An Unwilling Conquest Part 53

"Tomorrow, of course, things will liven up a trifle." He rubbed his hands together and looked over the a.s.sembled company.

"We'd thought to start by punting on the lake, then move on to the Treasure Hunt. Marguerite's got it all organised- to be held in the gardens, of course." He turned a perfectly innocent smile on Lucinda.

"Plenty of quiet nooks to find treasure in."

"Oh?" Lucinda endeavoured to look politely vague. "Nothing starts till after noon, of course. We generally all meet in the breakfast-par lout about then. Gives everyone a chance to catch up on their sleep, don't y'know."

Lucinda nodded, making a mental note to be on the road shortly after ten.

Quite how she was to excuse herself, and on what grounds, she did not know--but she'd think of something by tomorrow morning.

Lord Cranbourne and Lady Morcombe joined them; the conversation revolved about the expected entertainments of the next few days--the communal ones.

As for the others, those that remained unspecified, Lucinda was increasingly aware of the speculative glances cast her way, by Mr Ormesby, Lord Asterley and Lord Dewhurst in particular.

For the first time since entering Asterley Place, she began to feel truly uneasy. Not out of fear for her virtue, but from dislike of the potentially embarra.s.sing situations she might soon find herself in. Mr Ormesby and Lord Aster Icy showec~ no disposition to leave her side; to Lucinda's relief, they were both summoned by Marguerite to help pa.s.s the teacups. She grasped the opportunity to fill a vacant chair by the chaise. On its end sat a pretty woman much of an age with herself; Lucinda vaguely recalled being introduced at Almack's.

"Lady Coleby--Millicent." The woman smiled and nodded as she pa.s.sed a teacup.

"Always a pleasure to welcome another to our circle."

Lucinda's answering smile was a trifle weak. She hid it behind her cup. She was beginning to wonder if she should have braved the fuss and left three hours ago. "Have you made your choice yet?" Over the rim of her cup, Lady Coleby raised a questioning brow. Lucinda blinked.

"Choice?"

Her ladys.h.i.+p gestured about her.

"From amongst the gentlemen."

Lucinda looked blank "Oh--I forgot. You're new." Lady Coleby lowered her cup and leaned closer.

"It's all very simple. One just decides which of the gentlemen one likes the best--one, two or more if your taste runs that way--then one lets them know--discreetly, of course. You don't need to do anything more; it's all miraculously well-organised."

Faced with an unwaveringly enquiring gaze, Lucinda swallowed a mouthful of tea.

"Ah--I'm not sure."

"Well, don't leave it too long or the best will be taken."

Lady Coleby touched Lucinda's sleeve.

"I'm after Harry Lester, myself," she confided, nodding to where Harry stood on the opposite side of the room.

"He's not attended in an age--not since I've been coming anyway, which is more than a year. But all that excessive elegance, all that lethal grace--'

Lady Coleby broke off with a delicate s.h.i.+ver.

"Deep waters hold dangerous currents, so they say." Her gaze fixed on Harry, she took a sip of her tea.

"I never would have believed brash, impetuous Harry would turn out like that.

It just goes to show. He's nothing like the fresh-faced young gentleman who offered for me all those years ago."

Lucinda froze. Then, slowly, she set her cup back on her saucer.

"He offered for you?"

"Oh, yes! Not officially--it never came to that. Ten and more years ago it was." Her ladys.h.i.+p affected a dewy-eyed look, then giggled.

"He was most terribly enamoured--well, you know how young men can be."

She waved her hand.

"Utterly over the moon. Wild, impa.s.sioned declarations--it was all so thrilling for he was very handsome, even then."

Lucinda studied Lady Coleby's face as her ladYs.h.i.+p studied Harry, engaged in a discussion with a Mr Harding.

"But you didn't accept him?"

"Heavens, no! Poor as church mice, the Lesters. Or they were. Mind you..." a speculative glint lit her ladys.h.i.+p's brown eyes 'now that Coleby's dead and gone and the Lesters have suffered a windfall--' Lady Coleby broke off to state,

"Positively enormous, my dear, so I've heard. Well--' she turned back to survey Harry, antic.i.p.ation lighting her face '--I really do believe I should renew old acquaintances."

At that moment, Harry and Mr Harding parted. Harry directed a piercing glance across the room.

Her ladys.h.i.+p smiled delightedly and rose, laying aside her teacup.

"And it appears there'll be no better time.

Do excuse me, my dear. "

Lucinda forced herself to incline her head. Picking up 181 both cups, she carried them to where Marguerite sat by the tea trolley, all the while keeping her gaze firmly fixed on her hostess.

Harry's gaze was fixed on her. He hesitated, frowning, his lips set in a firm line. No gentlemen had pressed her; none had displayed any proprietary interest. Three, if not four, were seriously enamoured; another few were watching closely. But none seemed to consider they had first claim--they were all vying for her favours as if she had swarmed into their orbit on her own account. Which left him with the puzzle unsolved. With an inward grimace, he put it aside until the morning. He was about to cross the room, to head off what he knew would be an embarra.s.sing and confusing confrontation, when he felt a touch on his sleeve.

"Harry!" Millicent, Lady Coleby, uttered the word on a long breathy exhalation. She opened wide brown eyes at him, her delicately tinted cheeks aglow. Briefly, Harry nodded.

"Millie." His head rose again as he looked for Lucinda; she was still chatting to Marguerite.

"Dear Harry." Engrossed in artlessly studying his cravat, Millie didn't notice his interest was elsewhere.

"I've always carried a torch for you--you do know that, don't you? I had to marry Coleby--you must see that.

You're so much older now--you understand the ways of our world. "

Millie let a knowing smile curve her lips.

"I've heard you understand the ways very well, Harry. Perhaps we might travel a few avenues together tonight?"

Millie glanced up--just as Lucinda nodded to Marguerite and headed for the door. Harry, about to move, was forced to focus on Millie, standing directly in front of him.

"Excuse me, Millie. I've business elsewhere." With that, he nodded and sidestepped, then halted, his gaze on Lucinda--and the three gentlemen who had intercepted her. Concentrating, he could just make out their words.