The Betting Season (A Regency Season Book) (32 page)

Moira nodded to her friends. “I would just like a few words with them.”

“
Oh, very well. But stay close.”

“
Thank you, Mother.” Moira took a deep breath and slowly walked to her friends when she really wanted to dash across the short distance.

She pulled them close, stuck up her head to look around, making sure no one could hear her, and then whispered, “Have any of you told anyone that I wish to live in Scotland?”

The three shared blank looks and shook their heads.

“
Don’t. That is to be our secret.”

“
But, I thought your plan was to live in Scotland,” Georgie began. “Wouldn’t it make the most sense—”

“
Did you see the
one
Scot in attendance this evening?”

Georgie grimaced.

“
How did your talk with Lord Lydell go?” Patience asked. “I thought for sure you’d take him outside.”

“
He won’t do.” Moira shook his head. “His estate is outside of Bath.”

“
That would be lovely,” Pippa piped in.

“
Only two days from my family estate, where my mother rules from the dower house
,
is quite the opposite of lovely.”

“
I still don’t understand why Scotland is to be a secret,” Patience said.

“
Because Scotland is mentioned in the bet. Apparently, London’s ingenious gentlemen assume it is because I wish to elope, not that I actually want to live there.”

“
You should try to distance yourself from that bet,” Pippa warned.

Moira could well understand why Pippa would feel that way, but Pippa’s circumstances were different. Nobody wanted to put arsenic in her hair. “It wouldn’t matter. All the gentlemen in Town are talking about it. Eventually my mother will learn, and I don’t want her to know all of my plans due to this foolish wager.”

“
Moira,” Patience muttered under her breath. “I have a feeling your mother has just learned of the bet.”

But she couldn’t have. Moira turned around to find her mother bearing down on her, lips thinned in a tense line. “Moira Rose Kirkwood, you are going home with me right now,” she hissed. “Do not even think of making a scene.”

With their arms linked, her mother escorted Moira out of the ballroom, not once relaxing her smile or letting on to anyone how displeased she was, but Moira knew differently. Tension oozed from the woman.

They waited for the carriage in silence, and once they were seated inside and under way, her mother let loose. “You’re practically ruined. It is only the second day. The
second day
of the Season and you are practically ruined already.”

“
I didn’t do anything wrong.”

“
When will you learn to curb your tongue, young lady? You should feel very fortunate if
any
decent gentleman still wishes to court you after this disastrous beginning.”

Gideon stood at the entrance of the dinner room and searched the crowd. There were half a dozen redheads but none of them with gold mixed within. Had Lady Moira left? Two older ladies stopped before him, tittering back and forth over some recent scandal. Gideon just wished they would move on. The ostrich plumes were blocking his view. Why did women wear such ridiculous hats?

“
I thought the Dowager Countess Hearne was about to have an apoplexy when I told her. Her face went deathly white.”

Hearne
?

The woman with the turquoise plume turned, smacking Gideon in the face with her feather. “Then what happened?”

“
I have to give her credit. She remained calm and marched directly to Lady Moira and took her from the room.”

“
Do you think they’ll leave Town?”

Gideon had half a mind to yank the feather from her hat if it brushed near his eye one more time. The women and their blasted feathers kept stepping back, forcing him to move, not the other way around. Instead, he turned and left the ball. If he was not going to dance with Lady Moira, there was no longer a purpose for remaining, as he’d already fulfilled his other dance obligations.

Outside, he took a deep breath. Would her mother take her to the country? Some families did when their daughters had been ruined. Yet, was Lady Moira truly ruined? She hadn’t actually done anything scandalous. Lady Moira had only uttered a few ill-chosen words and captured the attention of every member of White’s.

He glanced in one direction and then another. There were other balls, and if he were serious about finding a wife, he should be making an appearance somewhere else. Yet he wasn’t in the mood. It wasn’t as though there wouldn’t be dozens more balls before the Season ended and he certainly wasn’t going to go back inside the Davenports’. He’d experienced more male companionship during the height of shopping on Bond Street.

Gideon took the watch from his pocket and checked the time beneath the street lamp. Midnight. Not exactly early, but not late enough to return home. He was far too restless to sleep. Where would everyone else be if not at a ball? White’s, of course.

“
I don’t know why they left, and so suddenly,” a young woman said with concern.

Gideon turned as voices drew near. Lady Moira’s older brother and his lovely wife were walking toward him.

“
It doesn’t matter. I am glad to be free of that place,” Hearne grumbled and signaled for his carriage.

“
Ainsely,” Hearne acknowledged.

“
Hearne.” There wasn’t much more to say.

“
Do you happen to know where Lady Moira and her mother went off to?” Lady Hearne questioned him.

“
We don’t need to worry. Just be glad we can go home,” Hearne insisted.

They didn’t know. Should he tell them? Obviously Hearne new about the bet, but what of his wife? He caught and held Hearne’s eyes for a moment.

“
What do you know?” Hearne practically groaned.

“
Perhaps it is better discussed away from your wife.”

The woman’s eyes grew wide and she looked at Hearne. “Your mother learned about the bet.” It was more of a statement than a question.

Apparently, Hearne didn’t bother to shield his wife from gossip or betting books.

“
I am afraid so. I overheard two ladies speaking.”

“
We should go to your sister,” the countess urged.

“
Moira can weather this storm without me. I will call on them first thing in the morning.”

Lady Hearne bit her bottom lip.

“
Trust me. Moira is made of sterner stuff than the two of us put together.”

Hearne focused on Gideon. “Thank you for telling us.”

Gideon simply inclined his head. Even though Hearne wasn’t rushing to his sister’s side, he did admire the man’s concern.

“
Where are you off to? Could we offer you a lift?”

“
White’s, and my carriage should be here in a moment.”

Lady Hearne placed a hand on her husband’s arm. “Perhaps you should go with him.”

“
Why? I want to go home.” Hearne’s eyes bored into hers.

Gideon could even see her blush in the pale light, so he averted his eyes.
If I had a wife I would be at home, in bed and not standing on some street.

“
What if...” She bit her lip.

“
If Moira is the subject of another bet?” Hearn finished her sentence.

The countess cringed. “She did reject Lord Lydell tonight.”

“
Bloody hell,” Hearne muttered.

“
I’m headed there anyway. You go home,” Gideon found himself offering. “If another bet appears, I’ll come by in the morning.”

“
Thank you.” Hearne clapped Gideon on the shoulder as two carriages pulled up to the curb.

“
But, Nyle, what if...” the countess protested.

“
There isn’t anything I can do about it tonight.”

“
What were you thinking?”

Her mother had been ranting ever since they stepped through the door. All Moira wanted to do was change into her night clothing and crawl into bed. No real harm had been done. It was a stupid bet, which she had dealt with rather well, and it would soon be forgotten. Then she could find her Scot.

“
What was I thinking to send you to that Broadmoor Academy?” Her mother practically gulped from her glass of wine. “The four of you were inseparable in your studies
and
in mischief. It appears now you will all face ruination together.”

“
Really, Mother, you make it sound as if—”

Mother wheeled around, shaking her finger at Moira. “Do not interrupt me. You have no idea the embarrassment I faced tonight to learn that
my
daughter intends to compromise a gentleman.”

“
It was made in gest,” Moira mumbled.

“
When will you ever learn that even the slightest remark that can be taken as scandalous is the only thing society hears? Your sister
never
behaved this way. She was the perfect, dutiful daughter.”

“
I said I was sorry.”

“
Well, at least you didn’t fall as far as Lady Philippa.” Her mother shuddered. “That gel will be lucky if any true gentleman actually considers her this Season.”

Moira opened her mouth to point out that one particular gentleman did seem to take interest but thought it wiser to hold her tongue.

“
And you had the perfect opportunity to make a good impression on Lord Lydell this evening, but the gentleman couldn’t get away from you quick enough after you spoke.”

“
Mother.” Moira stood. “He was the other subject of the bet. He only sought me out because he is broke and needs an heiress.”

“
There is nothing wrong with marrying for those reasons.” Her mother poured another glass of wine. “In fact, it is far better to marry on those terms than for a silly emotion.”