A Scandalous Charade (6 page)

“Like delirious desire?” Luke chuckled as he took a step toward her.

Juliet took a step away from him. Her heart beat faster whenever he was around, and she wasn’t at all sure that was a good thing. She’d told Georgie she could handle him, but now she wasn’t certain that was true. She eyed him warily.

With an earth-stopping smile, he gazed at her as if he could knock away all her defenses with a simple wave of his hand. “I have a proposition for you, princess.”

She should probably turn tail and leave. There wasn’t anything proper he would suggest—she could see that in his eyes. “And what is that?”

“In exchange for your continued help with Miss Clarke, I’ll personally keep Haywood and all of your other suitors away from you.”

Impossible. No one could do that. “How?”

His wicked green eyes twinkled. “I’ll court you and keep the rest of them at bay. Mark my words. If you hang on my arm, princess, they won’t bother you anymore.”

Her heart nearly stopped. Was he serious? “Court me?” she sputtered. “I—I mean I hardly see the point, as I have no plans to marry you or anyone else.”

He was chuckling again and took another step toward her. “Princess, marriage isn’t for me either, but no one else has to know that. It can be our little secret.”

He side-stepped the chair and closed the gap between them. Juliet stared up into his green eyes, trying to formulate something intelligent to say, which became increasingly more difficult with each step he took. “So you’ll keep all of those scavengers away from me? I don’t see what you’ll get out of all this.”

With his long, tapered fingers, Luke gently caressed the side of her cheek. “I get to spend time with you.” Then he dipped his head and once again captured her mouth.

Juliet lost herself in the kiss, feeling more drawn to him each moment he held her. He was addictive and she wanted more and more of him. But a moment later, she broke off the kiss when footsteps sounded in the hallway. Then in the next instant, the parlor door was thrown open and Edmund bounded inside.

***

Edmund felt he was fairly worldly for nine, and when he walked into the pink parlor, it did not escape his notice that his sister had nearly leapt across the room and a deep blush settled on her cheeks. Therefore, the young duke turned his attention immediately to The Scoundrel Georgie had just been discussing. Although his oldest sister had simply given him the general brushstrokes, he knew there were many things she’d left unsaid.

So, this man was a rake, according to Georgie. How interesting. He’d never met one before. Though looking at Luke Beckford, Edmund couldn’t tell what would make this man so much more appealing to women than another. He honestly just looked like any other man, but apparently Juliet found him quite pleasing because her blush deepened when The Scoundrel looked at her. Women. Edmund wasn’t sure he’d ever understand them. “I’m Prestwick,” he announced, when it seemed no one else was going to speak.

The Scoundrel bowed grandly. “Lucas Beckford, Your Grace.”

Juliet stepped toward him and managed to find her voice. “I believe Mr. Beckford was just leaving, Edmund.”

“Not on my account, I hope.” And he sincerely meant it. Edmund would have been happy to study the man for a bit longer.  Find out what he was about.

“No,” his sister answered with a smile. “He has an errand to attend to. A meeting with Lord Haywood, I believe.”

Edmund looked The Scoundrel over with assessing eyes. Juliet liked him. It was plain as day on her face. How interesting. She certainly didn’t like any of the others. But did The Scoundrel like her? Edmund was determined to find out. “I’ll see you out, Mr. Beckford.”

The Scoundrel nodded. “Thank you, Your Grace.” Then he looked back over his shoulder at Juliet. “If you get the chance, I’ve got to attend my Aunt Jane Danbury’s fete tonight.”

Juliet tilted her head to the side with a smile. “I’ll have to check my schedule, Mr. Beckford.”

He smiled back. “I’ll call on you soon, princess…after I’ve dealt with Haywood.”

Finally alone in the corridor with the scoundrel, Edmund looked up at him with curious eyes. He’d never seen Juliet blush before. Who was this man? “You like my sister.” It was a bold statement, but he wanted to see how Beckford responded to it.

Without hesitation, The Scoundrel nodded in agreement. “Very much so. Are you trying to protect her from me, Your Grace?”

Edmund liked that The Scoundrel didn’t talk down to him or treat him like a child. He hated it when Georgie did so. “That depends. Are you a fortune hunter?”

Beckford’s deep, warm chuckle filled the corridor, and Edmund decided almost immediately that he liked him. “My income is secure, Your Grace.”

“Well, in that case, you may call me Edmund.”

“I’m Luke,” he responded with an amused grin and a raised brow.

Edmund was now completely certain that he liked this man. There was just something about him. “Luke, do you know my sister, Lady Teynham?”

“But you won’t hurt Juliet, will you?” This, Edmund desperately wanted to know. No matter how much he liked Luke, he couldn’t let Juliet go unprotected. He was only nine—but he was the Duke of Prestwick.

“I have no intention of hurting your sister. I’m quite fond of her.”

Luke did seem sincere, and Edmund believed him. He breathed a sigh of relief. All in all, this had been fairly easy. He should have taken more of an interest in Juliet’s suitors a long time ago. “Good.” He smiled. “Then I’ll help keep Georgie distracted, if you need me to.”

They had reached the large mahogany front door and Luke offered his hand to Edmund, a twinkle in his green eyes. “I think you’ll make a spectacular scoundrel yourself someday, Edmund.”

Edmund like the sound of that and he grinned. Perhaps Georgie had it all wrong. It seemed quite the thing to be called a scoundrel.

***

Luke and Edmund had barely left the pink parlor when a shocked squeal from outside the doorway. Juliet rushed to the door to find Georgie standing in the corridor clutching a letter to her chest and looking quite horrified.

She was never happy to deal with Teynham’s family, but Juliet couldn’t imagine what had happened that would make Georgie look so distraught. “Heavens, Georgie, what’s wrong?”

Georgie thrust the letter into Juliet’s hands. “It’s Felicity.”

Felicity, their younger sister, was spending time abroad with her American cousins in Boston. When she heard her sweet little sister’s name, Juliet anxiously straightened the foolscap to read the letter.

Dear Georgie and Juliet,

I hope this letter finds you both well. I have the most wonderful news to share with you, and so much has happened. Firstly, I will not be returning home to England, as much as I miss you. However, I have decided to remain here in Massachusetts. Last week I married the most wonderful man, Captain Aaron Pierce of Boston, and I find that my place is here with him. I am certain that you will understand. Please be happy for me, as I am the most happy I have ever been. I shall write when I am able. Give my love to Edmund.

Your devoted sister,

Mrs. Felicity Pierce.

Juliet read and then re-read the letter at least a dozen times. She blinked up at Georgie in disbelief, just as Edmund rounded the corner toward the parlor. “Has she lost her mind?”

Edmund was now bouncing up and down on his toes, turning a hideous shade of red. “Bugger it all, Jules, who are you talking about?”

Georgie’s attention instantly snapped to the boy. “Young man, I don’t want to ever hear that sort of language from you again.”

Edmund pouted and furrowed his brow. “Well, if either of you would just answer me I wouldn’t have to use that sort of language.”

“That’s no excuse, Edmund. You are the Duke of Prestwick, and I’ll not have you sounding like some sort of gutter trash,” Georgie insisted, with her hands firmly on her hips.

Georgie’s criticism always left Edmund a little fractured. It wasn’t his fault she was brittle—it was just the shocking news from Felicity. Juliet ruffled her brother’s hair comfortingly and handed the letter to him. “It’s Felicity, sweetheart.”

Edmund’s little face scrunched up as he read the note. Then he frowned and handed the letter back to Juliet. “She could’ve at least written me as well. She didn’t even think about me until the very end. I am the duke.”

Juliet laughed. It was either that or cry, and truthfully she felt more like doing the latter. “Edmund darling, you know she’s flighty. She did send her love.”

“For heaven’s sakes, Edmund,” Georgie chastised, “you’re missing the important part of the letter. The little fool has run off and gotten married.”

Edmund retrieved the letter from Juliet’s hand and scanned it again. “Mrs. Felicity Pierce? Shouldn’t she still be Lady Felicity?”

“Americans,” Georgie explained. “They have no sense of propriety.”

“Captain Pierce?” he continued with a frown. “Like an army captain? Or a sea captain? Or naval captain? Do you know which?”

Juliet sighed. “That’s all she said. We don’t know anything about Captain Pierce. She certainly didn’t mention him in her last letter.” Not that any of them should have been surprised by that. Felicity was by far the most impetuous member of their little family.

Her mother, Violet, a native Bostonian, had simply been visiting London when she met and then quickly married the previous Duke of Prestwick. Therefore it was only fitting that her daughter should visit America and follow in her impulsive footsteps.

To Juliet the most upsetting thing about the entire situation was Felicity’s young age. She was only fifteen. And this husband of hers was already a captain of some sort? How old was this man? And what sort of man took advantage of a young, starry-eyed miss?

~ 4 ~

Luke was more determined than ever to have Juliet. She was truly one of the most delightful women he’d ever met, and he’d met many. She had already captured his interest and intrigued him with her beauty and spirit, but now, after having held her in his arms and kissed her, he could hardly wait to take the next step.

Before he could concentrate on that, he had to take care of something else. William Haywood needed to be dealt with.

So, after acquiring all the pertinent information about the Clarkes and their finances, Luke wasted no time in trying to track down Will. The sooner he got this thing over with, the sooner he could refocus his attentions where he wanted them—on Juliet. Since the young baron wasn’t at his apartments, Luke began a methodical search across Town. He started with the brothels that Will frequented, but to no avail. Not even Sarah had seen him. So, he moved on to the gaming hells. At his second stop, he got lucky and stumbled across Haywood playing hazard in a small establishment right off of King Street.

Unfortunately, Will had not been so lucky and seemed to be down a few dozen quid. Luke lazily draped his arm across his friend’s shoulders and shook his head. “Sweet Lucifer, Will, what are you doing here?”

Will looked at him as if the reason was as plain as the nose on his face. “Trying to win a fortune. What does it look like?”

“It looks like your down, mon ami. And you don’t have much else to lose,” Luke added quietly.

Will shrugged. “If worse comes to worst I can still sell off my stables and get by another few months. I was hoping to get them up and running, but…”

It was pointless to try and talk sense into Haywood. They’d had this discussion more than once. Will was always convinced that his luck was just about to turn around, and he could save everything without having to sell his soul in marriage. However, luck was perennially elusive for the baron, always winning just enough to keep his head above water, but never enough to pull himself out of the hole completely.

“Look, Will, we need to have a talk.”

They fell into two seats at the back of the small gaming room and ordered a couple glasses of whiskey. As the amber liquid flowed smoothly down his throat, Luke sat back in his chair. “About Lady Juliet…” he slowly began, hoping his friend wouldn’t make this more difficult than it had to be.

Luke went on to explain in detail about Miss Clarke. She was the only child of Thomas Clarke, a self-made man in trade. Her mother was the daughter of a viscount and at the time had married well beneath her station. For years, Mr. Clarke had been trying to prove himself worthy of his wife’s family. The true feather in his cap would be a marriage for his daughter into the peerage.

Will listened to everything Luke had to say, though honestly, he looked a bit dumbfounded by the whole thing. Finally he spoke. “But I don’t even know Miss Clarke.”