No Decent Gentleman (21 page)

"You never mentioned that rule to me," Sabrina replied. "My, how divinely you waltz."

"And you feel so good in my arms that I might never let you go," Adam said in a husky voice.

Sabrina blushed. Good Lord, why did he always find a way to confound her?

"You failed to tell me about the incident at White's," she said.

"It was nothing."

"You call an assassination attempt nothing?" Sabrina exclaimed, missing a step.

"Smile, Princess. Society is watching," Adam said. "Do not give them anything to gossip about."

Instantly, Sabrina smiled at him.

"That is absolutely the most insincere smile I've ever seen," Adam teased her.

"You didn't say smile sincerely, my lord, only smile."

Adam inclined his head. "
Touché
, Countess. Someone took a wild shot at Jamie and me the other night. We are investigating who the culprit might be."

Sabrina nodded. Her gaze drifted away from him until she spied her sister dancing across the hall. "Courtney seems to like Dudley Egremont," she remarked.

"I was hoping they would like each other," Adam replied. "They might find happiness as a married couple... . How was that for word choice?"

"Much better," Sabrina said. "I knew you would be a quick learner."

Adam laughed to hear his own words thrown back at him.

When the music ended, Adam led her toward the refreshment room, but Lord Briggs blocked their way before they reached it.

"Dance with me, Sabrina?" he asked.

Sabrina smiled. "Why, Edgar, I would love to dance with you."

She let him lead her onto the dance floor. The two longtime friends whirled around the ballroom together.

"Who would have guessed that we would end like this, waltzing in London," Sabrina said.

"Do not say
end
but rather
begin
," Edgar said. "Marry me, Sabrina."

"I have already explained my situation," Sabrina said. "Why do you insist on making this difficult?" She looked away, unable to bear the hurt in his hazel eyes, and missed a step when she saw Adam dancing with Alexis.

The baron's gaze followed hers. "They've been lovers since before her husband died."

"I don't believe you," Sabrina said, shocked. "No woman would be unfaithful to her husband."

"Your innocence is a most endearing quality," Edgar said. "May I call upon you?"

Sabrina managed a smile for him. "Visit me whenever you wish, Edgar. I will always have time for an old friend."

Sabrina begged off from his company when the music ended. Although she kept a smile and a pleasant expression on her face, the gossip about the marquess troubled her.

A man who cheated on his betrothed, Sabrina decided, would also cheat on his wife. She refused to marry a man who was destined to become a faithless husband.

Sabrina determined to put a brave face on the situation and ignore the gossip. She flirted and waltzed with Jamie Armstrong, Dudley Egremont, and a different man for each of the waltzes before intermission; but the thought of the marquess and that countess making love never left her.

Finally, when Adam presented himself for the last waltz before supper, Sabrina could scarcely meet his gaze. She was unusually quiet as they swirled around the ballroom.

"Princess, smile and say something," Adam ordered. "Unless you want to create a bit of gossip?"

Of all the unmitigated gall
, she thought mutinously. How dare he threaten her with the danger of gossip. How did he even sleep at night? That harlot had a nerve showing up at her coming-out ball.

"You waltz divinely," Sabrina said with the sweetest of smiles.

"You said that during our last dance," Adam reminded her. "Only middle-aged people repeat themselves."

"Wonderful weather we've been having," Sabrina changed the subject. "Don't you think?"

Adam inclined his head.

"A bit dark tonight," she continued. "I dare say, the sky will lighten toward morning."

Adam burst out laughing, drawing the attention of several couples near them. "Princess, you are an incorrigible imp."

"Do you really think so?" Sabrina drawled. "I suppose one must always follow the rules: no laughing, no bolting food, no picking your nose."

"Enough," Adam said, laughing. "You've drunk too many glasses of champagne without food. I'm taking you to supper."

"I haven't had any champagne," Sabrina told him.

"Then that is exactly what you need."

Adam stopped dancing and, taking her hand in his, led her toward the door. The others followed them down to supper.

In the crowded dining room, Sabrina sipped her champagne and picked at a piece of turkey. "Why aren't you eating?" she asked.

"Custom requires that ladies eat first," Adam told her. "I'll have something later."

"Of all the stupid rules you've told me, that is the stupidest," Sabrina announced in a loud whisper, her green eyes gleaming with mischief. "Do you really care what these people think?"

Adam glanced from her face to the guests and then whispered, "No, of course not."

"Good." Sabrina speared a piece of turkey with her fork and raised it to his lips.

Accepting her challenge, Adam ate the piece of turkey. He glanced around and saw the shocked expressions on the faces of a few of the older women.

"Breeding does tell," Sabrina said, spearing another piece of turkey.

"Don't," Adam ordered in a quiet voice, touching her wrist. "Your future children will need the approval of these people."

"Quite right, my lord." Sabrina set the fork down and leaned close, asking in a whisper, "Is Alexis Carstairs still your mistress?"

"Princess, you have no tolerance for champagne," Adam said, avoiding her question.

"I suppose that's the way with your family." Sabrina sighed with exaggeration. "The St. Aubyns deal only in lies, half-truths, omissions, and avoidance."

"The truth should only be told in tiny pieces to those who might crumple beneath its full weight," Adam said seriously, his piercing gaze fixed on hers.

"I have never crumpled in my life," Sabrina informed him. "And you still haven't answered my question."

He stared at her for so long that Sabrina thought he wasn't going to answer.

"Alexis Carstairs is not my mistress," Adam said finally.

"Did she ever hold that exalted title?" Sabrina asked.

"Sorry, Princess. The rules permit only one prying question each evening," Adam said.

"Apparently, the rules need to be changed," Sabrina replied. "I am just the woman to do it."

"You will do no such thing," Adam told her.

When supper ended, the guests drifted upstairs to the ballroom once more. Walking beside the marquess, Sabrina could hear the musicians fine-tuning their instruments again. She also noted the surreptitious, longing glances that many of the females cast at the marquess. He appeared oblivious to all of that female adoration.

Once inside the ballroom, Sabrina left him. She danced the next nine waltzes with different men, each one handsomer than the last. Whirling around the ballroom, she kept an eye on Adam, who leaned against a wall and kept an eye on her. Surrounding him were several beautiful ladies, all of whom vied for his attention.

When the ninth waltz ended, Adam presented himself before Sabrina to claim her for the final dance. Before the musicians could begin playing, Baxter stepped into the ballroom and announced in a loud voice, "Madame Esmeralda."

An excited murmur raced through the crowd, and Prince Adolphus stepped forward to greet his old friend. Sabrina watched the prince kiss the diva's hand and then lead her across the room toward her.

"Esmeralda, I present Sabrina Savage, the Countess of Abingdon," Adolphus introduced them.

"Your presence at this gathering brings me honor," Sabrina said.

"The honor belongs to me," Esmeralda said, studying her with obvious interest. "I knew your father many years ago before you were born. I am sorry for his passing."

"Thank you," Sabrina said, and then realized the diva might know something about her origins. "Perhaps we could speak privately at a later time."

"Feel free to call upon me whenever you wish," Esmeralda said, inclining her head like a queen granting a favor to a courtier.

Prince Adolphus led Madame Esmeralda to the top of the room, where the musicians stood. The diva proceeded to sing several songs of lost love, finishing to thunderous applause. Afterward, the prince led her back to Sabrina and the others.

"Thank you for sharing your voice with us," Sabrina said.

"Thank you for allowing me to share it, child," Esmeralda replied. She turned to the prince and said, "Are you ready, Your Royal Highness?"

"You aren't leaving?" Sabrina asked.

"An opera singer's life isn't as glamorous as you may think," Esmeralda told her. "Lack of sleep is a risk to my voice."

"Then I won't keep you," Sabrina said. "We'll meet again?"

"I am looking forward to it." At that, Esmeralda accepted the prince's arm and let him escort her out of the ballroom.

The musicians began playing the last waltz as soon as the prince and the diva disappeared. Adam led Sabrina onto the dance floor. Waltzing in his arms felt so natural, as if they'd done it a thousand times before.

"Do you think Esmeralda knows who my real parents were?" Sabrina asked him.

"If you are wise, Princess, never ask her that question," Adam replied, surprising her. "The knowledge will not enrich your life."

Sabrina refused to let him ruin her good mood. "Spoken like a man who knows where he came from,'' she teased.

"You are correct," Adam agreed with her. "I cannot know your feelings because I do not share your experience."

His words surprised her again. Sabrina had always considered members of the aristocratic set to be shallow, but the marquess was proving that assumption wrong.

The guests took their leave when the music ended. Adam stayed by her side until the last one had walked out the door. Only Uncle Charles remained behind, waiting in the drawing room for his nephew.

"Did you enjoy yourself?" Adam asked her when they stood alone in the foyer.

Sabrina smiled. "The evening went better than I'd expected."

''I never believed you'd be anything but a huge success," he told her.

"I thank you for your confidence," she replied.

Holding her hands in his, Adam faced her and said, "What would make this evening perfect for me is a good-night kiss."

"And what will you do if I refuse?" Sabrina asked, gazing into the bluest eyes she'd ever seen.

"I'd throw myself off London Bridge."

Sabrina cocked her head to one side and gave him a look of disbelief.

"I'd steal a kiss anyway," Adam amended himself.

"That sounds more like you," Sabrina said with a smile.

Without giving her a chance to protest, Adam pulled her into his embrace. While she stared up at him, his mouth swooped down and covered hers in a lingering kiss, its passion tempered only by the fact that they stood in the foyer.

"Now then," he said, drawing back. "Tomorrow morning—"

Sabrina reached up and placed one finger across his lips in a gesture for silence. "What would make this evening perfect for me is your refraining from giving me another order."

"Never?"

"I'll settle for tonight."

"Princess, your wish is my command."

Uncle Charles walked into the foyer at that moment and said, "The evening went smashingly well."

"By tomorrow morning you and your sister will be considered the toast of the ton, two of this season's acclaimed beauties," Adam told her.

"Why, Grosvenor Square will probably be congested with traffic because of your visitors," Uncle Charles added.

"God shield me," Sabrina exclaimed, making them laugh. "I doubt there's enough flour in England to calm me if that happens."

"Good night, Princess." Adam lifted her hand to his lips. "May all of your dreams be pleasant."

Sabrina started up the stairs, but her thoughts remained with the marquess. Adam St. Aubyn was entirely too handsome for her peace of mind. At times, he seemed like a prince who'd stepped out of a child's story, yet she couldn't help feeling that he was hiding something from her.

Sabrina banished her doubts as she walked down the corridor to her bedchamber. She giggled out loud at the absurdity of her impending popularity. Without a doubt, Grosvenor Square would be deserted in the morning.

Chapter 10

"When will you tell Sabrina and Courtney who their natural father is?" Adam asked. Sitting behind the oak desk in his study, he stared at his uncle, who fidgeted beneath his piercing blue gaze.

"That knowledge would serve no purpose," Uncle Charles answered, tearing his gaze away from his nephew's. "Neither girl will ever be acknowledged."

"Sabrina yearns to know where she came from," Adam told his uncle.

"You yearn to return to your homeland," Uncle Charles replied. "I yearn to be twenty years younger. All of us yearn for something, but if we achieved our goals, we'd be yearning for something else."

A knock on the door drew their attention. Higgins and Razi rushed into the room as if they were racing against each other.

"I'll do this," Higgins told the little man. "I am his majordomo."

"Very well, I'll take the next one," Razi said.

"The Earl of Tunbridge requests an interview," Higgins announced in a haughty tone of voice.

"Ask him to come in," Adam instructed. He sent his uncle a puzzled look.

"I'll leave you to your guest," Uncle Charles said, starting to rise from the chair.

"Stay where you are," Adam ordered, gesturing him to remain seated. "We aren't finished yet."

The thirty-year-old Earl of Tunbridge walked into the study. He crossed the chamber, nodded at the duke, and reached out to shake Adam's hand.

"Please sit down," Adam invited him.

"No, thank you. I won't be staying long," the earl refused.

Adam looked at him expectantly.

"I would like your permission to court Sabrina Savage," Tunbridge announced. "I assure you that my intentions are serious and honorable."