Page 18 of Saving a Scoundrel
Chapter Eleven
The rain stillfell steadily Friday evening. Lucius stared out the carriage window into the wet streets beyond. Gaslights flickered cheerfully inside their glass prisons and cast shadows onto the puddles. The whole damn week had been gray and gloomy. His talk with Mac on Tuesday resulted in him bringing Katy Macdougal to tonight’s dinner party at Hawksridge’s house. She sat across from him, chattering away about how excited she was to dine at the house of a marquess.
“Thank you again for bringing me along, Mr. Grisham.”
“It’s my pleasure. I’m glad to give you an opportunity to wear your new dress.” He winked at her. “You look lovely this evening.”
Miss Macdougal’s lips curved into a flirtatious smile. “Well, I do like a man who can take a hint.”
Oh, he had gotten a hint. He had thought a lot about Mac’s comments the past few days. Katy was a perfectly nice girl, pretty, no doubt had a large dowry, and the extra incentive of being brought into the brewery business as family was damn enticing. He had been adrift for a long time; it would be nice to belong somewhere. To be someone important, someone valued.
“So, Lord Hawksridge is a friend of yours?”
Lucius returned his attention to Katy. “Lord Hawksridge is the twin brother of my brother-in-law, Lord Weston. My sister’s husband.”
“How many siblings do you have, Mr. Grisham?”
“Two. My older brother Edward is married and recently had his first child last summer. My sister Charlotte is younger than me by a year and a half. We are very close. She lives in Hertfordshire with her husband.”
“Growing up as an only child, I have always envied those who had built-in playmates.”
“My older brother was terribly mean to us when we were younger. He is five years older and would take perverse pleasure in causing trouble and then blaming it on Charlotte and me. He also used to lock us into the garden shed to keep us from following him and his friends around.” He gave her a wry grin. “So perhaps you were the lucky one.”
Katy’s eyes were round as saucers. “Well! I think you might be right.”
Lucius chuckled. Glancing out the window, he saw they had turned into Haversham Square. The carriage slowed and pulled to a stop in front of number ten. Lucius hopped out and opened his umbrella again. “Here we are.” He held out a hand to Miss Macdougal. She carefully held her skirts up as they made a mad dash through the rain up to the front door. The black wooden door swung open as they approached the top step, and they were ushered inside by the butler. Lucius gratefully handed over his umbrella and hat to a footman. “There now, did your skirts get too wet?”
Katy smiled up at him. “No. All good.”
Lucius held out his arm. She was a good sport. Most ladies of his acquaintance would be complaining about ruined hair or hemlines by now. They turned to follow the butler up the polished wooden staircase that curved up to the first floor. Hawksridge’s house was massive. Tall ceilings and marble floors on the main level and upstairs, the wide corridors led past room after room before the butler opened double doors to a large drawing room.
“Mr. Lucius Grisham and guest,” the butler intoned before exiting the room to return to his post.
Hawksridge strode over to them. “Grisham, glad you could come.”
“Thank you for inviting us. Miss Macdougal, may I introduce you to Lord Hawksridge?”
Hawksridge gave a polite nod. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Miss Macdougal.”
Katy gave a small curtsy before batting her eyelashes furiously. “You have a lovely home, Lord Hawksridge.”
“Thank you. Let me introduce you to my aunt, Lady Wells. She is my hostess this evening.”
They followed Hawksridge across the room. Lucius gave a small bow to Lady Wells as they were introduced. He vaguely remembered her from his sister’s engagement party last year—a vivacious woman, plump and pretty with a twinkle in her hazel eyes.
“Mr. Grisham, it is nice to see you again. How is your naughty sister?”
Lucius stiffened.
But the lady continued without waiting for a response. “Happy as a clam with my Daniel, no doubt.”
“Aunt, don’t tease. You saw the happy couple yourself over Christmas,” Hawksridge admonished.
Lucius relaxed as he realized Lady Wells was teasing. “Yes, in fact, she wrote me with the good news she and Daniel are expecting their first child.”
“What exciting news! Did you know this Hawksridge?” Lady Wells turned to her nephew.
“Yes, I just received a similar letter.” Hawksridge’s expression softened into a wide smile.
