Free Lady Beresford's Lover by Ella Quinn

looks they would make a stunning pair. “I am positive that if I could contrive to spend a little time with him, he would like me.”
    Emily lowered her voice. “I know that tone, Cressida Banks. What are you planning?”
    “Me?” Cressida rounded her eyes, doing her best to appear innocent. “Nothing bad, I assure you.” Though if she happened to find herself alone with Lord Stanstead . . .
    “I don’t believe you, and you had better be careful.” Her friend hid her frown behind her fan as she scolded. “We are not in the country where you can talk yourself out of mischief. Pull the same stunts here, and you will never receive another card for Almack’s again.”
    The more Cressida thought about Lord Stanstead, the more of a challenge he became. If she could manage to be caught with him, she wouldn’t want to talk herself out of it, or care about Almack’s. It would be the best match she could make. No longer would she be treated like a child. As the Countess of Stanstead, everyone would have to take her seriously. All she had to do now was pay close attention to where he went, and put herself in his way as often as possible.
     
    When the music stopped, Vivian had not been ready for the set to end. Lord Stanstead placed her hand on his arm, and they rejoined their little circle, as she now thought of it. The last time she was in Town, she had been forced to attend event after event, like a horse being shown at Tattersalls. This time, she was allowed to select her own friends and not be at the whim of others. Except when it came to supper with those selfsame companions. Although she discovered she did not mind at all. Perhaps because her new friends were interested in more than clothing and marriageable gentlemen.
    It turned out Phoebe and Lady Beaumont were close relatives, and had decided they should all have supper together. Silvia was instructed to bring along the gentleman escorting her. He was a solid man of middling height who spent a great deal of time talking about his home county and appeared slightly in awe of the illustrious company he was now keeping.
    It wasn’t long before Lady Beaumont was discussing various methods of farming with him, while the rest of them talked of the sights Silvia and Vivian ought not to miss. High on the list were the Elgin Marbles, which she’d heard of but had never seen.
    Lord Stanstead leaned toward her, placing his lips close enough to her ear that his warm breath caused a shiver to skate down her neck. “If you’re not already engaged, I’d love to escort you to the museum to-morrow.”
    “I thought you were taking part in the debate on the Corn Laws?” Lord Beaumont said.
    Lord Stanstead pressed his lips together. “I’d forgot.”
    “We can do it another day if you wish,” Vivian offered. That there was a debate she did not doubt, yet something, a hardness in Lord Beaumont’s tone, told her his cousin was not completely pleased Lord Stanstead wished to spend more time with her.
    “Thank you.” For some reason he seemed to be sitting closer to her. “May I send a note to you suggesting a day and time?”
    “Don’t be silly, Stanstead,” Clara interjected. “Of course you may. Though, after her success this evening, you might have to wait until next week or so.”
    What was going on? First Lord Beaumont and now Clara seemed to be against it. Was merely having Lord Stanstead escort her to the museum such a bad idea?
    He stared at his cousin for a moment, then turned to Vivian. “The day after to-morrow, if you are free, my lady. I’m sure my cousin is able to vote my proxy if need be.”
    “I have nothing planned. Thank you. I very much wish to see them.”
    A fleeting self-satisfied smile graced Clara’s face. So that’s what she’d been up to, attempting to goad Lord Stanstead into setting a date, not the other way around.
    Not long after supper ended, Clara announced that it was time for her and her charges to retire for the evening. Vivian