The Earl's Secret Bargain Read online

  “I take it you don’t delight in gossip?”

  “I don’t. I find it a horrible pastime. Why people can’t stick with matters that only concern them, I’ll never understand.”

  If only she knew she had become the unwilling victim in a wager at White’s! Forcing aside the stab of guilt that pricked him, he drank more tea. “It’s certainly a pleasant day.”

  “Yes, the air coming in through the window is refreshing. Sometimes I feel restless when I’m indoors.”

  “Do you?”

  “It’s not just because of my mother,” she said with a grin. “I like being outside and enjoying life.”

  “Do you enjoy the theatre and circus?”

  “No. When I said I like being outside, I meant outside of any building. My mother prefers to take a stroll through the market, but I actually prefer Hyde Park or out in the country. There’s nothing more peaceful.”

  As he drank his tea, he came to the shocking conclusion that he liked her. Liked her immensely, in fact. She was like a breath of fresh air. Not shy in the least when it came to stating her mind, something much needed in a society that prided itself on sticking with a formal politeness that came with constant backstabbing.

  And though she didn’t let anyone close to her right away, he suspected that once she did, a gentleman would have a faithful companion for the rest of his life. He could trust that what she told him to his face was what she’d say about him behind his back. There was no deception with her. He finished the tea and tried not to wince. If she knew about him, she’d throw him right out of her townhouse…and her life.

  “Lord Davenport, I presume?” came a lady’s melodic voice.

  Setting the tea down, he rose to his feet in time for Miss Giles to say, “My lord, you remember my mother, Mrs. Giles.”

  He bowed. “It’s a pleasure.”

  She curtsied and smiled. “Likewise, my lord. It’s my understanding that we are going to take a lovely stroll through the park.”

  “Yes,” he replied, glancing at Miss Giles who placed her cup on the tray and stood up. “Your daughter mentioned it.”

  “If you wish, we could do something more to your liking,” Mrs. Giles offered.

  “No. A stroll suits me just fine. The day is a beautiful one.” Almost as lovely as Miss Giles, but not quite. It was hard to match her particular beauty and grace.

  Her mother’s smile widened. “Excellent.”

  Taking that as his cue, he said, “My carriage is outside.”

  He followed the ladies outside, and while they walked down the steps, he couldn’t help but appreciate the nice curves Miss Giles possessed. She wasn’t a stick of a lady. No. She had a full bosom and hips. Charming wit and a wonderful figure. A gentleman couldn’t do better than this.

  In that instant, he made his decision. He would go through with the wager and marry her, if she chose him over Pennella.

  As they rode to the park, he was grateful that of all the things he owned, he made sure to splurge for a good carriage. He hated to think of Miss Giles’ reaction when she realized his estate was in trouble. But hopefully—God willing—she wouldn’t mind it so much since he loved her. Maybe love could cover up a multitude of flaws.

  After they arrived at the park, he was surprised when her mother started pointing out all the people they passed, providing surprising details about them. It seemed the lady knew almost everything there was to know about anyone. She knew who had a title, how long their family had it, what their interests were, and a few stories she’d heard about them.

  At one point, he wondered just how much she knew about him, and his gut tightened in apprehension. But then Miss Giles caught his attention and rolled her eyes, a silent “see what I mean about my mother gossiping?” message. If her mother knew about him, it seemed that it didn’t bother either Miss Giles or her mother one bit. He relaxed

  “Of course, I don’t know if it’s true that the Duke of Rumsey threatened Lord Edon with a sword,” Mrs. Giles continued rambling after they passed Lord and Lady Edon. “But I will say that Lord Edon cleaned up his act. He doesn’t engage in scandalous behaviors anymore. At least, I haven’t heard of any. Have you, Lord Davenport?”

  Not expecting her to stop, Toby had to think over what she’d been talking about so he could properly answer her question. “No, I haven’t heard of Lord Edon engaging in scandalous activities ever since he got married.”

  “I didn’t think so. His Grace must have put the fear of the devil into him,” she replied, her expression thoughtful. “Tell me, my lord,” she continued, “what is Lord Edon really like?”

  “Mother,” Miss Giles spoke up, “I don’t see what good it does to speculate about Lord Edon. Let him be at peace.”

  “Oh, you’re so serious about everything,” her mother said with a sigh. “All winter long I’m cooped up in the country with nothing to entertain me. I come to London to enjoy myself, and part of that is engaging with others.”

  “Engaging with others is fine,” her daughter replied. “Being your own version of the Tittletattle is something else.”

  Toby’s lips curled up as Miss Giles compared her mother to the scandal sheets.

  “I have to make it a point to know who these people are,” Mrs. Giles insisted, giving her daughter a pointed gaze. “You should only marry an appropriate gentleman.”

  At that, Miss Giles’ face turned pink. “Then why not discuss only single gentlemen? Why talk about Lord Edon who is already taken?”

  “You’re right, dear,” her mother consented. But before Miss Giles had a chance to relax, her mother asked, “Who would you like to discuss?”

  Toby noted the exasperation on Miss Giles’ face and almost laughed. But he managed to cover it up with a cough. Then, in hopes of making things easier for her, he said, “I hear Mr. Hastings is a fine opera singer. Word is he’s worth listening to at least once while in London. Have you had the pleasure of going to see him yet?”

  “As a matter of fact, I have,” Mrs. Giles said, her face lighting up. “My daughter and I make it a point to experience everything worth doing when it comes to cultural endeavors.”

  “So you know what a rich voice he has?”

  “I do.”

  He didn’t. Paying the kind of money it would take to see someone as well-known and appreciated as Mr. Hastings was out of the question. But his plan had worked and Mrs. Giles was no longer making her daughter uncomfortable. In fact, after Mrs. Giles extolled the virtues of Mr. Hastings’ voice, she went on to talk about other fine singers she’d heard in the past. He couldn’t be sure, but he thought Miss Giles appreciated his efforts, if he judged her smile correctly. And he was glad he could make the afternoon enjoyable for her.

  Chapter Six

  “Regina, Lord Pennella is in the drawing room,” her lady’s maid said the next day.

  From her bedchamber window, Regina glanced up from the book she was reading. “I’ll be down in a moment.”

  Her lady’s maid offered a nod and shut the door. She put her book aside and rose to her feet. She went to the mirror and checked her reflection, just as she had the day before when Lord Davenport visited. As Lady Seyton suggested, she wore a dress that showed a hint of her cleavage. It was a ridiculous thing to aim for, but Lady Seyton insisted it was to get the gentleman to think about marriage.

  “A lady who is suitable for marriage does well to remind the potential husband that he’ll have fun trying for the heir if he chooses her,” Lady Seyton had said.

  Even now, Regina had to fight the urge to roll her eyes. The little she had gathered in her lessons boiled down to the gentleman’s need for praise and lovemaking. That was about it. How Lady Seyton considered this worthy of money, Regina could only guess. But she had an impressive history of success with her patrons, so she couldn’t argue with her record. It just seemed foolish that the lessons took a couple weeks.

  With a sigh, she left her bedchamber. She told herself this was just another gentleman her mother
wished to snare on her behalf. Each of these encounters required a great deal of her, and after yesterday, she was already tired. Though, she had enjoyed Lord Davenport’s visit. He had a way of handling her mother that impressed her. None of the other gentlemen had known how to respond to her. Indeed, most of them humored her and played along. She wondered if Lord Pennella would be the same or if he’d be able to take a kind, but firm, stand against her mother’s desire to gossip. If nothing else, Regina was looking forward to finding out.

  She arrived in the drawing room before Lord Pennella noticed her. He was handsome enough, she supposed. A bit more on the muscular side than she preferred, though she liked the broad shoulders. Hair a bit lighter than Lord Davenport’s but still brown. At the moment, he was examining his reflection in the window. Her eyebrows rose in interest. None of the gentlemen who’d come by had done something like that before.

  He smoothed his hair then winked at himself. And it was at that point she knew he was not the kind of person she wanted to spend the afternoon with, much less the rest of her life. Thank goodness he wasn’t the only gentleman who had a title in London or else she’d have to run off before her mother could chain her to him.

  Clearing her throat to get his attention, she curtsied. “Lord Pennella, forgive me for taking so long to come down.”

  Though it was to her benefit she did. She’d do well to do that in the future with the others who came by. Watching a gentleman who didn’t know he was being watched was surprisingly enlightening.

  He approached her and bowed. “It was well worth the wait, Miss Giles. You’re even lovelier than the first time I met you.”

  Resisting the urge to gag, she managed to smile. Did he really believe she wouldn’t see through the lie? “Thank you, my lord.”

  The butler brought in the tray with tea, and she invited Lord Pennella to sit and have a drink with her. It was the same old familiar routine, one that Lady Seyton insisted would establish a rapport with the gentleman in question. That was why her mother demanded Regina spend a few minutes in the drawing room alone with each potential suitor.

  Regina sat in her usual spot and poured tea in both of their cups, but on this day, she decided she’d rather not allow the gentleman a generous view of her cleavage. Instead, she chose an angle that offered him a better view of her shoulder. She saw no reason to encourage him.

  “Do you come to London often?” she asked.

  “From time to time when I’ve tired of my many travels to other countries,” he replied.

  Her eyebrows rose. “Oh?”

  “Yes. I find it expands my world and gives me a better perspective on life. I meet fascinating new people and explore the different cultures the world has to offer.”

  She couldn’t fault him for that. A good dose of curiosity was a healthy thing. If she hadn’t caught him winking at himself, she might be intrigued to learn more about him.

  “How about you?” he asked as he accepted the cup she offered. “Do you travel?”

  “I’m afraid with all the social engagements my mother requires me to attend, I’m not allowed the luxury of travel,” she replied then sipped her tea.

  “Well, there’s nothing wrong with social engagements. I go to many of them myself.”

  “I didn’t say there was anything wrong with it. I’m just explaining why we don’t travel often.”

  “But you have traveled?”

  “A few times in the past. France, Italy, Greece.”

  “Those are good countries.”

  She nodded. “I enjoyed them.”

  “So you have been outside of England and tasted a piece of the world.” He smiled at her in a way that made her feel like a young child who was to be patted on the head for such a good deed. “It’s refreshing to meet a young lady who has some life experience.”

  Yes, indeed she had plenty of experience if one considered visiting the stores in those countries with a mother who was searching for something “new” and “different” to wear. But she chose to keep quiet about this little secret.

  “Tell me,” he began after he drank some tea, “have you been in London all Season?”

  “Yes.”

  “But you haven’t been to many of the balls, have you?”

  “I’ve been to most of them.” Where was he going with this?

  “That’s strange.”

  “What’s strange?”

  He shrugged, though he shot her what was probably the same smile he gave every lady he hoped to charm. “You’re so beautiful. I should have noticed you sooner.”

  “Perhaps there were ladies at the other balls who were more beautiful than me and that’s why I didn’t catch your attention sooner,” she suggested, intentionally putting him on the spot and wondering what he’d do about it.

  As it turned out, his face grew pink.

  Her mother entered the drawing room, relieving him of having to come up with an adequate response. “Lord Pennella, I presume?” her mother greeted.

  He set the cup on the tray and bowed to her. “At your service, Mrs. Giles. I was just enjoying a pleasant chat with your charming and lovely daughter.”

  Charming and lovely? Regina highly doubted the sincerity in his words. But to give him the benefit of the doubt, she reasoned he was merely being polite.

  “Thank you, my lord,” her mother replied, glancing her way in obvious pleasure.

  Regina forced a smile in return then quickly looked down at her hands so she wouldn’t have to maintain eye contact with her. Yesterday hadn’t been so awkward. In fact, it’d been very nice. She wondered if Lord Davenport would ask to see her again.

  “Regina, are you ready to go to the museum?” her mother called out.

  Unaware that her mother and Lord Pennella had been speaking, Regina turned her attention back to them. With a nod, she went over to them. “Yes, I’m ready.”

  Regina joined them in Lord Pennella’s carriage, and her mother made a show of fussing over how expensive it must have been.

  “We wanted an interior so fine but couldn’t afford such lavish upholstery,” her mother rambled as she ran her hand along the edge of the seat.

  “You only live once,” Lord Pennella said with a laugh. “I see no reason to deny the very best when I escort beautiful ladies around town.”

  Her mother chuckled, and Regina turned her gaze to the window. Fortunately, her mother wasn’t paying attention to her or else she’d never hear the end of it.

  “Of course, I hear Lord Edon also has a fine carriage,” her mother spoke up.

  Regina grimaced. Her mother was trying to gather information from him, just as she’d tried it with Lord Davenport and the other gentlemen they’d been out with that Season.

  “It’s no secret that Lord Edon has the best carriage in all of London,” Lord Pennella said. “He keeps winning every single game he ever plays.”

  “Does he?” Her mother’s eyebrows rose in interest. “I heard he was lucky.”

  “Lucky?” He laughed and shook his head. “No, he’s not just lucky. He’s ruthless. He claims that he doesn’t want to win every game, but that’s what he does. Thankfully, his father-in-law put an end to it or else I’d have no money left.”

  Her mother laughed at his joke. “I bet you’re better off not gambling, my lord.”

  “Perhaps I would be, but I have to admit that there’s a certain thrill in it. The chance of winning or losing is a powerful one. It’s the risk, and the bigger the risk, the greater the thrill.”

  Regina glanced at him. He seemed particularly pleased with himself, and it only affirmed her initial thought about him. He was already in love…with himself.

  The carriage came to a stop at the museum. With a sigh, Regina followed them out of the carriage, bracing herself for the mindless chatter she’d likely have to suffer through for the next couple hours. No doubt, it was going to be a long and exhausting afternoon.

  ***

  A firm hand clasped Toby’s shoulder. Toby glanced up from th
e paper he was reading at White’s. He’d hoped that since Pennella was supposed to be at the museum with Miss Giles and her mother, it would afford him some peace.

  But here Pennella was, and he’d brought the self-satisfied smirk with him. “The bet is as good as settled,” he said as he sat across from Toby. He crossed his legs and clasped his hands over his lap. “So, when would you like to hand me your estate?”

  “Miss Giles accepted your proposal?” Toby asked, trying not to give away his apprehension.

  “I haven’t proposed yet.”

  Toby relaxed. Good. That meant he still had a chance. “Then you’re a little premature.”

  He shrugged. “The proposal is a mere formality. We all knew I had a better chance of winning, and today only sealed the deal.”

  “How so?”

  “I have a gift for keeping ladies enraptured.”

  Ignoring the few gentlemen who stopped their talk to listen to them, Toby forced out, “And how did you enrapture them?”

  “Not them. Her.”

  “Her?”

  “The mother. Mrs. Giles. I regaled her with all sorts of amusing anecdotes.”

  “Did you?”

  “Yes. Her mother was curious about a lot of the nobility, so I let her in on some little tidbits of information she won’t find in the scandal sheets. You know, the way to a lady is through her mother. If you can win her mother over, then the battle’s already won.”

  For the first time since he’d made the wager with Pennella, Toby felt a spark of hope. Maybe he had a chance with Regina after all. Pennella could delude himself all he wanted. In fact, the more he did, the better. “Until Miss Giles accepts your proposal, the wager stands.” He rose to his feet. “I think I’ll offer Miss Giles my condolences. The poor thing must be distraught after spending the afternoon with you.”