Persuasion (8 page)

daughters,” she finished with a reminiscent smile.

“I wish I'd met him.”

“He would have loved you, my dearest,” Millie replied tenderly and gripped

her hand tightly. “You look just like your mama did at your age, almost the

spitting image.”

“Oh, Aunt Millie, I wish my papa were here. I wish Devlin and mama were

too. My entire family! It isn't fair. All the other girls have hordes of family

here yet I don't. I feel like a child for missing them, but . . . .”

“I know, darling. There, there,” she murmured and patted Lily's hand

comfortingly. “I know how difficult it must be for you. But I can't say I'm

surprised that your mama is as devastated by Martin's loss as she is. You

only had to see them together to understand the depth of their love for one

another. And because of that, because tonight your talk reminded me of

your mama and papa, I shall not be as pushy with the eligibles who are here

tonight. You are correct, when you say that you deserve the same as Julia

and I had.”

Lily squeezed her aunt’s hands. “Oh, Aunt Millie, you truly are the best aunt

a girl could ever hope for. I know that I've been difficult, but I'm so grateful

that you've taken the time and effort to help me. Thank you, aunt and you

do know that I love you, don't you?”

“Of course, my dear, and those sentiments are shared, Lily. But you don't

have to thank me. It's an honor.”

They smiled at one another and both knew that a truce had been made

between them. Lily would try to not be so difficult and Millie not so pushy.

A sense of peace fluttered through her and it was with relief that Lily knew

she would no longer be pressed into the bosom of every suitable gentlemen.

She wanted what her parents had had, what her aunt and uncle still had.

And if she had to fight for it, then so be it. She would prefer to be a spinster

than face a life of misery with a man whom she detested and who disliked

her in turn.

A part of her felt jubilant by the prospect, but another was distinctly somber.

As they continued their promenade through the ballroom, Lily's eyes would

glance about the room as she sought the man, who had so frightened her

the night before.

Every part of her hoped that it had indeed been a hoax. But in her heart of

hearts, Lily knew that it hadn't been. That the man wanted something from

her and to go to the trouble of meeting with her in such a clandestine

manner, it could be nothing to the good.

The bright and pretty ballroom had been transformed into a decadent

display of the Rutherford's wealth, the thousands of candles, the huge array

of refreshments, the large orchestra . . . they were all signs of opulence and

frankly, it failed to impress her. Especially as she truly didn't see it, for she

was seeking the shadows and the dark places where men, evil men with

horrid intent, could hide and try to frighten her.

Suddenly, she felt very, very young.

And as one of the eldest unmarried misses on the Marriage Mart that was

not a sensation she was accustomed to feeling!

A man stepped before her and bowed. “Dear Ladies, may I mark your

niece's card for a dance, ma'am?” he asked politely.

Aunt Millie looked unobtrusively at Lily as though waiting for her approval

and delicately, she nodded in silent retort. “Why, of course, dear sir! Pray

do.”

With the pencil and card that was attached by a ribbon to her wrist, he

marked her card for the next set, which started almost immediately. With a

gallant hand, he led her away from her aunt and on to the floor.

In truth, she had seen Mr. Derricks before at many functions and had

danced with him many times. He was rather sweet and charming enough,

but was not for her and even though she knew that it was mean, she had

accepted so quickly because she did not want to be alone during any part of

this evening.

It went against her normal routine to dance every dance, but tonight she

would be doing just that!

The quadrilles and cotillions were long dances and by the time she had

completed her first dance, her skin felt flushed and she had to be honest in

saying that she was enjoying herself. The complex routines and steps

ensured that her mind was not focused on what could happen this evening.

She traversed from the quadrille and before she could be delivered to her

aunt, a crowd of men surrounded her and begged to fill her card. Moments

later, she was led into a country dance and from there, on to another

partner and another cotillion.

At the end of that particular dance, Mr. Derricks swept down and grabbed

her arm. “Lady Lily, allow me to procure you some refreshment,” he

murmured.

“Why, kind sir, I must thank you,” she replied, smiling up at him for she was

rather thirsty.

He led her through the crush and out on to the verandah, where the air was

cooler. Although, not that much, considering the thick and dense mist that

settled over London of a night, but it was still more refreshing against her

flushed face.

“I will just let you regain your breath, as I fetch you some punch.”

Realizing that the verandah was sparsely populated, she reached for his arm

with faint desperation. “No! Please! Don't leave me!” she begged, her voice

harsh.

Lily could see from his face that he had taken her words the wrong way.

That he thought she was interested in him in a romantic way and that was

certainly not the case, but what choice did she have? She had inadvertently

given her mystery man the perfect opportunity to communicate with her!

Licking her lips, she tightened her hands about his forearms. “Please,” she

pleaded.

“Dear lady, I shall return momentarily but with some punch to quench your

thirst!”

“I do not need anything to drink, sir!”

“Tosh. Permit me,” he murmured suavely and bowed his head before

returning to the crush of the crowd and leaving her to herself.

Nervously, she peered around the darkened verandah and then, believing

herself to be alone, Lily breathed out with a deep sigh of relief. It had been

almost two hours since her arrival and the man had yet to seek her out.

She looked out on to the tiered gardens and although the visibility was very

poor, she could hear the slight tinkling of running water. She wished, quite

dreadfully, that she could rush out into the garden and flee this silent scene,

but Lily knew that that was most impractical.

As Lily looked out on to the misty stretch, she heard him. How she knew it

was the man of the night before, Lily did not know. But every part of her

seemed to freeze as her very soul shuddered with recognition and she was

quite, quite sure that her heart stopped.

Closing her eyes, she felt every part of her body start to stiffen with terror.

Lily felt almost as though she had turned to stone so deep was her

abhorrence at this situation and as the sibilant hiss started once more, Lily

could easily recall why he so terrified her.

“Do not move. Do not turn around.”

She felt a whoosh of air that told her he was quite close to her back and she

felt hideously vulnerable in this position.

“What do you want?” she asked, her voice a plea.

“Do you know of Earl fforbes-Hyde?”

“I-I . . . yes, a little. The widower?”

“Indeed. His return to London is imminent. Upon his arrival, I want you to

seduce him.”

Shocked, she gasped and raised her hand to clutch at her throat. Lily almost

spun around to stare at the man's absurd suggestion, but instinct kept her

still. The result however, was that her heart began to beat like a trapped

bird in the cavity of her chest.

“Why should I agree to do that?” she asked huskily.

Why on earth was he asking her to seduce the Earl? And why should he

believe she would go through with this . . . suggestion?

The Earl was almost reclusive, from the little she knew of him, Lily did know

that. He was almost hermit-like and had been ever since he'd lost his wife,

who had died in childbirth and lost the babe also.

Unfortunately, it was the curse of any debutante to know of all and any

single and eligible men, so upon her arrival in London, her aunt had seen fit

to counsel her of all the information. Or gossip as Lily herself classed it!

As far as she knew, he'd been in love with his wife and was devastated by

her death. It had struck a chord with Lily, for she herself was still living with

her grief for her papa. But of this particular Earl, there was little gossip to be

had. He lived a far too cloistered and sheltered life for it to be of any interest

to the scavengers of the ton.

But why this man was asking her to do this, she did not know and if she

weren't so frightened, would have thought the entire situation a complete

and utter farce!

“You love your mother, do you not, my lady?”

Lily gasped and this time, she did spin around but the sudden clamping of

two fierce hands about her upper arms kept her in position. She cringed as

she felt the heat of his body against her.

“Why do you dare to bring up my mother?”

“Lives are fragile, my lady.” He laughed. “But then, you know that. You've

just lost your father and understand how it feels to lose someone so close to

you . . . . How would you feel were your mother to suddenly disappear?”

Fear ripped through her with a frightening speed. It was followed closely by

a nauseous sickness that rushed through her system and had her almost

vomiting over the balcony!

“You would not do such a thing! My mother is innocent! I . . . I am innocent!

Why are you doing this?”

“You do not know me, girl. You do not know what drives me. I will kill your

mother without a moment's hesitation and will do much more than a delicate

lady such as yourself can even comprehend. I will make her suffer until her

last breath, until she begs me to kill her, to end her suffering. Believe this

like you believe in naught else.”

“But I cannot seduce the Earl! I wouldn't even know what to do!” she cried.

“There are far more experienced women, surely they can help?”

“Do not waste my time. It is a precious commodity. Nor should you play with

me. Is your mother's life not worthy of this? Are you saying that you will not

do it and press me to kill her?”

“No!” she gasped and began to struggle within his grasp. “No, please do not!

My mama is my everything . . . I shall do it. I do not know how to do it, for I

have never seduced anyone before, but I shall try. I cannot guarantee that I

will succeed.”

“You shall just have to find a way then, shan't you, Lady Lily? Failure is not

an option. Do not forget your motivation, for I certainly shan't! I will be

keeping an eye on you and shall send word of the Earl's arrival to your

aunt's home. I want to see you flirting and playing up to him on the very

first occasion you both attend. If I don't . . . well, we both know what will

happen to your mother, don't we?”

With that threat uttered, he disappeared and left her gulping for breath as

terror and a feeling of being quite lost beyond all salvation drowned her

alive.

She stood there, gasping, when Mr. Derricks returned with her drink. She

snatched it from his hand, murmured a quick but harried thank you and

drank the entire punch in one instant.

“Dear lady, are you quite yourself?” Mr. Derricks asked, concerned.

“Yes.” Her reply was faint and such a lie, that she was surprised she was not

struck dead with a bolt of lightning from the heavens.

Shudders began to rack her slight frame and taking it as a sign that she was

cold, he took her arm and led her quickly from the verandah and into the

warmth of the ballroom.

Before she even realized it, Mr. Derricks had chivalrously delivered her to

her aunt and within ten minutes, she was being stuffed into her uncle's

carriage with Aunt Millie's smelling salts wafted every now and then under

her nose as they traveled hurriedly through London and to their Mayfair

home.

Feeling terribly like some sort of ludicrous French spy, Lily looked around

Lady Greene's ballroom in the vain hope that Earl fforbes-Hyde would be

here. A part of her felt almost like dropping to her knees and praying to God

for guidance, and the other felt like fleeing, but how could she? Her mother's

life was in danger! To simply not go through with that mad man's plan could

place her mama in serious peril and even though the man might simply be

playing with her, for whatever nefarious reason, she could not take the

chance!

This morning, when Janie had passed her the silver salver with the missive

resting upon it, she had felt almost as though she were about to touch

molten glass! Instinctively, she had known who had sent it and had dreaded

reading it. As soon as the paper had touched her fingers, she had felt as

though it had indeed been as hot as hell.

It had simply said:

fforbes-Hyde arrived in London this night past. Is due to attend the Greene

ball- be there or Mother dearest will suffer. Don't forget. I won't.

Any thoughts she had about ignoring the letter had instantly dissipated and