Free A Rival Heir by Laura Matthews

getting ourselves from Queen Square to the Upper Rooms.”
    “So I see.” Sir Hugh glanced around briefly, as though to satisfy himself that they had not, in fact, come with an escort. He lowered his voice to say, “It is, however, customary for ladies alone at night to be attended by a male escort. I would prefer it in future if you would call upon me for that service.”
    “You would prefer it?” Aunt Longstreet sputtered. “What the devil does that have to say to anything? I shall do precisely as I choose.”
    There was steel in his voice when he replied, “I certainly hope you will think better of that decision, ma’am. I should not like to think of your being accosted on the streets of Bath because you were without an escort.”
    “We had the footman,” she retorted, defiant. “We had no need for another.”
    “Ah, but I think you did,” he said, his tone smooth and his voice not carrying beyond their little trio. “I am your godson, Miss Longstreet, and it would be my pleasure—an it were not my duty—to see you safely about Bath, at any time you should require my services.”
    Nell was surprised to see her aunt turn away from him rather than counter him with her usual invective. But there was indeed something about Sir Hugh’s demeanor which was just a trifle intimidating. His will, apparently, was quite as strong as her aunt’s in this matter, and he obviously had no intention of being gainsaid. He turned toward Nell with a slight smile and added, “I think you are a woman of good sense, Miss Armstrong. I trust you will call upon me in future to render you and my godmother such escort services as you may require.”
    “Indeed,” she replied, not meeting his sharp gaze.
    Nell heard his exasperated sigh and clenched her hands more firmly together. More than anything she wished to simply disappear from the face of the earth. Or at the very least to be safely at home in the parlor in Queen Square, or better yet at Longstreet Manor. To her alarm, she heard Sir Hugh say, “Perhaps you would care to join this set with me, Miss Armstrong?”
    The color rose higher on her cheeks. “Oh, no. Thank you, but I could not.”
    “Did you not come to dance?” he inquired gently.
    “No. That is… I have no intention of dancing.”
    Nell heard a little gasp beside her and turned to find Sir Hugh’s sister Emily staring at her. “Whyever not?” Emily demanded. “Hugh is an exquisite dancer, Miss Armstrong.”
    Nell dropped a curtsy to the pretty young matron. “Oh, that does not surprise me at all, but you see I have never been to a dance before and I have no knowledge of how to execute all those intricate steps.”
    “Never been to a dance before!” Emily looked truly shocked. “But that’s unconscionable!”
    “No, why should it be?” Nell asked. “We have come merely as observers tonight, my aunt and I. I am quite enchanted with the colors and the music and the elegance of the dancers. We were going to find ourselves chairs where we might enjoy the proceedings.”
    Sir Hugh, his face impassive, bowed and said, “Allow me to find seats for you.”
    “Yes, do make yourself of some use,” Aunt Longstreet suggested, “instead of just standing there and prosing on at us.”
    The baronet accepted this sally without demurral. Turning to his sister he asked, “Where are you seated, Emily? Would they have a view of the dancing from there?”
    “Yes, indeed,” Emily assured them. “Please, follow me.”
    The crowds seemed to part before Emily’s determined progress. When a young gentleman attempted to stay her, she rapped his hand with her fan and exclaimed, “Not now, Whissenby! If I promised you this dance, I am very sorry, but I have a duty to perform.”
    And perform it she did as she presented her seats to the two visitors with a flourish of her hand. “Here! The best seats in the rooms, if I do say so myself. Holmsly is wonderful at that sort of thing. Pray be seated and Hugh will bring you