Page 71 of The Undaunted
Bramley’s arms fell to his side. “Miss Upton? My lord, I really do not think Lady Easton would approve.”
“Of course she would not,Ido not even approve! Blast it, it would be a life of chaos, precisely what I did not wish for.”
“But now you do wish for it?” Bramley said, beginning to look a little woozy.
“No, but what choice do I have?”
His valet hurried into the hall with his recently starched neckcloth. To Kingston’s never-ending credit, he set to tying the cloth with his usual skill and entirely ignoring the butler just now ranged across the door.
Kingston expertly finished the knot and Richard said, “Kingston, get Bramley off the door. Pry him off before I must do it myself. Then give him a glass of brandy so he may collect himself.”
“In a trice, my lord,” Kingston said, as if it were the most commonplace of activities.
Bramley turned out to have more spirit than would be expected. Kingston struggled with him to no avail. Richard tapped his valet on the shoulder so that he might step aside. Then, he picked Bramley up and set him down again away from the door.
Richard strode out of the house as Bramley was led away, Kingston assuring the butler that a dose of brandy would soothe his fears over murderers, footpads, and pirates.
Chapter Eighteen
Caroline had beenrelieved to be away from Mr. Landon and she did not care to ever be in his vicinity again. The dances following had been pleasant enough, but she really would rather be at home.
How funny she would think so, as it had never occurred to her that she’d rather be at home with a book than at the Regent’s ball. She had pined to come when she thought she would not, and now she’d got here and found that she pined to be away.
She was beginning to think she was a rather contrary sort of person.
Mr. Mushkell was to collect her for the fourth though she had not seen him since their introduction. Or perhaps she had, but he’d just faded into the mushroom color of the plastered walls.
He did finally appear before her and led her to her place. The dance began and though he was not the most riveting person she’d ever met, she did not mind it. His conversation was commonplace and that suited her just fine. At the moment, she did not feel she could keep up with the wit of Lord Alvanley and did not know how she would get through supper creditably. Mushy’s inquiries into how she found the weather were quite sufficient.
It was a country dance and there was ample time to stand about as they slowly made their way to the head. They finally did so and took their turn, ending up at the bottom again.
Very suddenly, Mr. Mushkell stepped out of the line and Mr. Landon stepped into it.
Amidst her confusion, she watched Mr. Mushkell hurry off with a small smile.
“What are you doing, Mr. Landon?” Caroline asked. She was furious. Lady Easton would be furious. It was outrageous and would prompt talk of there being something between them.
Mr. Landon only shrugged.
Caroline did not know what to do. Should she leave the dance, or would that cause even more talk? Would it look like some kind of lover’s quarrel?
Or should she carry on and merely look disinterested. Perhaps if she did that, Mr. Landon taking Mr. Mushkell’s place would only seem like some kind of joke coming out of Lord Alvanley’s set.
She glanced up to the gallery and saw the looks of consternation from Lady Easton and her friends, but those looks did not tell her what to do. They did not signal for her to step away. Did that mean she ought to carry on?
She neared the head of the line, then they were next. She did not feel she could step out of her place now, not with so many eyes trained in her direction.
So many eyes upon her who may not have seen the switch, but were now remembering she started with Mr. Mushkell and had already danced the first with Mr. Landon.
She wished to grab the nearest Greek vase and clobber him on the head with it.
As they went down the line, Mr. Landon leaned close and said, “Do follow my lead, Miss Upton. It is for the best.”
What did he mean?
They reached the bottom and he suddenly kissed her on the cheek and exclaimed, “I am the luckiest man alive! The lady says she will have me!”
Caroline pulled away from him in horror. While not everybody in the ballroom may have heard him, all in the vicinity had.
