Page 12 of A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Heirs

“Pockets?” Juliana asked, intrigued by the odd name.

“Along with Manny, he was one of the children Ashton rescued from that horrible man, Coodibilis. How someone could use children for their own gain is unfathomable.” Honoria shook her head. “His name fit him—despicable. And of course, we discovered Miss Fingers—that is Mena—later. All orphans, the children survived on the streets by pick-pocketing.”

Ah.The names made sense. Juliana exchanged a look with Drake. “I never realized there was so much excitement among society folk.”

Beside her, Victor chortled. “There isn’t usually. Except with this lot.” He waved a hand toward where Priscilla and Dr. Marbry chatted with the Duke and Duchess of Ashton.

“Speaking of excitement, how are Lady Charlotte and Mr. Beckham getting along?” Bea asked. “Laurence and I saw them right after that reprehensible report inThe Muckraker.”

“Did I hear something aboutThe Muckraker?” Felix Davies said, appearing as if from thin air. The man was attractive, older than Victor, perhaps in his mid-thirties, if Juliana had to guess. His gaze raked over her, and his sharp, light-brown eyes reminded her of a cat ready to pounce. “Miss Merrick. You look lovely this evening. Recovered from that unfortunate incident during your come-out?”

The reminder stung, but Juliana remained calm. Let him think her obtuse.

Both Drake and Victor took a step closer, almost flanking her on either side. Victor glared at Lord Felix. “Bad form to mention that, Davies.”

Although she expected Drake to rush to her defense, elation tingled through her at Victor’s response.

Bea squinted through her spectacles. “I don’t recall inviting you, Lord Felix.”

Juliana suppressed a smile behind her lemonade. If Bea hadn’t already won Juliana over with her kindness, her blunt response to Lord Felix’s rude remark certainly did.

Lord Felix threw a hand over his heart as if the barb physically wounded him. “Middlebury warned me of your sharp tongue, Lady Montgomery. Luckily, I have thick skin.” He waved a dismissive hand. “Miss Whyte invited me to join her and her family to hear her perform.”

Victor gave a soft snort. “And yet, you’re here at the refreshment table instead of in your seat, enraptured by her melodic rendition of...” Victor put a hand to his ear, his brow furrowing. “Whatever that is.”

Honoria shifted by Drake’s side, clearly uncomfortable witnessing the confrontation. She hated when people argued.

Juliana took her sister-in-law’s arm. “Do you need to sit, Honoria?”

Drake snapped to attention, his gaze darting from Lord Felix and Victor to Honoria. “Excuse us, Lady Montgomery.”

Victor removed Juliana’s empty lemonade glass from her grasp, placed it on the refreshment table, then motioned for them all to precede him back to their seats.

Lord Felix called from behind. “Off so soon? Before I asked His Grace if I may call upon you, Miss Merrick?”

“Over my dead body,” Drake muttered.

It would appear that Juliana’s desire to enjoy an uneventful night out in society was failing miserably.

Discussionof the orphan children had once again sent Victor’s thoughts reeling back to Adalyn. She and—grr—Nashhad taken Fingers—Miss Mena—under their wing and to America.

And what was Davies doing escorting Lydia? Victor swallowed a hard lump forming in his throat. Victor wasn’t jealous, but Lydia had all but made it clear she’d set her cap forhim. Or had she? Lydia’s association with Davies made Victor question his ability to decipher a woman’s interest even more. Of course, he hadn’t been a very attentive suitor, their mothers deciding the match had promise and pushing the two together more than from a mutual agreement of the couple themselves—at least on Victor’s part.

But Victor’s half-hearted courting kept his mother at bay and left him to wallow in his maudlin thoughts about Adalyn.

Victor reseated himself, grateful Lydia had finished torturing everyone’s ears. Perhaps she had realized Victor had little interest in pursuing an attachment and decided to invest her time elsewhere.

But Felix Davies? Although Lydia was more often a ninny, more interested in the latest fashion or gossip than in anything meaningful—like art and creativity—to throw Victor over for Felix Davies was an insult equal to the cut direct.

No, Victor wasn’t jealous. He was appalled. What was Lydia thinking? Davies was a known rake and a scoundrel. Did all women prefer a scoundrel over a gentleman? Davies was almost as bad as that blackguard Nash.

Damn. Why must he think ofthatman? Thoughts of him inevitably led to Adalyn.

However, if Lydia had turned her marriage-minded machinations elsewhere, Victor would be left without a defense against his mother’s nagging.

Victor peered over at Miss Merrick, and a delightful idea popped into his head. Perhaps Cilla’s machinations had merit. It might be enjoyable to court the lovely blonde, an added benefitbeing his mother’s outrage over Miss Merrick’s common birth. That’s if he could stop thinking about Adalyn each time he looked at Miss Merrick. Oily shame squirmed in his stomach that pretending she actuallywasAdalyn would make his efforts more believable. But at what cost?

If he were honest with himself, which he tried to be, even if he didn’t always succeed, Victor admitted ladies found him attractive. Most of his flirtations were harmless, and he was careful never to compromise gently bred ladies.

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