Return of Scandal's Son by Janice Preston

Author:Janice Preston [Preston, Janice]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2015-09-19T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eighteen

‘Her ladyship is in the drawing room,’ Pacey said, when Matthew called at Eleanor’s house in Upper Brook Street that afternoon. He had delayed his visit until as late in the day as possible, in the hope that Eleanor’s usual pack of admirers had been and gone.

‘Does her ladyship have any callers with her at present?’ he asked the butler as he led the way up the stairs.

‘Indeed she does, sir. The door knocker has been busy all afternoon.’ The butler’s voice rang with satisfaction.

Matthew’s heart sank. That meant he must kick his heels, waiting for the chance to speak to Eleanor and her aunt in private. Not a comfortable prospect when he had little hope Eleanor had yet forgiven him for the argument with James that morning. As they reached the top of the stairs, however, Matthew slammed to a halt, sick realisation twisting his stomach.

‘Pacey!’

The butler looked round enquiringly.

‘My apologies, but I have recalled an urgent matter I must attend to.’

That is becoming a too-familiar excuse—the sooner I reclaim my own name the better. I cannot continue like this. Spending time around the fashionable areas of London was proving riskier than he had anticipated.

‘I’m afraid I will not even have time to pay my respects to the ladies,’ he continued.

Pacey bowed. ‘Very well, sir,’ he said, and began to descend the stairs again.

‘Do you know if Lady Ashby is to attend Lord and Lady Lexington’s ball this evening?’ Matthew asked, as Pacey handed him his hat in the hallway. If they weren’t, maybe he could risk not speaking to Eleanor until the next day.

‘As far as I am aware, sir, their ladyships’ only engagement this evening is to dine with Lord and Lady Ely.’

Welcome news indeed.

Back out on Upper Brook Street, Matthew leapt aboard his curricle and drove away, breathing heartfelt thanks that he had seen in time the trap that lay in wait for him in Eleanor’s drawing room. He pictured the scene: Pacey entering; announcing Mr Matthew Thomas; faces, studying him, sizing him up; the curiosity about this stranger in their midst.

And then, when he was subsequently introduced as Matthew Damerel at the Lexingtons’ ball that evening, the gossip and conjecture as to how they met, and whether she had known his true identity all along, would be bound to encompass Eleanor. It would inevitably harm her campaign to banish the memories of her mother’s disgrace and her ambition to gain admittance to Almack’s.

The past few minutes had emphasised the precariousness of his position. If he had any sense, he would cry off from the ball tonight, but could he delay any longer, knowing his father would arrive in London very shortly? Pring had recognised Matthew as he had left Stephen’s lodgings the previous evening, prompting Matthew to write to his parents and also to his sister, Sarah—now married—to inform them of his return. It was better for the news to come from him than from some interfering busybody. Now, he sensed that the sooner he established his presence in society the better.

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