Horrorstruck, Lucy’s heart banged in her chest. She fought to calm herself. “A distant relative, my lord.” She wondered where he had heard the rumor. Was it even more widespread than she thought? She glanced back at Mrs. Vellacott, who watched her over her hand of cards.
Dismissing her, Lord Cardew turned back to Lady Sarah. “I was surprised to hear you were riding, Sarah. It’s not a favorite sport of yours. Who accompanied you?”
“Miss Kershaw, Hugh, and Mr. Beaufort, a friend of my brother’s.”
“Beaufort? Don’t know him.” He gazed into the drawing room. “Is he here?”
“Yes. The gentleman standing watching play at the whist table.”
“Ah.” He studied Beaufort for a moment.
Lord Dorchester joined them on the terrace. “I’m surprised to find you in London, Cardew. Knowing how much you prefer Bath society.”
Lord Cardew bowed. “Lord Dorchester. Mama is here to visit a friend,” he said coolly.
His lordship nodded. “I see. And shall you be here long?”
“No. We return to Bath within a few days,” Lord Cardew said. “My mother has obligations to fulfill in Bath.”
“Of course.”
Lord Dorchester’s reply seemed crisp. It made Lucy wonder if he liked the gentleman. It appeared Lord Cardew was also wary of Lord Dorchester.
A strained silence followed, which Lady Sarah hurried to fill. “Shall we go in and find somewhere to sit?” she suggested, her cheeks flushed. “Unless someone intends to join a table?”
“I came to see you.” Lord Cardew’s hand on her arm ushered her toward the drawing room in a proprietary manner. “I can play cards anytime.”
Lord Dorchester watched them cross the room and disappear into the dining room next door, where supper was served. When he glanced at Lucy, he appeared troubled. “Miss Kershaw, stay awhile?”
Her pulse galloped while her head told her sternly to refuse. “Perhaps I should…”
“We are in full view of the room, and we have been introduced.”
“But Mrs. Vellacott is here tonight,” she admitted, casting a discreet glance through the glass doors to where the woman played cards. “And the lady watches us now from her seat.”
“Confound the woman! Ah, so that is what this is about. She will see nothing worthy of gossip here, and there’s something I wish to discuss with you while Sarah is absent.”
She widened her eyes. “Certainly, my lord.”
He glanced at the brazier, its flames attracting insects. “I must travel to the country tomorrow. You seem eminently sensible, Miss Kershaw,” he said, turning back to her, his eyestaking in every feature of her face. “I’d be grateful, if Sarah should seek your advice, that you would dissuade her from being swayed by anything Lord Cardew might suggest.”
“I doubt it will occur. I am not a confidante of Lady Sarah’s, and I know Lord Cardew not at all,” Lucy said firmly. “I cannot imagine she would listen to anything I might have to say.”
His eyes searched hers. “My sister is not foolish. Please understand. But she has one weakness, and that is Lord Cardew. He might consider the time right while I am away from London to lead Sarah astray, and I’ve no doubt he will act on it. I don’t believe he has Sarah’s best interests at heart. Should you feel Sarah is about to make a mistake, if you could please try to counsel her, I’d be grateful.”
“I would love to help, my lord. But I am hardly in a position to counsel anyone. I have made mistakes of my own, of which you are very well aware.”
He laughed softly, his gaze resting for a moment on her mouth. “What a disgraceful woman you must be, Miss Kershaw.”
Lucy smiled. Oh, why did he look at her like that? They were on display before the whole drawing room. She tried so hard to keep away from him, while he drew her like those moths around the brazier fire. She felt herself wishing for the impossible. “Rest assured, Lord Dorchester, if I am in a position to offer advice to Lady Sarah and feel it would be helpful, I shall do so, although I can’t imagine anything to occur to warrant it.”
He straightened. “That is all I ask, Miss Kershaw. Shall we go inside? I believe supper is being served in the dining room.”
When Lucy took his proffered arm, emotion rushed through her so strong, she missed a step.
“Steady there.” He looked down at her, a world of meaning in his eyes. “I’ve got you.”
Perhaps in her dreams, she thought, wryly trying to pull herself together as they passed through the door.