There was a long list of changes she would make if she had Poppy’s magic coin. The Prince Regent would be more attentive to his wife, the Luddites would end tiieir unrest, her aunt would let her son live his own life.
He watched as she complimented Mrs. Schuster on her earrings, truly the only item she wore that suited her. Which only proved his point that Grace could find good almost anywhere.
Satisfied that he had talked himself out of his ill humor, Lindsay moved to rejoin Grace.
„Fine Season for you, Lindsay. Eh?“
Fetters might be talking to him, but he was watching Grace with interest, and Lindsay could hardly miss his meaning. He decided to ignore the man.
„We could make a wager. Just between the two of us. A hundred guineas that you two are leg-shackled before Christmas.“
„Do you know how to say anything that does not begin or end with a wager?“ Lindsay kept his tone civil, but he trusted that his irritation was clear. „You are an embarrassment to society. Move out of my way.“
„Looking for a little fun, that’s all. All the young chits are paired up and the Season is only half over. It will be damn dull if I can’t stir things up a bit. No need to take offense. It’s a sure thing for you. You’re as close as two pistols in a gun case.“
„Fetters, I am not wasting money betting with you, not on anything.“
„It would be quite a coup for an army major to marry such a wealthy widow. No money problems ever again. If you don’t want to spare the blunt you could always wager that.“ He flicked a finger at the Waterloo medal.
He grabbed Fetters’ arm and squeezed so hard that the man gasped. „This medal represents something you will never understand, Fetters. Thousands of men died so that you can spend your life making ridiculous wagers. You can insult me all you want. But you will treat this medal and Lady Anderson with the respect they deserve.“
Finally he let go of the man. Grace was still talking to a group of women and had not seen their exchange. Several others had. Wonderful, he thought, praying the conversation would not find its way to the gossip sheets.
As he and Grace reached the lobby, they could see that a heavy rain was what had slowed the departures. Rain was common enough in London. In this case it was the cap on an evening that had been anything but perfect.
Grace turned to him. „Would you like to come to Norfolk Street with me? Then I can have the coachman take you home. It will save your uniform from the wet.“
He bent closer to her so that no one would overhear. „If they see us leave together then we will be the next bit of gossip.“
„Do you care what they think?“ she asked, then waited the barest of moments before turning to the door the porter was holding for them.
As usual she expected no answer from him, but it was all he could do not to give one anyway. No, madam, I am being well paid to not care what society thinks, but for once I would like to be the one making the decisions.
The ride to Norfolk Street was silent. The rain beating on the carriage roof made any but the most perfunctory conversation difficult, and Grace seemed lost in thought.
He watched her through half-closed eyes. There was some internal debate going on, and he did not have to ask to know that he was at the heart of it. As the carriage made the turn from North Audley to Green, she turned to him. „Would you like to come in for a brandy?“
This one was different from the usual question, tentative and uncertain.
„If that is what you would like, my lady.“ What exactly did she want? She had never offered such an invitation before. They had thoroughly dissected the play. What was there left to do this evening? He grimaced at his naivete.
„Major?“
He came back to the moment and realized that he had not heard her reply.
„What I wish,“ she repeated with some brusqueness, „what I wish is that you do what you wish.“
A choice? She was giving him a choice? He did not have to think. „Then no thank you, my lady. I am needed at home.“ It was a lie. He was saying no only because he could.
Completely mortified, Grace tried for a casual „Very well,“ and hoped that he could not feel her chagrin. She wanted nothing more than to be out of the carriage, away from him, but it was clear that Petkin had not heard their arrival. The coachman jumped down and hurried to the door to rouse the butler, or at least find an umbrella.
The silence grew, and Grace’s embarrassment gave way to a fury out of all proportion to his refusal. He was a complete and utter idiot. His instant „No“ seemed so instinctive that she could only assume he had taken a dislike of her. Now he was pretending she did not exist.
„Major.“
He was staring out the window, but with a slowly drawn breath he abandoned his study of the rain-soaked street and gave her his full attention.
„Perhaps you are bored with our arrangement. Shall we say good-bye as well as good night?“
He gave no sign mat he understood her but stared into her eyes, infuriating her all the more, something she had not thought possible. „Is that a yes or a no, Major Lindsay? Have you had enough of this game – is that what your refusal means? I hate it when you expect me to read your mind. I would rather you yell at me, abuse me with words, than suffer this contest of wills.“
He nodded slowly, and when he spoke it was with a calm that was worse than a shout. „I would only bid you good night, madam.“
He looked away from her again, and she saw that those few words had been a terrible blow to his pride. He did, after all, need the work. Need the money she paid him. This was not about his sensibilities, but his livelihood. How could she have forgotten that?
„I will see you tomorrow, then. At eight.“
He nodded, and she admitted to herself that her own pride had been bruised. „The Prince Regent is expected to make an appearance. I want you to look your best.“
He nodded again, his face still without expression. She turned toward the carriage door and the umbrella Petkin held out, wishing that her order had sounded more authoritative and less petulant.
Ten
It could be a very awkward evening, Grace decided. Unleashing anger, and then not apologizing for it, was as forbidden as picking roses from her mother’s garden. It was also rather exhilarating.
Lindsay had come without his medal.
„The ribbon was too frayed and must be replaced.“
„Is it? Did you bring the medal with you? I can send Petkin for a new ribbon.“
„I left it with my man. He’s been tending my uniform for years.“
He glanced away from her as he spoke, and she was sure he was lying. He’d left the medal home solely because she had told him, demanded, that he look his best. In the military that would be called something heinous, she was sure – denying a direct order? And punishable by something equally awful. Whatever it might be, it was not an option for her. She waited until he looked at her again.
„I am disappointed. Very.“ Why was it that she was the one who sounded defiant?
He did no more than bow to her.
Clearly she did not have what it took to be an effective officer, for she had no idea how to handle this. She opted for escape. „Shall we go?“
Lindsay turned with the barest of nods and opened the door before Petkin could be called. The coachman held the carriage door, and she did not speak again until they were both seated.
„Major, would you please check the latch on my necklace? It feels loose.“
She watched his hands while he pulled off his gloves and then turned her back to him, loosened her cloak and bent her neck so he would have a clear view of the necklace. It was still light out, but inside the carriage it was dim, and only now did she realize Lindsay would have to feel the clasp with his hands.