The Wrong Miss Fairfax by Marilyn Clay

Author:Marilyn Clay [Marilyn Clay]
Language: eng
Format: epub

Chapter 18

“Uncovering Covert Activity”

“DREADFULLY SORRY, OLD man. I merely wished to prevent you from declaring your intentions to the wrong Miss Fairfax.”

“I suppose I should thank you, Giles.” I rose from where I had been seated before the fire in my flat to pour Giles a snifter of brandy, and myself another. “But, your good intentions do not prevent me from feeling like a clunch-headed fool.”

The hour was late and the ball long since over, but my good friend Giles had obligingly stopped by to see how I was getting on. I slumped back into the well-worn wing chair I’d earlier pushed back from the low-burning fire since I was already feeling quite heated enough. “Had you not interrupted, I may have found myself betrothed to the Miss Fairfax my grandmother refers to as ‘The Hoyden.’”

“Your Miss Fairfax did seem rather annoyed by her cousin’s presence at the ball.”

“I daresay I also noticed that.”

“Miss Emma is quite lovely.”

“They are both quite lovely.”

“Indeed, they are, old man. But . . . can you say for certain . . . which . . .?”

“Dammit! I cannot!” Lurching to my feet, I strode purposefully to the sideboard to splash even more brandy into my glass. “It is quite possible I have been courting the wrong Miss Fairfax . . . is it also quite possible I have been courting both Miss Fairfaxs!”

“Hmm. A ménage a trios and entirely unaware of it!” Giles regarded me with new respect. “I shudder to think what the gossip-mongers would make of that.”

“If I hear one word to that effect . . . ”

“Not from me, old man! Not from me.”

“I declare I shall call you out!”

“To avenge which young lady’s honor?”

The reprobate actually laughed aloud as I continued to sulk.

“Your grandmother found the situation quite amusing. She actually suggested to Rosabelle that perhaps the young ladies had conspired to make a cake of you.”

I glared at my friend. “And did my grandmother speculate upon why a pair of otherwise quite genteel young ladies might wish to do such a reprehensible thing?”

One shoulder lifted and fell. “A clever prank?”

“It’s a sorry turn when one’s own grandmother thinks it a lark to have her grandson made sport of.”

“If it makes you feel any better, Rosabelle was adamant that her friend Miss Emma would never do such a thing. Truth is, before tonight, Rosabelle hadn’t once laid eyes on the cousin, therefore she was as stunned as the rest of us.” He sipped his brandy. “So, what are you going to do now?”

“Sit right here and stare into the fire. Perhaps for the remainder of my days.”

Giles nodded. “Good plan.”

“What else did my grandmother say?”

“About you? Not a great deal. But, after I spoke to her regarding my feelings for Rosabelle, she suggested Miss Mabry and I pay a call upon her father tomorrow. In the country.”

“Well, you have my good wishes. Rosabelle will make you a fine wife.” I paused to take a sullen sip. “At least one of us had a successful evening.

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