A Rival Heir by Laura Matthews Page B

for…um…lifting small objects from the very best homes in London. This gentleman has been married three times, has nine children, and is a member of the present government!”
    “Ah, I see what you mean. Do her stories shock you?”
    “Oh, no. Eccentricity runs in my family, and I can only be comforted by finding that it is rampant even amongst the most well born.”
    Sir Hugh laughed. Nell warmed to the rich sound. He seemed genuinely delighted, the light in his eyes dancing with his enjoyment. How different a laugh could sound!
    One of the gentlemen at the Assembly Rooms that evening had brayed when he laughed, an exceedingly irritating sound. Especially as she was not at all certain that effete fellow hadn’t been expressing his amusement at her costume. And Sir Hugh, after his first glance of astonishment, hadn’t betrayed the slightest hint of criticism. Which further endeared him to her. 
    She had almost gotten up her courage to ask Sir Hugh about his sister’s problematic intentions toward her, Nell, when the carriage drew up in front of the house in Queen Square. She waited while he handed Aunt Longstreet  down onto the pavement. When he took her own hand, she was forced to grasp his firmly as she maneuvered the stiff bustled gown through the narrow doorway.
    In her eagerness to find herself firmly on the ground, she slid slightly on the stair and the baronet’s other hand came instantly to her waist to support her. His aid lasted only a moment, as she was soon safely on the ground. Oh, it was the smallest of actions, but Nell chose to tuck it, along with the sensation it aroused in her, away in her mind. It was the sort of detail one needed to embellish a daydream, and she might have great need of daydreams when they returned to Longstreet Manor.
    * * * *
    Nell was convinced that Aunt Longstreet had some devilry afoot. It was not so much that her mood was low; in fact, if anything there seemed to be a suppressed excitement about her. The day after the assembly Nell happened upon Rosemarie in the study with a volume of the Peerage open. When the older woman heard her niece enter the room, she quickly snapped shut the book she had been perusing and slid it away.
    “Can I help you find something?” Nell asked cautiously.
    “Nothing! I was just paging through in the hopes of coming upon a familiar name.”
    Though Nell did not believe this for a minute, she merely nodded. Since the two women had gone straight to bed the previous evening, Nell now asked, “Did you enjoy yourself last night, Aunt Longstreet?”
    Rosemarie Longstreet scowled, but said in only a slightly disparaging tone, “What is there to enjoy in such a crush of people? It was hot and the wine was watered, just as one would expect. I trust you do not cherish the ambition to attend any more assemblies.”
    “Oh, I don’t know. There was such a festive air to it,” Nell said dreamily. “The ladies looked so pretty in their finery—and the gentlemen so handsome. I thought Mrs. Holmsly’s husband particularly fascinating.”
    Her aunt eyed her speculatively. “Seemed a dull dog to me. Talked of nothing but the condition of the roads.”
    “I saw them dancing as we were waiting for the carriage. They make such a fine looking couple.” Nell paused, drawing her hand absently across a volume of the Peerage. “Aunt Longstreet, does your dislike of Lord Westwick have its root in the past?”
    Her aunt’s face took on a fierce, determined look. “That is none of your business, missy. You are not to be making friends with him, either, do you hear? I was most displeased to see you stroll off on his arm, let me tell you.”
    “Unless you can give me a reason for being anything but pleasant to the man, I shall have to decide for myself, ma’am.”
    “Don’t be impertinent!” Rosemarie snapped. “If I tell you he is to be shunned, you must accept my word.”
    “My dear aunt, there are so few people of whom you approve that I would be