Her Secondhand Groom(69)

“You mean?”

“Shhh. Yes, Lady Chatterfield is rumored to have a rather remarkable gambling debt.”

Juliet’s eyes widened. “And Lady Benedict pays it in exchange for her presence at dinner parties?”

“Among other things, yes.”

“Goodness.” Juliet’s gaze lowered to where the point of her cream slipper was drawing circles on the plush rug. “What of Agatha?”

“Who?”

“Agatha.” Juliet whispered.

“Who the blazes is Agatha?”

“Lady Lipscomb.”

“Oh. I don’t know what favor she does for her.”

“But you think she does her some sort of financial favor?”

Patrick locked eyes with his wife. Why was she so curious? “Juliet, do you know Lady Lipscomb?”

“Perhaps.”

“Perhaps?” He shook his head. “All right, Juliet. What are you not telling me?”

“Nothing. I was just curious.”

“Curious about the condition of Lord Lipscomb’s coffers?” he asked dubiously. “No. You have more than just a passing curiosity. I can see it in your eyes.”

She jerked her gaze away and returned it to her slipper in the carpet. “Never mind.”

Patrick fisted his hands so not to embarrass them both by showing any sign of affection toward his wife in public. Clearly Juliet and Lady Lipscomb knew each other from somewhere, but where? Juliet never came to London. Where would these two have met, and when? Juliet had lived in Devon all her life, except for the five years she had attended school. His eyes snapped to Lady Lipscomb. She looked about Juliet’s age, maybe a year or two off, but close enough. They must have attended that girls’ school together. Or had their come out together?

His stomach knotted. Either of those prospects suggested an unpleasant experience for Juliet. He may not have attended Harrow for more than a couple of terms, but that was enough to know exactly what happened to those who were what most would consider different. And there was no doubting it, Juliet was different. She wasn’t buxom or beautiful by most standards. Until yesterday, she’d had those hideous spectacles. Her hair was thick and unruly. Heaven only knew what her wardrobe looked like back then. If what she wore to their wedding was any indication as to the state of her “nicest” gowns, she would have certainly stood out in a room, and not in a good way.

Not to mention her unusual personality. She was nothing like what other young ladies aspired to be. She wasn’t frail or weak. Nor did she forget the purpose of both her brain and tongue the moment a gentleman looked in her direction. And while young ladies with these sorts of appropriate attributes were favored by many men, her lack of becoming a featherbrain was a point in her favor to Patrick. But men like him were rare. Most wouldn’t have given her as much as a second glance, and definitely not a third.

Rage pumped through him. For what exactly? He didn’t know. Perhaps it was for Mr. Hughes not borrowing enough money to see to his daughter’s wardrobe. Or perhaps it was rage directed at all the ladies, and even gentlemen, who dared treat Juliet poorly for her looks or disposition. Either way, it didn’t matter just what the cause of the rage was. He was angry on her behalf, and since Mr. Hughes wasn’t here to confront, Lady Lipscomb would have to do.

“What did she do to you?”

Juliet jumped, presumably at the roughness in his voice. “Nothing. Please, forget I even mentioned her.”

“No. I will not forget about it, Juliet. I want to know what she did to you.”

“She didn’t do anything to me,” Juliet said in stilted tones. She dropped her voice to a whisper. “Drake, please. This is not the time.”

“Yes, it is. It’s the perfect time. Just tell me what she did, and I’ll fix it.”

Juliet looked at him with an expression he couldn’t fully read, but somehow knew it wasn’t one that held a lot of promise for her next words. “Drake, I do not need you to protect me. I may not care overmuch for her, but there is no reason for you or anyone else to confront her on my behalf.”

He blinked. He shouldn’t have been surprised to hear those words come out of Juliet’s mouth. She wasn’t one who relied on others to solve her problems for her. But just because she wasn’t like that didn’t make it any easier for him to accept the fact that she was forced to be seated across the room from someone who’d treated her poorly. “Would you like to leave?”

“No.” A teasing smile spread her lips. “Unless by leave, you meant go for an exploration of the gardens?”

“I did, indeed.”