Read Online Bath Scandal by Joan Smith - Free Book Online

leaving so soon.”
    “A pity Gillie cannot have a Season,” she replied, watching him from the corner of her eye. She hoped to win him over by repetition.
    “I’ll speak to Deborah about it,” he said, thinking aloud.
    Bea felt a stab of anger but bit back the hot retort that rose to her lips. “I expect you can let me know soon, as you will be returning to Elmland on Monday. That is when Deborah is expecting you back, is it not?” He nodded. “There are many details that must be attended to if Gillie is allowed to go. Her name must be entered at Saint James’s. I would have to be in touch with Mrs. Louden to arrange her ball and be in touch with other chaperons.”
    “Have you spoken of all this to Gillie? She will feel sorely done by if she is not allowed to go.”
    “I am not a complete widgeon! Of course I haven’t,” she snapped. “But you will speak to Deborah as soon as you return, I hope. Even she might approve, when the prize is a duke.”
    Southam noticed her piqued tone. “Why do you say even she, as if Deborah were unreasonable? She is greatly interested in seeing Gillie settled.”
    “Then I expect she may give her permission, if you approach her nicely.”
    There was some mischief lurking in those green eyes. “Give her permission”—was that it? She was saying Deborah had the ring through his nose? “It is not a question of permission. The decision is mine. I am Gillian’s brother and guardian. Naturally my fiancée is involved in such decisions, however. She knows more about such things than I, from having lived so long in London.”
    “Of course. Yet I cannot think she learned much about making matches at the palace. The royal princesses are all wilting on the vine, except Princess Elizabeth, and she was nearing fifty before she nabbed her beau.”
    “You forget Deborah had a Season herself, Cousin.”
    “She did not make a match, though.” She smiled saucily.
    “It was not for lack of offers!” he defended swiftly. “She has a poor opinion of the beaux met there. Fops and Corinthians. She prefers provincial gentlemen, for their steadiness of character.”
    “Like Stuyvesant?” Bea asked ironically. “Or do you mean like yourself, Southam? Certainly one cannot accuse you of foppishness. No, there is no need to lower your brow at me. That was not a slur on your toilet!”
    His blackening mood lifted as he watched her green eyes twinkle with amusement. “One cannot accuse the duke of overdressing, either,” he said, smiling. “Lord, did you ever see such a disheveled boy in your life? He looks as if he’d been rolling around a cow byre.”
    “No, a stable! Gillie wasn’t much better when she arrived here. If we do bring off this match, we must find them a valet and dresser to turn them out in style.”
    “It would be an excellent thing for her,” Southam said, warming to the idea. “Gillie a duchess, imagine! Most gents are put off by her stable ways, but the duke would feel right at home. It seems to me they are made for each other.”
    Bea gave him a conning look. “You know how to bring the match off, Southam. Send her to London. As you said, the decision is yours.”
    He did not reply to this taunt, but said, “I wish he were not going to Bournemouth so soon.”
    “If wishes were horses ...”
    “Then the duke would love them,” he finished, laughing. “I have overstayed my welcome. You must forgive me.”
    She shrugged. “Not at all. My guests often stay much later than this, but you have had a fagging day. Will you call tomorrow to see Gillie?”
    He nodded. “Is eleven too early?”
    “Gillie will be riding with the duke, but I shall be here if you want to call. I’ll take you on the strut on Milsom Street and make all my beaux jealous. Or we could stay here and have a private coze,” she added. This would give her another opportunity to try to tease him into accepting the London idea. A smile moved her lips as she saw Southam try to figure out her