Page 12 of To Tempt a Scandalous Lord
Taking advantage of the lull, Niall turned to Lady Lindsay and asked softly, “Will you be attending the Talbot ball?”
“I will be.” Her brown eyes focused on his. “I assume you’ll be there, as well.”
Niall dipped his head. “Would you be so kind as to share your supper waltz with me?”
Her lips fell open for just a moment before she snapped them closed. Pink bloomed on her cheeks again. “I would be honored, my lord.”
Biting back a smile, Niall gulped a mouthful of port. His political campaign would always come first, but an innocent flirtation with a shrewd, lovely widow wouldn’t hurt too much.
Chapter Four
“Am I being too…harsh?”
Effia Assan—close confidant and sharp-eyed editor—made a sound Alicia would describe as noncommittal, but didn’t push to confirm this. She would speak her mind soon enough. She always did.
From the time she met Effia at a salon hosted by a women’s charitable organization, Alicia had come to depend upon her clever wit and bluntness. The group had met at least once a week to discuss the issues pertaining to the welfare of children, an issue they both held dear. Yet only Effia had been vocal about possible solutions, gaining Alicia’s admiration.
When Alicia had inadvertently revealed she penned political rants to amuse herself, Effia had asked to read one. Alicia had brought her an essay she’d written about the failure of Parliament to pass a Jewish emancipation bill. Effia had laughed heartily over her stinging critique, and revealed she worked for a publisher interested in placing the writings of women in periodicals and opinion chapbooks. All anonymous, of course. And she thought Alicia’s essays would be of particular interest.
Thrilled at the chance to share her thoughts about the workings of Parliament with a larger audience, Alicia readily accepted Effia’s offer, and they had been working together to fine-tune her critiques ever since.
Which was why Alicia slowly counted every excruciating minute until Effia lowered the pages and speared her with a midnight-dark gaze.
“No, you’re not being harsh, but I do believe you like the marquess and are uncomfortable criticizing him.”
“Well, it doesn’t seem like there’s a lot to criticize.” Alicia bit her tongue to keep from saying more.
Such a pronouncement did not go unnoticed, though.
“Come now, Alicia,” Effia said, clicking her tongue. “I’m surprised you would be influenced by a handsome face.”
Alicia plucked at her skirts. “You think the marquess is handsome?”
“I have a pulse.” Effia snorted. “I find his proper, stoic, gentlemanly ways appealing, and if the broadsheets are to be believed, so does half theton. Tell me, does he have a charming brogue?”
She shouldn’t encourage the woman, but Alicia couldn’t help but say, “It’s like butter on a warm scone.”
Effia chuckled. “I think your criticisms of Lord Inverray are fair, especially when weighed against your praise. Yet even in your writing, it’s apparent that lately you are hesitant to criticize him or his voting record.”
That would not do. Alicia might respect the marquess, and possibly evenlikehim, but she still had a job to do. If she ignored how much she had come to look forward to Lord Inverray’s serious voice but laughing gray eyes, or the manner in which he always considered her so intently, as if he cared about every word that came from her mouth, Alicia could readily admit his campaign had several weak spots.
He was obviously a kind man, concerned about the well-being of the working poor and children, but he didn’t make such things clear with his voting record or his campaign platform. The Whigs had just won control over Parliament, and now was the time to tap a leader to usher through the changes they began with the Reform Act. Yet Inverray seemed to be offering more of the same style of politics that prevented the country from moving forward into a new, exciting era.
Or so she had thought until he revealed a bit of his methodology at Rockhaven House.
Taking the pages from Effia’s hand, she considered her words.
She complimented the marquess’s strong support for the abolishment of slavery throughout the empire, but did not once mention his committee’s failure to present a child labor bill to Commons. And although she wrote about his public support for the failed measure for Jewish emancipation, she had not touched on his lack of movement toward another emancipation bill for not only Jewish citizens, but for other religious minorities, as well.
Now that she was better acquainted with Inverray, Alicia knew he had legitimate reasons for these lapses, but then she wasn’t supposed to be aware of his maneuvering. And it was her responsibility as a political critic to point out flaws, not excuses.
“If Inverray is tapped as Prime Minister, his government could improve livesormake them harder for citizens all over the empire. How you feel about his handsome face is not nearly as important as how you feel about his politics,” Effia said, her words hitting their mark as always.
“Perhaps I was soft on him,” Alicia murmured, her gaze skimming over the words.
“Perhaps? I’d say you definitely were.”
Rolling her eyes, Alicia conceded the point. “Whatever would I do without you to hold my feet to the fire?”
