Chapter 3
Jude looked over the expanse of the lawn before her, dotted with colored blankets spanning the entire rainbow.
A light, warm breeze pulled at the edges of the coverings where they lay on the finely trimmed lawn.
The same small gusts played with Jude’s hair and the hem of her long skirt as she, Sam, and Lady Chastain stepped around picnic arrangements in search of Lady Haversham, their hostess for the day.
Women and gentlemen of varying social status blended and shifted between pairings, the jovial mood of the day reaching as far as the eye could see.
“Do hurry,” Sam said, tugging on Jude’s arm in an attempt to pull her closer to a grouping of finely dressed gentlemen. “There are many people I seek to make an acquaintance with.”
Lady Chastain, Ellie to her close friends, shook her head at Sam’s insistence. “Samantha, I was given strict instructions to keep a close watch on the pair of you.”
“Then come with us.” Sam turned her pleading stare on the younger woman, newly married only a short time before. “We cannot get into too much trouble under your watchful eye.”
“Marce was very firm when she finally agreed to allow you both to attend Lady Haversham’s garden party with me.
” The woman had matured much since marrying Lord Chastain, once a mere stable hand.
No longer was she the girl with unruly, fiery red hair who favored a turn at pickpocketing strangers.
Now, she wore her hair securely bound atop her head and wore dresses of the finest muslin and satin prints, compliments of her brother-in-law’s shipping imports.
“Besides, it is most improper to address a gentleman before the suitable introductions have been made.”
Jude didn’t mind wandering aimlessly through the crowd for the entire afternoon.
She was lucky to be allowed out of Craven House at all.
She’d expected her eldest sister to keep her locked away for a fortnight after Marce had collected Jude from the night watchman the morning before.
However, when Ellie had arrived and begged for Jude and Sam to accompany her to the party, Marce had relented.
“Do you not know any of these men?” Sam implored.
Ellie eyed the group, most no older than Sam and Jude. “I think I may have met the tall one on occasion, but heavens, I do not know his name.”
At that moment, one of the men looked in their direction, noticed them staring, and elbowed his friend. Both turned wide grins on the trio, but none ventured toward them.
“At least, someone has a bit of sense,” Jude commented. “They know the height of indecorum it is and the gossip it would cause, to attend us without an introduction.”
“I thought Lady Haversham favored casual gatherings and open conversations.” Sam released Jude’s arm and gave a quick wave to the men.
“It cannot hurt overly much to stop and say hello. Or maybe I can discreetly drop my handkerchief and they will chivalrously rescue it from the ground and return it.”
Ellie snorted and quickly covered her mouth at the unladylike sound.
“I enjoyed your company more before you turned all matronly,” Sam prodded, hoping to draw out Ellie’s fiery temper. “What next? You will be scolding young women for dancing too close at Almacks?”
Jude let out a laugh, its melodious sound echoing over the crowd, drawing a few stares.
“All I am asking is for you to await Alex’s arrival,” Ellie said. “He will be more than happy to make introductions to men of a proper caliber.”
“Oh, poppycock.” Sam lifted the hem of her gown off the ground and stepped around a couple enjoying tiny sandwiches on a lavender blanket.
“Maybe we should have invited Payton along. At least she is still a sport from time to time. I suppose I will need to wander about until I meet a gentleman I’ve been properly introduced to before. ”
Jude followed Sam’s gaze as she surveyed the gathering, lingering on a certain gentleman.
She narrowed her eyes to make out the man’s features.
“Oh, there is my dear husband now,” Ellie fairly sang. “Do excuse me for a moment. He is speaking with Lady Archiberry—I must rescue him. Do not go far, I will only be a moment, and then we will focus our efforts on introductions.”
“Of course,” Jude said as the woman moved to her husband’s side.
Sam still stared at the older gentleman about thirty feet away, where he spoke with another man.
“I think that is Lord Asherton.” Sam stood on her tiptoes as a pair of tall men blocked their view. “Do you see him?”
Jude had had quite enough of Lord Asherton—and any purported Bible leaves in his possession—after spending a night locked in a room due to being caught—both inside and outside his home. She’d never actually made the man’s acquaintance, nor did she favor a meeting this day.
“Come, I have much to speak with him about.”
“Sam, it is not safe,” Jude said, not moving as her sister pulled her arm. “I was at his home not long ago. It was a fool’s errand. He was likely toying with you. He owns no such valuables as he said.”
“You know I want answers as much as you do,” Sam encouraged.
“No.” Jude shook her head, the ringlets framing her face bobbing with the movement. “I do not need, nor do I want answers. I want distance from the man. Let me remind you, a child within his home saw me.”
“There—“
“Listen to what I am saying, Sam,” Jude begged.
“My cap fell to the floor; my auburn hair was exposed. The girl had a candle blazing, its glow reached me. She saw me. She was likely the one who described me to the butler, who called the night watchman. I will not venture forth. And in case you have forgotten, we are identical. Suspicion may be cast upon you, just as easily as me.”
“I do not relish giving up,” Sam said. “He is very clearly an unmarried man. He has been lavishing attention on me for weeks now. I am certain if a child were living in his home, he would have shared that information.”
“Have you stopped to think he is not enamored with you?” Jude asked, striking the one area that Sam was most sensitive about. “Besides, he danced with several ladies the other night.”
“I do not believe it.” Sam’s tone deepened as she spoke, her smoky voice catching the attention of the long-forgotten group of men. “He cares for me.”
“Truly?” Jude whispered. “Do you care for him or only his valuables?”
“That is neither here nor there. Oh, look, he is coming this way.”
Sam turned a triumphant smile her way as if to say she’d won, that Asherton was, indeed, attracted to her charms.
Jude wasn’t so certain that was a prize her sister truthfully wanted to win.
They both smiled as Lord Asherton arrived, his cohort left behind to take up conversation with another man.
“Good day, Miss Samantha,” he hailed, looking between the twins. His tentative smile told Jude he hoped one of the women before him would accept his greeting and end the awkward silence his unsure comments had started.
But both remained silent—a game Jude had once enjoyed, though now found tedious.
Jude had nothing to say, but Sam—for all her languishing over the man’s affections—should have something to say in greeting.
Lord Asherton shifted his weight from foot to foot, waiting on Sam to out herself.
Finally, her twin put the man out of his misery. “My lord,” she replied, giving him a quick curtsey. “It is a lovely day, is it not?”
The man grinned, showing off his slightly uneven teeth, no doubt something Sam would boast about finding endearing. “That it is, Miss Samantha. I do hope I find you…and your sister,”—he added as if in afterthought, though it was more likely he didn’t remember Jude’s name—“in good health.”
“You do, my lord.” Sam placed her palm at Jude’s back. “May I introduce my dear sister, Miss Judith Pengarden.”
Asherton bowed, certainly more than was deserving for two women lacking any substantial link to nobility. “It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance. Miss Samantha speaks fondly of you,” he said conspiratorially as if Jude should be shocked.
“Odd that.”
“Why, may I ask?” he asked.
“I fear my dear sister has never mentioned your name.” For her snide words, Jude received a quick elbow to her ribs. “But, that is to be forgiven as she is overwhelmed by the grandness of her first London season.”
“I am certain I have mentioned dear Lord Asherton on many occasions,” Sam retorted with a smile of apology. “Maybe it is my youngest sibling who I’ve been regaling with stories of your dashing presence, my lord.”
“It must be,” Jude continued. “Or maybe it was I. Is Lord Asherton the man with the loving young child living with him?”
Sam forced a grin at her sister’s cunning.
“Oh, certainly not,” he huffed. “No children here. I have yet to take a woman as wife.”
“No nieces or young cousins in residence?” Jude continued to prod.
“Only child, I am afraid,” he confessed. “Though I am not opposed to a large family.”
A puzzled expression crossed Sam’s face at the man’s words. Jude hadn’t the faintest idea what had gone wrong. “Oh, then I must be mistaken.”
“Maybe you are overcome by the season, as well, Miss Judith.” The man tried to gloss over her previous words. “One meets many people while in society and even I, who’ve been about town for many years, find it hard to remember names, faces, and associations.”
At his comment, Jude realized the man was, in reality, twice their age. Most men of his advanced years were settled with a family. However, Lord Asherton remained unwed. Curious, that.
“Oh, Samantha, Lady Chastain is waving for us,” Jude said in distraction. “I believe she is ready for us to join her once more.”
“Yes, I see that. Do excuse us, Lord Asherton.”
“It was lovely to meet you,” Jude said.
“Of course, Miss Samantha.” He nodded. “Miss Judith. I do hope to see you about town soon. I would greatly enjoy a dance with both of you.”
“You are too kind.” Jude smiled reassuringly at the older man. “We shall both endeavor to save a place for you on our dance cards.”