find when you have your Season. London knows no bounds when it comes to entertainments.”
Cecilia had no idea why the image of a bordello should pop into her head but was much relieved when Lord Crenshaw went on.
“Gaming is how I spend most of my evenings when I am not in the Midlands.”
Now she felt silly. His expression was filled with an apologetic demeanor as he admitted his weakness.
“Indeed,” Cecilia said. “Do you prefer cards, games of chance, or horse racing?”
“All of them,” Crenshaw said with an encompassing sweep of his hands. “In fact, I wager a quid we will have trout for the fish course.”
Lord Destry leaned forward. “I wager a quid that we are served trout and turbot.”
“You’re on!” Crenshaw nodded.
“And you, Miss Brent?” Destry asked. “What do you think we will be served? Would you care to join our little wager?”
Knowing exactly what her father thought of gambling, Cecilia smiled demurely and looked down so they could not see the lie. “It would not be fair, as I already know what is going to be served.”
They were interrupted by a footman serving soup and when the server moved on Lord Destry picked up his fork and began to eat. His fork, Cecilia thought. Why his fork?
The others were talking over their soup so she once again followed his behavior. One could hardly enjoy the soup with a fork but if it was the way it was eaten in fashionable society then she would not be caught out. Perhaps it was a new trend. She watched as Lord Destry speared a small piece of asparagus from the bowl and ate it.
The marquis looked directly at her and smiled. It was not a comfortable smile, but the kind one used when teasing or testing.
“Tell me, Miss Brent, if I took my serviette and tied it around my neck would you do the same?”
“That is ridiculous,” she said with more sharpness than was polite. “I mean …,” she corrected herself, trying for a less severe voice, “of course not.” She hoped he could not tell how strained her smile was.
“Then why do something as silly as try to eat your soup with a fork?”
“Because you did,” she said, feeling her smile die. “And was that a test to see exactly how gullible I am?”
Cecilia was proud of the fact that she had a mild temperament, but at the moment she had to fight the urge to pour her soup in the man’s lap.
“Miss Brent, just between us, if you please.” Lord Destry leaned closer and lowered his voice as he spoke.
Cecilia nodded, though she was not sure she wanted to share a confidence with the man.
He looked away, clearing his throat before he spoke. “I put salt in my wine so that I am not tempted to drink too much. I love the juice of the grape, but have learned that I have a lower tolerance than most.”
“I see.” Horrified that she had mimicked him, she wanted to shrivel into a little ball of mortification and die.
“Please believe me,” he said, “those who make up the ton are no more than men and women born in lucky circumstances with just enough wit to pretend that they are better than the rest of the citizenry.”
“I suppose,” Cecilia said with a slight nod.
“If there is one thing I know, Miss Brent, it is that anyone taken in by the way they act, no matter if it is salting their wine or something more egregious, like shunning someone, that person is as much a fool as they are.”
Cecilia was struck silent by the snub and looked away lest he see the tears filling her eyes.
Chapter Eight
WILLIAM, YOU IDIOT, he shouted to himself. He tried to find a way to apologize for his affront, a completely unintended one. His words were aimed at men like Crenshaw and women like Mrs. Wilson. Sweet, too-cautious Miss Cecilia Brent was only trying to fit into this new circle. Besides, her looks guaranteed that she could eat her peas with a knife dipped in gravy and still be welcomed anywhere.
“I did not mean to insult you, Miss Brent,” he said anxiously. Her eyes were fixed on Crenshaw even though the man was fully engaged in conversation with Miss Wilson, but he knew she could not turn her ears off and must hear him. “I am well aware that you are a newcomer and hope to find a place in the ton this Season. I only wanted to help.”
She