Page 72 of How to Lose a Lord in Ten Days

What inarticulate demon had seized her tongue? She recalled her plan with an effort.

‘Ashford, I need to speak with you. Privately.’

Standing a good four feet apart, she had no chance of slipping the box back into his pocket. Some kind of tête à tête would be much easier – but Ashford had already turned to walk towards the stairs.

‘It will have to wait,’ he said. ‘Unlike you, I do mind being late.’

‘It shall not take above a minute,’ she said, hurrying to catch up. ‘It is important.’

She seized his arm, tugging at it entreatingly. He resisted for a moment, before sighing and allowing her to pull him into the second-floor parlour.

‘For someone who doesn’t wish to marry me,’ he said. ‘You certainly spend an awful amount of time trying to get me alone.’

He extracted his arm from her grip and moved a little further into the room, putting an entirely unhelpful amount of space between them. Rats. That wouldn’t do at all.

‘Well?’ he said. ‘What is it, that simply could not wait?’

‘Regarding Miss Hesse,’ she began (two birds, one stone), taking a step forward and trying not to look him over too obviously. Where exactly were his pockets?

‘No,’ he said.

It was obviously not in the plan for Lydia to become distracted, but it was impossible not to be, when he was being so maddeningly hypocritical.

‘Will you not consider paying your addresses to her? That way, you would still be engaged before your father comes home!’

‘I see, I see,’ he said. ‘Forgive me, there are just a few small matters you are forgetting.’

‘Which are?’

‘Miss Hesse?’ he said. ‘Her desires? Is any of this ringing a bell?’

‘As long as you purchase for her a pug she will not mind,’ she assured him.

‘Oh, well, now you have explained it to me in such a way,’ Ashford said, throwing his hands up in the air, ‘I shall immediately comply!’

‘Truly?’

‘No,’ he said. ‘What of Mr Brandon?’

Lydia bit her lip. ‘It’s obvious he carries a candle for her. But Lady Hesse appears to hold him in such low account – do you truly think she will approve the match?’

‘Perhaps not,’ Ashford said. ‘But poor friend I would be if I stood in his way. If that is all …?’

He moved towards the door. She sidestepped into his way.

‘I have not finished!’

‘I have!’

He made a bid for the door again. Quick as a flash, she kicked out the doorstop.

‘Don’t!’ Ashford jumped forward, but a second too late. The door closed with a resounding slam.

‘You ninny!’ he said. ‘This door jams in the heat. Were you not listening, during Reeves’ tour?’

‘Of course not,’ she said. ‘Was anyone?’

Ashford reached around her to tug at the handle. It did not budge. He heaved at it. No movement.