Free Kate Moore by An Improper Widow Page A

After a moment his hold gentled, and he released her.
    “Mrs. Bowen, do not deny that you have been longing to dance this evening.”
    Susannah stared at him and shook her head. How had he recognized her longing?
    “If not to please me, then for your cousin’s sake,” he said. “To show the world there is no ill will between myself and the Lacys.”
    There it was, just as she’d suspected. He had been looking for her weakness, hoping that she might be the one to tell him what he wished to know about their adventure. Oh, he was clever. He guessed how susceptible she would be to a little flattery, a little attention, a chaperone in her cap, a widow, no doubt starved for a man’s notice. But she had her unruly spirit firmly in hand now.
    “I am glad you harbor no resentment against Miss Lacy,” she said carefully. “My cousin can hardly be held responsible for the acts of rash young men or for her mother’s indiscreet tongue. I promise to do my best to keep her from incurring your displeasure.”
    The blue eyes narrowed dangerously. He understood her.
    She offered him a parting nod and made her way to Juliet’s side, smiling at the gentlemen around her cousin. She would see Juliet safely wed no matter what Lord Warne had to say.

9
    With a rare burst of sense, Evelina insisted that Juliet not be at home to callers the day following the Shalford ball. She seemed to realize that Juliet had had an unexpected degree of success and argued that her daughter should keep any interested gentlemen waiting. They shopped and made calls and returned to find the basket on the entry table filled with cards.
    The Marquess of Warne sent roses for Juliet and violets for Susannah. Juliet pointed out to her mother that the card with the roses was indeed the same card the highwayman had given her, which prompted Evelina to say, “He means to court you, dear. I knew Esther made too much of that episode.”
    She drifted off to consult Mrs. Chettle, and Juliet turned to Susannah. “I wonder what he means sending
you
flowers, cousin?”
    “He means it as a courtesy to you, I imagine,” Susannah replied.
    “I don’t think so.” Juliet gave Susannah a curious glance. “He talked more to you than he did to me. I suppose you are more nearly his age.”
    Susannah did not reply. If Lord Warne meant to weaken her defenses with violets, he was mistaken in her character.
    ***
    Kirby made three visits to Lackington’s in Finsbury Square before he was rewarded by the sight of Miss Lacy among the shoppers. She looked particularly fine in a close-fitting blue jacket and dainty white bonnet. She took no notice of the books, but began at once to look about at the other customers. He had positioned himself in the corner where two rows of scholarly works in Greek were kept, and his prior visits had convinced the clerks that he was an elderly pedant interested in the current debate on Homer’s authorship of
The Iliad.
In spite of the itchy discomfort of the false beard and moustache, he had been following Archer’s treatise in favor of a single author for the epic.
    He had picked Lackington’s because the size of the establishment invited wandering and permitted private conversation, but he saw an additional advantage to such a meeting place as Miss Lacy’s cousin gazed in wonder at the floor-to-ceiling shelves. A clerk approached the two ladies, and after a short exchange led the cousin to a section Kirby knew to be devoted to modern poets. Miss Lacy trailed behind.
    Her cousin accepted a volume from the clerk and on opening the book seemed to forget Juliet, who hesitated less than a minute, then began making her way around the large room, looking closely at the other patrons. He returned his book to the shelf and leaned on his cane, moving with a slow hobble toward the girl. Their paths crossed at one of the tall ladders to the highest shelves. He pulled a volume from the shelf on his side of the ladder and held it out to her, saying, “Excuse