Somewhat Scandalous (Brambridge Novel 1) by Pearl Darling Read Free Book Online

appeared brown and dull. He tensed as her shoulders slumped slightly, and she pulled her wrap more firmly around herself.
    “Miss Beauregard,” he said quietly.
    She turned, a small flush of pleasure ran through him as her direct gaze met his. But then she glanced behind him and a smile spread across her face. A sharp elbow pushed him out of the way.
    “Oh terribly sorry, Anglethorpe. Didn’t see you there. Wanted to say hello to Miss Beauregard.” The owner of the sharp elbow clapped a hand on his shoulder and then turned away.
    “Not to worry, Fashington.” Henry stared at the back of the man as he slid away to join Agatha. Charles Fashington was a regular at Hartley Place, in fact more than a regular; he was always in to see Lord Granwich, and yet Granwich hardly ever referred to him.
    Henry frowned as the man produced a small oval item from his pocket and Agatha laughed. She pushed the object into her skirts and looked up at him with adoration . Clenching his fingers, Henry strode away. There was always something a little off about Charles.
    He couldn’t settle at the card tables, nor pick up any of the information that was being told from one table to the next. He didn’t seem to be able to process it, Agatha’s heart shaped face staring out at him knowingly from each card in his hand.
    A shadow fell across his hand and broke his concentration. “More champagne, sir?”
    Henry dropped the cards on the canasta table. “Deal me out please.” Nodding at the other players, he stepped away from the table and took the champagne that the footman was offering.
    “I can’t find my contact, sir. He seems to have disappeared.” Ames stared at him from below an artfully arranged wig, his salt and pepper hair now covered with deep mahogany strands.
    Henry shook his head. “I didn’t have high hopes anyway.” He stared across the card tables back into the ballroom. The laughing couples danced around the floor without a care in the world. Victoria swept by in the arms of a young soldier. Lifting his chin, he couldn’t see Agatha in the dancing crowd.
    “Where is Miss Beauregard?”
    “I believe she is sitting at the edge of the ballroom, sir. She is demonstrating something to Mr. Fashington.”
    “What the hell?”
    “Oh yes. Miss Aggie has quite the scientific following, my lord.”
    “Following?”
    “The ton is divided into those that find her simple demonstrations amusing and those that deem them a little too outrageous.”
    “Outrageous?” Henry drained his champagne glass and nodded at Ames as the bubbles irritated his throat. “We need to nip this in the bud before she, they become a laughing stock. Do you know what Fashington gave to Miss. Aggie earlier?”
    “No.”
    “I’m sure I’ll find out.” Settling his glass back onto Ames’ tray, Henry skirted the edge of the card room, hesitating at the entrance to the ballroom. Over the tops of the dancers he could just see Agatha’s bent head, her finger jabbing in the air animatedly. He took a step forward.
    “Lord Anglethorpe! How lovely to see you. Have you met my daughter…?”
    “Angelina is most desirous to make your acquaintance your lordship, she has always…”
    Shaking his head, Henry took another step forward and almost fell to the floor. The small foot of a matron withdrew itself neatly back under her skirts. “I beg your pardon, Lord Anglethorpe… have you met…?”
    “No I haven’t,” he said curtly. “If you will excuse me, I have something to deal with.”
      “Miss Beauregard you mean.” The matron glowered, patting her daughter’s hand. “My Angelina would never do…”
    “Excuse me.” This was why he never entered a ballroom. That and the aching memories of his mother gliding through the throng, a happy smile on her face as she pulled his father out of the card rooms. Dance with me, Henry she would say, your father will be a while yet.
    Henry strode quickly away from the knot of matrons, and, skirting