Free Sheri Cobb South by Brighton Honeymoon Page B

his younger days than it is now.”
    An earl, Polly thought. Certainly he would fit her mother’s description of a gentleman of Quality. Unfortunately, there was bound to be a certain amount of awkwardness in accosting a stranger and claiming to be his illegitimate child, as well as a number of obstacles to be overcome—his wife, for instance, might be less than pleased to be presented with living proof of her husband’s infidelity.
    “Is Lord Camfield married?”
    The directness of the question momentarily startled Sir Aubrey out of his air of elegant ennui. He subjected Polly to a close scrutiny of which she was blissfully unaware, her attention being fully engaged by the gentleman in the distant box.
    “I believe the earl is a widower.”
    Polly nodded, a gesture indicative of approval which was not lost on the baronet. It appeared the mysterious Miss Crump had not come to find a brother at all, but a husband. Apparently a man more than twice her age would do nicely, so long as he was an earl. Far from being repulsed by such raw ambition, Sir Aubrey marvelled at her effrontery. After all, what was she doing that was not done by every milk-and-water miss ever to darken the threshold of Almack’s? The only difference, so far as he could tell, was that she was resorting to trickery and subterfuge to beat the milk-and-water misses at their own game.
    But the question remained: why, of all people, had she chosen Mr. Brundy as her “brother”? If a brilliant marriage was what she wanted, surely she should have looked higher than a weaver, even a fabulously wealthy one, to sponsor her in Society. Although now that he thought of it, perhaps she had been less interested in Mr. Brundy’s wealth than she was in Lady Helen’s social position. In fact, when seen through an adventuress’s eyes, the Brundys must appear a perfect combination. Mr. Brundy could fund her little adventure, and Lady Helen could provide the needed social entree. And if the charade required that she claim to be a near relation, how was Mr. Brundy to deny it? No one, least of all Mr. Brundy himself, knew who his father was, and his mother was too dead to refute the charge. Yes, Miss Crump was a cunning little minx; Sir Aubrey would give long odds to any man for whom she set her cap.
    The curtain fell on the first act shortly afterwards, and Sir Aubrey was not in the least surprised when Lord Camfield, with whom he was only casually acquainted, stopped by their box for a visit. As Mr. Brundy and Lady Helen had taken advantage of the brief intermission to take a turn about the lobby (or that was their story, at any rate), Lord Camfield sat down in Mr. Brundy’s vacated chair with every appearance of a man preparing to settle in for the night.
    “Lady Tabor, your humble servant,” said the earl, with a nod for her ladyship. “And Sir Aubrey, always a pleasure. Pray make me known to your charming companion.”
    “Of course,” replied Sir Aubrey, giving Polly a quizzical look. “Miss Crump, may I present Lord Camfield?”
    At last face to face with the man who might be her father, Polly searched the earl’s countenance for some likeness to her own, and found it in his twinkling blue eyes.
    “How do you do?” she asked somewhat breathlessly.
    “The better, I am sure, for having met you. Miss Crump,” he returned gallantly, raising her gloved hand to his lips. “Tell me, is this your first visit to Brighton?”
    “Indeed, it is, my lord.”
    “And what, pray, do you think of the Royal Pavilion?”
    “I’m afraid I cannot say, as I have not had the pleasure of a visit,” confessed Polly.
    “That will change soon enough,” predicted Lord Camfield confidently. “Once Prinny gets a good look at you—but that’s neither here nor there. Will I see you at the assembly tomorrow night? It is to be held at the Old Ship Hotel.”
    Polly nodded. “I believe Lady Helen plans to attend. If so, I will accompany her.”
    “Good, good!  Then I shall