“I should like nothing better—but I’m afraid I must find my mother,” she amended hastily. Fairford had just reappeared and was now speaking with the Duke of Bedford. She had to find a way to get his attention. “She is with Lady Bidewell.”
At the mention of that name, Chadwick’s face fell.
Too late, Sabrina remembered a conversation she’d overheard between her mother and Lady Bidewell regarding a possible union between her daughter…and this man. Oh, sweet Lord. Mama had left her with Montgomery to assist with the campaign.
She watched as his mouth hardened with determination. “I’ll gladly take you to her,” he said, slipping his arm beneath her hand without waiting for her reply. “I should very much like the opportunity to meet Lady Aylesford.”
Hoist by her own petard, she had no choice but to go with him. Looking back, she fastened desperate eyes on the dwindling form of Lord Fairford.
Unfortunately, Lord Montgomery happened to be looking in her direction at that very moment. Their eyes met, and his lips quirked as he acknowledged her with a slight nod.
Sabrina’s face flamed as she whipped back around.
Damn.
She felt utterly drained by the time she climbed into her carriage. Each of her sisters had been in raptures for days after her first ball—not so, for her. Never in all her days had she been so happy to leave a social event. Fairford had ignored all attempts to gain his attention, while Chadwick had managed to make a damned nuisance of himself, popping up at every turn and informing half the bloody ballroom of her having invited him to tea.
To make matters worse, Mama now sat across from her, seething with displeasure.
“What in heaven’s name were you thinking, Sabrina? His father was a merchant,” she groused, saying the word as though it tasted bad. “He’s barely a genuine viscount, if you ask me.”
Sabrina was sure she hadn’t asked.
“His mother’s family would never have agreed to such a union had they not been desperately in debt. I have it on good authority his mother deliberately compromised herself to guarantee the match, and that upon signing the register, the groom paid her family a ridiculous sum to have the estate freed. Chadwick’s title was purchased outright.”
“I don’t plan to marry him, Mama.”
“I should think not! I’d expect you to have better sense, certainly. But why waste your time on such as him at all? I thought you had your eye on Fairford? And let us not forget Henry.”
Oh, let us do! thought Sabrina uncharitably. The very mention of him made her ears grow uncomfortably warm.
“He was quite taken with you.” Her mother leaned forward, a gleam in her eye. “And I strongly suspect the sentiment to be mutual.”
The temperature rose another degree. “I’m sure he is a very nice gentleman, Mama, but I think it a bit early to be making any wedding plans just yet.” She’d managed to evade Montgomery, but there’d been a heavy price associated with her escape. If only Fairford had come to her rescue instead of Chadwick.
She sighed. It wasn’t the lad’s fault. Poor fellow only thought she was interested in him because, like an idiot, she’d deliberately led him to believe so. There had to be a gentle way of dissuading him. Perhaps her sisters could advise her? Georgiana and Augusta had both been highly sought after in their first Seasons…
“Young lady, I am talking to you.”
She flinched. “Mama, I know I shouldn’t have invited him, but I felt so sorry for him!”
“Charitable inclinations are never a good reason to encourage a man, Sabrina. It gives them ideas, encourages them to take liberties in the hope of possible gain. You are an earl’s daughter. He is a merchant’s son.”
“I underst—”
“And worse, now Lady Bidewell is wroth with me! She had been working toward a match between her daughter and Chadwick for nearly a year when you blundered across his path. You’ve made a fine mess of things. The Season has only just begun, and already you’ve made an enemy.”
Sabrina scowled. She already knew Chadwick might not easily be dissuaded, not with the likes of Miss Myopic Bidewell waiting in the wings to snap him up. And then there was Montgomery to deal with as well.
She looked forward to Thursday with all the anticipation of a walk to the headsman’s block.
Henry held the cards in his hand and laid out a knave, not really caring about the game. It held no interest for him tonight. His mind was preoccupied with red hair and hazel eyes. Eventually, he tossed in his lot. “I’m done for the night, Percy. Just not in the mood for it, I guess.”
“Feeling restless, are we?” the other man asked. “You ought to take a mistress. Just the cure for that sort of ailment.”
“I’ve no interest in dalliances, old boy.”
“Oh, I know a few ladies that could change your mind, believe me,” teased his friend.