Miss Lavigne's Little White Lie (33 page)

He rose from the chair and came to sit beside her on the settee. Her heart bolted in her chest and blood thundered in her ears. His presence flustered her mind and senses.

His wide eyes swept over her. “I can’t believe you are in London.”

“I thought you were in Edinburgh, Monsieur Tucker.” She tried to hide his effect on her behind icy indifference.

“I’ve been in Town several days pursuing a certain enterprise.” A lock of shaggy blond hair fell into his eyes as he leaned forward to grasp her hand. He needed a haircut, and based on his haggard appearance, a good night’s sleep might do him good as well.

She pulled out of his grasp. “How goes your enterprise? Have you made an arrangement with one of the twittering debutantes I saw at the ball last night?”

A scowl marred his face. “My endeavors have nothing to do with seeking a wife. You know it is you I love.”

She crossed her arms, hugging her body to cease her insides from quivering. “Yet, you could not marry me because your papa wouldn’t allow it.”

“My parents didn’t approve. I knew as much from the start of our association. I should have warned you to be more discreet.”

Serafine sneered. “Did not approve? How mild it sounds when you say it now. I believe your words were they did not want descendants with tainted blood.”

He fidgeted with the brass button on his waistcoat. “They—my parents want to keep everything pure, no foreign influence.”

“Foreign? My ancestors settled in New Orleans a decade before yours.” She jabbed a finger in his direction. “If anyone is a foreigner, it is you and your kin. How can you defend them?”

“I’m not defending them. I’m trying to explain.”

“There’s nothing to explain, Monsieur Tucker. You may go.” She tried to bolt from the settee, but Isaac captured her arm. His touch disturbed her equilibrium and sent her thoughts spinning.

“Amelia Hillary thought we should speak,” he said.

“Amelia confided in you about me?” Her friend’s betrayal was like a hard slap in the face.

“She procured an invitation for me last night, nothing more. Once I learned you were on the same ship with her, I called on her. She’s the only person I know with connections, at least the only one who would help me.” He leaned closer as if he breathed her in. “I had to see you, Sera.”

Lifting her chin, she glared. “I thought you brave at one time, but now I see how cowardly you really are.”

Isaac flinched.

“First you kowtow to your parents, and now you buckle under Captain Hillary’s threats.”

His eyes darkened. “I’m not here because of Captain Hillary, and my parents are as good as dead to me. I’m here for you.”

He scooted across the settee, sending Serafine jerking back against the tufted cushion, and captured her hands. “Sera, I can see I’m too late. But I can’t leave everything as it has been between us. I can’t allow you to believe you are not good enough.”

Her heart slammed against her ribs. His touch left her dizzy. “Release me, Monsieur Tucker. Have you gone mad?”

“I can’t let you go if you are going to run from me again. Not until you hear me out.”

“
I
was not the one to run away.” She shoved against his shoulders and he released her. Storming to her feet, she marched several paces away and whirled on him. “
You
are the one who sailed across the ocean, leaving me alone to face the consequences.”

His gasp made her cringe, and the beginning of a smile caused her stomach to churn sickeningly. “Are there consequences, my love?”

She hadn’t been certain—perhaps she hadn’t wanted to believe it could be true—but she could no longer deny the truth.

There was a flash of skirts at the threshold. “Silence,” she hissed.

Lisette entered the drawing room with two servants. The maid carried Serafine’s daisies in an opaque vase and headed toward a diminutive table on the far side of the room. How sad the common field flowers would appear tucked into a corner.

“Please, place the vase here.” She swept a hand toward the low table in front of the settee, chiding herself for noting Isaac’s relieved smile. His feelings meant nothing to her anymore.

Lisette took a seat adjacent to the settee and nodded to the footman. He rolled the tea cart beside her chair then took his leave. “Shall I pour?” She didn’t wait for an answer.

Serafine accepted the cup of tea. “
Merci.
”

Isaac shook his head when she tried to pass a cup and saucer to him. “Madame Hillary, might I beg another word alone with Mademoiselle Vistoire?”

“No,” Serafine blurted.

Lisette looked between them, a worried wrinkle appearing on her forehead. “Perhaps we should simply have some tea for now, monsieur.”

***

Daniel looked up as his wife swept into his study.

“I need you.” The urgency in her tone made him set his correspondence aside at once and take to his feet.

“Is there trouble with Mr. Tucker?”

She beckoned to him. “Come now. We must stroll in the park.”

“I beg your pardon?”

“You must come along and speak with Monsieur Tucker while I question Serafine. I cannot converse with her while the gentleman is present, and I dare not send him away.”

What nonsense was this? “Tucker was to make his offer and be done with the matter.” Daniel marched toward the doorway to put the situation to rights, but Lisette blocked his way, her hands on her hips.

“I don’t need you to pound the poor man. Simply do as I ask and keep him distracted without allowing him to get away. I need to question Serafine. I think she may not wish for his offer of marriage.”

Devil
take
it!
Why did the fairer gender have to be so damned complicated? “The gentleman has ruined her. He’s here to make amends. She will accept his offer and consider herself fortunate. End of conversation.”

His wife drew back like a cat dropped in a bucket of water: hissing mad and claws bared. “She will do whatever she damn well pleases.”

“Watch your tongue,” he warned, unable to keep a touch of amusement from his voice.

“I learned the word from you, so watch your own blasted tongue.”

He chuckled and gathered her against him swiftly before she could argue further. He nuzzled her neck and nibbled her ear, silently celebrating when she melted in his arms. “What did I ever do to deserve you?”

“Probably something very wicked.” She sounded much less surly.

He kissed her, reveling in the sweetness of her full lips and her willingness to abandon their argument. He took pleasure in living in harmony with his wife and the ease of loving her.

“I do enjoy wickedness,” he teased, “but that will have to come later. I fear you will be cross if we don’t accompany Serafine and Mr. Tucker on a stroll.”

“
Oui.
Cross indeed.”

Moments later, he and Mr. Tucker followed the ladies at a distance, close enough to keep watch over them, but too far away to overhear their conversation.

Sweat dripped down the younger man’s face, and his eyes widened when the ladies’ heads dipped together to share some secret.

“Damnation,” Tucker mumbled.

“What are they saying?”

“How the hell would I know? I can’t hear them any better than you can.”

Irritation surged through Daniel. “You have no clues?”

What was the bloody trouble? He needed this matter settled today. The
Cecily
departed in a few days. They would hit the Caribbean at the start of hurricane season if he delayed much longer. A swift pull in his gut served as a reminder of his own troubles. Lisette didn’t yet know he intended to sail without her.

“Tell me what transpired in the drawing room,” Daniel said through clenched teeth. “You were supposed to offer marriage and make things right.”

“If you would tend your own affairs, maybe Sera would listen to me.” Tucker skidded to a stop and Daniel turned to glare at him. “She believes you’re
forcing
me to ask for her hand.”

“And I am not?”

“Hell, no! I’ve been miserable since the moment we parted. As soon as I left New Orleans, I knew the horrendous mistake I had made.”

“Then why didn’t you go back for her?”

Tucker threw his arms wide. “If I had married Miss Vistoire, my father would have disinherited me. I had nothing without my father’s fortune, no means of supporting her, so I decided to find work in England. I thought once I had saved enough, I would go back for her.”

Daniel viewed the man with a reluctant measure of respect now. “What type of work?”

“I’m good at drafting. I’ve studied architecture for several years. Do you know the foundling hospital renovation project?”

“My sister-in-law’s charity?”

Tucker nodded. “I drew up the designs, but no one knows it was me. I act as a liaison between members of the
ton
and Mr. Brown.”

“And
you
are Mr. Brown.”

“Yes, and I beg of you to keep my identity secret. If I am denied access to society, I have no means of earning my keep, much less supporting a wife. As it is, the Earl of Fairmill has commissioned Mr. Brown to draft an addition to his country home. And Mr. Collier is building a cottage for his mistress.”

Tucker would remain in England, keeping Lisette’s family in the vicinity. Daniel couldn’t have asked for a better outcome.

He nailed Tucker with his most disapproving glare. “This doesn’t excuse your behavior, you realize. She’ll not easily forget you left her. Women possess long memories.”

The man sighed, his shoulders drooping. “I know. I should have gone back at once or written, but I never dreamed she would find someone else so quickly. I can’t compete with a nobleman.”

“Westin? You have nothing to worry about from his direction.” Daniel clapped Tucker on the shoulder and urged him forward on the path. “Rumor has it Westin’s father is in negotiations with the Duke of Ashden, choosing Westin’s bride. Poor sap likely knows nothing about it.”

“The devil, you say!” A daft grin spread across Tucker’s face.

Daniel wouldn’t have pegged Tucker as a good match for Serafine, but it was obvious from the dolt’s adoring gazes he was arsey varsey for the lady. Mr. Tucker simply required assistance to win her heart again.

“You’ll join us for dinner this evening,” Daniel said, “and begin your courtship in earnest.”

Twenty-nine

Serafine stepped onto the sidewalk, drew in a deep breath, and regretted it at once. The steamy stench of the summer morning made her stomach lurch. She gripped the iron gate of 17 Curzon to steady herself as a wave of nauseated dizziness washed over her.

Would this illness ever cease? Damn Isaac for leaving her in this state. Even as she cursed him, a secret smile appeared. Perhaps she wasn’t prepared to forgive him for his shabby treatment yet, but his pitiable attempts to court her these last two days had softened her heart.

Oddly, Isaac’s lack of
savoir
faire
aided his attempts rather than hurt them as one might expect. Serafine had never cared for the cocksure dandies strutting around New Orleans, believing themselves a prize for any young woman. Isaac had been vastly different from the gentlemen courting her when she had met him months ago. He’d massacred his words when requesting her dance card, blushed throughout the entire minuet, then concluded the evening with spilling a glass of punch down his front. His hopelessly awkward act had deceived her. Isaac had seemed harmless and incapable of hurting her.

He wouldn’t fool her again.

Serafine took a moment to get her bearings. A concentrated fog swallowed the grand town houses of Mayfair, making them appear as indistinct bulks. Cautiously, she moved along the walkway with her brother’s last known address written on a piece of paper tucked into her reticule. With Lisette and Daniel still abed and Rafe breaking his fast with his governess, Serafine hoped to reach her brother’s rented rooms and return before anyone discovered her absence.

Daniel’s inquiries into Xavier’s whereabouts had turned up no answers, but Serafine had to try. With any luck, he would have left something behind. Perhaps a clue could be discovered among his belongings.

The hack she had ordered waited at the corner. “Morning, miss.” A note of wariness accompanied the driver’s greeting. “Ye traveling wit’ yer maid or chaperone today?”

She lifted her chin as she took his hand to climb inside the carriage. “I have no need of a chaperone, good sir.” Once settled on the seat, she opened her reticule and extracted the address. “Number four Waverton Street. I will pay extra if you make our destination quickly. I haven’t much time.”

“Aye, miss.”

The driver climbed to his spot and slapped the reins, urging the horse along at a plodding pace, much to Serafine’s displeasure. Only a couple of turns later, the carriage rolled to a stop in front of a dark brick building. She could have walked if she’d known how close Xavier’s rooms were and saved herself the cost of fare. Serafine perched on the edge of her seat, a sense of unease settling over her, and waited for the driver’s assistance traversing the carriage steps.