Page 16 of Holly & Folly

“Oh, I am certain it would be very enjoyable, my lord.”

He bowed ironically. “You are too kind, ma’am.”

“You have persuaded me that I would benefit—perhaps enough, even, to make up for the damage it would do to your mother’s opinion of me. But what of you? Spending time with me would do you harm.”

“Again, I think you underestimate the benefits of my position.”

“Or perhaps you underestimate my reputation.”

He shifted, looking at her more intently. “What is your reputation?”

She regarded him, and he could see her considering her response. “Suffice it to say, my lord, that it is not good.”

“Capital,” he replied. “A woman with an impeccable reputation would not serve my purposes at all.”

She gave a grimacing smile. “You are very kind to make such an offer, my lord, but I fear I must refuse despite that.”

“I find you quite uncivil.”

The smile in her eyes acknowledged the echo of her own words. “How so?”

“In essence, you are telling me you would rather subject yourself to Mr. Fowell’s attentions than accept a hand of friendship from me.”

She laughed. “Is it mere friendship you are offering? I thought you were proposing courtship.”

“A friendship that others might interpret as a courtship.”

She smiled. “You are very persuasive. But I maintain my position.”

Archie sighed, leaning his elbows on his knees. “And therefore subject both of us to slow torture.”

“You are a resourceful man, Lord Dalmeer. I feel certain you will manage without my help—or my harm. There are plenty of other young women who would be happy to oblige you, I am sure.”

“Which is precisely the problem, isn’t it?” He rose to his feet. “I shan’t press you further, Miss Prescott, but I hope you will change your mind. If you do, a mere look will suffice to inform me of it.”

She nodded, though it was obvious she had no intention of changing her mind. “I think we have amassed enough greenery to do justice to the passage, don’t you? Shall we return to the house?”

Archie agreed, though his thoughts were elsewhere.

What was her reputation that she thought herself such a threat to him?

He meant to find out.

His attempts were not met with much success.

Freddie had no particulars to offer beyond some notion that it had to do with a man.

Archie asked Oliver Cole as they conversed in the drawing room before dinner too. Cole had a reputation as a determined flirt who knew all the young women. If anyone would know, it would be him.

Cole’s brow drew together. “Was she the one who shot her footman? No. I don’t think I am remembering right. That was Miss Littleview, wasn’t it?” He snapped. “Ah! She is the young woman who dressed up as a man and infiltrated White’s”—he frowned—“though I thought that was one of the Gilford twins. Hm. Prescott…Prescott…I know the name, but I cannot think why.” The corner of his mouth lifted provocatively. “I am more than happy to see what I can find out.”

Aware that this offer would likely end in Cole kissing Miss Prescott, Archie gripped the man’s shoulder. “I would rather you didn’t. I am enjoying the mystery of it. But thank you for the, uh…selfless offer.”

Archie might have asked Mother about Miss Prescott, of course, but he would not give her the pleasure—and she was sure to exaggerate whatever the truth was.

A closer observation of Miss Prescott as they waited to go in to dinner easily kept Archie’s interest, for he watched twice as guests avoided her company and another time as two of the gentlemen whispered about her.

More curious than ever, Archie took his usual place at the head of the dinner table opposite Mother but kept an eye on Miss Prescott for the duration of the meal.