The Husband Hunt (5 page)

“I suppose they would realize something was amiss did I show up in someone else’s gown,” she said agreeably, and wiggled her bottom about on his leg, apparently trying to find a more comfortable position. “I never noticed before that you had such bony legs, Robert.”

“It’s not my leg,” he muttered and then could have bit his tongue off at the admission.

“Then what is it? Have you something in your pocket?” she asked curiously, shifting about again.

“Aye,” he growled, his hands grasping her hips to hold her still. His eyes then wandered of their own accord down her body again before he could catch himself. Robert looked quickly away and gave himself a firm lecture. This was Lisa Madison who was like a little sister to him. A sweet, innocent, dreamy-eyed— Damn, when the hell had she filled out like this?

Tilting her head, Lisa eyed him curiously. “Can I see it?”

“See what?” he asked with a distracted frown, his eyes sliding back to her, but staying firmly on her face this time.

“What you have in your pocket that’s so lumpy and hard?” she explained. “What is it? Show it to me.”

Robert simply stared for the longest time, aware that his lumpy hardness was growing lumpier and harder at the very thought of showing it to her. But then he regained enough of his senses to catch her by the hips and shift her to sit on the opposite bench.

“It shan’t be long before we reach my townhouse,” he announced, desperate to change the subject. “I told the driver to use the back alley so that you wouldn’t be seen.”

“That was kind. I think,” she added with uncertainty. “Although I don’t see why I can not be seen entering your townhouse. Unless, of course, it’s because I’m a single lady. But everyone knows our families are friends and surely wouldn’t think anything of it. It is daytime, after all, and Bet will be there.”

“Lisa, Bet is already at the townhouse, so she wouldn’t be seen accompanying you,” he pointed out patiently, and then added with exasperation, “And frankly, it wouldn’t matter if it were morning, noon or night. Dressed as you are it would cause a scene should you be seen at all, let alone entering a man’s home.”

“What is wrong with the way I am dressed?” she asked with surprise.

“Your gown is see-through,” he pointed out, unable to believe she would even ask. Of course, pointing that out made his eyes wander over all that lovely revealed flesh again and he was hard pressed to stop devouring her with his eyes this time.

“Is it?” Lisa asked with what appeared to be real surprise, and then squinted down at herself rather owlishly.

Frowning, Robert asked, “Is there something wrong with your eyes?”

“Yes. No. Well, perhaps,” she said on a sigh and then admitted, “Everything has been a little blurry since the second drink Mrs. Morgan insisted I down. Things keep going in and out of focus. Mostly out of focus.” She sighed and then confessed, “The only way I recognized that it was you at the window was because your scent drifted in on the breeze when you opened it.” She heaved out a little breath and squirmed slightly on her bench seat. “You do have a very particularly lovely scent, Robert. It’s spicy and a little woodsy and really quite nice. It makes me all tingly.”

“Tingly,” Robert echoed faintly.

Lisa smiled at him beatifically and nodded. “Yes, tingly. All over. When I was sitting on your lap your smell seemed to envelop me. I liked that, Robert. Can I not sit there again?”

“No,” he growled, desperately battling the urge to say yes and pull her back there himself. “It’s not proper.”

“Oh, of course,” she said on a disappointed little sigh, and then leaned back and announced, “But Robert, I love you. Surely that makes it okay?”

“I love you too,” he muttered, struggling to keep his eyes above her neck. “You are like a little sister to me.”

Lisa scowled. “I am not your little sister.”

“You are to me,” Robert assured her, his gaze drifting downward and then quickly away. Forcing some firmness into his voice, he added, “You, Suzette and Christiana have always been like the sisters I never had.”

“Sisters,” she snapped with disgust. “I am not your sister, Robert Langley.”

“Well, that is how I see you, Lisa Madison. Like a sweet little sister.” Usually, he added silently. Dear God, there was nothing little sisterly about her just then, and neither his thoughts nor his body’s reactions were anywhere near filial in nature.

“Well I am not your little sister, Robert. In fact, there is nothing little about me anymore at all. I’m a grown woman, and if you’re too dense to see that, then perhaps it’s time I found someone more intelligent to give my love to.”

Robert’s gaze slid to her again and he quickly removed his cape and leaned forward to wrap it around her, muttering. “I wish you would.”

L
isa stiffened as the first real emotions she’d experienced since Mrs. Morgan had forced those drinks on her pierced the fog clouding her brain. And those feelings were disappointment and fury. She had loved this man forever, since she was knee high to her father, and Robert valued it about as much as an old pair of shoes thrown out on the dung heap.

“As you wish,” she said coldly, gathering his cape around herself. She then leaned to the window to glance out as the carriage slowed. “That is Richard and Christiana’s townhouse.”

“Aye,” Robert muttered, not bothering to look. “We have to pass it on the way to my place. Close the curtain, Lisa. One of the servants might look out and see you riding past.”

Lisa scowled, but just shrugged. “I may as well just go home rather than trouble you to take me to your townhouse. Send Bet home when you get there, please.”

“You are not—Lisa!” he snapped as she opened the door and leapt from the stopping vehicle. It was only when her feet hit the pavement that she realized she was barefoot. Ignoring that, she glanced to the front of the carriage to see what had made them stop. Richard and Christiana’s neighbors, the Wortheys, were returning home from an outing, their carriage blocking the road as the couple disembarked.

“Lisa!” Robert hissed from behind her, but she ignored him and hurried to the gate leading to the walk to Richard and Christiana’s front door. She heard his boots hit the pavement behind her, but didn’t glance around, merely hurrying to the door and rushing inside.

The entry was empty. Even in her still somewhat muddled state, Lisa thought that could only be a good thing. Pushing the door closed, she slipped quickly up the stairs, and then along the hall to the room she was occupying, neither slowing nor stopping until she was safely inside.

Once there, however, Lisa paused briefly to lean against the door, her eyes closing. She should want to cry. She should want to scream and throw something. She knew with some part of her brain that she really did want to, but the brief, sharp pang of fury and disappointment that had managed to pierce the numbness claiming her had already receded and become a faint memory. She couldn’t seem to feel anything again. All she seemed to want to do was lie down.

Pushing herself away from the door, she crossed the room in what she suspected was an unsteady gait and then simply collapsed on the bed.

R
obert started to follow Lisa, but stopped after just a couple of steps and waited uncertainly. If her arrival was witnessed, his presence might just cause more trouble. Hell, if Richard had returned by now and witnessed her arrival and her state of dress—or undress as the case may be—he’d come out and demand an explanation. However, if she got in without being seen, his approaching the door might draw attention to her arrival and her state.

He hesitated, unsure what to do, but after several moments passed without anyone coming out after him, Robert turned and got back in the carriage, then tapped on the wall to let his driver know to continue. He would return home and send Bet back to help her mistress. Lisa hadn’t been in the best shape and could no doubt use assistance getting out of that gauzy creation laughingly called a gown.

Then he’d take himself down to Mrs. Morgan’s and release some of the frustration now filling him by raising a little hell. By the time he finished with her, the woman wouldn’t ever again think of mixing herself up in anything like this and he’d know exactly who this “suitor” was . . . And then he’d pay that bastard a visit too.

“M
iss.”

Lisa stirred sleepily and opened one eye to peer at the woman leaning over her. Bet. Pushing the other eye open, she smiled at her a bit woozily. “Oh, good. You’re okay.”

“Aye. Thank goodness you are too,” Bet said, settling on the side of the bed with a crooked smile. “I was ever so worried until Lord Langley returned and said he’d got you safely away.”

Lisa grimaced at the name and then closed her eyes on a muttered, “Horrid man.”

“Horrid man?” Bet asked with confusion. “Did you meet the suitor then? Lord Langley said he got you out in time.”

“Not the suitor,” she growled. “Robert.”

“Oh.” There was a pause and then Bet asked uncertainly, “Did he behave inappropriately?”

“No . . . the deuced fellow was as proper as could be,” she growled with exasperation and then rolled onto her back with an unhappy sigh. “I told him I love him, Bet, but he said flat out that he thinks of me as a little sister.”

“In that gown?” Bet asked with amazement.

Lisa glanced down with disinterest. It did seem rather revealing and she suspected she should be embarrassed to be wearing it, but couldn’t seem to find the emotion within herself. In fact, she felt rather disconnected from all her emotions at the moment . . . even her exasperation and irritation with Robert were a sort of far-off sensation. As if they were standing outside of her somewhere, there but untouchable. It was really quite strange, Lisa thought, and knew she should probably be alarmed by that too, but wasn’t.

What the devil had Mrs. Morgan poured down her throat? she wondered, not for the first time, and then glanced to Bet. “Did you just get home from Robert’s?”

“Nay. I’ve been home for hours. Lord Langley said ye’d most like be needing help getting out of that getup, but when I came up here you were dead to the world so I let you sleep. But if you’re going to that ball tonight, ye need to be dressing.” She frowned uncertainly. “Are ye going to the ball?”

Lisa debated the matter briefly and almost said no, she wanted to sleep, but then reconsidered. Robert wasn’t interested. It appeared she’d wasted her love on him all these years. She was twenty-one years old now, an old maid to many, and here she’d sat on the shelf all these years in the vague hope that Robert would finally notice that she was all grown up. But frankly, if seeing her in this gown didn’t stop him from looking at her like a “little sister,” nothing would. It was time she took herself off the shelf and found a husband.

Sitting up determinedly, Lisa tossed the covers aside. “Aye. I am going to the ball. ’Tis time I found a husband, Bet, and all of the ton will be at the Landons’ season-opening ball, which means every single eligible bachelor presently in town will be there as well.”

Noting Bet’s concerned expression, she smiled and got to her feet. “Mayhap Findlay, that handsome, blond lord who asked me to dance at the Landon ball two years ago will be there again. He was very handsome and seemed to like me the last time we attended. If he’s still single, mayhap he’ll ask me to dance again.” Her mouth firmed out determinedly. “If he does, this time I shall pay him more attention and let him woo me.”

“Are ye sure?” Bet asked, looking troubled. Reaching out to steady her mistress, she added, “Lord Robert said ye’d obviously been given some sort of tincture and I don’t think it’s quite worn off yet.”

“I’m sure it will wear off by the time I’m dressed and ready to go,” Lisa said with unconcern, but wasn’t at all sure it would. She simply felt . . . well, she felt oddly invincible, untouchable . . . or maybe she just couldn’t seem to care.

Chapter Five

“R
obert, I’m surprised to see you here. I thought you intended to avoid these things like the plague this year,” Richard commented as Robert reached where he and Daniel stood enjoying a drink on the fringes of the ballroom.

“Aye,” Daniel agreed. “Thought you were happy in your bachelorhood and completely uninterested in being chased by marriage-minded maidens and their mothers.”

“Aye, I am,” Robert muttered, his eyes searching the ballroom. “Where’s Lisa?”

“Oh ho, don’t tell me you’ve finally deigned to notice she’s all grown up?” Daniel teased with amusement.

Robert shook his head with a frown. He’d certainly noticed that today, but that wasn’t why he had asked the question. After a hesitation where he briefly and silently debated just how much to reveal of that day’s escapades, he sighed and said solemnly, “I would have a word with you two gentlemen. In private.”

Richard raised his eyebrows and exchanged a glance with Daniel, but then the two men turned as one to lead him out of the ballroom. Robert hesitated before following, his gaze searching the room for Lisa again. It was only when he spotted her safely between her two sisters in a group of women at the other side of the ballroom that he relaxed and trailed the other two men.

“L
isa Madison!” Suzette said with amusement as the latest would-be suitor moved disappointedly away. “Why are you lying to all these men and claiming your dance card is full? I know darned right well that you have three dances left.

“I am saving them,” Lisa said with a shrug.

“For Robert?” Christiana asked gently.

“Not likely,” Lisa said dryly. “I wouldn’t waste another dance on him if he were the last man on earth.”

She didn’t miss the raised eyebrows of her sisters or the glance they exchanged, so wasn’t surprised when Suzette asked delicately, “Did you and Robert have a falling out we don’t know about?”

“Not at all,” Lisa assured them airily. “It’s just perfectly obvious that his feelings for me don’t reach beyond filial and I’ve decided that neither do mine. He is far too stupid a man for me. Our children would be dunces. So I am turning my attention to more likely, intelligent game.”

“Game?” Suzette asked with disbelief, patting Christiana’s back when she choked on the punch she was drinking. Mouth quirking with amusement, she asked, “Are we on a hunt, then?”

“A husband hunt,” Lisa said with a firm nod. “I am ready to find a husband, have children, and start my life.”

“Hmmm,” Christiana murmured. “So if it isn’t Robert you are saving those dances for, who is it?”

“It’s—” Lisa paused, her eyes lighting up and a smile gracing her lips as she recognized the man approaching them. Tall, fair-haired and with a winning smile that he was presently beaming on her, Charles Findlay, the man she had danced with two years ago. “Him.”

“Lord Findlay?” Suzette asked, eyeing the approaching man with interest. “You danced with him the last time we were at the Landons’ ball, did you not?”

“Aye,” Lisa whispered, her eyes skating over the man and wondering what she’d been thinking back then. Mooning after Robert when someone like Findlay was holding her in his arms. He truly was a beautiful male, with ice blond hair, strong, acquiline features, wide shoulders and slim hips. Really, he was more handsome even than Robert, she admitted with a smile. Truly, he was an Adonis. If a girl had to wake up to the same face every morning, she could do worse than to find his smiling down at her.

“Ladies,” Lord Findlay said in greeting, pausing before them and sketching a graceful bow. Straightening as they murmured in greeting, he smiled. “May I say you all look exceptionally lovely this evening?”

“You may,” Suzette said with a laugh. “We may even believe you mean it.”

Lord Findlay grinned with appreciation, and then turned his gaze to Lisa. “I arrived later than intended this evening and know there is probably no hope, but you would not have at least one dance left on your card that I might put my name to?”

“As it happens, my lord, we were a bit tardy arriving as well,” Lisa lied, retrieving her dance card. “And I believe I just happen to have a couple of dances still free.” She perused the small card as if she didn’t know exactly which dances she had open, and then asked, “Would you prefer a waltz or a quadrille?”

“Both,” he said at once, and then grinned and added, “If I may be so bold?”

Lisa ignored the narrowing of her sisters’ eyes and then said lightly, “Well, I shall put you down for the waltz. I suspect I shall be quite worn out by the time the quadrille comes around and in need of refreshment.”

“Then I shall be pleased to fetch you a beverage and take you out on the terrace for some night air during the quadrille,” he assured her with a grin, and then immediately added, “Along with your sisters, of course.”

Lisa smiled and wrote his name into her card. She then nodded and murmured appropriately as he excused himself.

“Who are you and what have you done with my sister?” Suzette asked, catching Lisa’s arm and pulling her around to face her and Christiana once the man was gone.

“What ever do you mean?” Lisa asked with feigned confusion. But she knew exactly what Suzette meant. She had handled the entire situation with an aplomb she just didn’t normally possess and suspected it was the aftereffects of the drinks Mrs. Morgan had poured down her throat. While she was no longer unsteady on her feet, she did still feel slightly disconnected from her feelings. There hadn’t been any of the usual hand sweats or fluttery nervousness that she had suffered in the past at country dances. Tonight she’d felt completely unconcerned and confident as each man approached, even with the very handsome Lord Findlay, and that was despite the fact that she’d hoped he would approach.

This unusual confidence and calm had allowed her to arrange things as she wished, however, which she was grateful for. At least one good thing had come out of today’s adventures. Well, two, she decided. If Robert was never going to love her as she loved him, it was better she accept it now than to wait on the shelf until she was too old to find a husband.

The thought made her chin lift with determination. Bollocks to Robert. He would die a lonely old man, and it would be all his own fault for turning away the one woman who could love him with all his flaws.

“You—” Suzette began, but then paused as the music started and Rotham, the first fellow on Lisa’s dance card came to claim her.

Lisa was a good dancer. Despite being a little disoriented, she managed to follow the steps with grace and ease as she was repeatedly claimed and whirled around the room by admirers. But she was on automatic, her eyes searching the ballroom for two men, Lord Findlay and Robert. She was keeping tabs on Lord Findlay to see who he danced with and who her competition was. She was searching for Robert because . . . well, out of habit, she supposed, and forced her attention back to her dance partner.

Really, she had no further interest in Robert Maitland, Lord Langley, Lisa reminded herself firmly. Besides, he obviously hadn’t bothered to come tonight. But then, why would he? When Christiana had asked Richard if Robert planned to come tonight as they’d ridden here in the Radnor carriage, her husband had laughed and said no, Robert intended to avoid being anywhere there might be husband-hunting maids and their mothers.

Well, bully for him. She didn’t need him here distracting her anyway, Lisa decided. Though, one small part of her brain wished he was here to see what a success she was. And she
was
a success. Every man who had approached her to request a place on her dance card had complimented her on her beauty, her wit and her grace. It was like balm to her shaken confidence after Robert’s “little sister” business. It seemed all men did not see her as still belonging in the schoolroom.

“My dance, I believe.”

Lisa came to a halt beside her last partner who had gallantly been leading her off the dance floor, and glanced around to flash a smile at Lord Findlay. “Yes, my lord, it is.”

“Ahh,” Lord Pembroke murmured, releasing her arm and giving a bow. “Thank you for your charming company, Miss Madison. It was a delight to dance with a lady as lovely and graceful as you.”

Lisa turned her beaming smile on Pembroke now. Dark-haired and nearly as attractive as Lord Findlay, Pembroke had been amusing and fun for most of the dance until her mind had begun to wander.

“Thank you, my lord. I enjoyed it,” she assured him.

“Then perhaps if you are attending the Hammonds’ ball tomorrow night, you would be kind enough to grant me a dance there?” he suggested hopefully.

“Most definitely, my lord. I shall look forward to it,” she said with an encouraging grin.

“As will I,” he assured her as Lord Findlay led her back onto the dance floor.

“You’ve won a heart there,” Lord Findlay said with amusement as he took her into his arms for the dance. “But then from what I have seen you have won many hearts tonight. Almost every man who has danced with you has walked away happy to have made your acquaintance.”

“Why my lord, one would think you had been watching me all night,” she teased lightly.

“I have,” he said without apology. “It’s impossible not to. You exude an air of confidence and beauty that is hard to look away from.”

Lisa blinked at the words and then laughed gaily. Her confidence was a combination of the residual effects of Mrs. Morgan’s potion and all the compliments she’d received this evening. She hadn’t realized until tonight just how Robert’s lack of return interest in her had squashed her self-esteem. She knew it hadn’t been deliberate on his part, but that had been the end result anyway—confusion and despair over the fact that he didn’t return her feelings, concern that she wasn’t pretty enough, witty enough, smart enough. But it was hard to feel that way after being showered with compliments all night by the other men in attendance. It seemed Robert was just a dullard too blind to see how lucky he was to have her affections.

“Are you enjoying your stay in London so far?” Lord Findlay asked, drawing her attention back to him.

“Well, it’s definitely been interesting,” Lisa said wryly and then to keep him from questioning how, added, “although my maid and I only arrived two days ago. It is lovely to see my sisters again and get caught up on things.”

“Aye. You don’t come to town to visit them often enough I think.” When she raised her eyebrows, wondering how he knew how often she came to town, he added, “I was most disappointed when you disappeared from town after just a couple balls the year before last. And devastated that you didn’t return last year.”

Lisa found herself chuckling at the claim. While he was offering her a sad moue, it was somewhat ruined by the twitching of his lips and the fact that his eyes were twinkling with merriment. He was obviously teasing and flirting with her. It was fun. Much more fun than mooning after a reluctant Robert.

“I hardly think a handsome fellow like you suffered for lack of company,” she said lightly.

“I didn’t,” he admitted easily. “However, all the other young women seemed dull and unattractive after holding you in my arms.”

Lisa’s eyes widened slightly. If she had been feeling quite herself, she suspected she would have blushed madly at the words and got all flustered. At the moment, however, all it did was make her smile. The things he was saying could have come from one of the books she read, spoken by the hero to the heroine. They were quite lovely, not to mention flattering and charming. They made her feel beautiful and wanted. And she liked it.

“I enjoyed our dance that night as well,” she said boldly.

Lord Findlay raised one dubious eyebrow. “And here I thought you were distracted during our dance.”

Lisa laughed wryly. “I fear I was a little. There was much going on at the time, but I certainly remembered you afterward, my lord.”

“Why? Did I step on your toes?” he teased.

Lisa grinned, but shook her head. “You dance beautifully and you know it.”

“Then what made you remember me?” Findlay asked, the words almost a challenge.

“Because you are a very attractive man, my lord,” she said simply, unconcerned with meeting the challenge. She had no doubt he knew he was handsome. “You are handsome enough that it would make it hard for a girl to forget.”

“Really?” he asked with interest. “You find me attractive?”

“Oh very,” she assured him with amusement, and then added, “So much so that I deliberately kept a dance free for you in case you were here tonight.”

Lord Findlay blinked in surprise at her words and Lisa supposed most women wouldn’t have made the admission. They would have played coy and probably teased and flirted while acting like they weren’t attracted to him. Such games just seemed silly to her. The man saw right through it anyway if he had half a brain. So, why bother?

“My word, you are the most refreshingly honest female I have met in a good long while,” Lord Findlay breathed finally, his arms tightening around her a little more and drawing her almost scandalously close.

“Hmmm,” Lisa murmured, noting the way his eyes had darkened. She grinned and eased back from him a bit, making their embrace more proper. “And beautiful, smart and witty according to all the men I have danced with tonight.”

“Definitely all of that,” he agreed without hesitation. “Your eyes sparkle with intelligence and mischief and your lips . . . they put a man in mind of kissing you.”

“Really?” she asked with interest. “Does that mean you want to kiss me, my lord?”

“Definitely,” Findlay assured her, all teasing gone and Lisa allowed a burst of laughter to slip from her lips. She felt so . . . well, powerful, she supposed. All these compliments from so many different men after years of nothing from the one she had been interested in . . . Well, it was heady, made her feel good, made her feel lovely and wanted and . . . She liked it. A lot.

“I fear our dance is over,” Lord Findlay said with regret, bringing her to a halt as the music ended.

“How sad,” she said, her lips curving into a happy smile.

“Yes. It is,” he assured her, shifting her to his side and tucking her hand into the crook of his elbow to lead her off the floor. His head dipped to hers as he asked, “When is our quadrille? I would not wish to miss my chance to fetch you a refreshment or escort you out onto the terrace.”