A Little Bit Scandalous Page 0,32

but did not press his lips to it. He was a pleasant-looking man, though she would not consider him handsome. His hair was pale in color and his eyes an unremarkable brown.

“And you as well, Mr. Bishop,” she said.

“Caroline, I was telling Mr. Bishop about your involvement with Dover House and he’s interested in learning more about it,” Aggie said. “Primarily about potentially becoming a benefactor.”

“Indeed. That’s quite kind of you.” Caroline knew this was part of being on the board of directors. This was especially true for her, since she didn’t have money of her own to donate to Dover House. She would have to seek out and line up benefactors for the charity.

“Perhaps you would accompany me to the refreshment table. I believe I saw some lemonade over there,” Mr. Bishop said.

Millie and Aggie smiled and motioned with their hands as if they’d choreographed it. So Caroline allowed Mr. Bishop to lead her to the refreshment table. He chattered politely about how different London was than his home back in America, how much more civilized and proper everyone was. Caroline nodded, doing her best to listen, but the fact was she didn’t particularly care about Mr. Bishop’s life in America.

She heard Roe’s name being announced at the entrance of the ballroom and her heart thundered in response. He stepped into the room looking so dashing she missed a step and faltered. Mr. Bishop steadied her.

“Everything all right, Miss Jellico?” he asked.

“Certainly. I merely stumbled. I do believe that lemonade you mentioned would be just the thing to make me feel better. Do you suppose you could fetch some for me? I can wait here by this topiary,” she said. It gave her a perfect view of Roe as he greeted some men. Behind said group of men were three potted ferns that created a perfect isosceles triangle.

Mr. Bishop smiled broadly. “I shall return.”

Roe seemed as much at home in this glittering ballroom as he did in the gaming room at Rodale’s. He might pretend to be this entitled duke who didn’t care about the people around him and only lived for his own comfort, but she knew that wasn’t the truth. He was far too generous in nature. She sensed he had to work very hard at maintaining his devil-may-care attitude.

Mr. Bishop reappeared at her side, lemonade in hand. She took a sip and did her best not to make a face when the drink proved more tart than she was anticipating. “Thank you.”

“I would like to hear more about this orphanage you’re involved with,” he said. “Perhaps we could discuss it at length if you would attend the opera with me. Mozart’s Don Giovanni is playing, and I’m told it is not to be missed.”

She’d never been a fan of the opera, but Millie had carefully explained that some benefactors needed to feel appreciated. Perhaps joining Mr. Bishop at the opera would be enough appreciation for him to open his purse and give a sizeable donation.

“I’d enjoy that.”

“Excellent. I shall pay call to you,” he said, then tilted his head. “Is that how you express that particular sentiment?”

Caroline smiled. “You said it perfectly.”

…

Later that evening, Roe sat in his study, sipping a brandy and trying to decide what to do about Caroline. She’d looked so beautiful in her dress tonight, and she’d even danced with a couple of gentleman. It was what needed to happen, he told himself. It mattered not that the sight of her in another man’s arms had made him want to storm the dance floor and rip said arms off.

Nothing he said would get her to leave London and, in truth, it was his damned problem, not hers. She shouldn’t have to leave simply because her presence created temptations he didn’t want to handle. His mother had worked her particular magic and persuaded Caroline to attend the ball. They hadn’t stayed late, since Caroline had claimed to have a headache.

Roe doubted that was the entire truth, but certainly she wouldn’t dare to don her disguise and try to enter Rodale’s again. Just in case she was tempted to try such a stunt, Roe had instructed his butler and housekeeper to send notice to him immediately if they saw a carriage pick up a boy anywhere outside the house. In the meantime, he was staying up to keep watch himself. He hadn’t decided if he was going to Rodale’s himself. Frankly, he wasn’t too keen on the idea. Caroline had been the best opponent