May Mistakes by Merry Farmer

Author:Merry Farmer [Farmer, Merry]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-07-19T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 12

Misery was not a strong enough word to describe how Basil felt about returning to London with the sole purpose of ingratiating himself to past lovers. Malcolm hadn’t given him a moment’s peace since the second he arrived, dragging him to teas and recitals, the theater and now the Margate ball, when all he wanted to do was stay home and compose his thoughts enough to write an impassioned letter to Elaine, begging for forgiveness.

“It’s so good to see you make your grand debut back into society at our humble ball,” Lord Margate said with bloated self-importance, greeting Basil as he arrived.

“It is my pleasure,” Basil replied, lying through his teeth. Margate was a self-serving fool, but everyone who was anyone attended his parties, particularly when they had a political theme. Basil had been assured most of the May Flowers would be there, although they weren’t the only women he had to worry about.

“I expect you’ll be wanting to renew all of your old acquaintances,” Lady Margate said as she greeted him, a flicker of heat in her eyes. “We did so miss you,” she added in a salacious tone.

Basil nodded politely to her and said, “I’ve changed,” before excusing himself and marching off.

That had been the first of a dozen similar encounters. As word that the Missing Earl of Waltham had returned made its way around the room, he was inundated.

“I hear you were living in a hermit’s hut down in Cornwall, eating raw fish,” Lord Essex said with a guffaw as Basil was dragged into a circle of peers that were known for hard drinking and harder gambling.

“Find any mermaids out there on the coast?” Lord Pembroke added with a lascivious snort.

“I was not in Cornwall,” Basil told them, standing rigidly straight and relying on every bit of the poise his father had drilled into him to keep from flying into a temper.

“Must have been Devon then,” Lord Essex laughed. “I’d like to get my hands on one of those mermaids, if you know what I mean.” He made a rude gesture to demonstrate just what part of the mermaid he wanted to handle.

“If you will excuse me, gentlemen.” Basil nodded then shot straight across the ballroom as the musicians began to tune.

“Lord Waltham,” a languorous, female voice stopped him.

Basil winced inwardly and turned to find Lady Alice Lindsey sashaying toward him, fanning herself coquettishly. “Lady Lindsey.” He nodded with more formality than he’d used in a decade.

“The music is starting. Would you care to dance?” Her lips twitched and her eyes shone as she touched his arm.

Everything in him wanted to say no. He could tell by the way Alice fingered the lace of her dress’s low-cut neckline that dancing was just a prelude to her. But it was the sprig of apple blossom pinned to the same neckline, a May-blooming flower, that told him he couldn’t refuse. Not unless he wanted Malcolm to castrate him.

“I would enjoy that,” Basil lied.

Alice cooed in victory and let him lead her out onto the dance floor for a waltz.

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