A Not So Respectable Gentleman?. Diane Gaston

believed in her. He’d run away without a fight, so ready to believe her father’s lies.

      The dagger twisted. He might have gained happiness. She would have been spared pain. If only he had not been so easily misled, so abominably weak.

      He straightened his spine. Never would he show such weakness again.

      The truth sliced into him. He was responsible for her suffering. If he had done the right thing two years ago, she would not be betrothed to Kellford now. By God, he vowed he’d fix that. Even though such amends would not bring back what he’d lost. What he’d foolishly tossed away.

      He slowly walked towards the supper box.

      What was it that Kellford held over Mariel’s family? The key was her father, Leo guessed. The bloody liar. What had Covendale done this time for which his daughter must pay?

      Leo would find out. He’d begin a search for the answer this very night. Judicious questions posed in certain gaming hells should yield answers. Few secrets were safe in gaming hells, where men made it their business to discover what others were hiding. Leo’s secret, his once-betrothal to Mariel, had, thankfully, never seen the light.

      Leo re-entered the supper box, where the masked and costumed guests continued to laugh and flirt and imbibe too much wine. He distinctly heard his sister Charlotte’s laugh above the others. Dear Charlotte. She’d certainly inherited their parents’ capacity for enjoyment.

      Keeping his distance lest his sister recognise him, Leo watched Mariel sidle through the crowd and pick up a glass of wine from a liveried servant carrying a tray. She made her way to the table of food and positioned herself in a nearby corner. Leo found a spot where he could keep her in view without being too obvious. She’d noticed him, though, tossing him one annoyed glance before pointedly ignoring him.

      Not more than two minutes passed before Kellford bustled his way to the food table and placed paper-thin slices of ham on his plate.

      Mariel marched up to him. ‘There you are!’ she snapped. ‘If you insist upon being my escort, you might at least have remained by my side.’

      Kellford nearly dropped his plate. ‘Miss Covendale.’ He made a curt bow. ‘I have been searching the Gardens for you.’

      She laughed. ‘Searching the Gardens? Do you think me such a fool that I would leave the party? No woman would leave the protection of her friends to venture into the Gardens alone.’

      ‘Are you saying you were not alone?’ Kellford put on an affable smile, but his voice rose. ‘Come now, you were not with another man, were you?’ This was jokingly said, but one look at Kellford’s eyes showed he was not amused.

      Mariel waved a hand dismissively. ‘Do stop talking nonsense. You know very well I remained here all the time. It was you who left the boxes. I saw you. If you do not wish my company, please have the courtesy to say so. Do not merely sneak away.’

      Clever girl. Leo smiled.

      She lifted her chin and walked away from Kellford, seeking out Charlotte, who was delighted to see her.

      Kellford was left scowling in her wake, but his posture conveyed uncertainty. Her ruse had been successful.

      But how many more times could she thwart him? Once married, Kellford would undoubtedly have no further need to charm her.

      Leo kept his eye on Mariel the rest of the night while she continued to portray an indignant, offended woman whenever Kellford came near her. It was a brilliant performance. From time to time she caught sight of Leo, but, at such times, the displeasure on her face was not play-acting.

      The next morning Mariel rose early and rang for Penny to come help her dress.

      ‘Did you enjoy yourself at Vauxhall Gardens?’ the maid asked as she pinned up Mariel’s hair.

      Mariel had had a miserable time, but there was no reason to explain that to Penny. Worse, she’d spent the night tossing and turning. Whatever sleep she’d managed had been filled with dreams of walking through the Gardens with Leo. They were lovers again. They were joyous.

      Then she would wake.

      ‘The Gardens were lovely,’ she finally managed to respond.

      ‘I’d like to go there.’ Penny sighed.

      Mariel smiled at her maid’s reflection in the mirror. ‘Do you not have a beau who would take you there?’ With Penny’s beauty, she ought to have several willing to be her escort.

      Penny blushed. ‘Oh, miss! There is no one I like that way.’

      ‘Indeed?’ Mariel was surprised. ‘None of our footmen? Or the others who work near here?’

      The girl shook her head. ‘I … I cannot like their attentions. They look at me so strangely. Like a hungry cat looks at a mouse.’

      This Mariel did not doubt. ‘Well, some day perhaps you will find a man who is to your liking.’

      Penny stilled. ‘Is Lord Kellford to your liking, miss?’

      It was an impertinent question for a servant to ask, but Penny spoke with so much concern that Mariel refused to chastise her.

      ‘No,’ she responded. ‘Lord Kellford is not to my liking at all.’

      ‘He is a bad man, is he not?’ Penny went on. ‘I heard what that other man said of him.’

      Leo, she meant. They had not spoken of that day Leo walked back into Mariel’s life.

      Mariel nodded. ‘Kellford is bad, indeed.’

      ‘Who was the man who told you about Lord Kellford?’ Penny asked, obviously emboldened by Mariel’s confidences.

      But Mariel could not explain Leo to her lady’s maid. She could not explain Leo to anyone.

      ‘Someone I once knew,’ she said, as if it was of no consequence. She quickly patted her hair. ‘Are we done here? I believe I’ll wear my blue morning dress if you would fetch it, please.’

      Penny curtsied and hurried over to the clothes press. They spoke no more of Leo.

      After Mariel finished dressing she went to the dining room to see if her father was still at breakfast. The room was empty, although the sideboard was set with food. She bit her lip, hoping her father had not gone out.