Page 26 of One Night of Scandal
He needed to get the hell away from her before he did something incredibly foolish such as tell her what he wanted. “I’ll meet you Monday at the entrance to your mews. Nine o’clock.”
She nodded. “I’ll look forward to it.” Her cerulean eyes glowed beneath the hundreds of candles overhead.
Jack was looking forward to it too—probably more than anything he had in a long, long time.
Chapter 8
On Monday evening, Viola stepped down from the hack after Mr. Barrett and straightened her coat. He stared at her puce waistcoat. “I should have made you change.”
She smoothed a hand over her front. “Why? I love how this turned out. Yes, I know it’s the same color as my gown on Saturday, but will anyone really notice?” She didn’t wait for him to answer. “Well, if they do, it just means Mr. Tavistock shops at the same linen draper as Lady Viola Fairfax.”
Jack rolled his eyes. “Arguing with you is often an exercise in complete futility.”
“You’re learning! Excellent.” She flashed him a sardonic smile and started toward the entrance to Brooks’s.
The entry hall was grand, with white marble floors and the signature staircase climbing the right wall. She wondered what was up there while acknowledging she’d likely never find out. The fact that she was in here at all was astonishing.
As with her last visit, the sense of adventure filled her with excitement and anticipation. This was even better than that time because she wasn’t alone. Mr. Barrett made her feel…safer.
They spent the next several minutes greeting various gentlemen as they made their way to the subscription room. Mr. Barrett leaned over and whispered, “I see Pennington over in the corner. Let’s make our way in that direction.”
She nodded in response, and they started across the room. Another gentleman stopped Mr. Barrett and began speaking with him. Viola didn’t particularly want to meet someone else, especially since the man seemed rather intent on Mr. Barrett and only Mr. Barrett. Pivoting, she made to continue toward Pennington and nearly ran into someone else.
“I beg your pardon.” The Earl of Ledbury—Edmund—looked down at her, his once-familiar dark gaze tinged with apology. “I wasn’t looking where I was going, I’m afraid.”
He studied her, and her pulse raced to a frenetic pace. Was he going to recognize her? She was confident the whiskers sufficiently disguised her femininity. Although, Mr. Barrett hadn’t been fooled. She reasoned she was safe so long as she didn’t present her backside.
“It’s quite all right,” she said, lowering her voice even more than usual in her apprehension.
“Have we met before?” Edmund continued to peruse her, his eyes taking on a hint of confusion.
“Not sure we have. I’m Tavistock.”
“Ledbury,” he said. “You seem familiar, so I’m certain we must have met. I’m just trying to think of where…”
Viola’s insides were screaming with alarm. She had to get away from him!
“Good evening, Ledbury.” The smooth, sanguine tone of Mr. Barrett’s voice calmed her—at least partially. “I see you’ve met Tavistock.”
“Yes, though I’m sure we’ve met before this.” Edmund shook his head. “It doesn’t matter. Pleased to meet you, Tavistock.”
Viola inclined her head.
“Brandy, then?” Mr. Barrett asked her.
“Definitely.”
They excused themselves from Ledbury and continued on their way. Partway to Pennington, Mr. Barrett slowed. “I’m sorry I left you alone.”
“You didn’t. I walked off.” She shook her head in self-admonition. “I won’t be doing that again while we’re here.”
“He seemed to think he knew you. Have you ever met him as Tavistock?”
She shook her head. “He doesn’t come to the Wicked Duke, of course. Since Val owns it.Thatwould be awkward.”
“Do you think he recognizedyou?”
“No, but I admit I was alarmed for a moment there. All this time, I thought my disguise was so thorough. But you saw through it.” Heat rushed over her, and she feared her cheeks were scarlet. “Shall we go see Pennington?” Her voice had risen slightly out of her Tavistock range. She mentally chided herself for such foolishness.
