A Proper Companion by Candice Hern

friend's
outrageousness. Lady Mary was often bold to a fault, still
relishing her independence from her late father's strict household.
Emily could not help but envy such spirit, and often longed for the
freedom to give rein to the natural liveliness of her own nature.
She recognized, though, that such forward behavior would never be
tolerated in a woman in service.
    Emily was amused but not surprised at her friend's
easy banter with the earl. Lady Mary especially enjoyed teasing
gentlemen, particularly those considered "dangerous," the ones
gently bred females were warned against. Lady Mary believed that
she held no physical attractions for them and was therefore
completely at ease in their company. Emily suspected, however, that
more than a few gentlemen were nevertheless charmed by Lady Mary's
unaffected manners.
    "I shall try to retain something of my former self
beneath the new veneer of propriety, my lady," Robert said. He bent
over and put his face close to Lady Mary's ear. "But only to be
revealed to my closest friends," he added in a low, soft voice.
    "Then I shall hope to become your friend, my lord,"
she replied, totally unabashed by the earl's seductive charm.
    "It is my hope as well, Lady Mary," he said,
impressed by her composure. He considered himself a master in the
art of flirtation and was unused to having his well-practiced
charms show no effect. Rather than being disappointed, he instead
found that his initial estimation of Lady Mary's character had
risen considerably.
    Perhaps he should have come to Bath more often. In
this short visit he had already met two out-of-the-ordinary young
women who more than piqued his interest. He experienced a brief
moment of frustration that his betrothal was so quickly affecting
his normal way of life, before he returned his attention to the
ladies.
    "I regret," he said, "that I must now ask Miss
Townsend's indulgence, as my grandmother is ready to begin the walk
back to Laura Place."
    Emily turned at once and bid farewell to her friend.
She and Robert walked away after exchanging final pleasantries with
Lady Mary. "I liked your friend. Miss Townsend," Robert said as he
steered them through the crowded room toward the dowager. "She is
delightfully plain spoken."
    "Yes," Emily said, smiling, "Lady Mary does speak
her mind. I find her artless manners most refreshing. I am glad you
like her."
    They soon joined the dowager, who was anxious to
depart. Before they had reached the door, Sir Percy had dashed up
to make his farewells. As they began their walk past the Abbey and
the Orange Grove toward the Pulteney Bridge, Emily blushed in
silence as Lord Bradleigh and the dowager teased her over the
enthusiastic attentions of Sir Percy.
     
    * * *
     
    The dowager's normal evening entertainments had come
almost to a halt while the household readied itself for the move to
London. With the exception of one Wednesday evening concert in the
Upper Rooms, most evenings found the dowager, her grandson, and
Emily staying at home and dining without company. Although the
dowager preferred a larger group to dine, providing more diverse
conversation, she did not wish to put her staff to the additional
trouble of entertaining guests during this busy time. She was also
well aware that these intimate evenings provided the perfect
opportunity for Robert and Emily to become better acquainted.
    Emily had learned much of Lord Bradleigh's history
and character by listening as he matched wits and anecdotes with
his grandmother. She noted that the only subjects he seemed
unwilling to discuss involved his betrothal or his betrothed. She
did, however, begin to suspect that he was less of a libertine than
he let on. She had even picked up a few hints that much of his
unsavory reputation was deliberately manufactured by the earl
himself in an attempt to make himself an unsuitable candidate for
the Marriage Mart. He had laughingly admitted to having allowed
several lurid but wholly untrue stories of his