Legendary Lover (16 page)

144

the
inn near
Castlereagh
tonight and visit on the morrow."

"I shall behave, of course," Sarah grumbled. "Lord
Redvers
is surely the very greatest catch in the ton, so 1
suppose
1 can be polite to a light-skirt doxy if it will serve my purpose."

"Wisely concluded, my sweet, but don't deceive yourself in terms of the Frenchwoman. She's no light-skirt. Her family is powerful, wealthy, and assured of their position in the world. And now that Jack has shown his preference, she must be treated with the greatest deference."

(9
HE
  
BARSET
  
ARMS
  
HAD
  
GUESTS
   
FOR
  
CASTLE -

reagh
in both of their front suites that night, and by the merest happenstance, the maid delivering supper made mention of it to the two ladies in the superior rooms nearest the garden.

"Whatever is Jack's cousin doing here?" Bella speculated as the door closed on the serving girl, who had divulged the name of the other guest.
Although she had a very good notion.

"Why not ask him?" Sarah said with childlike candor.

Not sure such artlessness would serve her purposes, Bella debated how best to approach Mr. Mitchell, and decided ultimately to invite him for an after-dinner port—as a friendly gesture between two acquaintances far from home.

When Trevor received his invitation, his first reaction was alarm. Were others on a similar journey? Lady
Tallien
had no interest in the country unless a man was somehow involved; she was licentious in the extreme.

145

And at such close quarters to
Castlereagh
, her target, of course, would be no other than his cousin Jack.

He swore and gnawed at his lower lip and wished Percy
were
near for counsel. But there was no possibility of refusing her invitation without suspicion falling on him. Indeed, they were both far from
home,
such an invitation wasn't out of place. So he fortified himself with additional rum and arrived at their door some minutes later, disconcerted and wary.

"Do come in, Mr. Mitchell," Bella purred on opening the door, and Trevor's apprehension mounted.

But she spoke of banalities and he relaxed. In addition, the port was excellent; furthermore, Bella's bosom was conspicuously displayed above her corseted bodice, and while it wouldn't be described as sumptuous, it was more than a delectable handful.

Leaning over a short time later, allowing him a better view, she quietly said, "I have a question for you, once Miss Sarah retires."

No man alive could refuse such a flagrant invitation, not even Mr. Mitchell, for all his dourness and rough manners. Filling his own glass that time, he proceeded to drink it down with one eye on the young lady's imminent retiring and the other on the expanse of Bella's pale bosom.

When it came time for Sarah to retire, he unsteadily rose to.
his
feet and attempted a bow, eliciting a frown from his hostess. Mumbling an apology, he straightened his red vest, flushing a similar bright shade.

"Sit down," Bella sharply said the moment Sarah closed the door into the adjoining bedchamber. All pretense of courtesy was gone, her voice and expression severe. "And that's enough for you tonight," she curtly

146

added
, lifting away the port decanter. "I need you to be in your wits for this discussion." With a swish of her skirts, she sat down across the table from him and directed her stern gaze on him. "Now tell me why you're here."

Feeling as though he were at his last judgment, he stammered and stumbled over what he hoped was a bland explanation, the large amount of liquor he'd drunk not conducive to clear thinking.

"Now, the truth if you please," Bella charged, once he'd finished. "You never visit Jack, and everyone knows it. He despises you."

Having regained a modicum of his composure and had his hackles
raised
by her rudeness, he found the courage to say, "I don't answer to you or anyone concerning my plans. And don't think I don't know what you're about, either. It's the middle of the Season and you have a marriageable chit on the block. A trip to the country won't help your niece get a husband."

He realized the significance of his words as soon as he'd uttered them, and had he
not,
the tight smile appearing on Lady
Tallien's
face would have jogged his understanding.

"If you could stay sober, perhaps we could help each other." Bella's tone was heavy with insinuation.

"Partners are dangerous." Although there was a faint slur in his words, his eyes no longer looked befuddled, and his gaze turned piercing.

Bella
smiled,
a superficial conspirator's smile. "We're not partners, only brief allies. Surely you're here because of the woman."

"And if I were?" Trevor hedged.

147

"I'd say you're sensible. She poses a danger to your future."

"I don't need you."

"You do if I were inclined to drop a hint to Jack about your motives."

"I'm not sure he'd believe you, and even if he did, he's not unaware of my motives."

"I think he might be, shall we say, not entirely clear how determined you are, with a solicitor like Harold Percy."

"How do you know Percy?"

"My husband is twenty years older than I, and given to drink and . . . other amusements.
Who better than Percy to protect my financial interests."
Her brows rose in exaggerated innocence. "He happened to mention one day that you were one of his clients."

"Happened to mention, damn his hide. I'll give him—"

"Don't become alarmed, Mitchell. Percy and I are old friends. I'm sure he's not in the practice of disclosing such information to the general public."

"What else did he tell you, damn him?"

"Nothing to become alarmed about.
There's no need to be bristly. I just feel it more useful for us to cooperate on our venture at
Castlereagh
. Think how odd it will seem when we both appear on Jack's doorstep tomorrow. We really have to agree on some plausible explanation."

"There ain't a plausible explanation. And he's apt to shut us out, anyway."

"If we put our heads together, perhaps we can come up with a reason he might care to see us."

Trevor grimly laughed. "Has he addled your brains? He
don't
care if he sees any of us."

148

"Now there's a thought," Bella softly murmured. "Who could he not turn away?"

"Jack? Are you jesting? He'd turn away the Queen herself if it pleased him."

"But would he turn away the Mayor of Cheltenham if the man was bringing him news of a donation for the local racecourse?"

"Naturally not.
He's mad for racing and the local heats. But that don't get us in."

"I'm not surprised you haven't found a way to improve your living from Jack. You have no imagination. The donation will be compliments of an anonymous donor, and you and I will just happen to arrive on the heels of the mayor's coach.
Now how much should this anonymous donor give?"

"Don't look at me. His
nibs keeps
me too close to the wind to have any extra guineas."

Bella pursed her lips for a moment and then said, "I'll sell one of Sarah's necklaces. She has plenty enough not to miss one or two. You can find a jeweler for me, I presume, seeing how you aren't able to contribute anything."

"You're not contributing anything, either, so don't take on airs with me."

"Never mind, I'll find my own jeweler," she heatedly said. "You're not
averse,
I take it, to following the mayor into
Castlereagh
?"

"I'll go."

"Well, then." She placed her palms on the table and rose from her chair. "Should some measures be required to hasten Miss
Duras's
departure from England, I assume you wouldn't be averse to those plans either?"

He started in his chair, wondering if Percy had
dis
-

149

closed
more than he would have wished to Lady
Tallien
, wondering if he was putting himself into jeopardy even talking to her. "What do you mean?" he cautiously inquired.

"I mean, what would it be worth to you to have the Frenchwoman gone?"

"Not much if you're going to marry your niece to him two shakes later. We really can't be partners," he brusquely said, rising, hoping he'd not compromised himself.

"It makes no difference to me if she marries him or not. Her marriage to
whomever
offers me no advantages. On the other hand, should Jack remain
single, that
might be worthwhile to you. I'm bargaining for money, you dolt. Are you interested?"

"I'm not sure you can do anything for me I can't do for myself."

"I can keep Sarah away from him."

"He ain't going to marry her, anyway."

"He might if necessity requires it," she smoothly replied.
"If Sarah's father requires it."

"Now that sounds like a scheming woman."

"I don't care what it sounds like. It might just work, and if it does, you'll never be a marquis. Sarah wants lots and lots of babies."

He looked squarely at her as though he could see behind the bland mask of her expression. "Maybe we could talk about it."

"Talk away."

"Tomorrow, when I'm sober."
Her machinations would require a keen mind.

"In the morning, before I go to the jeweler and the mayor. You have until then to decide if you wish to

150

invest
in some insurance, as it were." She smiled. Percy had been useful, although all the men she conferred her favors on had to be profitable in one way or another.

It required ingenuity to make one's way in the world without a wealthy family or a generous husband. She could always use additional money.

'^/TITH
  
MORNING,
  
TREVOR
  
FOUND
  
HE
  
HAD
  
AN

aching
head, but even through the twinges of pain, he understood that he might have something to gain from a partnership with Lady
Tallien
—and he had nothing to lose. He needn't disclose his plans, only go along with hers. And if she could keep
Redvers
single, well, that
would
be worthwhile.

They agreed on a price swiftly. He had only to give her a small down payment now, and she'd accept monthly sums. It unnerved him slightly that she handed him a short agreement to sign, but the wording was ambiguous enough to wiggle free of, should that be required.
Two devious, mistrustful people in partnership.
But then they were both hard-pressed for cash.

Lady
Tallien
handled the mayor beautifully; he was
ablush
and chivalrous at the same time. London belles weren't common in his country world, and Bella had had much practice in tantalizing men. When they parted, she pledged him to secrecy about her part as messenger in the racetrack donation. "The benefactor fears disclosure and wishes her love of racing to remain secret. You understand, kind sir," she murmured, taking his hand in hers and squeezing it lightly. "We ladies must put our faith in gentlemen like you to retain our reputations."

i5i

"Never fear, Lady
Tallien
," he said, coloring furiously when she looked up at him from under her lashes. "Your secret is safe with me. Lord
Redvers
will learn nothing from me save the news of the wonderful, generous
dona-tion
for our track."

"I can't thank you enough, Lord Mayor, and should you ever be in London, you must by all means call on me . . . and your wife too, of course," she coyly added so he understood perfectly what she meant.

" Ton
my word, that is . . . most generous of you, my lady, most kind, most wonderfully kind—"

"We may meet again later, dear sir," Bella interposed, curtailing his stammering amazement. "My niece and I may stop to call on Lord
Redvers
. I do hope you'll not disclose that we've met before."

"No, no, of course not, my lips are sealed, my lady. You may count on it—absolutely!"

S^UT HE TURNED
A
 
BRIGHT
PINK AND SLOSHED

a
bit of brandy over the rim of his glass when Bella and Sarah were announced at
Castlereagh
that afternoon.

"I told you we shouldn't have been home to the mayor," Jack murmured near Venus's ear, disgruntled at seeing the Palmer ladies in his doorway—a damned long way from their normal haunts.

"They can all be dismissed soon," Venus whispered. "You have that appointment with the bishop."

He chuckled. Was she ever discomposed? And in a more cheerful frame of mind, he looked up at the two ladies approaching across the large expanse of
Savon-nerie
carpet, and decided he would give their afternoon