Portrait of a Scandal (12 page)

Nellie had to concentrate on not allowing her jaw to drop, matching the earl’s. Her husband had defended her and agreed with her? While she stood firmly by her words, she had not for a moment believed that Thomas would as well.

He raised his arm for her to take. “Come, my dear. I believe I need to write some further letters. I think I might know of an estate in Sussex that breeds good horseflesh. Perhaps they might have a horse for you?” Thomas said, and turned her towards the house.

They had taken perhaps two steps when the earl called out, “Fine. You can have the beast. I care little for the sport of finding another buyer,” he said, before he caught himself. “Though I am sure there would be many who would be happy to pay the price I named. I hope you have room for her now,” he added, and called to the groom, who smiled apologetically at Geoff, and left him holding the horse as he followed the earl.

Once he was gone, Nellie turned to her husband. “Thank you.”

“For what, my dear?”

“For standing up for me, agreeing with me and buying me this wonderful horse,” she said, reaching up onto her tiptoes and kissing his cheek. “I will repay you.”

His eyes darkened at the insinuation her words carried. “I know you will,” he added huskily.

Nellie smiled, but forced herself to look away—otherwise Geoff and the grooms would see more than could be deemed proper. “Geoff, thank you so much for looking at her,” she said as they walked back towards the mare, who tossed her head in Nellie’s direction eagerly, her ears pricked up.

“I admire your way with horses, wife. I noticed Geist acts the same as this mare. You clearly have a way of making those around you feel at ease.”

“Perhaps the earl would not agree.”

Thomas laughed. “Perhaps I should amend that and say, those you wish to be relaxed around you.”

She felt heat rise to her cheeks upon his praise but shook it off, looking towards the grooms. “Would one of you mind taking care of our newest horse? I am sure Geoff has work he must be getting back to.”

O’Malley, a young boy perhaps on the cusp of manhood and groom to Thomas’ stallion, hurried forward. Nellie spoke to the mare in German, telling her the boy would care for her. It was perhaps silly to think the horse understood, but Karla relaxed and went to the boy willingly, just as she had with Geoff before.

She reached out and touched Geoff’s arm. “Thank you again.”

“It was my pleasure, my Lady,” he said with a nod before walking back towards the house. It was then that Nellie noticed there was more than one curious face peering from the windows.

Chapter Seven

Thomas sat through lunch with the burning need to ravish his wife weighing upon his groin. The knowing looks she sent him, showing her own desire for him, did not help matters in the least. With plans to retire to her room and feast on his delectable wife, he almost wanted to strangle his man of business when he arrived for a meeting that Thomas had forgotten. It was only once they were done that he found Nellie already in her room, preparing for that evening’s dinner at Lady Elizabeth’s. He sighed and moved on to his own room, where his valet waited to assist him to prepare for an evening of formality. It was odd how this time last year this type of event had not bothered him, but recently he had realised how artificial life was when you mingled with those who thought too much of their own stations in life. Though, their host tonight was not that kind of woman.

A short time later, resplendent in evening dress and waiting for Nellie, who was still not ready, Thomas walked to his study and poured a brandy. The dimming skyline outside the south-facing window did not help in the slightest to distract him from the memory of his wife’s charm and beauty, nor how much pleasure it would be to remain in the house—better yet, in bed—for the evening.

The sound of footsteps, followed by the murmur of voices, captured his attention and drew him from his reverie moments later. After walking towards the door, Thomas was rewarded with the enchanting sight of his wife descending the stairs in a golden gown that looked to wrap graciously around her body, mapping every contour and curve. Her maid hovered, adding what looked like jewels to Nellie’s hair.

“Anne, please cease in your attempt to beautify me. I am sure I will present quite well.” Nellie’s irritated, yet slightly amused voice filtered down to him.

Her maid scoffed, “My Lady, you are a marchioness now. You must look the part.”

“And tell me, Anne, what difference does it make to become a marchioness from being a Lady, other than that I am able to enter the dining room sooner than before?”

The girl glared at Nellie’s back. “You may pretend to not care, but I know you do. You would not have allowed me this much grace to prepare you before. I know you do it for his Lordship.”

Thomas watched Nellie roll her eyes in an unladylike fashion as she descended the last step, pulling on her gloves.

“Oh, your rings!” Anne fretted.

“I do not need them,” Nellie sighed. “You have placed enough gems on me for the evening. My poor husband will need a guard to protect me from thieves. His mother’s safe is now surely empty.”

Thomas smiled at their easy banter. The two were clearly friends.

Nellie looked up and saw him leaning against the archway. She smiled at him. “I am sorry I kept you waiting.”

“It is all right,” he said, pushing off and walking over to her. He handed Parker his glass on the way as the man appeared by the door.

He could not help but look deep into her intelligent blue eyes, and she let them travel down the length of him. She nodded in approval at his dress then smiled at Geoff, who helped her into her coat.

“Are we ready, husband?” she asked.

Thomas nodded, holding his arm out for her. She slid her delicate, silk-covered hand though his arm and leaned against him. Although several layers of clothing separated them, a burning pulse of need flowed though him. They might as well have been naked.
Curse it.
This was going to be a long evening.

* * * *

Nellie took a deep and much needed breath. She was not nervous.
I’m not,
she tried to convince herself over and over, in time with the clatter of horses’ hooves on the cobblestones, as the carriage moved through London. But it didn’t work. She was terrified of embarrassing Thomas. He had proved to be nothing but a wonderful and caring husband. She would not embarrass him tonight! Or at least, she would try her very best not to. He deserved a proper wife, or at least the illusion of one. Who was she trying to fool? She was nothing of the kind. An imposter and a criminal—that was what she was.

A caring hand settled on her thigh. She glanced to her side to see Thomas’ concerned face. “Are you well?” he asked.

She tried to smile. “Of course.”

He raised an eyebrow, his doubt obvious.

She closed her eyes for a moment, then opened them to find him mere inches away from her face. He moved to close the distance. As he touched his warm mouth to her own, Nellie sighed, sinking into him, sliding her hands around his neck, pulling him closer. She tried to deepen the kiss and while he allowed her tongue to glide across his soft lips, he did not open for her.

Pulling back, he cupped her face in his hands and looked firmly into her eyes. “Tell me what is wrong.”

She leaned into him and settled against his chest, the gentle sway of the carriage sending a wave of reassurance through her. “I am concerned about tonight.”
Tonight, and perhaps every night to follow
. What if the Lady Mary was in attendance, or perhaps Lady Mary’s father? Would he recognise her? Thomas had yet to, so perhaps her widow’s disguise had truly safeguarded her identity.

“How so?”

She closed her eyes, ashamed to be admitting this. “I am worried I will embarrass you.”
Even if he does not know he has married a criminal, a woman who sold stories and pictures exposing others’ shame, he will at least be embarrassed by a wife who cannot hold her tongue.

He stiffened slightly before shifting her way to look down at her. Nellie looked up into his hard, determined features. “Why are you worried about such a daft thing? How could you embarrass me?”

In so many ways
. “I do not know who will be in attendance tonight, my Lord,” she said, irritated with his gruff tone. “But most of the gentlemen I have met in the past seem to care little for me and my thoughts. While I do try to keep my opinions quiet, I sometimes cannot control myself.”

Thomas’ face changed, displaying slight amusement. “I do not want you to control yourself. I like your fire, your spark,” he whispered, leaning down to bite playfully at the soft skin below her ear. “I like how you manage to dress your insults in compliments. I adore how you are not afraid to speak of your feelings, needs and desires.” She whimpered as he travelled his tongue over her ear, then gave a last playful nip as his words registered in her suddenly muddled brain. “Do not worry, wife. I will be by your side. I will not let any harm come to you.”

The carriage suddenly stopped and he muttered a curse before looking down into her eyes in the dim light of the carriage. “You bring out a desire in me, wife. One that I struggle to control.”

“I am glad I am not alone in that regard then, my Lord.”

He grinned and kissed her hard. The door to the carriage opened and they disembarked.

Moments later, the urge to turn and run after the carriage, calling at the top of her lungs to the driver as he drove down the street to park, was Nellie’s primary desire. Thomas’ gentle squeeze on her arm was reminder enough of her new place in society. She might once have been a lord’s daughter, but she was now a marchioness, among one of the highest ranks in society. A smile graced her lips as she lifted her chin.
I will be fine
, she soothed herself.

A footman nodded as they entered the large foyer, which was draped in dark cloth and furniture. Nellie’s first thought was that a man had decorated the room. The stag’s head mounted to her right, adjacent to a painting depicting a war scene, did not give off a very endearing or welcoming feeling. As the footman led them towards the parlour, she slid a glance to Thomas and noted the amusement on his features.

“Wait until to you meet Lady Elizabeth. Her decorating might supply you with more insight into her pleasures,” he said.

She cast him a confused look before the doors opened and the butler’s voice rang out. “The Marquess and Marchioness of Sterling.”

Quiet came over the group. Nellie felt as if she were an animal in a cage, with gazes crawling over her skin, assessing her worth. She felt every morsel of their judgement. She had never before cared for the
ton
’s opinions of her, but she did care for their opinions of Thomas. Would he be found lacking for taking her as a bride? She attempted to ignore the flutter in her stomach at the thought of the
ton
discovering her involvement in the photography scandal that, thankfully, had never managed to go to press

Thomas moved her forward with a gentle pressure on her hand, and they were greeted by a woman wearing a claret-coloured dress, whose eyes sparkled.

“Lord Sterling, it is a pleasure to have you here,” the woman said as she came forward to take the hand Thomas had offered. The woman turned to Nellie, an indisputable smile gracing her features.

“Lady Elizabeth, please allow me to introduce to you my wife, Lady Sterling.”

The woman reached out and took Nellie’s hands in hers. “It is a pleasure to finally meet you. Lord Headline was only moments ago informing me of what a charming lady you are. He is not one to provide a false impression, so I know you and I will become fast friends.”

Nellie was taken aback by the woman’s kind words. “Well, that was good of him to say, and I look forward to finding a friend in you, also,” she replied and was surprised to find she actually meant it. Friendship among her class was not something Nellie had ever claimed to have. Certainly, she had friends. She held her maid in the tightest of confidence, as she did a lot of her father’s staff, but among the noble houses, there were none she would trust not to exploit those they called friends in order to further themselves.

“Ah, I see, Lady Elizabeth, that you have met the charming Lady Sterling,” Lord Headline said, coming up beside them and taking Nellie’s hand in his. He lifted it to his lips and placed a gentle kiss on the back of her hand. His eyes danced with mirth and she did not doubt anything she had heard about his rakish behaviour.
Oh, the poor hearts this man must have broken.

“You are too kind, my Lord,” Nellie said with gratitude to the tall and unyielding lord. She had only met him once before, and he had been upon his horse. She had not realised how large he truly was. He stood a foot taller than Thomas, and her husband was hardly short. His broad chest and strong facial features surely sent many young ladies swooning during an introduction, but it was his kind and mischievous eyes, as they twinkled in the candlelight that provided Nellie with an insight into his harmless nature.

Lady Elizabeth soon whisked her away from the men and proceeded to walk her about the room, introducing her to all in attendance. It was a small dinner party, sixteen people at the most. Nellie had met none of them before. In truth, all appeared rather friendly, and genuinely interested in her and her thoughts on whatever it was they discussed.

It also slowly started to dawn on her what Thomas had referred to before. Lady Elizabeth was a hearty woman—not in figure, but in spirit. She openly claimed to love a good hunt and clearly preferred to be among the men and their conversations. It was strange, though, how her hand never left Nellie’s. The woman made almost caress-like movements along the delicate flesh of her gloved wrist.

Thomas came to her side as dinner was announced. Nellie realised that, as the highest ranking noble couple in attendance, they were to enter the dining room first. It was a new and surreal experience for her.