Arrogant? Penelope supplied. Thats not surprising. Lambeths quite arrogant. Of course, I suppose he has every reason to be. Everyone fawns over him, especially giddy young girls looking to marry.
Hes a catch?
Penelope chuckled. I should say so. She looked at her curiously. Do you mean you have not heard of him?
Im afraid not. I have spent the past few years in Bath, you see, living rather quietlysince my husbands death.
Of course. Im sorry. I dont suppose you would have heard of him. Bath is not the sort of place Lambeth frequents. Not exciting enough.
Hes a carouser, then?
Penelope shrugged. I dont know whether he lives a wilder life than most men. But he despises boredom. Bucky says he will go to any lengths to avoid it. Last month, he and Sir Charles Pellingham placed bets on how fast a spider would build its web in the corner of a window at Whites.
Marianne grimaced. He sounds excessively silly.
Sir Charles is, Penelope admitted frankly. But Bucky says that Lambeth is a knowing one.
Who is Bucky? Marianne asked.
Penelope colored slightly. Lord Buckminster. He is a cousin of my good friend Nicola Falcourt. She went on hurriedly, He is considered quite a catch.
Lord Buckminster or Lord Lambeth? Marianne asked quizzically.
Penelopes blush deepened, Well, both, I suppose, but I was speaking about Lord Lambeth. They say hes rich as Croesus, and his father is the Duke of Storbridge, so all the matchmaking mamas consider him fair game.
I see. No wonder the man felt no hesitation in staring so rudely. Probably most of the women at the party would be thrilled to have him notice them. Marianne glanced back in his direction, but he had gone. She and Penelope started their perambulation again.
But I imagine its all useless, Penelope went on. Mother says that theres an unspoken understanding between him and Cecilia Winborne that someday they will marry. It would be a perfect match. Her lineage is as good as his, and there has never been a scandal in her familytheyre all terribly priggish, she added confidentially.
Marianne laughed.
Penelope looked a trifle abashed. Im sorry. I should not have said that. You must think me terrible. Mother says I am always letting my tongue run away with me.
Nonsense, Marianne assured her. I think you are most enjoyable companyand that runaway tongue is one of the main reasons.
Really? Penelope looked pleased. I am always afraid that Im going to say the wrong thingand then, when Im expected to talk, it seems as if my tongue wont even work.
I have often felt that way myself, Marianne lied kindly. In truth, she had rarely been afflicted with shyness. The matron at St. Anselms had always maintained that boldness was her worst vicethe first in a long list, of course.
Her words cheered Penelope up, however, for she began to talk again. Bucky likes Lord Lambeth, says hes a fine chap. But he quite frightens me, Penelope added honestly. He is so very proud and cold. Everyone says so. His whole family is that way. His mother is even scarier than he is.
She must be a terror, then.
She is. Personally, I think she and Cecilia Winborne are cut from the same cloth. But since Lord Lambeth quite disdains love, I suppose it wont matter to him.
Mmm. They sound like a delightful pair.
Penelope giggled.
I sayPenelope! A male voice sounded behind them, and the two women turned to see a man strolling toward them. He was tall and sandy-haired, with a pleasant face, and he was smiling as he looked at Penelope. What good luck, to catch you without Lady Ursula around.
Color dotted Penelopes cheeks, and her soft brown eyes lit up. She held out her hand to him. Bucky! I wasnt sure if you would be here tonight.
Oh, yes. I left the opera early. Nicolas mother will probably have my head the next time I see her, but I mean, really! He paused, indignation clear on his face. Theres only so much of that caterwauling a man can be expected to take!
Penelope smiled. I am sure Lady Falcourt will understand.
No, he replied ruefully. But she wont say much, for fear I wont escort her next time. He turned toward Marianne, saying, Sorry, frightfully rude of me
His words died as he looked into Mariannes face, and the color drained from his cheeks, then came back in a rush. Oh, uh, II say.
It was all Marianne could do to suppress a giggle. Lord Buckminster looked as if someone had hit him on the head.
Mrs. Cotterwood, please allow me to introduce Lord Buckminster, Penelope introduced them.
How do you do? Marianne held out her hand politely.
Oh. I say. Great pleasure, Buckminster managed to get out, stepping forward to take her hand. As he did so, he stumbled, but caught himself. He took Mariannes hand and bowed over it, then released her and stood grinning down at her foolishly.
Marianne sighed inwardly. It was obvious to her that Penelope had very fond feelings for Bucky, but the man seemed oblivious to them. It was just as obvious that he was entranced by Marianne. She had had other men react to her this way. Marianne knew that she had the sort of looks that attracted men, although she was not vain about itmost of her life, her vibrant good looks had been the source of more trouble than good fortune.
Usually an infatuated admirer was no worse than a nuisance; she had learned how to discourage and avoid them. This time, however, she worried that Lord Buckminsters open admiration would make Penelope dislike her. She glanced at Penelope, who looked a trifle sad, but resigned, then at Lord Buckminster, who was still smiling vapidly.
It is very nice to meet you, Marianne said pleasantly to Lord Buckminster, but I am afraid I cannot stay and chat. I must get back to Mrs. Willoughby, or she will wonder what has become of me.
Allow me to escort you, Buckminster said eagerly, straightening his cuff and in the process somehow dislodging the gold cuff link. It dropped to the floor and rolled away. Oh, I say The man looked with some dismay at the piece of jewelry and bent to retrieve it.
Oh, no, Marianne protested quickly. You must stay here and keep Penelope company. I am sure that you have a lot to talk about.
She slipped away immediately, while Buckminsters attention was still concentrated on his cuff link. Her departure was a trifle rude, she knew, but she felt sure that Penelope would not mind.
Weaving her way through the throng of people, Marianne made her way to the door. Snapping open her fan and wafting it as though the heat of the crowd was what had impelled her to leave the ballroom, she strolled along the corridor past a pair of footmen. She glanced about her in a seemingly casual way, noting to herself the locations of doors, windows and stairs. She paused as if to admire a portrait, and as she did so looked out the window, checking its accessibility from the street. Then she wandered to her right until she was out of sight of the footmen.
She made a quick check to be sure that there were no other guests or servants around, then started down the hallway, looking into each room as she passed it. Every one, she saw, was filled with expensive items, from artwork to furniture, but she was concerned only with those things that were easy to transport and just as easy to sell, such as silver vases and ornamental pieces. She was primarily interested in finding the study, for she knew that it was the most likely place for the safe to be located. Finding the safe and the best entrances and exits was always the focus of her job.