Regency Reputation: A Reputation for Notoriety / A Marriage of Notoriety. Diane Gaston

afternoon’s events.

      Ned walked right past him, not pointedly cutting him, as was typical of him, but apparently utterly oblivious.

      Rhys called after him, ‘Ned!’

      Ned stopped then and shook his head as if in a daze. He finally turned around. ‘Oh, Rhys. I did not see you there.’

      He must be dazed. He called him Rhys, not Rhysdale.

      He peered at Ned. ‘Are you unwell?’

      Ned laughed. ‘Not at all. Merely thinking.’

      The man looked like a sapskull. ‘What is so engrossing?’

      Ned grinned. ‘Nothing.’

      Oh. A woman.

      A man only acted in such a manner when he was a besotted fool. ‘May I pull your head from the clouds?’

      Ned sobered. ‘What is it?’

      ‘I’ve come from your father.’ Their father, he meant. ‘I have forced the issue with him and I am satisfied that my introduction to society will happen soon. I am prepared to transfer the money back to you. Your original investment and some modest profits.’

      Ned brightened. ‘My father came through? I feared he would not.’ He grasped Rhys’s arm. ‘This means … This means … We may retrench. We may actually pull out of this!’

      Rhys recoiled from this unexpected camaraderie. ‘Do not be so hasty. It is not all song and celebration. I am afraid this matter has caused your mother some distress. For that, I am regretful.’

      ‘My mother?’ Ned’s demeanour blackened. ‘Did Father tell her?’

      ‘I did,’ Rhys said. ‘Although not by design. She encountered me in the hall.’

      Ned lowered his head, his euphoria gone.

      Rhys felt badly for him. ‘Think, Ned. She would have to know of this.’

      ‘I realise that,’ Ned responded. ‘I just hate what this does to her.’

      Rhys actually felt sympathetic to Ned. ‘If it is any consolation, she knew who I was as soon as I told her my name.’

      Ned nodded. ‘That does not surprise me. I am certain, though, that she did not know the state of our finances.’

      ‘Yes, I do think that shocked her,’ Rhys admitted. ‘I admired her. She handled the whole situation with exceptional grace.’

      Ned glanced up at him. ‘She is an exceptional woman.’

      Rhys clapped Ned on the soldier, surprising himself that their conversation was devoid of hostility. ‘Come with me to Coutts Bank. I’ll transfer the money to you right now.’

      ‘Excellent!’ Ned’s mood improved. ‘But I must be done by four o’clock.’

      ‘We’ll be done,’ Rhys assured him.

      Celia excused herself after two of her mother-in-law’s friends came to call. Adele had already begged to be excused so that she might ready herself for her ride in Hyde Park.

      It was endearing to see Adele so excited and happy. This past year of mourning had been so difficult. First the shock of their financial situation, then what amounted to an eviction from the only home Adele had ever known.

      And now Luther thought he could court Adele?

      Not if Celia could help it.

      Although Celia was unsure about Neddington, as well.

      But she was getting ahead of herself. Adele was engaged only for a ride in Hyde Park, not marriage.

      Celia retreated to her bedchamber.

      Her lady’s maid emerged from her dressing room. ‘Good afternoon, ma’am.’ She lifted a gown she carried in her arms. ‘I came in for this. Needs some mending.’

      ‘Thank you, Younie.’ Celia smiled. ‘I am surprised to see you here, though. I thought Adele would be running you in circles to get ready for Hyde Park.’

      ‘Oh, I am to go to her in one half hour,’ Younie said. ‘After she has rested so the dark circles under her eyes disappear.’

      ‘What dark circles?’ Adele looked as fresh-faced as ever.

      Younie chuckled. ‘The ones in her imagination, I expect. It is best to go along with these notions, though. You cannot convince a girl that age of anything.’