“Then you should pretend to be vastly amused by what I am saying to you right now.”
“Oh, I’m definitely amused by the spectacle we seem to be creating.It doesn’t hurt that we’re so high up and everyone can see us.I feel as though I’m on a stage.”
He laughed before turning his attention back to the road.His sister had warned him that he shouldn’t make an appearance here with a young woman unless he was serious about pursuing her.Jane had shown, yet again, that she knew London society better than he.Which meant he really needed to listen to her advice.
But he most definitely wouldn’t tell her his courtship of Mary Trenton was a ruse since he couldn’t be sure what she’d do with that information.It was possible she’d sympathize and help him, but too many years had passed since they’d grown up together.And when they were children, she’d always seemed to delight in doing the opposite of what she should.No, it was better to keep Jane in the dark about his true motivation for today’s outing.He had no doubt she’d hear about it soon enough.
“I’m beginning to think this wasn’t a good idea,” Mary said as she waved to yet another small group of people.
She caught her lower lip between her teeth, and he realized she had a nice mouth.Plump lips, ripe for kissing.He tore his gaze away from her, forcing himself to concentrate on driving.His horses weren’t used to going so slowly, and it wouldn’t do to cause an accident because he was paying too much attention to Miss Trenton’s mouth.
“Does that mean you’ve decided not to help me?”He told himself the reason for his disappointment wasn’t because he’d been looking forward to seeing more of the beautiful woman seated next to him.
She was biting that lower lip again, and he had to fight back a groan.“I’d been leaning toward saying yes.”
His spirits soared at her words, but it was obvious she still wasn’t sure.
“Is there anything I can say or do that can help to sway you to my cause?”
“Well, I will admit that I’m enjoying the attention we’re causing more than I should.”
That distracting mouth turned up in an unrepentant grin.He forced his gaze to remain on hers.
“At the very least this will be a nice test as to how quickly gossip spreads among the ton.I wonder how long it will take my mother or my sister to hear we were seen together at Hyde Park.”
“I’d say Lady Benington already knows.She’s coming toward us now.”
His gaze swung forward as he scanned the other carriages and the people milling about on foot, searching for his sister.The peal of Mary’s laughter told him she’d gotten one over on him.
“You’re going to have to do much better than that, my lord, if we’re to keep up this ruse.You look like a little boy who’s been caught sneaking into the kitchens for a treat when you should be in bed.”
No, he absolutely would not allow his thoughts to swing toward the bedroom.“At any rate, I’m sure it won’t take long before word of our outing reaches her ears.”He nodded at one of the men whose name he couldn’t remember.“I’ll admit I’m a little taken aback by how crowded it is here.I was told this was the place to be seen, but I had no idea everyone in London would also be here.”
Mary let out a soft sigh.“Yes, I still remember the chaos when we were in London for Edwina’s season.”
“And during your season?”
“I didn’t have one.My parents had passed away at that point, and I was already living with my sister and her husband.”
“And they couldn’t be bothered bringing you to town?”He couldn’t ignore the anger that thought caused him.He’d made it a point to discover everything he could about Lord Fairbanks.The man never missed a session of the House of Lords, so there would have been no excuse to deprive her of a season.
“Oh no, it wasn’t like that at all.Lord Fairbanks wanted me to join them, but I couldn’t stomach the idea of being shepherded around town by my sister.”
He started to frown but then remembered they were on display.He didn’t want anyone to think he found anything unpleasant about being with Miss Trenton.“Are you saying she wouldn’t have done it?”
Mary lifted one shoulder.“She would have had to.But…” She gave her head a shake.“Never mind—it isn’t really my place to share details about her personal life.”
“But they affect you.”
“Not really, no.We’ll just say that she can be insufferable.When spring comes around every year and they leave for London, I look forward to having the time to myself.You have siblings, so I’m sure you understand.”
He did.But now that he’d come into the title and was back in England, he could do whatever he wanted.Well, most of the time anyway.His mother’s arrival in town and her insistence on seeing him wed was an unwelcome complication.
“At any rate, that is enough about me.Tell me, my lord, why I should indulge you in this ridiculous scheme of yours.”