He glanced back over his shoulder, all shadows gone from his eyes, a smile tilting his lips. “A bath, I think, is just the thing for you.” He eyed her up and down. “And then we shall have to buy you clothes and kit you out. Then we must decide exactly where we shall present you.”
“Oh dear,” she groaned, though she liked the idea of a bath. “Present me? I suppose that’s part of it, isn’t it?”
“It shall be nothing like Almack’s. I promise you that.” And at his words, she felt herself thrilled to the bone.
She loathed Almack’s.
No, she’d always hungered for something more—something more wild, something more dangerous. Something that echoed like out of the stories of the annals of her history.
But even in this moment, she also felt a faint note of concern. He had withdrawn from her. She’d felt it like a frigid wind whispering over her. For a moment, he had been open to her. Something had allowed him to share his feelings and then it had been gone.
It was a dangerous thing, indeed, for she had liked it very well when he had been himself with her. The look in his eyes, the way he had spoken to her? But when it had vanished, she’d felt the loss of it as she’d felt nothing in her life.
And that was a dangerous thing.
Chapter 6
Everson’s eyes looked like they were about to pop out of his head. And he was doing his finest impression of a cod fish out of water.
“Close your mouth, Everson. We don’t want flies in there,” Garret said.
His butler snapped to attention, blinked rapidly, and then patted a gloved hand over his silvering hair. “Your Grace, the young person in your company…”
But the butler clearly couldn’t find the proper words.
Garret turned to the young lady in question, though one might argue she wasn’t technically a lady anymore.
He thought such distinctions ridiculous.
There were many women of the ton, the highest-born ladies of the land, who enjoyed amorous activities as Cat had the night before.
And those high-born ladies embraced their antics with copious amounts of people, often and in varied places. Country house parties were one great bed game with ever-changing partners, from his observations.
He did not think that one should disparage women who simply used such amorous pursuits as employment against them.
“Yes, Everson?” he prompted.
Everson cleared his throat. “Nothing, Your Grace, nothing. I am glad that the young lady was able to have a meeting with you if that was truly what you desired.”
“I did not know it was what I desired, Everson, but it is,” he said factually. “And she will be staying with us for the foreseeable future. You’ll have a chamber, one of the best, made up for her, please. I think the green room will be suitable.”
Everson inclined his head. “Yes, Your Grace. Of course.”
The lady in question took a step forward. “Thank you, Everson. I realize this must be most surprising for you since you sent me packing as a good butler aught.”
“Indeed, my lady.” Everson gave a single rueful look. “I shall simply have to give the security of the building a closer look. You must be a quite determined individual.”
It was the most emotional statement Garret had ever heard Everson give. “She is very motivated, Everson. She came to me with a petition out of concern for herself and her sister.”
“I see,” Everson said gently.
“It would appear that they are related to Turnbridge.”
Everson’s lip curled. “Oh, I see. Forgive me, my lady, for turning you away.”
He nodded, glad his butler had similar sentiments. “They are in a very serious state. The young lady has asked me to give her and her sister assistance. Do you think that we can do that, Everson?”
“Oh, indeed, Your Grace,” Everson rushed. “Turnbridge is a terrible fellow. Absolutely awful.”