Bath Scandal by Joan Smith Read Free Book Online Page A

every day, and he lets me drive his curricle, too, but only in the countryside.”
    Southam directed a sharp look at Mrs. Searle. “Every day!”
    Before Bea could reply, the duke reached his quarry and made a clumsy bow in Southam’s direction, while reaching out his hand to Gillie. “Our dance, I believe,” he said.
    “I don’t have the pleasure of your new friend’s acquaintance, Gillie,” Southam said. His voice was tense with displeasure. The raking gaze he bestowed on Tannie reduced the recipient to charred cinders.
    “This is Tannie. I told you about him,” Gillie said, in her offhand way. “Tannie, this is my brother, Lord Southam.”
    “Very pleased to make your acquaintance, sir,” Tannie mumbled, and blushed.
    “And still I do not have your friend’s last name,” Southam pointed out.
    Gillie frowned a moment in perplexity. “I don’t actually know it.” Southam’s mouth fell open. She turned to the duke and asked, “Would it be Evendon, like your Uncle Horatio?”
    “That’s right. Tannie’s short for Tanford—my mama’s maiden name,” the duke explained.
    Southam’s face was as transparent as glass. Bea saw him search his mind to identify the name. The present duchess sprang from an undistinguished family and was noble only by virtue of her marriage. The name Tanford, from Northumberland, was obviously unknown to him, for his expression stiffened to hauteur as he raked the duke in a cold glance from head to toe. “Gillie, I think you and I—”
    Bea jumped in to forestall offending this prime parti. “Perhaps you were acquainted with Tannie’s papa, Lord Southam,” she said hastily. “The late Duke of Cleremont, and this, of course, is the present duke.”
    She watched as Southam blinked in astonishment, and his frozen features congealed to a delighted smile. “Ah, the Duke of Cleremont! Yes, indeed. I knew your papa well. I have a mount from his stable. And the duchess—I did not recognize her maiden name.”
    “Black Lady,” the duke said. “The horse, I mean. Tanford was Mama’s family name.”
    “Just so, from Northumberland.”
    “May we go now? The squares are forming,” Tannie pointed out.
    “Certainly! You youngsters run along. Enjoy yourselves. We must have a chat later, Duke,” he called after their fleeing forms. The duke and Gillie scuttled off like a pair of miscreants.
    Bea gave Southam a mocking smile and said, “The duke is a dear boy. Why did you frighten him with those black scowls, when I have been at such pains to make him comfortable here? He is an excellent parti, Southam, despite his creased jacket. Much better than Lord Stuyvesant.”
    He shook his head in confusion. “One would never guess it to look at him. He has all the countenance of a junior clerk at Whitehall. So that is old Cleremont’s heir. Yes, a prime parti. What do you suppose he sees in little Gillie?”
    “A lonesome youngster, like himself,” she replied.
    “Gillie lonesome? My house is full of people. She has her sisters and me, and Deborah.”
    “Of course,” Mrs. Searle said, but she did not rescind her first statement. “You must be feeling peckish after your trip, Lord Southam. Would you care for some mutton?”
    “I shan’t disturb you at this busy time. I’ll run along to the inn. May I return later?”
    “I would ask you to dinner, but we are dining out this evening. A few of my friends and I have arranged to take these young ladies to the Upper Rooms after dinner. I wanted Gillie to have some girlfriends, as well as beaux.”
    “That was very kind of you. I did wonder, when you were dressed for evening so early in the afternoon.”
    “I noticed your remark about a ball,” she reminded him with a cool look but one not devoid of laughter.
    Lord Southam looked younger and much more handsome when he smiled. “I did put my foot in it, did I not? I had to wonder at your wearing such a charming gown so early in the day. It is the business of our not being very