Chapter Four

L ord Heath was not surprised to get the countess's invitation. No matter what Miss Allen said, she was a debutante on the marriage mart, and he was a man looking for a bride. What startled him was the nature of the invitation.

A picnic for children. An afternoon delight in one of the less crowded London parks for parents and their offspring.

It was an obvious ploy to match him and Miss Allen, but it was also a useful one. There would be other ladies there. His girls were a bit young for an outing like this, but that made it all the better. He could see how potential brides handled his children.

An hour into the event, he had his answer.

Badly. Horribly, hideously, and embarrassingly awful.

The fault was his, or so Nanny informed him. The picnic was set during the children's naptime, so to say they were irritable would be an understatement. Neither were his children delighted to be dressed up and then told not to eat the messy confections the countess set out on a blanket.

Other children sat nicely. His squirmed and fidgeted.

Other children were taken away when they became fussy. His flopped down on the ground and wailed as if a demon possessed them.

And most damning of all, other children clung to their nannies when they were shy or overwhelmed. His girls attached themselves to his legs like barnacles and refused to be removed with anything but a crowbar. And he was not willing to take such drastic measures with his own children.

The ladies present did their very best. They smiled and cooed at his girls. They offered them sweet treats, but once the sugary confection was smeared all over their faces and hands… Well, that was not something any woman would risk.

"You're a bit of an idiot, aren't you?"

Heath looked up from trying to wipe jelly off his youngest's face, but all he managed to do was ruin a good handkerchief.

"I beg your pardon!" he said, not bothering to hide his temper from Miss Allen. The other ladies might be appalled by his hard tone, but she just shrugged.

"The only reason I agreed to this event was because I remembered the age of your girls. Only an idiot would bring two children—one still in nappies—to something like this. I assumed you knew better."

"It's their nap time," he muttered.

"Exactly! And where did you get that nurse? She's too young and hasn't got a firm bone in her body. Little ones need strength."

"I'll not have anyone take a hand to my children!" he snapped. "I don't know what you do in Scotland, but—"

"Not strike them, you idiot. Being firm doesn't have to be violent. Especially at this age."

"Then what would you have me do?"

Miss Allen shrugged. "There is not much to be done at this point. They're overtired, and they want their Da. Pick them up and soothe them. Then take them home as soon as you can."

It was exactly what he wanted to do, but propriety demanded that their nurse drag them away. He was supposed to look on with benign indulgence while ladies cooed over his progeny's sweetness. Instead, he was squatting in the dirt, wiping jelly on his waistcoat, and the child had just squirmed to her feet and run off, hoping he would chase her. It was a game they played at home, but it wasn't supposed to happen here.

"Where's your other one?" Miss Allen asked as she looked around.

Heath didn't have to look to know the answer. "She's climbed a tree." The child had lately shown a fondness for climbing everything—trees, furniture…his body when he lay resting. "That one," he said pointing. And sure enough, there stood the nurse with her hands on her hips as she implored his daughter to come down.

It wouldn't work. His children were far too willful, and that was yet another reason he had to find a mother for them. Someone who could…

"Oh bother. She's stuck, isn't she?"

He jolted. "What? Oh good God." And just as he was about to go get her, his younger daughter started calling to him from behind a bush.

"Daddy! Find me, Daddy! Daddy!" Her tone became more shrill with every "daddy."

And the damned Scotswoman had the gall to laugh.

"You could help!" he growled.

"No need," Miss Allen quipped. "There are lots of ladies trying to help your nurse. You go find the other before she pierces all our eardrums."

He nodded, quickly stomping over to his younger child. Unfortunately, she didn't understand his frustrated expression. This was a game they played every night to mutual delight. But this time he was trying to appear in control when he was obviously not.

"I've found you," he said. And then because she was confused by his mood, he moderated his tone. "I've found you, you little scamp, and now I'm going to eat you."

So saying, he swept her up in his arms and pretended to devour her belly. Again, it was what they did every night, and suddenly his daughter was restored to good humor. She squealed in delight as he bore her aloft. But once her squeals died down, he had to see about his other child.

"Daddy—"

"Hush, Minette. Let's go see if your sister is in trouble."

He didn't need to see. He could already tell that Lacy wasn't coming down anytime soon. The tree was surrounded by women offering her sweets while her nurse stood with her hands on her hips, wearing a furious expression.

"Lacy, come down!" the nurse hissed.

"Lacy, have a treat!"

"Lacy, you'll dirty your dress!"

"Lacy, get down here this instant!" he bellowed.

That was the final straw. His older daughter burst into tears and pressed her face into the tree trunk. She didn't wail like her sister, but he could see her small shoulders shaking from the force of her emotions.

"Yes," Miss Allen drawled beside him. "That will do the trick." Obviously, she delighted in his embarrassment. "She won't come down now until she's settled."

"And how long will that take?"

"As if I know! She's your child."

"You're not helping." Neither were any of the other ladies who continued to tempt or admonish the child. If anyone was causing a problem, it was them. Too many women, too many instructions, and no one to soothe the little girl.

If he hadn't had Minette in his arms, he would have climbed up there himself to get Lacy. But the moment he tried to pass Minette to the nurse, the child began to wail. Her tiny arms strained around his neck, and nothing he said would quiet her. In the end, he stopped trying. He was going deaf.

Meanwhile, Lacy was still up the tree, sobbing.

Once Minette stopped screaming, he tried for a reasonable tone. "Lacy, you need to come down now." He didn't bellow. He was as gentle as he could manage while an audience watched him with varying expressions of superiority.

Sure, they were smug. They hadn't been stupid enough to bring anyone under the age of six to this infernal picnic.

"Come on Lacy. Enough of this."

It wasn't working. His daughter had stopped sobbing, but she wasn't moving either. Then he heard Miss Allen sigh.

"Tell her I'm your friend."

"What?"

"She doesn't know all these women. You haven't introduced them to her. Not in the right way. Tell her I'm your friend."

Desperate, he did what she wanted. "Lacy, this is my friend Miss Allen. Will you look down please—"

"And I'd like to speak with her."

"And she'd like to speak with you."

"Would that be all right?" Miss Allen said.

Heath stared at her. "Of course that's all right."

"Not with you, you daft Englishman. With her."

"What?"

Miss Allen rolled her eyes then looked up into the tree. "Hello Lacy. I'm Miss Allen and I'm your father's friend. May I come up there and talk with you?"

"What?" Heath spoke in an undertone. As much as he had been considering the very same thing, he hadn't expected her to do it. "What about your gown?"

"What about your daughter? Spook her anymore, and she'll climb higher to get away…" Her voice trailed away dramatically, but he hadn't needed the warning. Lacy's position was precarious now. He didn't want to think about her climbing out of reach.

"Lacy," he called. "Miss Allen's going to come up to talk to you. She's my friend, and she'll keep you safe."

"All right?" the Scotswoman said under her breath. "Ask if it's all right."

He couldn't bring himself to ask his daughter's permission to save her life. But once committed, he found that's exactly what he did. "That's all right with you, isn't it? Lacy?"

The girl looked at him and, to his relief, she gave a slow nod.

"Excellent!" Miss Allen called. Then she slipped off her shoes and began to climb.

It was indelicate, to say the least. Everyone there could clearly see her feet, not to mention her very shapely ankles and calves. He should have protested. A true gentleman would have. And failing that, he shouldn't have looked. But he was afraid for her and his daughter, and so he watched. He was prepared to catch her if she fell, though God only knew how he could with Minette fixed to his side.

Fortunately, she didn't fall. Sadie was sure-footed and quick as she made it high enough in the branches that she could stand up and whisper in Lacy's ear.

He had no idea what she said. What would he have said if he were up there? Something soothing, something that bribed Lacy to come down, something about wrapping her arms around his neck and holding on tight as he climbed down.

Whatever Sadie said, it wasn't that last part because a few minutes later, the Scotswoman started to climb back down.

"What are you doing?" he gasped. "Carry her down!"

Miss Allen frowned. "Are you crazy? I'm strong, but not that strong. And it would end this dress for sure."

"I'll pay for another dress," he growled, but now he was very worried about her strength. "Never mind. I'll get her."

"You'll do no such thing," she countered as she waited a good two feet below his daughter. "Lacy made her way up there, she's strong enough to come down."

"Down is harder!"

"And Lacy is smarter!" She shot a harsh look at him. "Don't make her think she's fragile. She can climb down on her own. She doesn't need anyone to save her."

He could tell that that was a phrase she used often. No one to save her. And he wondered what kind of people—or lack thereof—had colored her life that she didn't depend on anyone.

He stored that question away to ask later. His first priority was to see that both females got to the ground safely.

"Come on down, Lacy. I'm here to catch you if you need."

"I don't," came his daughter's firm voice. It wasn't very loud, but he heard the determination in it as if it had come straight from the Scotswoman's mouth.

He held his breath as the two females descended. To his relief, he saw that Miss Allen stayed close enough below his daughter to help if Lacy needed it.

Neither of them did.

And when Lacy came low enough to grab off the tree, he reached out only to be pushed aside by Miss Allen.

"What—" he began but she cut him off.

"She'll reach the ground by herself," she said.

The fury in her face made him back up a step, but only a step. He could catch Lacy now, even with Minette wrapped around his neck.

He didn't need to. Lacy made it to the ground and the pride in her face when she finally stood on the grass made his heart swell. My God, what a fierce child she was!

Then he glanced at Miss Allen who was equally proud. She squatted down in front of Lacy—clearly oblivious to the stains she was putting in her skirt—and gave the child a hug.

"You did it. You are a strong girl. Next time you climb, pick a bigger tree." She glanced at Heath. "And choose a time when your father can watch you go all the way up and all the way down."

His daughter grinned at Miss Allen, then she turned to her father. "I did it by myself," she said.

"Yes, you did."

"And what a naughty girl you are!" cried Nanny as she ran forward. "Climbing a tree when you know better. Ladies don't climb trees!"

"Miss Allen did!"

"Because she's no lady," Nanny declared tartly.

And to Heath's shock, he saw the onlookers—all society ladies and gentleman—nod their agreement. Good God, they believed that drivel?

"Nanny," he said coldly.

"Yes, my lord. I'm so sorry—"

"You may go home now. And do not ever return. I shall send your remaining wages in the morning."

"My lord, it wasn't my fault that she climbed that tree. She runs off all the time and—"

"Miss Allen is more a lady than anyone else here," he said loudly. "She helped my daughter when no one else could. Not even me." He pulled out a coin and tossed it to the nurse. "That should pay for a hackney. Do not ever speak to me or my children again."

There were gasps all around, not the least of which from Nanny. He didn't care. He turned to Miss Allen and bowed deeply before her. It was awkward with Minette still clinging to him, but that made it all the more attention-grabbing. And he did want everyone's attention.

"I must leave now to take care of my children," he said loudly. Not to mention find another nurse for them. "But I am extraordinarily grateful to you for helping Lacy. You compromised your dignity, and I cannot thank you enough. Pray, what is your next event? I should like to have the first waltz with you, if I may."

"You may," said the countess, who suddenly stepped forward. Then she rattled off not only tonight's ball, but the next two after that.

"Thank you," he said as he ignored Miss Allen's eyeroll. He knew she'd had no part in this day's disaster, except to try to mitigate it. She was not angling to be his bride, and he was not looking to her as a wife. They'd agreed as much.

But she had damaged her reputation today when she'd exposed her ankles, and so it was up to him to repair it. And even more, she'd shown herself much more capable and interesting to him than any other woman here.

"I shall see you tonight, Miss Allen." Then he glanced ruefully at his two daughters. "Or rather, tomorrow night. I should not leave them alone right now."

"Definitely not," Miss Allen agreed. "But my reputation is what it is. You need not—"

"Tomorrow night, Miss Allen. And again, you have my heartfelt thanks."