Christie Kelley (21 page)

“I believe I understand your reluctance toward marriage, Avis. After all, I was a
very
close friend of your mother.”

Point taken. “Lady Selby, I
was
reluctant to marry your son.”

“Was?”

Avis smiled. “Yes, was.” She glanced down at her skirts, straightened them and continued, “I’ve had the chance to do some much needed thinking on the subject. I…I had my doubts, and I rejected Banning’s offers at every turn. But he was so persistent and…I believe marriage to Banning shall suit me.”

“Yes, I think it will.” Lady Selby smiled fully. “Banning must love you deeply.”

“Really?”

“Why else would my son have gone away with a woman of your station? He knew the risks, and my son is many things, but he is no fool.”

Avis bit down on her lip. It was an interesting thought that he had planned to marry her even before they had left. He had disavowed planning to marry her when he made his first offer. At least that was what he told her on the beach the morning of his clumsy proposal.

Besides, they had barely known each other before they had gone away…or had they? There wasn’t much she hadn’t known about Banning. And very likely, he knew as much about her.

Lady Selby read the play of emotions on Avis’s face and said, “Decisions that last a lifetime are never easy, Avis. But I am happy to see you have made the right choice. My son would never lay a hand on a woman in anger.”

“I know that,” Avis replied. And she did. “But what if I am like my father, Lady Selby?”

“You are the perfect combination of both your parents. You have your mother’s big heart, but your father’s determination. If a man hit you in anger, no matter how much you loved him,
you
would find a way to leave him.”

“And if I hit a man, or worse, my own child?” After spending most of the afternoon with Mary and her children, Avis doubted she ever would. Still, Lady Selby had a right to know the woman she might get as a daughter-in-law.

“Even the most unflappable mother will get frustrated with her own children. They instinctively know how to get you angry. And sometimes, you have to walk away. Let the nursemaid handle the situation.”

“Thank you, Lady Selby.” Looking at the silver-haired woman, Avis knew Lady Selby understood her fears. And as long as she had the chance, she would ask the provocative question. “Why do you think my mother stayed with my father?”

Lady Selby gave her an understanding smile. “You may not remember, but I tried to help your mother many times when you were young.”

“You did?”

“I wanted to help you and your mother escape from your father. I offered her money. She could have left him and gone to America or stayed in a small town in England. But she loved your father, too much. She thought she could change him.”

Avis wiped away a stray tear that had fallen as Lady Selby spoke. At least she did not want to change Banning. She loved him for all his faults and strengths.

“Thank you for telling me that, Lady Selby.”

The woman smiled kindly at her. “You are very welcome, my dear. You have no idea how happy I am that Banning chose you. He needs a strong woman.”

Only Avis didn’t feel very strong. All her life she’d hidden her fears behind her independent facade, not needing anyone. But she did need someone. She needed Banning. She needed his warm and loving family.

“Come along,” Lady Selby said as she rose from her seat. “It is time to announce your engagement.”

Avis’s heart felt light for the first time in weeks. She couldn’t wait to tell Banning how much she loved him and wanted to marry him. No duress this time, only honest emotions.

They walked out of the room together. Instead of Banning waiting for her, Jennette stood in the hallway, her arms crossed over her chest and an angry look in her blue eyes.

“I want to talk to you, Avis.” Grabbing Avis’s arm, she pulled her back into the study.

“Be quick, Jennette,” her mother said. “We need to make this announcement soon.”

“This really shan’t take long.” Jennette closed the door behind her.

Avis walked back toward her glass of sherry still on the table. Something told her that she would need a little fortification for this talk.

“How could you?” Venom fairly dripped from Jennette’s voice. “How could you make your scandalous proposal to my brother? My brother! The man you supposedly hated for his one innocent little kiss eight years ago.”

“He kissed me on a wager back then, hardly innocent.” Avis sank back into the same chair she’d been sitting in for the past half hour. “Jennette, I never made a proposal, proposition, or tendered your brother any offer.”

“Oh, so you two just happened to meet each other at the coaching inn and decided to run off to Southwold.”

“Not quite.” Avis sipped her drink. “He blackmailed me into an affair.”

Jennette cocked a black brow and gave her a questioning look that reminded her of Banning. “He blackmailed you,” she said with a coarse laugh. “That is lovely, Avis.”

“It happens to be the truth!”

Jennette rolled her eyes. “You two can’t stand being in the same room for more than five minutes without arguing and yet you expect me to believe that my brother blackmailed you into an affair.”

“He did.” Avis stood and faced her best friend. “He overheard you and Sophie talking and decided, in his usual arrogance, that he would be a better partner for me than Mr. Billingsworth.”

“And you just agreed?”

Looking away, Avis bit her lip, remembering that night in her cousin’s study. “Not until he kissed me,” she whispered.

“He kissed you?” Jennette paced the room, frowning. “I really do not believe I want to hear about that.”

“Oh? You can’t believe your brother did something so underhanded?”

She stopped and laughed. “I take no issue with that. I just don’t want to hear about my brother kissing you or anyone else,” she replied with a delicate affected shudder.

Avis finally smiled.

Jennette stared at her for a moment. “Do you love him?”

Avis closed her eyes to keep her tears at bay. “Yes,” she answered softly. “More than I ever thought possible.”

Before she could open her eyes, Jennette enfolded Avis in her arms. “You’re going to be my sister,” Jennette said warmly.

They both sat down on the settee. “Tell me everything,” Jennette said. “Just keep the kissing talk to a minimum.”

Avis laughed then grew serious. “Banning knew a few things about Mr. Billingsworth of which I had no knowledge and decided it would be best to stop me. Then he offered himself in Billingsworth’s place.”

Avis stopped to sip her sherry, remembering that night as if it happened yesterday. “Now that I think about it, I honestly don’t believe he originally meant to replace Billingsworth. He looked almost as shocked as I was when he made his offer.”

“And you just accepted?”

“I refused him, of course.”

“Then he kissed you and convinced you to change your mind?”

“Not quite.” Avis explained about the fake engagement between Emory and Lady Hythe, and how Banning blackmailed her. She thanked God every day for Banning’s meddling. If not for him, she might never have discovered love, passion, and a man she wanted to spend her life with.

The door swung open and Lady Selby entered with a frown plastered on her face. “Girls, enough. We must find Banning and get this engagement announced.”

“We are done, Mother.”

They split up in order to find Banning more quickly. She searched for him but could not locate him. She did, unfortunately, find Emory Billingsworth. Or rather, he found her.

“Avis,” he said with a wicked smile. “That was quite a surprise on the terrace.”

“It was for me too.”

He clasped her arm above her elbow and led her outside. “I must admit my disappointment, though.”

“Oh?”

“Well, yes.” He turned her around to face him. “I had hoped to court you once we returned to town.”

“Why?”

Emory gave her a patronizing smile. “I find myself attracted to you.”

“Are you indeed?” Where was everyone? It was a warm night, people should be milling about, but no one appeared on the terrace with them.

“Yes, shall I prove it?”

Fear raced down her spine. “I hardly believe that is necessary.”

Emory slithered closer to her. She stepped back until she reached the balustrade and her choice became limited to jumping over the edge and into the unknown, or standing up for herself. He leaned in closer to her.

“Don’t, Emory.”

“Don’t what?” He smile revealed a row of small white teeth that gleamed in the moonlight.

Avis felt as if a rabid dog had cornered her, baring his teeth in madness. She sidestepped him but tripped over a small container of flowers. Thrown off balance, she reached out and grabbed the closest thing, his jacket. His hands clutched her bottom.

“I want you—”

Before she could finish her sentence and tell him to get his hands off her, he pulled her up against him and lowered his lips to hers. He smelled of gin, and she tried to turn away, but his lips held her immobile.

Shocked by the force of his kiss, she stood still unable to move an inch.

Banning gulped down another glass of brandy in Trey’s study. He couldn’t believe it was over between them. Based on her comments regarding a scandal, he knew that they were at the end of the road. He could do nothing more to convince her to give them a chance. As he reached for the brandy bottle, he spied two figures walking across the dark terrace. A brief shot of moonlight highlighted the couple strolling together like lovers seeking a retreat.

Avis and Billingsworth.

She certainly didn’t waste any time in finding a replacement lover. Then again, Billingsworth had been her first choice. Some inexplicable force drew Banning toward the terrace, as he had to discover what was happening out there. He slipped into the shadows just close enough to watch their interaction.

“I want you…” she said to Billingsworth.

She clutched Billingsworth’s lapel as they kissed. She didn’t try to push him away. A more graphic demonstration of the truth wasn’t possible.

She doesn’t love me.

Damn her.

She had always defended Billingsworth to him. No matter how many times Banning had tried to warn her against him. Banning’s shoulders sagged as he turned away from them and started to walk back inside. He had reached his limit. He had pursued her endlessly, thinking she just needed a little prodding to realize how much love she had in her.

But he was wrong.

He took a long swig out of the brandy bottle, hoping the alcohol would numb his mind. It really was over. But his mind or possibly his heart wouldn’t let him walk away yet. Something just wasn’t right about that kiss, but he couldn’t figure out what.

Damned brandy had addled his mind already.

He stopped before the study door and turned toward them again. He watched the exchange between Avis and Billingsworth, but he was too far away now to hear them. As Billingsworth dragged Avis from the terrace, Banning knew his instinct was correct.

Avis finally came to her senses and her balance, and thrust Emory away from her. She wiped her mouth with her gloved hand. “Don’t you ever touch me again!”

Emory only gave her a sardonic smile. “It couldn’t have been that dreadful if it took you that long to push me away.”

“You shocked me.”

“Good. You needed a jolt to get Selby out of your system. Now that you have, you can reject this forced engagement.”

Avis stared at him. When had he changed so drastically? “What if I don’t want to reject the engagement?”

Emory’s brown eyes grew dark with rage. He grasped her wrist and led her down the terrace stairs into the garden. Avis attempted to twist out of his grip but his hold was tight enough that she would surely have a bruise there tomorrow.

“Emory, release me this instant!”

“No.” After finding a private area, he released her wrist and grabbed her by the shoulders. “He will force you to stop writing. He will end our friendship.”

Avis had no doubt that Banning would attempt to end their friendship, but she knew Banning would never want her to stop writing. There was only one way to convince Emory that she would indeed marry Banning.

“I love him, Emory,” she whispered.

“Love him!” he shouted.

“Shh,” she said quietly. “Someone might hear you.”

“Good. Then he will discover us and reject you.”

Nothing seemed to be getting through to him. “Emory, Banning and I love each other.”

“What the bloody hell do you know about love? You’re a spinster, Avis. He’s the first man you’ve laid with so you think you must be in love. But you’re not. You’re a woman of independent means who would suffocate under a controlling man’s thumb. You won’t marry Selby.”

“I shall invite you to the wedding so you can watch me marry him,” she said, knowing she was baiting him.

Emory’s face contorted as his hand clenched and then raised. Before she knew what was happening, his fist connected with her jaw. The force of the blow knocked her off her feet. Looking up at him, she saw that his rage billowed out from him like dark clouds before a storm.

“You will not marry Selby.” He reached for her again.

Unsure of his intentions, she rolled away from him.

“Avis!”

She looked up to see Emory’s face blanch. His eyes widened and his mouth dropped before he raced away from her. Avis blinked as strong arms lifted her from the ground.

“Are you all right?” Banning asked softly.

She could only nod against his chest. “How did you find me?”

“I saw you from Trey’s study,” he said gently caressing her hair. “I was about to return to town when I heard a commotion and saw him dragging you off the terrace.”

“Avis!” Jennette ran toward them.

Slowly, Banning released her. He turned toward his sister and said, “Take care of her.”

“Where are you going?” they asked in unison.

“To take care of a problem.” Before either woman could say a word, he left them.

Avis gingerly touched her jaw. She flinched from the pain radiating up her face.

“Oh my God! What did that monster do to you?”

“He…he hit me,” Avis said as hot tears burned her cheeks. “Jennette, he hit me. He’s just as Banning warned.”

Jennette crouched down and looked at Avis’s cheek. “What do you mean, as Banning warned?”

They brushed her off and sat on a nearby bench. Avis told her friend the story Banning had told her about Emory and the prostitute. “I didn’t believe him,” she whispered. “I never would have imagined Emory hitting anyone, especially a woman.”

Jennette only nodded as if she had no idea what to say.

“Why did you come out here?” Avis asked.

“I was looking for you both.” Jennette clasped her hands together on her lap. “Mother is frantic about getting the engagement announced.”

“Do you think Banning went after Emory?”

Jennette nodded. “Emory most likely headed for town.”

“Oh God, Emory will kill him.”

“I would think you’d have more faith in your betrothed.”

“I do, but I have reason to believe he is terrified of guns,” Avis replied.

“Why would you think that? He loves the hunt.”

“When was the last time you saw him hunt?” Avis asked.

Jennette’s brow furrowed. “I don’t know. Maybe four or five years now that you mention it.”

“I overheard someone talking to him and this man said Banning would never shoot him.”

Jennette leveled Avis an intense look that reminded her of Banning. “Then we must stop this.”

“How?”

“I’d suggest by leaving for London now.”

The carriage rolled into London late the next day without ever having caught up to Banning. Not a surprise since within an hour of being in the coach, her sickness came upon her. Stopping every hour or two did nothing to hasten their arrival.

“I cannot face him just yet, Jennette,” Avis said, plucking at her skirts.

“Why ever not?” Jennette scrutinized her. “Never mind. I can see exactly why you wouldn’t want to call on him. You’re still green.”

Green and miserable. And not just from the carriage ride. Before she confronted Banning she needed to think through everything. She couldn’t get the words he said when he found her out of her mind.

“I was returning to town…”

Why was he returning to town before the announcement of their engagement? No one would have believed it without him there. Had he planned to leave her?

She shook her head. She was in no condition to reason out a thing now, save her bed and sleep.

Jennette signaled the coachman and told him to take Avis home directly. Her home. Where she would be alone. Blast it all. She didn’t want to be alone any longer. She wanted all that Banning had shown her the past month, love, affection, companionship—him.

“Shall I stay with you?” Jennette murmured.

“No,” Avis replied with a forced smile. “I will be quite all right. Tomorrow I shall confront your brother.”

“And demand that he stop this foolish idea of revenge.”

Avis laughed at the idea of demanding anything of Banning. He did not seem the type of man who would change his mind because of a woman spouting orders at him. Chances were that attitude might only make him dig his heels in deeper.

The next afternoon she’d prepared herself to face him again. “Ready my carriage, Grantham,” she shouted down the hallway from her study.

“Yes, ma’am. I shall inform Bridget you wish to go out.”

“No. I will go alone.”

Grantham pursed his wrinkled lips and nodded.

Avis ignored the look of censure in his eyes. Knowing she had a few minutes before the carriage was ready, she pulled out her quill, dipped it into the ink, and quickly wrote out all the reasons he shouldn’t duel to defend her honor. She couldn’t risk meeting him without her thoughts in order. After sanding the paper, she folded it and placed the note in her reticule.

Now she was ready to face Banning.

As she departed the coach, the black lacquered front door opened to Banning’s house. Battenford stood stiffly in wait for her. She walked up the six steps, breathing in deeply.

“Good afternoon, Miss Copley,” Battenford said with a genuine smile. “I’m afraid Lady Jennette is not at home.” He glanced backward then leaned in closer. “She is visiting Lady Elizabeth,” he said softly to avoid being overheard.

“Thank you, Battenford.”
Say it. Tell him why you are really here.
“Actually, I am here to speak with Lord Selby.”

“I’m sorry, he is not at home.”

“Oh,” she said deflated. “Will he return soon?”

Battenford shrugged. “I’m sorry, miss. He didn’t say when he would return.”

“Thank you.”

She walked down the steps slowly and entered her carriage.

“Ma’am?” her driver called out.

“Yes?”

“Home?”

“Lady Elizabeth’s house.”

At least at Elizabeth’s house she could drown her sorrows with her two best friends. Perhaps one of them could give her some meaningful advice. Although, she knew Jennette’s opinion would be that Avis should have stormed the study and stayed until Banning returned home.

The short drive allowed her enough time to calm her emotions. She briefly wondered if Elizabeth’s aunt would permit her to enter the house. Until their engagement became official, she was a scandalous woman. All the proper ladies of the
ton
would scorn her.

“Avis!” Elizabeth peeked out from the salon as Avis stepped into the hallway. “I’m so glad you came to visit.”

Avis gave her a tremulous smile. “Oh, blast,” she cried and hugged Elizabeth. “I thought I had cried out all my tears.”

“Come along. I have tea and cakes and everyone is here.” Elizabeth led her into the room.

“Oh, Avis,” Sophie and Victoria murmured at the same time.

“We will get this all straightened out,” Jennette said in her usual authoritative manner. “He went out looking for Billingsworth. Had he returned home by the time you went to see him?”

Avis shook her head still attempting to control her tears.

“Can I assume by your tears that you have heard the gossip?” Sophie asked quietly.

“What gossip?” How much worse could it be than compromising yourself?

A hush fell over the room. Avis sat on the sofa and glanced around at the pale faces of her friends. “What gossip?”

Jennette spoke first, “The betting book at White’s is being flooded with wagers.”

“And?”

“About you and Banning,” Jennette finished in a whispered tone.

“And about a duel between Billingsworth and Banning over you,” Elizabeth said.

“So I’m officially ruined.”

Banning’s carriage rolled to a stop on St. James Street in front of White’s. Somerton had agreed to keep a watch in the club for Billingsworth. After only a day back in town, the bastard had already been seen here.

He entered White’s and found a quiet table in the corner. Several men nodded to him, or saluted him with their drinks, but he ignored them. After ordering a bottle of claret, he sat back and examined the room.

“Selby,” Somerton greeted him.

“Somerton.”

“May I?” he asked, pointing to the empty chair.

“Of course.” Banning waited until Somerton took his seat before interrogating him. “Where is he?”

“Patience, man.”

“I don’t seem to have any of that left.”

“I hear congratulations may be in order,” Somerton said then poured himself a glass of claret.

“Not bloody likely.”

“Oh?”

“I believe most people realize that Miss Copley was a spinster because she wanted to be. Apparently, she still wishes to remain unmarried.”

“I find that difficult to believe,” Somerton commented then sipped his claret.

“Why?”

Somerton drained his claret and then rose with a sardonic look on his face. “Even I heard the rumor that she compromised herself to save you from the delightful trap set by Miss Olivia Roebuck. Odd behavior from a self-proclaimed spinster, wouldn’t you agree?”

Somerton waited for a response but finally added, “Billingsworth is in the gaming room. And by the by, the betting book is aflame with wagers that you and Miss Copley will be married by weeks’ end. Since I put down a large amount on that bet, I would appreciate a Thursday wedding.”

“I’ll do my best, Somerton.” Banning only hoped he’d still be alive by Thursday.

Somerton nodded and walked toward the gaming room. Banning knew he had to walk into that room and confront Billingsworth but his feet wouldn’t move. He had always known that one day Billingsworth’s violent nature would show itself to Avis. Rage billowed over him as he thought about the consequences—pistols at dawn. His blood iced over.

He scraped back his chair and strode to the back room. Scanning the room, he finally found the bastard with his back to the door, playing whist. Banning clamped his hand down on Billingsworth’s slender shoulder.

“I believe we have a meeting to discuss,” Banning whispered harshly in his ear.

Billingsworth gave him a leer. “You mean to defend that whore’s honor? She’s a bloody vixen in bed. She couldn’t get enough of me, you know.”

Billingsworth stood and turned toward Banning. “And I daresay with you out of her bed, Miss Copley will be begging me to marry her and set her reputation straight.”