A Dangerous Debut: A Sweet Regency Romance (Ladies of Mayfair Book 5)

by Wendy May Andrews

  “What a brilliant idea. And this will give us an opportunity to get to know one another a wee bit. I did not find it comfortable to speak with you on the angle as we were seated. I do hope you did not consider me terribly rude.”

  The young woman glowed with pleasure at Daisy’s words, and Daisy congratulated herself on her developing social skills. “Thank you, Miss Pembroke, but no I did not at all consider you to be rude. I completely understood as I too felt it would be too difficult to be heard over the din if we had tried to speak. Now is as good a time as any.” She smiled shyly, offering the opportunity for friendship.

  With delight, Daisy seized upon the offer. “I gathered from our introduction that you have lived all your life around here. Did you know Lord Seaton and his sister well when you were children?”

  Margaret laughed. “Oh no, not at all. For one thing, I am a number of years younger than them, and you know how it is with children, ten-year-old boys are beastly to five-year-old girls. And of course, we were not at all in the same sphere of social influence. The Abernathys did not spend a great deal of time here, as they have other estates as well as the need to be in London, whereas I have never left our little village.”

  Daisy sighed at her new friend’s words. “But that in itself has its own beauty, though, does it not? Growing up in a village where you have known everyone your entire life is wonderfully comforting. And if you can remain there for the remainder of your days, you need never be lonely.”

  Margaret gazed at Daisy with shrewd eyes. “It seems to me as though you speak from experience, Miss Pembroke.”

  Daisy ignored her comment, instead imploring, “Oh please, do call me Daisy. My parents named me Margaret, which is another thing we have in common, but ever since then I have been called Daisy by my friends.”

  Margaret flushed with pleasure. “Very well, Daisy, and you must call me Margaret since no one has gone to the trouble of coming up with something else to call me.”

  The two girls shared a companionable laugh before they were interrupted by the arrival of the gentlemen. Daisy found that true to Margaret’s prediction, she felt comfortably ready for the exertions of the ball.

  As the small orchestra assembled at the side of the room struck up the first number, Jasper stopped beside Daisy with his hand held out to take hers. Bowing elegantly he asked, “May I?” and waited for her acceptance.

  Daisy was shocked to find herself thrilled by his high handedness, but hesitated and cast Margaret a quick glance. Margaret accurately interpreted Daisy’s look. “Go, enjoy.” She shooed away her new friend with a happy smile, delighted that the other girl had given thought to her comfort.

  Happy to oblige, Daisy tucked her hand in Jasper’s and allowed him to sweep her onto the dance floor.

  “I actually thought there for a moment that you were considering refusing my request,” Jasper complained with a teasing tone.

  “I did not wish to refuse, my lord, but I felt badly about leaving Margaret on her own,” Daisy explained. “She is in much the same circumstances as me. I wanted to ensure that she would be comfortable on her own.”

  “That was kind of you to think of her,” Jasper commented.

  “It was kind of her to excuse me,” Daisy countered with a sweet smile. “Thank you for asking me to dance, my lord. I am glad to practice for the first time with someone who knows how long it has been.”

  “No one would ever know, from the looks of you. You appear to be an expert in this as in all that you do.”

  “Now you must be trying to turn me up sweet for some reason with all this flattery.” Daisy did not believe his words, but she enjoyed hearing them nonetheless. She stopped talking and threw herself into the enjoyment of the dance.

  When the tune came to an end, Daisy was surprised to find Jasper’s brother in law, the Earl of Welland, waiting to claim her hand for the next dance. She realized it was a cotillion and was excited to accept.

  “You dance expertly, my dear,” the earl complimented much to Daisy’s delight.

  “Why, thank you, my lord, it is very kind of you to say so.”

  The earl shrugged. “I have had the dubious privilege of dancing with some who would have done well to spend a little more time with a dancing instructor.” He dismissed the topic by changing the subject. “Did you enjoy my nephew’s company at dinner? He seems to be quite popular with young ladies. I thought you would enjoy being seated beside him.”

  Daisy struggled with how to answer the earl’s question. While she would have enjoyed looking at the handsome Ethan Hawkridge throughout the entire meal, she had discovered he had taken more pains to be agreeable to Margaret than to her. Daisy was not sure what was behind the gentleman’s strange conversation, but she didn’t think it was the best idea to discuss it with his uncle.

  She managed to come up with a diplomatic reply. “I can certainly see why he would be so popular, my lord. Are you very close with his lordship?”

  “Oh yes, I practically raised the boy,” came the surprising reply. “He was rather young when his parents died, and I became his guardian. Of course, he spent a lot of time at school and with his tutors, but I was all he had for family, really. We do not have much family other than each other, so we spent all of the big holidays together. Of course, now that I am married, I am hoping to be able to expand our family considerably. And the Abernathys have been gracious enough to include him whenever they invite Bess and me. And what about you, Miss Pembroke, are you from a large family?”

  “I was an only child, and my parents have passed away, so I can relate to what your nephew must have gone through. Although I had the privilege of having my parents to myself until just last year.”

  “Oh, my dear, I am truly sorry. How very sad for you. So I guess that would explain why I have not seen you about Town for the Season, you have only recently left behind your mourning.”

  “In all reality, my lord, I feel that I shall be mourning my loss for the rest of my days. But yes, my official mourning period has not been over for very long. Do you usually spend a great deal of time in Town for the Season?”

  “I have in times past. Since I inherited the earldom, I have taken my place in the House, of course, but while I spent most of my young manhood avoiding the Marriage Mart, I have always enjoyed attending at least a few of the ton events. You must realize the very best gossip is to be had at certain balls and routs.”

  “I can just imagine, my lord, but I must ask, of what use is the gossip to you? Surely as a Lord of the House, you must have better things to occupy your mind than gossip.”

  The earl laughed. “You would think so, would you not? But actually, some of the gossip is very useful. It is even better now that I am married. It is much less obvious when my wife is listening to the gossip and then she can pass on pertinent details to me as to who said what and about whom. You see, in politics, it always pays to be informed.”

  “Well, I suppose that makes sense to me. Might I ask you a similar question that I asked Lord Fulton over dinner?”

  “Of course, my dear.”

  “Have you heard any speeches or lectures of particular interest in the House of late?”

  “Of particular interest to me, do you mean?”

  “That is a good question, my lord, yes, let us start with you.”

  “I hope this does not sound unbearably arrogant, but I have not heard any speeches that I found to be particularly noteworthy, due to the speakers’ lack of ability. I have found myself struggling to pay attention many a time even when the subject is of note due to the dry nature of the speaker’s address. But there have been several subjects that I have found interesting. You might agree with me.”

  His pause after those words caused Daisy to hastily prompt, “What were they, my lord?”

  “One day was of particular note when one young lord brought up the works of Mary Wollstonecraft. Are you familiar with her, my dear?”

  “I am, my lord.” Daisy did not go into any detail. She
was undecided how she felt about the outspoken woman striving for women’s rights. She could tell her dubious feelings on the subject must have shown on her face, as she noted the earl’s wry smile. He confirmed her thoughts with his next words.

  “Yes, my dear, it is a questionable subject, but it is good to be informed.”

  “Of course, my lord.” Daisy hoped she did not sound defensive. “I have read some of Miss Wollstonecraft’s writings, and while I applaud her desire to elevate the situation that most women find themselves in, I cannot agree with some of her arguments.”

  “Quite right, my dear,” the earl agreed with her assessment. “It did give rise to comical debate within the House, I can tell you. Many of the gentlemen present could not fathom why the subject would even be raised. A few felt quite passionately on the subject, but most were woefully uninformed. It was one of the most rousing debates I have witnessed in all the time since I took my seat in the House. It would almost seem that some of the gentlemen were afraid of the consequences if women are acknowledged as individuals separate from men. I am certain we have not seen the last of that debate. I just hope my fellow lords are more informed the next time the subject is raised. I am certain it will be much more productive if that is the case.”

  Daisy regarded the earl with scrutiny. “Might I be so bold as to ask you which side of the debate you were on?”

  “Absolutely, I would expect nothing less, my dear. I am happy to inform you that I am quite convinced that my wife is an intelligent woman in her own right and would be absolutely able to decide her life for herself with or without a husband.” He lowered his voice and leaned in closer to Daisy’s ear. “You can be sure most of the gentlemen present felt the same way about their wives or daughters or sisters, which is exactly why they do not wish to agree to it. They do not want to become unimportant within their own families. Everyone knows the ladies already run the world — we just do not wish to acknowledge it. If we did, then where would we be?” He said this last bit with such a droll face that Daisy could not resist chuckling over his humor.

  “Oh, my lord, your wit is delightful. Thank you for sharing your thoughts with me.”

  “I am always happy to share when a pretty lady asks for my thoughts,” the earl replied with a rakish grin.

  Daisy’s gaze turned dubious. “It is a wonder you managed to remain single as long as you did, if that is the case, then, my lord.”

  “Not at all, my dear. You would be surprised how rare it is that anyone really cares to know what someone else’s thoughts are. Have you not observed how often people just want to speak of their own concerns without paying any heed to what someone else might have to share on the subject?”

  “Well, yes, my lord, I have observed that, but I was quite convinced it was only my limited experience. I fear you have near to broken my heart that even amongst the elevated circles in which you move the same can be said.”

  Now it was the earl’s turn to chuckle at his companion’s words. “Oh my dear, you are an original. You shall be all the rage when you have your Season, to be sure.”

  Daisy blinked at his words but kept a noncommittal smile pasted to her lips. She was relieved to hear the musicians winding down to the end of the song. She was saved from having to comment as the earl escorted her to the side of the room where his nephew was just bowing over Margaret’s hand. Daisy smiled to see how her friend glowed with delight over whatever the young man was saying.

  “Ethan, my boy, be so good as to introduce me to your friend. Mayhap she shall consent to accept my hand for the next number.”

  The two men exchanged a heated look, which Daisy could not interpret. Lord Hawkridge appeared reluctant, but politely performed the introduction as instructed. Margaret looked flustered over the attention but accepted the earl’s hand prettily, her smile declaring her happiness with how her evening was progressing.

  Lord Hawkridge turned his surly gaze to Daisy. “You appear to be without a partner, Miss Pembroke. We might as well join them on the dance floor.”

  It crossed Daisy’s mind that she ought to take umbrage at his words, but she found them far too amusing. Her partner looked surprised to hear her tinkling laugh ring out.

  “You are not the usual sort of debutante, are you, Miss Pembroke?”

  “Not at all, my lord,” she answered with a cheerful smile.

  He eventually returned her smile with a genuine one of his own. “That is probably a very good thing,” he finally replied.

  They were separated by the steps of the dance for a moment and when they came back together, they maintained a companionable silence until they were separated and came together once more. Finally, Lord Hawkridge broke the silence.

  “Are you enjoying yourself this evening, Miss Pembroke?”

  Daisy could tell from the look on his face that he was finally showing a genuine interest in her as a person, and his interest had finally reached his eyes. “Thank you for asking, I am having a wonderful time. I have met many fascinating people today and I am enjoying the dancing. I do believe the marchioness will be able to count her ball a grand success.”

  The gentleman glanced over to where that lady was watching the swirling couples. “It would appear she agrees with your assessment, Miss Pembroke. She looks decidedly satisfied.”

  Unsure if he was being disparaging or not, Daisy decided her loyalties lay with the Abernathys even though Jasper’s relationship with his family was precarious. “And well she should, would you not agree, my lord?”

  Lord Hawkridge grinned at the young woman in his arms. “You are an interesting package, my dear Miss Pembroke, but I think rather too complicated for my taste.”

  With those words, he ended the dance with a flourish and escorted her to the side where Jasper was standing, watching them closely. Hawkridge bowed to Jasper and then to Daisy before taking his leave.

  Jasper made every effort to ignore the jealousy that was roaring through him, refusing to acknowledge how misplaced it was. He mistrusted the bemused look upon Daisy’s face.

  “Did you enjoy your dance with Hawkridge, my dear?” He hoped his question sounded pleasant rather than accusatory.

  “I am undecided, to be honest with you,” Daisy said, blinking up at him with her eyes wide and innocent.

  Jasper bit back the urge to pull her into his arms. He knew Daisy was oblivious to his thoughts, and for that he was grateful.

  “What causes your indecision?” he asked.

  Daisy offered a delicate shrug as she glanced over at the subject of their discussion. “I think he has conflicted feelings about your family, and I find myself firing up in defense of them, which is ridiculous since I have my own conflicted feelings about them. I fear he might be up to no good, but I think even he is undecided on the subject. That probably does not make any sense, does it?”

  “It is an astoundingly astute observation, in fact, my dear. I have thought the very same thing the entire time I have known him. You see, as my brother in law’s heir, the earl’s marriage to my sister has threatened his position. But Hawkridge is a wealthy man in his own right and does not require the earl’s blunt, nor even the title, to be able to lead a successful life. He and the earl have not been terribly close, although it seems my sister is trying to change that. It all combines to create a conundrum for the fellow. I think you are quite correct in your assessment — the man is certainly conflicted.”

  “Well, enough about him. We shall have the next couple of days to work on figuring out how we feel about Lord Hawkridge. What about you, are you having an enjoyable evening, my lord? I did not see you on the dance floor.”

  “I guess you could say that I too am conflicted. I am happy that I brought you here, and of course I am relieved that my parents are going to pony up the money I need, but it has been years since I have spent this amount of time under the same roof as them, and I am getting restless. I wish we had not said we would stay the entire week.”

  Daisy bit her lip in consternation at
his words. “Do you wish to depart? Since I have received those messages from Charlotte we could say I have affairs to attend to at home.”

  “But you hate dissembling,” Jasper pointed out.

  “In this case, it is true, my lord. Remaining here, enjoying myself is only postponing the inevitable. Sooner or later I shall have to go home and face whatever the baron has in store for me.”

  “Well, I would very much rather it be later than sooner. In fact, I would like to arrange a way for you to never have to face the rotter.”

  “Thank you, my lord, I appreciate the sentiment, but you do realize I can handle the matter perfectly well on my own, do you not?”

  “I know you are a strong, capable, independent young woman with all sorts of abilities that I am not even yet aware of. But the fact remains that you are a young woman with few protections surrounding you. If a man has evil intentions toward you, there might not be much you could do to protect yourself. Does that not trouble you?”

  Jasper watched the blood drain from Daisy’s expressive face and cursed himself for allowing her insistence upon independence to goad him into being too forceful in his speech. “Oh Daisy, I am so sorry, I should not have said all of that to you.”

  “No, no, my lord, it is perfectly fine. You are, of course, correct. I am a woman on my own. And as such, I do believe I would like to remain here just a couple more days to enjoy all the protections provided by all the fine gentlemen about.” Daisy had her chin at a proud angle and refused to meet his gaze with her own. “Now if you will excuse me, I really ought to speak to someone.” With that vague excuse, she left the viscount standing there gazing after her.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Daisy was fuming, but she was undecided if she was more upset with Jasper or with herself for allowing him to irritate her. She made her way to the ladies’ withdrawing room, grateful to see that it was empty, and she took a moment to gather her composure.