend’s box. As luck would have it, Heath wasn’t alone. But then he never was these days. Lady Heathfield, her sister Lady Isabel, and the lady’s husband Damien Lockwell were also in attendance. Lockwell’s lips twitched when he spotted Jason.

“
Heard your Season has been far from dull,” Lockwell murmured in way of greeting.

Jason shrugged. “I heard the same about your Christmas.” In fact both Lockwell and Heath had somehow managed to get themselves leg-shackled on the very same trip to Yorkshire. Who knew traveling north was just a dangerous activity? They ought to post signs outside the county warning bachelors away.

“
Care to join us this evening?” Heath asked, gesturing to one of two open seats in their box.

And forgo an evening entertaining Pippa Casemore? Jason snorted. “Do I want to endure two couples, newly wed? I’d rather
enjoy
my meal, but thank you anyway.” Then he flashed a grin at his friends’ wives. “No offense, my ladies.”

“
After you single-handedly saw to the success of my ball, Lord St. Austell,” Lady Heathfield gushed, “I think it would be nearly impossible for me to take offense at anything you could say.”

Her husband chuckled. “Don’t challenge him, love. Or he’ll spend the rest of the evening trying to decide the most offensive thing he
could
say just to prove you wrong.”

“
I am quite contrary,” Jason agreed good-naturedly, belying his words, which only made the ladies laugh. Then he tipped his head to Heath and Lockwell. “Do have a delightful evening, gentlemen, I shall endeavor to do so myself.”

“
Ah, a planned assignation, then?” Lockwell asked in
sotto voce
.

“
Is there any other kind?” Jason returned.

“
Anyone we know?” Heath prodded, looking as though he already knew the answer. “A certain young debutant, perhaps? One who hides in copses in the park?”

“
Heath,” his wife gently chastised.

But Jason refused to be baited by his friend. So he inclined his head in farewell, then started back for the main path, hoping to catch a glimpse of Pippa somewhere in the crowd. She did
say she was to attend Vauxhall
tonight
, didn’t she? He certainly didn’t want to waste his time here otherwise.

Vauxhall Gardens and Lord Colebrooke! Alacrity bubbled just beneath Pippa’s skin. This could possibly be the best evening of her life.

She fidgeted on the bench, watching Mayfair pass by the coach window as she, her brothers, and Georgie headed towards Whitehall. Would her elusive viscount truly be there like he promised? Would the fireworks be all she’d imagined?

“
Do sit still,” Harry complained from the opposite bench.

“
I’m just excited,” Pippa replied.

“
You don’t say?” Berks muttered, his brow raised in question.

Well, of course they weren’t excited. They had seen all Vauxhall had to offer many times over. But this… This was her very first time, and she couldn’t wait to explore the gardens, see the people, hear the musicians.

Georgie linked her arm though Pippa’s as though to show her solidarity. “I’m sure we will all have a delightful time.”

“
Just not too delightful,” Harry grumbled. Really what was with his grumbling lately? Berks was much more predisposed to grumbling than Harry was.

Or maybe it was Pippa’s perception. Perhaps it was just her nerves getting the best of her as they got closer and closer to their destination. She tried to calm her anxious heart, and might have been successful if the carriage hadn’t slowed and then come to a complete stop.

Elation and trepidation mixed together in Pippa’s belly as the coachman opened the door and Harry bounded from the conveyance. Heavens, she was almost there!

From the opposite bench, Berks put his hand on Pippa’s knee. “Stay here just a moment, will you?”

Harry poked his head back in the coach and offered his hand to Georgie, who readily accepted it. “My lady.”

The door gently closed, and then Pippa was left staring at her oldest brother. “What’s wrong, Berks?”

He frowned and rubbed his chin the way he’d always done when something worried him. “Harry said some fellow called on you this afternoon.”

“
Lord Colebrooke,” she said, smiling as she did so.

“
That name means nothing to me.” Berks heaved a sigh. “Pippa—” his frown deepened, “—I’m not sure what’s happening in Town this year, the plethora of proper ladies’ names in that blasted betting book, but I don’t like it.”

Pippa wasn’t terribly happy about it either. She squeezed her brother’s hand. “I am sorry, Berks. I truly I am. If I hadn’t taken a sip from Albie’s flask—”

“
I don’t care about Potsdon,” Berks grumbled. “I care about
you
and your name. And…” He paused for so long, she wasn’t sure if he was going to continue, but then he sat forwards on his bench, his knees bumping hers. “I’m a man, Pippa. I know the thoughts men have, and I don’t want them having those thoughts about you.”

She couldn’t imagine what she could possibly say to relieve his worry. He’d taken such good care of her for so many years, but she wasn’t a child anymore. She smiled at him, leaned across the coach, and kissed his cheek. “I love you, Berks.”

“
Just be careful out there,” he warned. “All men are wolves no matter how charming they may seem or how well they present themselves.”

Pippa couldn’t hide her grin. “
All
men?” she asked. “Even you and Harry?”

“
Especially Harry.” He finally grinned back. “And this Colebrooke fellow is probably the worst of the bunch.”

“
You don’t even know him.” Honestly, how could her brother say such a thing?

“
I know he’s a man. And I know he called on you. That’s all I need to know.”

If that was all the criteria Berks needed, there was no man in all of England he would ever approve of. “At least reserve your judgment on him until after you meet him.”

Berks lifted one brow in question. “And if I find him lacking then?”

“
You won’t.” Pippa shook her head then glanced towards the still closed door “We shouldn’t make Harry and Georgie wait any longer.”

Berks agreed with a nod. “Just remember what I said.”

“
I will,” she promised.

Berks opened the door, climbed outside, then offered his hand to Pippa. She stepped out onto the cobblestones near Whitehall and turned her attention south, across the Thames towards the Surrey bank. Vauxhall Gardens was just a short ferry ride across the river. And she couldn’t shake the thought that her future was waiting on the other side.

Jason spotted Pippa before she even entered the grove. Adorned in a cheerful yellow, the moonlight gave her an ethereal glow, almost like an angel come down to earth. He caught himself smiling like a dolt and stepped into the shadows along the path. After all, it wouldn’t do for Berkswell or Harrison Casemore to catch sight of him. The entire night would be for naught in that case.

He pulled a black domino from his jacket and slid it on, and for a brief moment thought of himself as Romeo invading a Capulet celebration in disguise. But only for a brief moment. Romeo, indeed! Entertaining such ludicrous thoughts made him question his own sanity. Besides, that particular play was fraught with one melodramatic or maudlin scene after another. A true tragedy was having to endure a performance of the damn play.

Pippa’s laugh, as she stepped into the grove, drew Jason’s gaze back towards the entrance of the gardens. The hulking Harrison Casemore escorted a pretty blonde. Behind them, Pippa held Berkswell’s arm, her curious gaze darted around the grove as though she wanted to take in and memorize her surroundings.

There was something so pure, so simple about her, Jason couldn’t help but study her. So pretty, so genuine, so… innocent.

Protectively, Berkswell tugged Pippa closer to him, and he placed his hand over hers on his arm. Jason frowned. He knew, of course, that neither brother would let her come to Vauxhall unattended, but the determined expressions on both men’s faces did not bode well for Jason’s plan to draw Pippa into the darkness.

“
Berkswell!” called some fellow further along the path.

Jason glanced in the man’s direction to find Lord Eckley pushing his way through the revelers. What did Liverpool’s toady want with Berkswell?

“
Eckley,” Berkswell returned. “How nice to see you.” Though the marquess’s clipped tone made Jason doubt his sincerity.