His Wicked Lady (6 page)

“I know I have,” Steinbeck said with a
chuckle.

The footman came into the drawing room,
making Malcolm breathe a sigh of relief. He would much rather stick
to topics of financial interest. It was the one thing he excelled
at, after all.

“Mr. Jasper, your footman asked me to give
you this.” The footman held out the rolled up parchment.

Recognizing Mr. Raleigh’s plans, Malcolm
hurried to retrieve them. “Good. I’m glad they came before dinner.”
As the footman left, he told Steinbeck, “This is the investment I
was telling you about at White’s.”

“Splendid,” Steinbeck replied as he rose to
his feet, the others following suit. “We’ll discuss it during
dinner. Oh, before I forget, my name is Warren.”

“I’m Malcolm,” he replied.

“Do you like poached salmon?”

“I do.”

“Good. It just came in fresh today.” Warren
gave him a friendly pat on the shoulder. “You’ll find I only serve
the best for those worthy of my time.”

Pleased, Malcolm smiled. Considering how
selective Warren was, this was the highest compliment he’d received
up to this point in his life. Everything was falling right into
place. He would soon be one of the wealthiest gentlemen in London,
and he had the respect of influential people. The only thing
missing was a child to leave his legacy to, but that matter would
be resolved soon enough.

Yes, everything was perfect. Even having
Logan for a brother-in-law couldn’t depress him now. He had the
world in the palm of his hand, and no one was going to take it from
him.

Chapter Five

T
wo days later, Malcolm was in his den working on his ledger
when a familiar knock came at the closed door. “You may enter as
long as you didn’t bring your reprobate husband with you,” he
called out to his sister.

She opened the door and peaked into room.
“How did you know it was me?”

“Because you use the same series of quick
taps every time you knock.” Since she hadn’t fully entered the
room, he narrowed his eyes at her. “Is that cad with you?”

“No. Logan doesn’t like to be here any more
than you like having him here.”

“Then why are you partially hiding behind the
door?”

“Because I have important news to tell
you.”

That made no sense at all, but then his
sister seemed to have taken loss of her senses ever since Logan
came into her life. “Well, come on in and tell me the important
news.”

She did as he requested, hiding something
behind her back. Before he could ask what it was, she held out a
piece of parchment to him. “We’ve selected a wife for you!”

Surprised by her excitement, he took it. “Is
she unbelievably wealthy or something?” There had to be a reason
she looked as if she was ready to jump up and down in glee.

“Well, she is. You’ll be delighted at how
well she manages money.”

“All right,” he slowly replied, not sure why
this wasn’t as reassuring as it should have been.

This wasn’t his sister’s typical odd behavior
ever since marrying Logan. This was something altogether different.
He lowered his gaze and saw the contract. It requested his approval
for the choice the Duchess of Ashbourne made in picking a wife for
him.

Lady Cantrell.

He didn’t recall the name. Glancing back up
at his sister who was still grinning from ear to ear, he asked,
“What’s wrong with her?”

“Nothing. I got a chance to meet her, and
she’ll be perfect for you.” She clasped her hands. “I’m just
excited about this. A better match couldn’t be made in all of
London.”

He relaxed. Since she put it that way, he
supposed he couldn’t blame her for being enthusiastic. He read
through the contract.

“You can meet her before the wedding,”
Melissa told him. “We can do the banns or get a special
license.”

He thought over the options then ran through
the long list of things he had to do. “No, that’s all right. You
picked Lady Cantrell for me, and that’s enough. I’ll just meet her
at the wedding.”

“
I knew you’d pick that
option,” she said. “That’s why I had Helena mark it down for you to
initial.” She leaned forward and pointed to the paragraph. “You can
get a special license, and we’ll arrange the rest.”

“What about Lady Cantrell?”

“Oh, she agreed to the marriage as soon as we
told her your name. She’s more than willing to marry you without
meeting you first. She signed her agreement to the special
license.”

Surprised, he asked, “She did?”

“Yes. She knows exactly who you are, and she
said she couldn’t be happier with the match.”

How was it possible Lady Cantrell knew about
him, but he had no idea who she was? The answer came to him as soon
as he finished the thought. He was well known and respected in all
of London because of his business prowess. He had friends like
Warren, and Warren was one of the most influential gentlemen he’d
ever met. So naturally, she knew of him. She, however, was an
unknown lady who probably remained in the corner somewhere during
balls.

“Is Lady Cantrell shy?” he asked Melissa.

“No, but she’s a widow with a child, so she
doesn’t engage much socially.”

Oh, that explained a lot. No wonder he’d
never heard of her.

“I assured her you are good with children,”
Melissa added. “In fact, my son couldn’t ask for a better
uncle.”

“What’s not to like about children? They
don’t represent the unpleasant aspects of London.”

“I wish you wouldn’t be so difficult when it
comes to Logan. He’s actually quite sweet.”

He grimaced and signed the contract. “You and
I will never come to an agreement on him.” He handed it to her.
“Let me know when the wedding is, and I’ll show up.”

If Lady Cantrell was as happy to marry him as
Melissa claimed, this would be a very suitable match indeed. Lady
Cantrell, after all, was already showing him what good taste she
had.

“I’ll do that,” Melissa promised then ran out
of the room, and if he was right, she was cheering the whole way
out of his townhouse.

***

Danette lowered her cup of tea and stared at
Regan in disbelief. “But I thought Mr. Jasper didn’t like you.”

Regan shifted in the chair in her friend’s
drawing room. “I don’t know if I’d say he doesn’t like me.”

“You said that right after you danced with
him at Lord Roderick’s ball.”

She paused, still holding her own cup of tea
halfway to her lips. “I didn’t say he didn’t like me.”

Her friend wrinkled her nose for a moment
then nodded. “I’m sure you did.” She nodded again. “Yes. I
distinctly remember you saying you shouldn’t have been so bold. If
you hadn’t taken him by the hand so he’d dance with you, he might
have actually liked you. But since you were bold, he didn’t like
you.”

Regan raised an eyebrow. “You have a
surprisingly good memory.”

“It’s a gift and a curse.”

“I suppose,” she slowly said then decided to
put her cup on the table. “I apologized to him the last time I saw
him. Surely, that should make things better.”

“Did he accept your apology?”

Regan thought back to that day she saw him in
front of Lord Steinbeck’s. “He said he did.”

“Do you believe him?”

“I see no reason why he would lie.”

After seeming to consider her friend’s words,
Danette said, “From what you told me about him, he doesn’t mind
being honest with you.”

“No, he doesn’t. I assume he’s that way with
everyone, though.”

“You’re probably right. I have to admit, I
don’t know why you want to marry him. He isn’t anything like you.
From what you told me, he’s not very likable.”

“I suspect he just doesn’t know how to act
around ladies. He spends all of his time thinking about money. What
he needs is someone to teach him there’s more to life than how much
wealth you can accumulate.”

“And you think you’re the one to teach him
that?”

“I went to the Duchess of Ashbourne seeking
the right gentleman for me, and in her estimation, he’s the one.”
After a moment, she added, “I believe it’s fate.” She didn’t know
if Danette believed in such things, but she did. Nothing happened
by accident. “I had no control over who she chose for me.”

“I know. It just seems like it’s more than a
coincidence, like someone arranged it so you have to marry
him.”

“Well, I didn’t have anything to do with it
if that’s the case. I did talk about Mr. Jasper, but that’s because
his sister happened to be helping the duchess arrange my marriage.
If she hadn’t been there, then the conversation wouldn’t have
involved him as much as it did.”

“His sister?” Danette tapped the edge of her
cup for a couple seconds then gasped. “Is his sister Lady
Toplyn?”

“Yes. Why? Do you know her?”

“No, not really. I’ve made her acquaintance a
few times, but I haven’t said much more than the standard
pleasantries. I do, however, sit and listen to a lot of people talk
at the balls.”

“I know. You should join in the dancing.
Doing nothing gets boring.”

To her surprise, Danette laughed and waved
her hand dismissively at her. “That’s where you’re wrong. You’d be
amazed at how much you learn about people when you’re watching
what’s going on around you. I overheard Lord Toplyn saying his wife
found someone who is perfect for his brother-in-law. At the time, I
had no idea why he was laughing as if the matter amused him. Now, I
realize it’s because Lord Toplyn will enjoy watching his
brother-in-law suffer.”

Regan’s eyebrows furrowed. “Suffer?”

“Lord Toplyn and Mr. Jasper don’t get along
at all. Mr. Jasper never did forgive Lord Toplyn for marrying his
sister. I think the fact that you were bold with Mr. Jasper is why
you were picked to marry him.”

“But-but…” Good grief. How was Regan supposed
to respond to that? Finally, an idea came to her. “Lord Toplyn
wasn’t one of the people involved in picking a husband for me.”

“He wasn’t, but his wife was. Rumor has it
she’s not the demure lady she was before she married. Maybe she
wants her brother with someone who is bold.”

“That hardly sounds like suffering.”

“It would be to someone who doesn’t like bold
people, and Mr. Jasper doesn’t seem to like bold people.”

“So if you had the opportunity to marry a
gentleman who wanted more than to sit and observe other people, you
would hate it if he tried to expose you to something fun?”

“If it’s scandalous, I wouldn’t like it at
all. And knowing you, fun means scandalous.”

“That’s not fair. I haven’t created a single
scandal since Leonard was born.” And that was true. Ever since he
came into her life, she’d been the very definition of propriety,
often sitting right along with Danette in the shadows while
everyone else had a grand old time. “It wouldn’t hurt you to have
some fun once in a while. People can be much too serious about
what’s acceptable. So what if a lady comes up to dance with a
gentleman? Why must she only take the one who comes to her?”

“Some things just aren’t done.”

“Well, they should be.” Regan let out a
frustrated sigh then drank her tea.

“I’m not saying it’s wrong for a lady to want
to pick her dance partner. I’ve seen ladies manage it with a simple
look. But you see, their approach was subtle. They made eye contact
with the gentleman of their choice and gave him an encouraging
smile. They didn’t go right up to him, take his hand, and lead him
to the dancing area. In fact, I can’t recall gentlemen using such a
bold approach either.”

“I doubt Mr. Jasper would have offered to
dance if I’d done the subtle approach.”

“Not all gentlemen are like Mr. Jasper.
Frederick enjoyed how bold you were.”

Regan considered her friend’s words. She’d
taken it for granted Frederick had been so accepting of her brazen
nature. He’d often said it was refreshing, saying one didn’t have
to guess what she was thinking. “Too many people put on a
pretense,” he’d add. “But with you, I know what I’m getting.”

And that was what made their marriage so
wonderful. She could be who she was with him, and he could be who
he was with her. Recalling her brief conversations with Malcolm,
she knew he felt free to be his true self with her, and she’d had
no trouble being her true self with him. So that wasn’t the
problem. The problem was whether or not they would do well
together.

“You’ve made some important points,” Regan
said. “I need to talk to Lady Toplyn.”

“Right now?”

She stood up and nodded. “I see no reason to
delay this. There’s no need to get a special license if the
arrangement won’t be favorable.”

“I hope I didn’t say something wrong,”
Danette said, her brow wrinkled in that familiar way of hers
whenever she was afraid she’d upset someone.