Page 39 of How to Lose a Lord in Ten Days

She reached out to touch his arm. ‘Thank you.’

He was correct. There was still time. And, if Ashford had not jilted her by the end of tomorrow, there was still one – very terrible – thing she had not yet tried.

11

Thursday – Seven days remaining

‘I’m not sure I can do it.’

It was after dinner the following evening. The party had retired to the drawing room as they always did, and Lydia and Pip were drinking their tea in a pair of armchairs positioned at a little distance from the rest of the group.

‘I’m not sure you need to,’ Pip said. ‘Look at him.’

Across the room, Ashford was seated next to Lady Phoebe on a low sofa, looking distinctly careworn. As well he should. This past day, Lydia had launched an attack of unparalleled magnitude upon Ashford’s defences. From breakfast to dinner, over toast and blancmange, she had interrupted him, misunderstood his witticisms, claimed an ignorance on any topic he raised and referred to him as ‘your grace’. Twice. From the clumsy to the frankly ludicrous, no stone had been left unturned in a siege so thorough that even Reeves had a wary look in his eye when he regarded her.

‘And yet he will not jilt me,’ Lydia said. ‘I need to do something to push him over the edge, Pip.’

Still, she was not certain she had the wherewithal to carry out what she was considering next. It was Aunt Agatha’s most serious rule, and the only one Lydia had never had any difficult following.

‘I would have to be very brave,’ she said.

‘It is everyone else who will have to be brave.’

‘Do you have any other ideas?’

They were running out of time.

Pip did not answer. Lydia followed the direction of his gaze to where Lady Morton and Lord Hesse were deep in conversation.

‘Conspiracy,’ Pip identified darkly, raising his quizzing glass to regard them.

‘Mere flirting,’ Lydia said, shaking her head. ‘I think she just does it to irritate Lady Hesse.’

‘A ruse, perhaps.’

‘There was nothing in Hesse’s chambers,’ Lydia reminded him.

Pip had managed to scour both Lord Hesse and Miss Hesse’s chambers while everyone was enjoying a nuncheon that morning.

‘I shall try Lady Morton next,’ Pip said. ‘She’s practically dripping in jewels.’

Indeed, as Lady Morton turned back to face the room, Lydia could see a glint of rubies at her ears, throat and wrists.

‘Doesn’t that prove she can buy her own?’ Lydia wondered.

‘There are other motives for theft,’ Pip said waspishly.

Lydia opened her mouth to argue but was forestalled.

‘Shall we have some music?’ Lady Morton suggested. ‘We could do with waking up a bit.’

Lydia straightened up, a rush of nerves prickling down her spine. Here it was. Her chance, if she was brave enough to seize it.

‘You cannot,’ Pip hissed in her ear. ‘Fact is, cannot let you.’

‘It would be the perfect distraction for you,’ Lydia whispered. ‘You might slip upstairs while everyone is watching.’

Pip hesitated, clearly torn.