the imagination of most of those who frequented the Red Lion Chop-House. The massive chandelier held a hundred candles whose flames made the crystals glitter and sparkle like diamonds. The windows were numerous and large, the sashes pulled up to allow a circulation of fresh air. At the back of the room were glass doors that opened out on to a long strip of town garden similar to that at the back of the mansion house in Cavendish Square. All of that open glass and air and yet still the place was too warm because of the throng of guests.
‘Another fine evening,’ Lord Longley said and lifted a glass of champagne from the silver salver that the footman held before him.
‘Indeed.’ Ned accepted a glass of champagne, too. Took a sip without betraying the slightest hint that he hated the stuff. He was all too aware of the way Longley ignored Rob’s presence. ‘You have met my steward, Mr Finchley.’
Longley could barely keep the curl from his upper lip as he gave the smallest of acknowledgements to Rob before returning his attention to Ned. He thought Rob beneath him. And Ned, too, but swallowed his principles for the sake of money.
‘Harrow tells me you were at Tattersall’s saleroom the other day looking at the cattle.’ Tattersall’s was the auction house where the ton went to buy their horses. Ned could hear the slight sneer that Longley always had in his voice when he spoke to him. Felt the edge of anger that he always felt amongst these men born to titles and wealth and privilege and who lived in a world far removed from reality.
‘Browsing the wares.’ Ned’s eyes were cool. ‘Were we not, Mr Finchley?’
‘And fine wares they were, too,’ said Rob.
‘Matters equine take a knowledgeable eye.’ Which you do not have. That patronising air that Longley could not quite hide no matter how hard he tried. ‘And experience. I would be happy to teach you a thing or two.’
‘How kind.’ Ned smiled.
The sentiment behind the smile was lost on Longley.
‘Where do you ride?’
‘I don’t.’
‘I did not know that,’ said Longley and tucked the tidbit away to share with his friends in White’s should matters not work out between him and Ned as he was hoping. ‘I suppose I should have realised, what with your not having come from—’ He stopped himself just in time.
Ned held Longley’s gaze.
The earl glanced away, cleared his throat and changed the subject to why he was standing here in Ned’s company tonight. ‘Lady Juliette is in good spirits tonight.’ Lady Juliette, Longley’s daughter for whom he was seeking a match with new money.
‘You must be pleased for her.’ From the corner of his eye he saw Rob struggle to stifle a grin.
‘Do not need to tell you that she was quite the diamond of this year’s Season. I am sure you are already aware of her.’
‘Very aware.’
Longley smiled.
‘Quite the horsewoman as I recall,’ said Ned.
Longley’s smile faltered as he realised the mistake he’d just made. He squirmed. ‘Not so much these days.’ He cleared his throat again. ‘Excuse me, sir. I see Willaston and have a matter to discuss with him.’
A small bow and Longley took himself off, leaving Ned and Rob standing alone.
There was a silence before Ned spoke. ‘There’s something you need to know, Rob. The Dowager Lady Lamerton has a new companion.’
‘You think I’m in with a shout?’ Rob grinned.
Ned did not smile. His eyes held Rob’s. ‘Her name is Miss Emma Northcote.’
Rob’s grin vanished. ‘Northcote? I thought the Northcotes were long gone. Moved away to the country.’
‘So did I.’ Ned thought of the truth of Emma Northcote and her father’s circumstance—the nights in the Red Lion Chop-House; the narrow street with its shabby lodging house; and the London Dock warehouse—and something tightened in his throat. He swallowed it down. Gave a hard smile. ‘It seems we were wrong.’
‘Hell.’ A whispered curse so incongruous in the expensive elegance of their surroundings as the shock made Rob forget himself. ‘That’s going to make things awkward.’
‘Why?’ Ned’s expression was closed.
‘You know why.’
‘I did nothing wrong. I’ve got nothing to feel awkward over.’
‘Even so.’
‘It isn’t going to be a problem. She isn’t going to be a problem.’ Not now he knew who she was.
Both men’s gazes moved across the room as one to where Lady Lamerton sat with her cronies...and her companion.
Northcote, not de Lisle, the worst lie of them all.
He looked at the long gleaming hair coiled and caught up in a cascade of dark roped curls at the back of her head, at the sky-blue silk evening dress she was garbed in, plain and unadorned unlike the fancy dresses of the other ladies and obviously paid for by Lady Lamerton. She wore no jewellery. He knew that she would have none. The décolletage of her dress showed nothing other than her smooth olive skin. Long white silk evening gloves covered her arms and matching white slippers peeped from beneath the dress.
She had seen him the minute she entered the ballroom. He knew it. Just as he knew she was ignoring him.
‘No,’ said Rob quietly. ‘Knowing you, I don’t suppose she will.’
Ned’s eyes shifted from Emma to Rob. ‘Would you hold this for me?’ He passed his glass to Rob. ‘There’s something I have to do.’
‘You can’t be serious...’
Ned smiled a hard smile.
‘Tell me you’re not going over there to get yourself introduced?’ Rob was staring at him as if he were mad.
‘I’m not going over there for an introduction. Miss Northcote and I have already had that pleasure.’
Rob looked shocked.
‘But the lady and I didn’t get a chance to talk.’
The music came to a halt. The dance came to an end. The figures crowded upon the floor bowed and curtsied and began to disperse.
Ned glanced across the floor to Emma once more.
‘This won’t take long.’
‘Ned...’ Rob lowered his voice and spoke with quiet insistence.
But Ned was already moving smoothly through the crowd, crossing the ballroom, his focus fixed on Emma Northcote.
