The Frog Earl (14 page)

Throwing discretion to the winds, he reached down and helped her scramble up onto the worn gray wood. For a moment she was kneeling clasped to his chest, her eyes a few inches from his. He read apprehension in their dark depths, remembered his demand for a kiss, cursed himself silently as he released her and grabbed his coat.

“There's something down my bodice, wriggling about.”

Simon closed his eyes as Mimi, wriggling like whatever it was she had caught, plunged her hand down the front of her dress. He couldn't decide whether to pray that she would manage to get it out, or that she would need help.

“I have it. A tadpole, wouldn't you know it? Poor little thing. Back you go into the water.”

He opened his eyes. She was smiling uncertainly at something behind him. Glancing back he saw that Baird was standing there, imperturbable, with Lady Thompson's paisley wool shawl spread between outstretched hands, shielding them from view. The butler's gaze was fixed discreetly on the middle distance.

“Her ladyship sleeps on, sir,” he reported.

Mimi giggled, shivering. Simon quickly helped her into his coat and buttoned it. As they stood up, Baird handed over the shawl and turned his back. Somehow Simon managed to tie the shawl about Mimi's waist as a skirt without yielding to the temptation to run his hands down her slim hips. He, too, was shivering now, not only from the cold. He pulled on his boots over dripping breeches. This was becoming a habit!

“Come on.” He took her hand. “The sooner we get you home the better.”

“I venture to suggest, sir, that Mere House is a trifle closer than Salters Hall.”

“Good thinking, Baird. Come with us and make us each one of your hot lemon-and-honey concoctions.”

Though Colonel Lassiter had dispersed the crowd, Simon was very much aware as they hurried to Lady Thompson's landau that everyone was watching. His exasperation with Mimi's idiotic solo voyage returned. Why was the silly chit so determined to ignore the proprieties, not to mention her own safety?

With a groom and Baird perched up in front, it was impossible to ask her on the short drive, and the moment they set foot in Mere House Lady Thompson's housekeeper swept her away. Grumpily, Simon submitted to Henry's scolding ministrations.

* * * *

  Back at the mere, Lady Thompson awoke feeling chilly. Lady Marbury informed her with great relish that her butler had appropriated her shawl, and regaled her with the story of Miss Lassiter's scandalous misdeeds.

On the bridge, Albert Pell hooked a floating cushion. The blue cover burst as he disentangled it from his line, filling the air with feathers that drifted gently down to bob on the water's surface. A huge pike rose to investigate. It gave the angler a knowing look, and with a flick of its powerful tail shot away.

Albert Pell swore loud and long.

Chapter 12

“It would appear, my lord,” said Baird, taking Gerald's hat and gloves, “that young Knowles, a cautious sort of chap where his own skin is concerned, failed to determine whether the craft was capable of supporting the weight of a person. If it floats, it floats, he reckoned.”

“Thank you, Baird. I shall speak to Knowles. Is my cousin come down yet?”

“In the drawing room, my lord. Her ladyship is above stairs with Miss Lassiter.”

“Poor Aunt Georgina. A dramatic end to her picnic!” He suddenly grinned at the butler. “I understand you were of material assistance to Simon?”

“I did my poor best, my lord.” He bowed as a gold coin changed hands. “Perhaps you might suggest to Mr. Hurst, my lord, that if he intends to make a habit of swimming in the mere, he might enjoy it more if he dressed more suitably.”

“Henry's having fits, is he? Gad, I wish I had seen it,” said Gerald, and headed for the drawing room.

As he entered the room, Simon saluted him with his glass of hot lemon-and-honey-and-rum. “Splendid fellow, Baird,” he observed.

“He seems to think you would enjoy swimming more if you did not always go in fully clothed.”

“So he has already told me. There's nothing mealymouthed about the man. I'll try to remember next time.”

“I regret having missed the drama.” Gerald sighed.

“You're jealous, coz, because you would have been quite useless as a rescuer.”

“On the contrary, I can swim quite as well as you.”

“Better, but it would have taken you half an hour to remove your coat and boots!”

“True, alas. It is a lowering reflection that all I am fit for is rescuing little girls from trees.”

“Is that what you've been doing all this time? You don't look like it.”

Gerald glanced down with a modicum of satisfaction at his still impeccable attire. “Miss Sally Cooper was halfway up a silver birch when she realized she had overestimated her climbing ability,” he explained. “A charming family, the Coopers. Do I dare inquire as to why the indomitable Miss Lassiter took the boat out alone?”

“Damned if I know,” said Simon.

* * * *

“But Mimi, I do not understand why you went rowing alone yesterday,” said Harriet.

“I saw you coming, and I thought that if I was not with you Simon's attention would be concentrated on you. How was I to guess he'd follow me?”

“How very fortunate that he did!”

“Fustian! He didn't rescue me, I swam to shore by myself.” Her indignation revived. “And then he made me stay dangling in the water for ages. I nearly froze!”

Mimi shivered at the memory of his arms about her, pressing her to his chest. His sea-colored eyes, so close to hers, had flooded her with a swift tide of warmth that as swiftly ebbed, leaving her heart fluttering in tremulous agitation.

“I think I achieved my purpose,” she said uncertainly. “He didn't say a word all the way to Mere House.”

“Whyever not?”

“He was angry with me. Because he got wet again, I suppose. I don't want to dance with him at the assembly!”

“It would be shockingly discourteous to refuse him if he asks,” Harriet pointed out. “Unless, of course, your card is already full.”

“That's a stupid rule. Why should I have to dance with someone... Unless my card is full? That's it. I shall make sure I'm engaged beforehand for every dance.”

As the day of the Chester assembly approached, Mimi began to feel panic-stricken. If Simon won his dance, he'd have two out of three of the rewards she had foolishly promised, and what was to stop him from taking the third?

Being Mimi, however, she was not about to tamely await his triumph. When Mr. Blake called at Salters Hall with some legal papers for the colonel, she exerted all her charm.

“I am sadly nervous about the assembly,” she told him, her black eyes wide and wistful. “As you know, we came to Cheshire too late to attend last year. Suppose no one asks me to stand up? How horrid to be a wallflower!”

“Ahem. There is small chance of that, I vow, Miss Lassiter. However, if it will ease your mind, allow me to engage you in advance for a country dance.”

“Oh sir, that is excessively kind of you.” She batted her eyelashes.

“And a quadrille?” In his excitement at this unwonted encouragement, the lawyer forgot his usual cautious cough before he spoke. “I trust you know the rules of the quadrille, ma'am?” He laughed dryly to show he was joking.”

“Certainly, but I shall ask Mrs. Forbes to remind me once more of the figures. I know how important rules are to you, sir.”

Similar tactics met with similar success when Sir Wilfred, Albert Pell, and the Reverend Lloyd came to call. Still more satisfactory was that each gentleman in turn then called at the vicarage and asked Harriet to stand up with him.

“It's a sort of insurance, I wager,” Mimi told her friend as they waited for Jacko to open the gate to the paddock. “In case I do anything shocking, they hope to retrieve their dignities by dancing with someone utterly respectable. Can you come up to the hall tomorrow afternoon? Asota should have finished making your gown by then.”

“Mimi, I told you I cannot accept...”

“Fustian. Your mama has nobly offered to chaperon me, since Mrs. Forbes doesn't wish to go. Besides, I mean to look my best and how vain I shall appear if my best friend is less finely dressed. Think how everyone will stare when we enter the ballroom arm in arm.”

Harriet smiled. “Your arguments are most convincing. How can I possibly risk making you appear vain? Yes, I can come to the hall tomorrow.”

“Good. Sophia is going to regret wearing insipid pink. Thank you, Jacko.”

The groom grinned at her as they rode through into the paddock.

“Are you engaged for every set already?” Harriet asked. “I have two or three left.”

“That's all right—you do want to dance with Simon, and you must keep one free in case you meet an eligible stranger as Maria did. Papa wants my first dance, and I'm sure he will take the last one if necessary. Now I'd like to see how my tadpoles are doing, if you don't mind waiting a moment.”

She rode to the pond and dismounted, letting Deva Lal wander off to crop the grass with a nearby pair of horses. After a week of fine weather, the ground was firm even right on the bank. The little willow had put forth leaves of tender green; the rushes she and Simon planted had flourished, and the yellow flags were in full bloom. He had seemed so easygoing then. What a pity he had turned out to be so dictatorial, she thought.

The train of her habit over her arm, Mimi crouched and peered into the water. “They are growing fat,” she called to Harriet. “Near as big as the ones in the casserole. I believe they will soon start to grow legs.”

“Ugh!” said Harriet.

“Here come my lord Litton, miss,” Jacko announced.

Turning her head, Mimi saw the viscount and his mount sail over the gate. He rode with the same easy mastery he brought to everything he did. As he cantered toward them, she eyed him speculatively.

She had not intended to attempt to wheedle him into requesting a dance. He had by far too knowing a look to be taken in by the stratagem she had used on the others. But she was afraid Simon would never believe that her father would not give up a dance to him. Standing up, she returned the viscount's greeting. At least she could introduce the subject of the ball and see where it led.

“Good day, my lord. We are on our way to Mere House to see Lady Thompson. She has offered to lend Harriet a fan for the assembly.”

Harriet looked at her in astonishment and swallowed a protest. It was the first she'd heard of borrowing a fan. “Her ladyship is most kind,” she murmured.

“My aunt is a generous soul. Are you looking forward to the ball?”

“Oh yes,” said Harriet.

“Especially as both our cards are nearly full already,” Mimi added. “It is a great occasion for us, though I daresay a country assembly means nothing to you, accustomed as you are to frequenting the grand affairs in London.” There, she had cornered him. He could scarcely agree without appearing odiously conceited.

He cast a mocking glance at her, and she knew he had seen through her ploy. However, he turned back to Harriet and said, “On the contrary, I was greatly looking forward to the assembly, until I heard the alarming news that your card is all but full, Miss Cooper. Dare I hope that you will promise me a dance before it is too late?”

Harriet blushed. “I shall be most happy to do so, my lord.” Perhaps her hands tightened on the reins, for Shridatta sidled nervously. At once Lord Litton leaned down from his saddle and seized the mare's reins. Harriet's color deepened. “Thank you, sir.”

He smiled at her. “I believe I was too hasty. You are too good a horsewoman to lose control.”

“Shridatta is a true lady,” said Harriet, bowing her head and stroking her mount's neck soothingly.

“Like her rider.”

Mimi was worried. When he chose, Lord Litton could be as charming as he was handsome, but she wished he would not choose to exercise his charm on Harriet. If Harriet were to fall in love with him, it could only lead to heartbreak.

“Deva Lal is very biddable too,” she said, to attract his attention. She looked around, to find that her mare had wandered off to the far side of the field. “Oh drat! I wish I had taught her to come when she's called.”

“As biddable as her rider,” said his lordship, laughing. “Shall I fetch her for you, Miss Lassiter?”

“I'll go, m'lord,” Jacko offered. “She'm a mite headstrong at times. Likely she'll try to dodge your lordship, being as she don't know you.” He and Brownie went after her.

“A mite headstrong, eh?” The viscount was doing a poor job of repressing his mirth.

Hands on hips, Mimi glared up at him. If it weren't for the necessity of avoiding Simon, she wouldn't dance with Lord Litton if he were the last man on earth. Of course, he hadn't asked her yet.

Before she could decide whether to give him a set-down or try a little cajolery, he had once more turned to Harriet. He told her he was on his way to see the vicar about a Mere House tenant whose wife was ill.

“Aunt Georgina has seen to it that the family has all the creature comforts,” he said, “but I am hoping that Mr. Cooper will be able to suggest some village woman who could go in to help them.”

Harriet knew just the right person, directed him to her cottage, and offered to check on his tenant daily to see that all went well.

“She is a parishioner, so it is one of the duties of a vicar's daughter,” she assured him.

“Or of a landlord's...” His words were lost as Jacko trotted up leading Deva Lal.

Lord Litton at once dismounted to lift Mimi into the saddle, then mounted again and took his leave. He started toward Salters Green and they turned toward Mere House.

“Oh, by the way, Miss Lassiter,” he called after them, “I trust you too have a dance to spare for me?”

“Better than that, my lord; I shall be most happy to spare you two.” Mimi rode on, grinning, before he could answer. Revenge was sweet.

“But you said you only had one free,” Harriet pointed out, shaking her head at her friend's boldness.

“Mr. Blake will have to give up his quadrille. I never told him I'd dance it with him, only that I knew the figures—the rules as he called them. I'm surprised he didn't call them laws.”