all forgotten what previously they had shamed her for,” Percy surmised.
“Something like that. And you are not part of that circle. I daresay, that had you been here when Olivia faced her disgrace, you would not have turned your back on a friend.”
“I don’t know. I’d like to think that’s the case, that I would be a more loyal and true friend,” she admitted. “But unmarried women often do not have the luxury of acting on their own principles. They are required to act according to the edicts of the men who control their lives. Likely, it wouldn’t have mattered in my case. My father would never have lifted his nose from a book long enough to notice who was in disgrace or whether or not I was associating with them.”
“But your sister certainly would have,” he observed. “She would have led the charge against Olivia. As would all those lovely debs at Almack’s that you mentioned. If I am to marry, Miss Blake, and at my age it should happen sooner than later, it will not be to some silly young girl who can only be led by others and has no ability to think for herself. I find them tedious and irksome with their simpering and their giggles.”
Percy’s eyebrows arched upward and she gave him a skeptical look. “And bluestocking ape leaders who inadvertently expose themselves to all of Mayfair are the logical next choice?”
He laughed then. A deep, booming sound. And when the sound faded to a slight chuckle, he responded, “My dear, Miss Blake, I believe they are the only choice. There is no other lady I would wish for… But perhaps we are getting ahead of ourselves just a bit.”
“More than a bit, I’d say,” she admitted. “We don’t even know if we like each other yet, much less if we’d be well suited.”
“Well, I know what my feelings are, but you should certainly have the time you need to make your decision,” he replied with a curt nod. “We should be able to determine that by Saturday, don’t you think?”
She blinked rapidly, uncertain if he was joking or not. And then he winked at her and a lady passing close by gasped in shock. “You’re incorrigible, Mr. Dunne.”
“Yes… but not demonic. Unlike your nieces and nephews. When one considers your options, I must certainly be considered the lesser of all evils.”
“They rank only beneath Napolean… and even that is a close match,” she admitted.
“Tell me the truth, Miss Blake, has there even been a governess in that house since you arrived?”
“No,” Percy admitted reluctantly. “My sister fired the last one the very morning I arrived.”
His lips twisted into a wry smirk. “It’s a better fate than I had imagined for the poor girl. Those children are a menace.”
“Most of them aren’t so bad… Richard and Peter tend to egg them on,” Percy admitted. “In truth, I think what they really want is Daphne’s attention. She will never be that hands on mother who sees to every aspect of her children’s lives, but it would be better for them if she had some interest.”
“Do not make me have sympathy for the wretches. I’m not quite willing to lay down my grudge just yet,” he groused.
“Oh, do not mistake me, Mr. Dunne. At this time, if they were to be let loose on the world, it would be worse than the biblical plagues of old,” Percy acknowledged with a laugh. “I do not exonerate them or make light of the degree of wickedness they can commit… I only assert that my sister is as equally to blame as they are.”
He halted his steps then and glanced back at the maid. Immediately, the servant halted, as well, and even stepped back a few feet to offer them a bit more privacy. “As reluctant as I am to do so, I should return you home. There are some things I need to attend to today. But make no mistake about my degree of interest in you, Miss Blake. And for what it may be worth, my intentions are both resolute and honorable.”
Percy felt as if a thousand butterflies had suddenly taken flight in her stomach. “For what it may be worth, Mr. Dunne, know that your honorable intentions would be quite welcome.”
A slow but dazzling smile curved his lips as he looked at her. “That is music to my ears. Now, tomorrow morning, you should expect to receive a visit from Viscountess Holland. Don’t argue with her. Do