Page 41 of Presenting Miss Letitia (Once a Wallflower 1)

“No. A carriage accident when I was seven. My father’s older brother, Sylvester, Baron Bromley, is a widower and suffers ill health, so I was sent to Uncle Alford, Father’s younger brother. He’s the vicar of Hawkshead.”

He raised his eyebrows. “You were brought up by a vicar?”

“Do you find that surprising?

“He doesn’t seem to have eradicated your adventurous spirit.”

“It wasn’t for lack of trying,” she said, looking a little shamefaced. “I suspect I’ve inherited my great-great-aunt’s sense of adventure. Lydia kept diaries in which she describes her incredible life in Africa, and her adventure on the high seas.”

“The high seas?”

“Yes, she met a pirate and traveled with him on his ship.”

“Remarkable!” Brandon’s gaze lingered on her mouth, her lips curling up as she spoke of this adventurous great aunt. He would like to hear more of the story if only to enjoy her telling of it.

“Oh, she was, indeed, most remarkable,” Letty said. “Her father was a botanist and a scientist.” She yawned. “Geoffrey is always accusing me of being like her.”

“Who is Geoffrey?”

“Geoffrey Verney is the squire’s son. He taught me to ride.”

There was a smudge on her cheek, her hair hung down in disarray, but a keen light still shone in her eyes. Luminous brown eyes a man could drown in. He shook his head with a slight grin. “And will you now settle down in Cumbria with a quiet, reliable husband? This Geoffrey, perhaps?”

A frown creased her smooth forehead. “No, Geoffrey is a friend.” Letty put a hand to her mouth to hide another yawn. She looked nothing like the gently-reared niece of a vicar in that soiled gown. Would she return home and marry this friend of hers, Geoffrey? Certainly possible, despite her denial, but he found the idea not to his liking. “Perhaps a nap?”

“Yes.” She nodded sleepily and settled back on the carriage seat opposite, tucking her legs up.

He stripped off his coat and covered her with it, then sat back and watched her, slightly amused at her abandoning any attempt at decorum, but also very much stirred and flattered by the trust she showed in him. Her disarray seemed to emphasize rather than diminish her fresh, youthful innocence. He would see her home, and once she’d moved out from under Lady Arietta’s roof, that would be the end of their association. He found this very unappealing.

Two hours later, the streets of London appeared under a darkening sky. “Letty?” he said quietly. He leaned over and gently shook her shoulder.

She stirred and sat up. “Oh! Have we arrived?”

“We are just entering Mayfair.”

“I’ve come to a decision about what we discussed, Brandon,” she said, her hands busy at her hair. “I will stay with Arietta for the time being. Surely it’s better I should try to find out what lies behind her curious behavior.” She rushed on before he could interrupt. “Kendall might have been a French spy, but it doesn’t mean that she is.”

He frowned. “Either way, I don’t want you living with her. It’s not safe, Letty.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. Arietta would never hurt me.”

“She hasn’t cared too much for your safety until now, has she?”

“That isn’t fair. It would never occur to her that I could be snatched away from a ball by a gang of murderers, now would it?” She scowled at him. “I suppose you’d prefer me to return to Cumbria?”

“Far be it from me to suggest you leave before your Season ends, but if there’s no one suitable to chaperone you, it would be wise.” He brushed away his own selfish motives, not having to worry about her, as well as removing her from the lure she held for him. Letty had got too far under his skin for his liking.

“Well, I appreciate your advice.” She stiffened her shoulders. “But I shall decide what’s best for me.”

Frustrated, he frowned at her. “Well, don’t say I didn’t warn you!”

She shrugged and glanced away. “I shan’t bother you again, have no fear.”

“Letty, if you have need of me…”

She firmed her lips but said nothing.

He had made a hash of it and now it was too late. The carriage had pulled up outside Arietta’s townhouse.

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