Portia nodded as if to agree, then turned to their father. “Papa, I have found my future husband and should like very much for you to go and speak to him today.”
Lydia froze in the act of buttering a muffin. Lord, if only she could strangle her little sister for her silliness. Aunt Cornelia squawked and tossed her fashion plates to the table so hard that her teacup toppled over, spilling tea. A footman rushed to clean it up. Jackson ruffled his paper and gazed at Portia, and what little of his expression that they could see over the top of his paper was slightly perplexed.
“What’s all this?” Cornelia demanded. “You cannot have your father go speak to a man. That’s not how it’s done.” She huffed and seemed to expect that to be the end of the matter.
“Now just a minute, Cornelia,” their father said. “I may be willing to risk the scandal.” He looked toward Portia again. “Has the man proposed to you, child?” Jackson inquired with a discreet look toward Lydia.
“No, but I believe he’s too shy.”
“Shy?” Jackson chuckled. “I did not think you would choose a shy man to be your husband. Are you quite sure this is the right fellow for you?”
“I would wager my life upon it.” Portia’s deadly serious reply had everyone at the table staring at her.
Cornelia huffed. “No man is worth such a wager, you silly creature.” She leveled her hardest gaze at Portia. “Unless you’ve been up to things a young lady ought not to be.”
“Oh, come now, Cornelia,” Jackson said to his aunt. “My Portia is merely excited and in love, I daresay. She would not do anything to risk herself, would you, my child?” He looked to Portia, who shook her head, her eyes wide and guileless. Her expression was so innocent, she seemed a mere child rather than a young woman in that moment. Lydia rolled her eyes.
“There, you see?” Jackson folded his paper, and Lydia knew her father would turn a blind eye to this matter, despite her warning that Portia could not be trusted to behave. “Now, who is this fellow?”
“Mr. Brodie Kincade. He is staying with Mr. Rafe Lennox, only a few streets away. I have the address written down.”
“Is he, now? Well, I shall pay a call later this morning.”
“And how do you know where his lodging is?” Lydia asked quietly.
Cornelia pounced on the opening provided. “Yes, how do you know?”
“How do I know?” Portia still looked oh so innocent. “I overheard the two gentlemen conversing about it last evening.”
Lydia had no idea how her sister had actually discovered this information, but she was fairly certain Portia was lying.
Jackson turned his focus on Lydia. “And what about you? Have you decided whether you are to go to Brighton?”
“As much as I would like to, I believe it would be best to stay here. I am to meet a few friends today at the Pump Room after luncheon.”
“You’re quite sure? I’ve heard the bracing sea breezes of the Sussex coast can be a tonic for all ills.”
“Yes, Papa. I’m quite certain. Portia, would you like to go shopping on Milsom Street today after breakfast?”
“No. I’m afraid I have calls to make.”
Lydia let it go. The days of her younger sister wishing to spend time with her were at an end. There was no point forcing the issue. “If you change your mind, I’ll be leaving in an hour.”
Lydia finished her breakfast and left the table. She met her maid in the hall and informed her she was to leave for Milsom Street shortly. One of their young footmen, a man named Michael, met her as she put on her bonnet and collected her reticule.
“Ready to leave, Miss Hunt?” Michael asked.
“Yes, let’s be off.” She and the footman left the townhouse on Royal Crescent and headed toward the shops. Many women would have hired a sedan chair or hackney, but Lydia’s penchant for dancing left her well suited to long and vigorous walks.
When she reached Milsom Street, she visited a haberdashery, with Michael trailing dutifully at her heels. Once inside the shop, she was perusing a display of kid gloves in a dozen colors on a table near a window when two gentlemen paused outside the shop. At first, she only glanced up out of habit, but when she realized who they were, her heart jolted in her chest. She was staring at Rafe Lennox and Brodie