Gerald leaned toward Alice and said quietly, “That girl you came in with—the girl in the golden gown—would I have met her somewhere?”
“I doubt it,” Alice said. The colonel’s intense regard was unsettling her. She wished he’d go away. “She’s only just come to London. Her name is Lucy Bamber, and she’s my goddaughter.”
Gerald hadn’t taken his eyes off Lucy. “Will you introduce us?”
She hesitated, recalling Almeria’s demand, but she could hardly refuse to introduce them when Gerald had specifically asked her. “Yes, of course. Lucy?” She beckoned.
Lucy turned and noticed Gerald, and her bright smile abruptly faded. For a split second Alice could have sworn there was a panicked look in her eyes, but before she could be sure of what she’d seen, Lucy was approaching with nothing more than an expression of mild inquiry.
The girlish whispering and giggling stopped. Looks were exchanged, and the small group of young ladies focused intently, like pointers scenting prey. Their mothers’ heads came up, and all conversation stopped.
Ohhh.Of course.These girls and their mothers were here for Gerald.
Feeling like a sparrow watched by a circle of cats, Alice introduced Lucy to her nephew, and he introduced her to his former colonel, Lord Tarrant. But it was clear that Gerald had eyes only for Lucy.
“Have you been in London long, Miss Bamber?” he asked.
“Not long.” Lucy plied her fan and gazed across the room, apparently uninterested.
“Have you seen many of the city sights yet?”
“Not yet.”
“Perhaps I could show you some of them—with Aunt Alice, of course, or some suitable companion.” Alice was surprised by his offer. Gerald never squired young ladies around. He couldn’t possibly be interested in Lucy, could he?
“Perhaps,” Lucy said vaguely. Her gaze wandered over the crowd.
“Are you interested in art? I’m told the Elgin Marbles are very popular.” Then, when Lucy didn’t respond, he added, “Or perhaps you prefer flowers. Kew Gardens has some remarkable specimens from all over the world.
“Mmm? Flowers? My godmother has flowers in her garden,” she said in a seen-one-flower-seen-them-all kind of voice.
Alice didn’t know whether to laugh or weep. On the one hand, she was relieved that Lucy was showing no interest in Gerald. But oh, she was being so naughty.
Gerald persisted. “Perhaps Astley’s Amphitheatre would be more to your taste. They put on some quite spectacular shows.”
Lucy gazed at something over to the right and didn’t answer.
“Miss Bamber? Did you hear me?” Gerald sounded annoyed. He was not used to young ladies ignoring him. Quite the contrary. “I asked you about Astley’s Amphitheatre.”
For a moment Lucy didn’t respond at all, then said in an awed voice, “That woman over there is wearing the largest turban I’ve ever seen in my life. I wonder how she makes it stay on.” All eyes except Gerald’s swiveled toward the lady with the enormous turban.
Gerald’s gaze didn’t shift from Lucy’s face. “You know, I have the oddest feeling that we’ve met before.”
Lucy sighed. “So many gentlemen use that line. It’s not very original.”
“No, I’m serious. I’m sure I’ve seen—”
“Have you met these ladies, Lord Thornbury?” Lucy turned and beckoned her erstwhile companions forward. They closed the gap in seconds, shoving and elbowing one another with genteel, ladylike determination.
“Thornton, it’s Lord Thornton,” Gerald began but quickly found himself surrounded by fluttering, chattering, bashful and flirtatious young ladies. Lucy slipped to the edge of the circle, looking pleased with herself, and began talking again to the two elderly gentlemen who’d been abandoned.
By sharing Gerald with her new friends, she’d made a good impression on them—and their mothers, Alice observed. It seems Lucy really wasn’t interested in lords. Not in Gerald, at least. That would please Almeria.
Only what on earth had got into her that she would behave in such an impudent and mischievous manner toward Gerald—who was, after all, the guest of honor? It verged on the insolent.
Over the bobbing heads of the eager debutantes, Gerald gave Alice and the tall colonel a hunted look.
Lord Tarrant laughed softly. “Ah, the perils of being young and eligible. Another lemonade, my lady? Or perhaps an ice?”
