Page 42 of Wickedly Yours
“I read the papers, my lord. And I am the patroness for an endless list of charities all of which attempt to provide for those who have fallen on hard times.”
“The rapid growth of factories has indeed created a crisis. But factories are irrelevant unless they can bring their goods to market. There must be ample and efficient transportation.” He slowed the horses to a sedate walk.
“I read a piece in one of Nick’s journal’s just the other day concerning the need to modernize ships for transatlantic voyages.” Arabella found such topics fascinating. “Steam engines dramatically reduce the length of the crossing. My brother will have to modernize our fleet. If our ships make crossings faster, we can double in some cases, our import load.” Arabella shot Rowan a look. “But you aren’t necessarily speaking of my brother’s ships, are you?”
Before he could answer Rowan was hailed by a passing carriage. As the vehicle pulled alongside them, a corpulent woman in mauve silk waved a gloved hand in greeting.
The lovely ash-blonde from the opera sat next to the woman. Lady Gwendolyn. Even the dislike twisting her lips as she saw Arabella didn’t mar her golden beauty. The girl was really quite stunning, Arabella thought, with a sinking stomach. Jealously flared and simmered inside her.
“Lord Malden. How lovely to see you.” The woman twittered and clasped a hand to her chest. “The park is lovely this time of day, is it not?”
Rowan tensed but he smiled pleasantly. “Lady White, Lady Gwendolyn. May I present Lady Arabella.”
Lady White studiously ignored Arabella, barely sparing a glance in her direction.
Arabella’s eyes narrowed. The cut was rather direct. Andfoolishof Lady White, considering who Arabella was.
“How is Lady Marsh, your dear mother, faring?” The feathers atop Lady’s White’s hat flapped about as she spoke. “I’ve called but she’s not been receiving. Lady Marsh has not been herself lately, almost as if anill humoror some other unwelcomemalaisehas descended upon her.”
Lady Gwendolyn’s face remained bland, but her eyes flicked over Arabella.
Arabella took a deep breath. Well that was something new, to be compared to amalaise. What was next? She was akin to the plague? Or perhaps someone would be brave enough to insist she reminded them of the pox.
Rowan’s booted foot pressed atop the toe of her shoe, a silent request for her to hold her tongue.
“How odd, Lady White.” He said in a perplexed tone. “My mother hosted Her Grace, the Duchess of Dunbar for tea just yesterday. Perhaps our butler misunderstood the nature of your visit when you called.”
A flush stole up Lady White’s overly powdered face.
“I’m sorry to have missed you at the opera, Lady White,” Rowan continued. “However, I had the pleasure of seeing Lord White and Lady Gwendolyn in our box.”
Lady Gwendolyn preened and batted her eyes at Rowan in a blatant attempt to gain his attention.
Rowan didn’t so much as look in her direction.
Lady White gave a toothy smile recovering from his previous comment. “I was visiting my sister in Dorchester. I was devastated to miss such a lovely evening. Gwendolyn enjoyed herself immensely.” She bestowed an indulgent smile on her daughter.
“A pity to be sure.” Rowan was all smooth charm, but his eyes were hard as flint. “I was hoping to see you wear that beautiful brooch. The diamonds areexquisite. I happened upon Lord White as he purchased it. Such a masterpiece. A gift which declares completely the affections of the man purchasing it. I decided Imusthave one made exactly like it for Lady Arabella.” He raised Arabella’s hand and pressed a quick kiss to her knuckles. “I hope you don’t mind.”
Arabella blinked. Nick and Miranda had been correct. Rowan wasnotas nice as he pretended to be.
“Brooch?” Lady White stammered and blinked. Realization dawned in her eyes as she gave Rowan a brittle smile. “Why, of course.”
Rowan continued to smile at Lady White, almost daring her to admit she’d received no brooch and the piece of jewelry had likely gone to Lord White’s mistress. Arabella herself couldn’t have given a better set down.
Lady Gwendolyn looked as if she wished to climb beneath the seat of their carriage. She stopped her mooning over Rowan and pretended to study a loose thread on her glove.
“Oh. Yes.” She pretended to recall the brooch. “A beautiful piece, isn’t it? Lord White does like to indulge in such tokens,” Lady White bit out, clearly horrified. “We must be on our way, my lord. Please give my regards to Lady Marsh.” She spared an ugly look at Arabella.
Rowan dipped his head. “Lady White, Lady Gwendolyn. He snapped the reins and the carriage moved forward.
After a moment, Arabella said, “Apparently I am not the only one who knows how to fling about an insult.” Her heart ached in a pleasant way at his defense of her. “I don’t think I deserve—”
“Probably not.”
Arabella hissed under her breath and swatted him against the shoulder with one gloved hand. He immediately grabbed her wrist and pressed a kiss to her pulse.
“Lady White insulted you while her daughter watched. I find that she did so intolerable.”
