Dangerous Deceptions (2 page)

“But poor Mr. Phelps!” Mary fastened the bracelet onto her slender wrist and turned it around, testing how well the gold and jewels glistened in the candlelight. Mary had the alabaster skin, sloping shoulders, and pale eyes expected of the Maid of Honor Type. She carried the looks, and the style, with an ease I envied. “He will be quite distraught when he sees me wearing his gift instead of you!”

“Well, you’ll just have to soothe his spirits, won’t you?” I will not deny that some small ulterior motive guided my choice of which bracelet to “lend” Mary. Mr. Phelps was one of the many court gentlemen I had to tolerate, but not one I wished to encourage.

“Perhaps I will. He certainly has excellent taste.” Mary leaned in toward the glass, touching her patches. This blocked Libby’s view and caused my maid to eye her last silver pin, and Mary’s neck, thoughtfully. “I note you have not yet smoothed things over with our Sophy.”

“As a good Christian maid, I know I should turn the other cheek, but both mine are already burned.” When Sophy Howe thought I was Lady Francesca, she had done her best to make my life miserable. Now that she knew I was a mere “miss” rather than a titled lady, she seemed to take my continued existence as a personal insult.

“And you will have heard by now that Molly Lepell has returned,” Mary went on with a great and obvious show of insouciance.

“Oh? How is she?” I strove to match Mary’s unconcern, and failed. First, because no one could match Mary Bellenden when it came to complete and marvelous unconcern for others. Second, because Molly Lepell had been the closest thing to a friend I’d had at court. Unfortunately, that friendship had been formed while she believed I was someone else. When it was revealed just how thoroughly I’d been lying to her, and the rest of the world, Molly did not take it well. She’d left the court for her interlude at home before I’d had a chance to try to mend things.

“I’m sure I couldn’t tell how she is.” Mary turned a bright eye toward me. “You need to apply to quite a different quarter to find out what little nothings Molly Lepell whispers these days.” I might have been the one engaged in spying for the Crown, but when it came to acquiring court gossip, I was a decided amateur compared to Mary.

“What are you talking about?” My patience was stretched dangerously thin. Miss Bellenden might have nothing better to do than flirt and gossip tonight, but I was under orders to make peace out of a private war with a man I detested.

“It seems that while she was at home and out of our tender care, a certain gentleman quite captured Molly’s attention.”

That stopped all other thoughts dead in their tracks. “Molly Lepell has formed an attachment?” It was Molly who had warned me against losing my heart to any man at court. I found the idea that she might have abandoned her own excellent advice more than a bit disturbing.

“It sounds absurd, doesn’t it? I thought her quite impervious.” Mary fussed with the fashion-mandated three tiers of lace ruffles trailing from her sleeves, making sure they fell in such a way that they would not obscure her new bracelet. “But I know what I saw, and what I saw was anything but impervious.” She tipped me a happy wink. “I fear that with all that’s going on, you’re going to have to work very hard to recapture anyone’s attention, Peggy. I am so looking forward to seeing what invention strikes.” She dropped a quick kiss on my cheek and sailed out of my closet under a wind of cheerful anticipation as strong as the one that blew her in.

“Invention,” snorted Libby. “She knows too much about invention for her own good, that one.”

“She’s all right,” I answered, somewhat distractedly. Mary Bellenden was indeed all right, simply because she was uncomplicated. She sailed through life as well as doorways. Molly Lepell was another matter. She was beautiful, of course, but she was also deeply intelligent and practical regarding court matters. I wondered who had found her heart. I wondered if he was worthy. I wondered if I’d ever get a chance to explain myself to her and to be her friend again.

“Oh, Peggy!” Mary’s voice rang quite unexpectedly from my outer chamber. “You’ve a visitor.”

“What?” I struggled to my feet, ignoring Libby’s annoyed exclamations. “Who? The Pierponts aren’t due for two hours yet . . .” Could it be Molly?

But the youth I caught in the act of straightening up from the bow he made to Mary Bellenden was no member of my family, much less a maid of honor.

“Heaven defend us,” I croaked as the blood drained out of my painted cheeks.

This man was tall and slender with arresting blue eyes set into a hatchet-sharp face. He was the Honorable Mr. Sebastian Sandford. I had met Mr. Sandford last spring, when he attempted unceremoniously to seduce me at a birthday party. When seduction failed, he, with equal lack of ceremony, attempted rape.

He also happened to be my betrothed.

TWO

“Miss Fitzroy. How wonderful it is to see you again.”

Sebastian presented me with one of his best bows, a feat rendered slightly awkward by the beribboned porcelain jar he carried in both hands. I watched him without moving or even managing to close my mouth. I quite literally could not believe my eyes.

I had last seen Sebastian before I came to court. That also happened to be the same day my uncle threw me out of his house. This was the morning after Sebastian had decided he was going to help himself to my virginity, in a garden shed, without bothering to inquire whether I consented to the act. I did not, as it happened, and was able to make a more forceful argument in that regard than he expected.

As Sebastian straightened from his most recent bow, I struggled to find where I had misplaced my voice. The initial results were not promising.

“I . . . you . . . what are you doing here?”

“Lud, Peggy!” cried Mary, clearly delighted at finding the evening’s entertainments had begun so soon. “One might think you had an excess of handsome swains parading in to see you.”

“And does she?” Sebastian inquired. For this pretty quip, he was treated to one of Mary’s celebrated sparkling laughs.

“If she does, she has kept her secrets very well.”

“I am glad to hear it.”

These remarks were ornamented by rather overmuch showing of dimples and batting of eyelashes on all sides. I suppressed the urge to slap them both on their noses.

I will say that if one did not know his true character, one could easily make the mistake of considering Sebastian Sandford handsome. He possessed an arresting face, and when it was not covered by a curled and powdered wig, his hair was pale gold. He was tall, a fact emphasized by his high-heeled shoes with their silver bows. The rest of his clothing was as rich as his footwear. Tonight, he dressed in pale mauve silk and white velvet, all decorated with great lashings of lace and silver braid. Mary’s mischievous eyes made a thorough and obvious inspection of all these points as she toyed with the lace edging her own low neckline.

“You have not answered my question, Mr. Sandford.” I attempted to give Mary a warning glower, but I needn’t have bothered. Mary was not paying my discomfort the slightest bit of attention. “What are you doing here?”

Sebastian, in a belated concession to courtesy, moved his gaze from Mary’s countenance, and other highly visible attributes, back to me. “I have come for the drawing room, of course,” he said. “I was hoping I might see you there, Miss Fitzroy. In fact, I was hoping you’d accept this trifle from me when we did meet.” He held out the jar, which was elaborately painted porcelain with a gilded lid.

I did not take it. Mary gave me a look clearly meant to inquire whether I had lost my senses. “Poor Miss Fitzroy, she’s quite overcome with seeing you again, Mr. Sandford.” She helped herself to the jar and peeked inside. “Oh . . . how wonderful. Look what your admirer’s brought you, Peggy.”

Curiosity is a slave driver, and as Mary held out the jar to me, I could not help but glance inside, although I made sure to keep an expression of complete indifference on my face. Sebastian was already looking far too satisfied with himself. The jar contained some black, crumbling substance with a strong herbal perfume.

“It’s tea,” said Sebastian. “Have you tried it?”

“Of course,” I answered. This was even true. I’d drunk the stuff once or twice with several grand ladies. I confess I preferred chocolate or coffee, which was just as well. Tea was abominably expensive, and not part of the rations allowed a maid of honor in residence at the palace. When considered in combination with the gilded jar, Sebastian was indeed offering me a costly present. Its value might be best judged by the fact that Mary made no move to hand the jar to me, but did eye Sebastian with fresh interest.

I took the jar out of Mary’s hands and set it on the mantel. “You could have sent it up,” I said. “That is, after all, the expected form.”

“I could,” Sebastian admitted with a shrug that I think was supposed to be modest. “But when I arrived, I was told you would not be in attendance at the drawing room. I wanted to assure myself nothing was wrong.”

Which meant that either he had been wandering the halls or he had bribed someone to bring him here. I promised myself I would discover who had committed this outrage. He would be turned out. Possibly hanged. Slowly. In chains.

“You might have sent a note.”

Seeing that I remained uncharmed by his appearance, his flattery, or his gift, the mirth faded from Sebastian’s sharp face, and for a moment he actually looked abashed. “I did not think you would answer.”

“You were correct.” At this, Mary smothered a laugh, and I felt ready to strangle on my own impatience. Well, I felt ready to strangle something. “Mary, isn’t Her Royal Highness expecting you?”

“Not for another hour at least.” Mary’s tone said she hoped to spare me any undue concern. This was all the acknowledgment she gave me. Her attention remained fixed on Sebastian.

“Tell me, Mr. Sandford, how is it that you know our so-fascinating Peggy?”

“She has not told you?” Sebastian raised his brows, which, I noted, had been plucked as ruthlessly as any girl’s.

“Not a word.” Mary sidled closer to him and leaned in. “But then, she’s a great one for secrets.” She nodded vigorously.

Sebastian looked at me over the top of Mary’s dark head.

“You wouldn’t,” I breathed. Which was a mistake, because of course, Mary heard.

“Oh, now I must know.” Mary laid her hand on Sebastian’s arm. There was this way she had of tipping up her chin and lifting her brows that made her eyes grow to twice their normal size. The effect on gentlemen was extraordinary, and Mary knew it. “Please, Mr. Sandford,” she added, sucking in a breath and straightening her shoulders in case Sebastian had failed to take proper note of her finest, snow-white assets.

This once, however, the Bellenden Effect was for naught. Sebastian was not watching her. His gaze remained locked with mine. I have no notion of what he meant to communicate. For my part, I was sorely disappointed to find that, despite rumors to the contrary, looks could not kill. I assure my readers, I did throw heart and soul into the effort.

“I must apologize, Miss Bellenden,” said Sebastian slowly. “But this secret is not entirely mine.”

“I see.” To illustrate this fact, Mary looked ostentatiously from Sebastian to me, then back again. “Well. Isn’t this interesting?”

“Mary, it’s not what you think,” I told her. At the same time, I did not dare take my gaze from Sebastian. I did not want him to think he had disconcerted me.

“I’m sure it’s not, especially if you’re involved, Peggy.” Mary favored me with a bright smile and a quick pat on my shoulder. “But you’re right. I’m wanted downstairs, and you have your dinner to prepare for.” She slipped gracefully up to Sebastian, so close her hems all but brushed the tips of his shoes. “How delightful to have met you, Mr. Sandford. I do hope we’ll see each other again soon.” She curtsied deeply and held the pose.

Sebastian bowed. “I’m sure that we shall, Miss Bellenden.”

Mary straightened, presented us both with another knowing glance, trimmed by a fresh, delighted giggle, and skipped off. I let her go. My immediate priority was to quickly dispatch the man in front of me. This, I decided, called for the direct approach.

“Your audience has departed, Mr. Sandford. The farce is over. Why have you really come here?”

Sebastian looked at the door, plainly expecting me to close it. I declined to move and folded my arms to emphasize my stationary status. I would not be so foolish as to shut myself up with this man, even though I knew Libby lurked somewhere in the background.

“I really did come for the drawing room,” said Sebastian. “My brother and my father say that as I’m to remain in England, I should make myself better known at court.”

“Remain?” The word all but choked me. “I thought the plan was to pack you off back to Barbados.”

Sebastian spread his hands, attempting to indicate ignorance and helplessness. “It may have been, but plans have changed.”

“Why?”

“It’s a long story. May I sit down?” Sebastian added hopefully.

Warning took hold inside me and squeezed several vital organs. “No, you may not sit,” I answered. “My maid is waiting to finish my toilette, and then I have my own business to attend to.” I stepped back, gesturing to show that the pathway to the door was free of all obstruction. “You have seen me. You can be satisfied that I am entirely well, and you have left your gift. You may now go.”

But Sebastian did not turn his footsteps toward the door. Instead, he advanced on me. My first instinct was to retreat, but I caught myself in time and held my ground. I would not let him see me afraid. I touched the jeweled pin that decorated the center of my stomacher—an item I’d requested my patron, Mr. Tinderflint, to commission especially for me—and for a moment silently dared Sebastian to come closer. I had been adding some most unmaidenly skills to my arsenal over the past months, and my carefully manicured fingers were itching for an excuse to unleash them on this particular visitor.

I don’t know if he read any of this in my narrowed gaze, but Sebastian did halt his advance while there was still a good two feet of space between us.