A Scandalous Charade (11 page)

That brought a ghost of a smile to Georgie’s pained face. “Of course not. I desperately think Edmund would grow from the experience. The poor boy has had nothing but abysmal male role models in the form of our father and then Teynham, and he lives in a house full of sisters. Juliet babies him terribly. I was so hoping the experience with Carraway would help him mature a little.”

Caroline smiled warmly at her friend. Georgie had never been blessed with children of her own, and she was much more of a mother to her siblings than a sister. “Well, if you think the experience would be good for him and you trust Carraway, I think you should let him go.”

“Well, thank you.” Georgie smiled back. “But that’s actually not why I came to see you.”

“Oh?” Caroline raised her brow.

Georgie’s expression hardened a bit. She took a deep breath, and then words began to fly from her mouth. “He’s your brother and you love him. I understand that. You know I’ve always been fond of him myself, but Juliet’s my sister and—”

“Dear heavens, Georgie, what has Luke done?” Caroline’s stomach dropped. She couldn’t even imagine what would have Georgie so upset. It must be truly awful. Blast her reprobate of a brother.

Her friend stared at her incredulously. “He’s courting her.”

Courting her? Caroline tried not to laugh. That was the most preposterous thing she’d heard of in…well, in a very long time. Especially, since she knew that the lout was conspiring to help Lord Haywood win Juliet’s hand and fortune. “Perhaps you’ve just misunderstood.”

A gurgled laugh escaped Georgie’s throat. “I sincerely doubt that. He called on her a few days ago. And then yesterday, Prestwick House was overrun with orchids, and—”

“Orchids?” Caroline echoed softly. Memories of the last conversation she had with her brother rang in her mind.

“Yes. Every half hour another arrangement arrived, and she wouldn’t tell me who they were from. Which, by the way, isn’t like her at all. I’ve never known her to keep secrets. And then finally Luke arrived himself, with yet another bouquet of orchids in hand. Then he returned later in the evening to escort us to the Stricklands’.”

“Did he really?” Caroline couldn’t remember ever being so elated. The lout. Did he really think she wouldn’t find out about this? That she wouldn’t be able to put two and two together? She was nearly bursting at the seams she was so excited. Lucas was courting a proper girl—the first one ever, as far as she knew. And he’d come to her for inside information not for Haywood, but for himself. She should have been put out that he didn’t trust her, but she was just too excited to be angry with him

“You don’t have to look so happy about it,” Georgie muttered sourly.

Caroline wiped the smile off her face. “Does she welcome his suit?” It would be God’s cruel irony if the one proper girl Luke was interested in rebuffed his attentions.

Georgie pursed her lips. “What do you think? She’s floating around Prestwick House in a daze. Caroline, you need to put an end to this. I don’t know how, but…”

This was perfect. Juliet welcomed his suit. Caroline’s heart was pounding happily. She’d long ago given up hope that her rogue of a brother would find a proper girl. Domestic bliss was in reach for Luke, of all people! She had to refrain herself from leaping off the chaise and dancing for joy. She turned exuberant eyes on her friend. “Georgie, this is a very good thing.”

Georgie furrowed her brow and sat bolt upright. “I don’t know how you can sit there and say that. I know he’s your brother, Caroline, but, well, do you have any idea of the path of destruction he’s left in his wake? Louisa has been sobbing on my shoulder for the last fortnight over him.”

Caroline tried to suppress a snort, but failed miserably. At Georgie’s astonished look, Caroline shrugged. “Hardly the same thing, darling. Louisa is a married woman who knew exactly what she was getting herself into.”

Precisely my point. Juliet is naïve about this sort of thing. She can’t handle Lucas. There are only so many conversations I can have about my sister-in-law’s gout.”

That made exactly no sense to Caroline whatsoever, and she scrunched up her face, thinking she must have misheard her friend. “Your sister-in-law’s gout?”

Georgie actually blushed. “Well, I couldn’t let the blackguard be alone with her, could I? So I sat there with them for close to two hours, chattering away like a ninny about the most inane topics I could think of.”

“Like Mrs. Wilcox’s gout?” Caroline asked with a giggle. Poor Luke. He must truly be enamored with Juliet to sit through such a thing.

“Well, it’s hardly a laughing matter. I couldn’t think up what else to talk about that might make him leave.”

Caroline frowned. For this whole Luke-living-in-domestic-bliss thing to work out, she’d need Georgie’s support. So would he for that matter. “Darling, listen to me. Never, in his life has Lucas ever even thought about courting a nice girl. Now, just listen,” she pleaded when Georgie started to scowl. “If Juliet has turned his head, and she welcomes his attention in return, we should support this. How many times have you complained to me about Juliet’s coolness toward her suitors? So, without judging Luke’s past, just forget all of that for the moment. The question you should be asking yourself is, ‘Can he make her happy?’”

“Of course he can.” Georgie’s frown deepened. “The question is for how long? And that’s not even half the problem…”

***

After a rather eventful morning, Caroline arrived at Luke’s rooms in Piccadilly, determined to get a read on her brother. If he was in any way serious about Juliet, she would do everything in her power to help him out—even if he didn’t ask for or want her help. She found that men, her two brothers most definitely included, didn’t know what was best for them, which was interesting, as she always knew what they needed. Therefore, she felt it was her duty to help them find their way. Very obliging of her really.

She pounded loudly on Luke’s door. It was after four in the afternoon. Hopefully the man was home. Actually, he should have some help to answer the door, she thought as she looked around the hallway. Though Luke’s rooms were well-appointed and in proportion to those lived in by other affluent gentlemen, she made a mental note to have Juliet insist he purchase a townhouse in Mayfair—after they were married, of course.

Finally, the door opened and Luke stood before her, wearing only a red silk robe and a scowl. “Why the devil are you pounding on my door?”

She raked her gaze over him, and quirked up one amused eyebrow. “I have no idea how the women of London can find you charming. I’ve never seen any evidence of it myself. Now are you going to invite me in? Or do you already have company?”

***

The very last thing Luke wanted today was to deal with Caroline. He’d spent a restless night with images of Juliet floating through his head, which was fine. He rather enjoyed that actually, but since he hadn’t slept well all night, he was trying to make up for it during daylight hours.

Besides, seeing Caroline on his threshold couldn’t mean anything good. One thing was certain, however. He couldn’t leave his little sister standing outside his rooms. So, he turned to the side and gestured for her to enter his sanctuary. “Lady Staveley.”

She made a harrumphing sound as she stepped past him into his abode. “Lucas, what are you doing at this time of day dressed like that?”

Little sisters truly were the most aggravating of all living creatures. “What do you want, Caroline?”

“I want to know,” she began as she flounced down in one of his overstuffed leather chairs, “how big a fool you think I am.”

There were a million different ways he wanted to answer that question, but couldn’t think of any that wouldn’t get him castrated. He smirked to himself and lazily leaned against the nearest wall. “That’s a dangerous question to answer.”

Her eyebrows shot up haughtily. “Did you think that because I was under the weather, I wouldn’t find out what you were doing? Did you honestly think that people wouldn’t tell me? I’ve been bombarded by visitors all morning long, Lucas, starting with Georgie and ending with Lady Strickland.”

He shouldn’t have been surprised. Truthfully, he should have been expecting this interview, prepared for it. For a brief moment he considered telling Caroline everything—that Juliet made his pulse race; that he was completely enamored with her in every way; that he was anxiously biding his time until he could seduce her, make her his. Well, he considered telling his sister everything except for that last part. Caroline wouldn’t appreciate that, and for the second time that day images of castration at the hands of his sister entered his mind—never the best way to start the day.

Instead, he decided to stick with the same line he had told Haywood. He’d learned early on, if you’re going to be untruthful, it’s best to keep to the same story as it makes life less complicated. “I presume you’re asking me in a rather roundabout way about Lady Juliet?”

“Of course I am.” She folded her arms across her chest and glared at him. “I’ve heard tales from Georgie about Prestwick House being overrun with orchids. Aunt Jane reported that you were in an altogether foul mood after you’d misplaced Juliet—though how you managed that I have no idea. And Lady Strickland was appalled with your incredibly scandalous waltz last night.” She narrowed her eyes on him even more, and he knew she was trying to get a reaction from him. “I assured her that your actions could be attributed to not spending enough time in polite society over the last few years and not a lack of breeding on your part. Honestly, darling, your ill-mannered behavior reflects poorly on me, you know.”

It seemed as if her tirade had come to an end. Luke shrugged nonchalantly. “Tell them what you wish, Caroline. I really couldn’t care less. I’ve made a bargain with Lady Juliet and I intend to keep it.”

Caroline’s eyes widened in surprise, and Luke resisted the urge to grin. She obviously hadn’t expected that, and he’d always loved to throw her off balance.

“What do you mean, bargain?” she asked warily.

Luke raked a hand through his hair and pushed himself away from the wall, then dropped into the room’s other leather chair across from his sister. “I promised her that I’d get rid of her fortune hunting suitors, Haywood included. So, it’s got to look like I’m courting her. I expect you to keep this a secret, since Juliet doesn’t want Georgie to know.”

“And what do you get out of this?”

He couldn’t help but smirk. It was the same question that Juliet had asked him. Caroline would get a different answer. “She’s promised to help Haywood win Miss Susan Clarke’s affections.”

“The tea merchant’s daughter?” Caroline asked, suspicion evident in her voice.

“Indeed. Juliet thought they might suit.”

She was studying him again, and Luke squirmed in his seat against his will. He expected Caroline to say something, not just stare at him with those inquisitive, hazel eyes of hers. Finally, she sat tall and furrowed her brow. “And this bargain of yours, did it include completely ruining Juliet’s reputation?”

Luke felt all of his muscles tense at her words. “Of course not.”

Then you might want to pull back a bit, darling. All morning long, Prestwick House has been under siege from every rake and lothario within a five mile radius of Mayfair. Apparently, they all think that if Lady Juliet’s caught your eye, then she must have attributes they hadn’t noticed before—including indiscriminate taste. By the way, Georgie is very unhappy with this new crop of suitors.”

It took every bit of self-control Luke had not to fly out of his chair, throw on the first set of clothes he saw, and storm over to Prestwick House. The idea that London’s rakes had targeted Juliet because of him made his stomach turn. She was to be his. But he sat rigid, and managed to shrug. Showing a weakness in front of Caroline was tantamount to surrender. “Juliet is certainly capable of dismissing them as she sees fit.” He was going to personally strangle any man that touched her.

Without any warning, Caroline stood up and started for the door. “Very well, Lucas. Do try to behave a bit better in public and play nice. I’d hate for you to end up breaking the poor girl’s heart.”

Then his sister let herself out and left him alone, quietly seething.

***

Caroline smiled all the way to her coach. Who did he think he was fooling? She’d known him all her life. He was besotted with the girl and just didn’t want her interfering. But she loved him enough to do so anyway. It was a good thing she was now feeling so much better, because she wouldn’t miss another social event if she was on her death bed. Hearing tales from others was one thing. She needed to see what was going on firsthand.

~ 8 ~

Atop his high-perch phaeton, Luke rushed over to Upper Brook Street as fast as he could with his horses’ hooves pounding against the street and adrenaline pumping in his veins. Though he was confident that Juliet could fend off fortune hunters by the droves, the rakes of London were a different breed of man altogether and his princess wasn’t accustomed to dealing with them. The only thing that made him breathe the teensiest bit easier was Georgie. She would keep the wolves of London at bay. In fact, she was turning into quite the dragon.

When Luke reached Prestwick House, his anxiety reached a new level. Flowers of one sort or another were crammed into every conceivable space in the hallway—and he couldn’t locate even one of his orchids in the bunch. Then Crawford admitted to him, under his breath, that Lady Juliet had sent nearly two dozen suitors to her pink parlor so far that day. Therefore Luke felt very fortunate that the butler was leaving him in the blue parlor.

But that relief lasted only momentarily. Before Crawford shut the door behind him, Luke noticed an impeccably dressed man standing by the window, his hands clasped behind his back. When the door clicked shut, the man turned around and Luke recognized him immediately.

Tall, dark haired, and handsome—Phineas Granard, Viscount Carraway, was neither a fortune hunter nor a rake. Instead, he was a well-respected politician—not Luke’s usual sort of compatriot.