No Occupation For A Lady

‘No, that’s all right, Mr Devlin,’ the lady said, blushing furiously. ‘It would be difficult not to bump into someone with so many people crammed together in one place.’

She smiled up at him in a manner that led Alistair to believe they had previously been introduced, but while her face was familiar, her name escaped him entirely. ‘Are you having a good time, Miss …?’

‘Bretton.’ She pouted prettily. ‘We met two weeks ago at the Roehamptons’ reception. I was hoping you might remember me.’

He didn’t remember her. He remembered her name. ‘You’re Victoria Bretton’s sister?’

Her smile faltered, as though he had said something distasteful. ‘Yes. Do you know my sister?’

‘We met last night at the Gryphon.’

‘You spoke to Victoria?’

‘Indeed. I had the pleasure of conversing with her at the conclusion of the play.’

‘A play, which, as I recall, you enjoyed very much.’

Alistair smiled. Oh yes, he knew that voice. Lower pitched and decidedly less breathless, it was not in the least anxious or in any way eager to please. ‘Good evening, Miss Bretton.’ He turned to find the elder Miss Bretton looking up at him. ‘What a pleasure to see you again.’

‘How nice of you to say so. Mr … Devlin, wasn’t it?’

Her deliberate hesitation made him smile. ‘I’m flattered you would remember.’

‘Why would I not? It was only last night.’

‘Yet how long the night seems to one kept awake by pain.’

She raised an eyebrow in surprise. ‘I doubt you were in pain, Mr Devlin. Unlike Saurin’s Guiscard.’

‘Ah, but you do not know how I suffered in being so cruelly dismissed.’

The effect of this rejoinder was to make her laugh. ‘You were not dismissed. And even if you were, it was not with any degree of cruelty.’

‘Victoria, how nice of you to join us,’ her sister interrupted in a chilly voice. ‘When last I saw you, you were enjoying the pleasure of Mr Compton’s company.’

Alistair frowned. ‘Mr George Compton?’

‘Yes. Victoria was partaking in a most lively conversation with him.’

‘It was not a lively conversation, nor did I particularly enjoy it,’ Victoria said. ‘I made the effort because Mama asked me to, but having now fulfilled my social obligation, I am ready to go home. She sent me to ask if you would like to leave as well.’

‘I would rather not.’ Winifred sent Alistair a coquettish glance. ‘I am enjoying a conversation with Mr Devlin.’

‘So I see. Unfortunately, Mama said that if you were not ready to leave, she would like you to keep her company for a while. Papa is playing cards and you know she doesn’t like to be left alone at these large gatherings.’

‘But surely you can keep her company,’ Winifred said. ‘You don’t have to go home right away.’

‘In fact, I do. I promised Laurence I would help him with a project and I know he would like to work on it this evening. I am sorry, Winnie,’ Victoria said gently, ‘but I really do have to leave.’

Alistair wisely remained silent. It was obvious the younger Miss Bretton wasn’t happy at being summoned back to her mother’s side, but equally obvious that she knew better than to make a scene in front of an eligible gentleman.

‘Oh, very well.’ Winifred glared at her sister, then turned to offer Alistair an apologetic smile. ‘I’m sorry we are unable to finish our conversation, Mr Devlin. I hope we will have an opportunity to do so the next time we meet.’

‘I look forward to it, Miss Winifred.’

It was the polite thing to say, and when Alistair saw the sparkle return to the girl’s lovely green eyes, he knew it had been the right thing. But he waited until she was safely out of range before saying to the lady who remained, ‘Is your sister always so brusque, Miss Bretton?’

‘Only with me.’ Her smile appeared, but Alistair thought it vaguely preoccupied. ‘She can be exceedingly pleasant to people whose company she enjoys.’

‘She doesn’t enjoy yours?’

‘My sister does not entirely approve of me. She believes I am too opinionated and that I speak my mind when I would do better to keep silent. She also thinks I spend too much time at the theatre associating with people who are not worthy of my regard. An opinion shared by my mother and a number of others in society, I suspect.’

‘They are not wrong,’ Alistair pointed out bluntly.

‘No, but I would be lying if I said it bothered me enough to make me stop,’ she told him. ‘I enjoy spending time at the theatre. I appreciate the beauty of the language, the intricacies of the plays and the diverse talent of the actors and actresses. Had circumstances been different, I wonder if I might not have enjoyed being an actress.’ She gazed up at him without apology. ‘Does that shock you?’

‘You must know that it does. Most ladies take pleasure in more traditional pastimes such as reading and needlework. Activities that do not put their reputations at risk.’

‘Yet you believe what I do jeopardises mine?’

‘You’ve just said that it does, yet you do not seem to care.’

‘Why pretend concern where none exists?’

‘For appearances’ sake?’

She laughed, a low, throaty sound that did the strangest things to his equilibrium. ‘I am past doing things for the sake of appearances, Mr Devlin. Though you cannot be expected to know, I come from a rather unusual family. We are the equivalent of Lady Tavistocke and her gondolier … without Venice and its canals. And before you find yourself tarred by the same brush, I suggest you make good your escape.’

‘My escape?’

‘From my company. I did warn you last night.’ It took Alistair a moment to tie the two together. ‘Is that what you meant when you said we should not suit?’

‘In part. Look around if you don’t believe me,’ she advised. ‘But be subtle, if you can.’

Alistair casually turned his head—and saw a group of dowagers quickly avert their eyes. Standing just behind them, an earl and his countess abruptly resumed their conversation, and as he secured two glasses of champagne from a passing waiter, he observed the top-lofty Mrs Howard draw her daughter away. ‘Good Lord, is it always like this?’

‘No. Sometimes it’s worse.’

‘Then why do you come?’

‘Because Mama insists upon it. She is anxious for me to marry so that my sister can do the same. Hence the required conversation with Mr Compton.’

Alistair snorted. ‘The man has four unmarried sisters at home. What kind of welcome do you think you would receive in an establishment like that?’

‘None, but the fact I would have my own establishment is reason enough for my sister to believe I should make the effort.’

‘Nothing would be reason enough to encourage George Compton,’ Alistair said. ‘As for your reception here, surely there are places you could go where you would be made to feel more welcome.’