In Bed with a Rogue (11 page)

“Lady Eldridge has ordered me to make certain you commission at least five new gowns,” Madame Girard said.

Eve’s gaze flicked toward her brother. “I have several gowns in my wardrobe already. Five seems extravagant.”

Lord Thorne nodded at Helena. “I am trusting you to make certain she commissions twice that many. A beautiful young lady deserves beautiful dresses.”

“Sebastian, that’s too much. Really, I have what I need.”

“You heard your brother, Miss Thorne.” Madame Girard clapped her hands, the matter apparently resolved in her mind. “Come along.”

The modiste commandeered Eve, practically dragging her to a long table with fashion plates scattered over the surface.

“Oh my!” Eve held up a sketch. “Helena, you must see this gown. It is spectacular.”

Lord Thorne detained Helena before she could comply. His dark eyes sparkled and made Helena’s knees shake. “Thank
you
, my lady. She hasn’t been this happy in a long time.”

Helena could barely think to form a response with the heat of his touch searing through her sleeve. “It—it’s my pleasure.”

He flashed a smile, then took his leave as Helena joined Eve and Madame Girard at the table. The shop seemed less lively with him gone, as if he took the warmth and light with him. Butterflies stirred in her belly as she anticipated their next encounter. And she was ashamed to admit the prospect of receiving news about her sister only partly accounted for her excitement.

Eleven

Sebastian took a moment to savor the mouthwatering aroma of ham and eggs the footman at Brooks’s set before him. Even though he was ravenous from his morning ride, he delayed satisfying his appetite. He had learned taking his time often wrought the most pleasure when he finally rewarded himself.

Lady Prestwick’s plump bottom lip came to mind and he smiled. Their daily encounters over the last week to report on his search for the servant girl increased his hunger for the lovely viscountess, and when he finally had her beneath him, it would be the sweetest of rewards.

He lifted his fork in preparation of devouring his meal just as the Earl of Ellis entered the room. Sebastian’s appetite vanished.

The earl scanned the room, locked his gaze on Sebastian, and headed in his direction with a determined set to his jaw. Several members of the club abandoned their activities to gawk.

God’s blood!
He didn’t want to deal with Ellis or the curious stares. Before he knew it, he could be at the center of a ridiculous wager not of his doing, which was typically the case where he and Ellis were concerned.

Sebastian snatched up his knife with a snarl and vigorously sawed the ham on his plate.

Ellis stopped at the table and lifted a brow. “I don’t know what the ham did to earn your displeasure, but I’m sure it meant no offense.”

Sebastian popped a piece in his mouth, ignoring the earl and his oh-so-clever quip.

Ellis sat across the table as if they hadn’t had a falling-out. A ripple of whispers traveled the room and several gents perked up. Eyes locked on them, perhaps hoping for some excitement. Sebastian ignored them.

“Have you seen this yet?” Ellis pulled a bundle from under his arm and plopped it on the table. It was a copy of the ladies’ magazine
Le
Monde
Couture
.

“Following ladies’ fashions now, are you?”

Despite his irritation with the earl, Sebastian couldn’t help smiling as he recalled his conversation with Lady Prestwick about ladies’ drawers. The attractive pink that had infused her cheeks had been worth the risk of shocking her. It reminded him of that just-shagged flush ladies got.

Ellis opened the magazine and pushed it toward him. “She looks lovely.”

Staring back at him in glorious splendor was Eve in one of Madame Girard’s elegant gowns. The engraving caught her likeness in fine detail and the caption made him choke up.
Miss
Thorne
turned
heads
at
the
Marblewick
Ball
in
a
stunning
creation
by
talented
modiste, Madame Girard.

When he looked up, Ellis grinned. “According to my mother-in-law, Miss Thorne drew many compliments at Lady Langston’s soiree last week too. I know it’s not your habit to read the Society column, but your sister’s beauty, charm, and amiable disposition have been mentioned several times recently.”

Sebastian glanced at
The
Morning
Times
lying on the table. After his failed attempt to stop Ellis and Lady Gabrielle from eloping, he had changed his habits and began scouring the gossip column for any mention of his name. He had even begun purchasing the gossip rags, much to his embarrassment. The tidbits written about him were mean-spirited and often fabrications, such as the last report he’d read in
The
Informer
that claimed he arrived at “Lady L’s” door in the middle of the night naked and babbling nonsense.

Celeste denied any involvement in feeding the story to the paper, and her utter bewilderment had convinced him she knew nothing about it. If he could discover who owned the reviled paper, he would put a stop to the bloody lies. These last few days, however, Sebastian had been too preoccupied to care what was written about him.

“There is mention of Miss Thorne in the newssheet again today,” the earl said. “Very complimentary. Your sister has made quite the splash. Congratulations.”

Sebastian wanted to reject Ellis’s conciliatory gesture, but he couldn’t bring himself to be rude. “Thanks.” He slid the magazine back across the table. “I will purchase a copy on my way home. Eve will be beside herself.”

“Keep it. It’s a gift. Gabby and I wish her the best.”

Politeness was one thing. Sebastian refused to accept the earl’s charity. “Return it to your wife. I can afford a copy for Eve.”

“You know that wasn’t my meaning.” Ellis’s mouth turned down. “What will it take to make things right between us, Thorne?”

More
than
a
bloody
magazine.
And yet, Sebastian felt more at ease in the other man’s presence today. Perhaps delivering this good news hadn’t been Ellis’s worst idea.

Sebastian shoveled more food in his mouth before he said something ridiculous like perhaps he no longer held a grudge against the earl. The past was less relevant now that Eve was back in Society and turning heads. She would receive an offer of marriage before the Season’s end, and Sebastian could rest easier knowing her future would be secure. Besides, he had more important matters on his mind, such as meeting Lady Prestwick at Finsbury Square in an hour. Still, he wasn’t ready to ease Ellis’s conscience by offering forgiveness.

The earl sighed after a time. “You haven’t been attending the assemblies with your sister. I am surprised.”

“A fool is easily caught off guard.” Sebastian didn’t want to ruin his sister’s prospects by reminding everyone they were related. It was best to keep his distance for now. “Mother and Lady Prestwick are adequate chaperones.”

“I didn’t think you trusted anyone besides yourself when it came to your sister’s well-being.”

Sebastian hunched over his plate and avoided eye contact. He didn’t need anyone reminding him that he should be watching over Eve, but she was better off if he kept his distance. “Could I break my fast in peace now? I’ve never known anyone who nags as you do.”

“I was not nagging.” Ellis pushed back from the table, grumbling under his breath. “This was a waste of time.”

“I couldn’t agree more.” Sebastian nodded toward the magazine in the earl’s hand and gentled his tone. “Extend my gratitude to Lady Ellis. It was a thoughtful gesture, sending her messenger boy.”

Ellis’s tense posture eased and he cracked a smile. “Sod off, Thorne.”

Sebastian chuckled under his breath as his longtime rival sauntered from the room. For a moment, it seemed like old times. And it felt good.

His fellow gents were still staring, so he glared in return. With nothing more to see, they resumed their activities. He supposed they missed his and Ellis’s antics, and strangely, he was beginning to miss challenging the earl, and besting him.

When Sebastian left the club, he set off for The Temple of the Muses, where he and Lady Prestwick had been meeting almost daily for the past week under the pretense of browsing for books. Even though he looked forward to seeing her, he dreaded delivering disappointing news again. Her mystery woman, Lavinia, was proving to be as elusive as a ghost.

The hopeful glimmer in Lady Prestwick’s eyes dulled each time he had nothing positive to report. So far he had been able to tease her out of the blues, but he still hated causing her distress. He often fought the urge to hold her close and offer comfort. Aside from the public spectacle he would make of them, she didn’t seem amenable to accepting sympathy.

He entered the bookstore and headed for the novels written by Maria Edgeworth. The authoress seemed to be a favorite with Lady Prestwick. Perhaps Eve would enjoy the books as well. He would choose one to take to her along with the magazine.

As expected, Lady Prestwick was tucked into a corner with a book already in hand. He sidled up beside her and pretended to peruse the same shelves. A quick glance at the book cover revealed her selection.

She offered a shy smile. “Good morning, Lord Thorne.”

“Lady Prestwick,” he responded with a tip of his hat, then returned his attention to the bookshelf. “I hope you don’t think me forward, but I couldn’t help noticing your book selection. Is
Belinda
one of those mawkish gothic novels favored by silly young ladies?”

She slanted an impassive glance in his direction. “Do not pretend scorn for gothic fiction, my lord. I have it on good authority you devoured
Glenarvon
in one sitting.”

A shocked laugh burst from him and echoed in the high-ceilinged room. Two ladies frowned at them, and Lady Prestwick turned her back on him, pretending to search for another book.

“My apologies,” he whispered as he eased closer to her. “What other secrets has Eve revealed about me?”

“I am sure you would love to know, but I would never consider betraying my friend. But they are shameful indeed, my lord.” She tsked. “Falling from a lady’s window?”

His jaw dropped. “Balderdash!”

She shushed him as the two ladies glared in their direction.

“She lies,” he hissed as he followed her to a different section of the store. “When I get my hands on my sister…”

Lady Prestwick chuckled. “I am teasing. Eve confessed she thought we’d had a liaison the night you came home bruised and beaten. She was quite embarrassed by her assumption. I, on the other hand, was amused by the absurdity of such a situation.”

Absurd?
“Why would such a scenario be absurd? There is an attraction between us.”

She stopped abruptly and he bumped against her. An intense current where their bodies met sent his blood gushing through his veins. A furious blush consumed her and she shuffled to create space between them. “This is not proper conversation, my lord.”

She wasn’t denying the attraction, not that he would believe her if she did. The quickening of her breath and high color in her complexion told him everything he needed to know.

Licking her lips, she stole a glance at him from beneath her lashes. “Perhaps you should just tell me what you have learned before we draw any more attention.”

“Not until you answer my question. Why do you find us”—he wagged a finger from her to him—“absurd?”

“Please, lower your voice.”

He smirked. “I will start shouting if you make me ask again.”

“Why are you doing this to me?”

“All I’ve said is I find you attractive.” He lowered his voice to match hers. “Why do you find it impossible that we would ever—?”

She gasped. Her face glowed red.

“Well, I needn’t continue. I’m certain you know my meaning.”

“You are teasing me, sir,” she whispered harshly. “I couldn’t be any more different from Gabrielle, Lady Ellis.”

Thank
God
for
that
. “True, but how does that mean I am teasing you?”

Wariness flared in her eyes. “I don’t know what pleasure you get from this, my lord, but I will say it so we may put this to rest. Your former betrothed is breathtaking. She is exotic and yet fashionable in the way gentlemen prefer.”

Ah, so she thought he preferred Gabrielle’s curves. While there was no denying his former fiancée was a beauty, Lady Prestwick was twice as stunning. She had a delicateness to her beauty that made her seem not of this earth.

As he leaned to speak in her ear, tendrils of her hair tickled his cheek and her breath became uneven. “I prefer you, madam. Perhaps someday you will allow me to prove it.”

He was close enough to hear her swallow. “I—I will take you at your word,” she murmured.

This conversation wasn’t over. Sebastian glanced around the store in search of her escort. “Where is your man?”

“Fergus is waiting outside. He never learned to read and he grows impatient with the bookstore.”

“Meet me on the walkway in a moment.” He took the book from her hands.

“Wait. I wanted to purchase that.”

“Go.” When she blankly stared at him, he made a shooing motion with his hands. “Off with you, madam, before I cause a scene.”

Her lips thinned and he expected he was in for a row, but she turned on her heel and stalked away. Quickly, he selected a book for Eve and retrieved a copy of
Le
Monde
Couture.
As the clerk wrapped his and Lady Prestwick’s selections, he had an idea. “Do you have a quill and ink I may use?”

“Yes, milord.” While the clerk retrieved the writing tools, Sebastian unwrapped Lady Prestwick’s book. He used the quill to scribble an inscription on the inside cover and wrapped the book again.