Secrets of a Spinster (30 page)

“Six and a half!”

“Go away!” she laughed from her bedchamber.

He grinned and went down to the foyer to wait.

Almost precisely six minutes later, she appeared at the top of the stairs and made her way down to him. She was watching her feet as she descended, which meant he could look at her the way he wanted to. Her gown was simple but elegant in its cut, and the pale green color made her skin positively luminescent. Her hair was twisted and pinned elegantly, which he found miraculous, given the state it was in only six minutes prior. He felt a twinge of sadness that it was completely up, but then she turned her head slightly, and the line of her throat was so graceful, so elegant, that he found himself swallowing.

What was the matter with him? He needed to have control or he was very likely to blurt out his feelings right here and now, and he could hardly do that. She would never believe him.

When she looked up at him, he was perfectly composed, and gave her an approving smile. She blushed with pleasure, and perhaps a touch of embarrassment, but smiled back at him.

“Impressive,” he said in a low, teasing voice.

“What’s impressive?” she asked with a tilt of her head as she neared him.

You, he nearly said. But he only smiled more broadly up at her. “You have gone from panicked and unkempt to poised and incomparable in six minutes.” He shook his head and held out his hand. “No shoulder for you tonight, Miss Hamilton.”

“More’s the pity,” she murmured, placing her gloved hand in his.

Her words and the teasing light in her eye sent a shocking jolt of pleasure into his chest, and it was only due to his long practice of polite and gentlemanly behavior that he managed to avoid dwelling overlong on the image of him carrying her over his shoulder into more entertaining spheres.

He would probably revisit the idea later, however.

For now, he merely smiled at his best friend and escorted her to their waiting carriage.

“How well do you know the Rivertons?” Mary asked as they began to move.

“Not particularly well,” he replied with a shrug. “Not personally at all. Lord Riverton is well respected, and has a great deal of influence in the political scene, I understand. Lady Riverton is known for her vivacity and generosity, as well as being a fashion leader.”

“My, my,” Mary murmured, “however did I manage an invitation?”

Geoffrey grinned a bit devilishly. “They have a son.”

That earned a dramatic roll of the eyes. “Oh, for heaven’s sake.”

“Now, now, Miss Hamilton,” Geoff scolded with a warning finger, “you must not blame the poor viscount for his parents being overeager to see him well matched. I understand he is a very handsome man, and he’s not yet thirty so he is right within your grasp.”

“A viscount, did you say?” Mary mused, looking mildly interested.

Geoff nodded soberly. “A handsome one.”

“Well,” she replied, adjusting her gloves, “I shall be on my best behavior, then.”

“Good girl.”

She grinned at him, and he grinned right back.

“Well, attractive viscount or not, I’m glad you’re the one taking me tonight, Geoff,” she murmured, averting her eyes. “I… I missed you.”

His heart stopped in his chest and he couldn’t breathe. “I missed you, too,” he finally managed, though there were three other words that he’d rather have said.

Their eyes met and held, and suddenly breathing was all but impossible. She was so beautiful he could hardly stand to look at her, but he would dare walking through hellfire before he would look anywhere else. Did she feel the heat that he did as it coursed between them? Was he the only one that had begun to feel a bit light-headed? Or was it possible that she could feel it too, that the bumps and rattling of the carriage had ceased to exist and all that remained was the two of them in this heady moment?

The carriage halted then, breaking their connection. They had arrived before a grand building, windows alight with candles, servants standing at attention all along the grand stairs of the entrance. Other carriages were emptying, their inhabitants excitedly making their way up, everybody in their finest ensembles. Geoff recognized a great many, all powerful in their own realms, whether they be lords or rogues, gossips or debutantes. It was a collection of the great influences of the London season.

He was fortunate that Derek had managed to get him an invitation. Powerful friends were convenient indeed.

“Heavens above,” Mary breathed as he helped her down, her eyes taking in the spectacle before her. “They spare no expense, do they?”

He smiled and offered her his arm. “The Rivertons have always had a taste for finery. Which is undoubtedly why they have invited you this evening.”

She glanced up at him with a half-smile. “You are full of compliments this evening. What are you planning?”

He gave her a look of pure innocence. “I’m not planning anything at all! Can’t a man compliment a beautiful woman when she is on his arm and not have any ulterior motives?”

“Not when that man is you.”

He chuckled and patted her hand. “I have much to make up for, my dear Miss Hamilton, so forgive my abundance of accolades where you are concerned, true though they all may be.”

She giggled and held his arm a little more tightly. “I didn’t say it was a bad thing. I merely point out that you’re doing it.”

He lifted a brow at her. “So I may praise you freely without punishment?”

“Oh, why not?” she replied with a laugh. “You will be the prelude for what is to come once we set foot in there.”

They were almost inside already, and he sighed heavily. “Alas, that is not enough time to pay proper tribute to even your littlest finger.”

Again she laughed, and it was music to his ears and soul. He could have ridden to Africa on horseback without food or water with only the promise of that laugh as his reward.

“Is that your favorite part of me, Geoffrey?” she asked as they entered the house.

He quirked his brows rather wickedly. “I’ll never tell.”

She rolled her eyes and handed her wrap to the servants, then led the way into the ballroom, as Geoff obediently trailed behind. They greeted the host and his lady, conversed only briefly, and then made their way around the room. It didn’t take long for gentlemen to begin appearing to request a dance.

Mary looked at Geoff, who only grinned. “Behave yourself, Miss Hamilton. The viscount is watching.”

She fluttered her eyelashes, and allowed Mr. Timmons to lead her to the dance floor, where the other couples were already lining up.

Assured that she would be occupied for quite some time, given the line of gentlemen that had assembled, Geoffrey began his search for Derek, his true reason for coming this evening. It didn’t take long, as Derek was quite the popular gentleman, and if he had any more personality, he would have rivaled Colin in attracting listeners. The world did not need two versions of Colin Gerrard, which Derek knew full well.

Derek saw Geoff coming and excused himself from the group and came to him. “Are you ready?” Derek asked in a low voice, smiling for the benefit of others.

Geoff nodded, feeling the weight of what he was about to do. He glanced around. “No Kate?”

Derek shook his head. “She’s unwell this evening, and has elected to remain at home, given her condition.” He snorted and rolled his eyes.

“Is she not so very unwell?” Geoff asked, starting to smile a bit at Derek’s reaction.

Derek grinned. “She is becoming self-conscious about how visible she is. I find it breathtaking, she finds it inconvenient.” He shrugged. “Her gown didn’t fit properly, so she is at home being unwell.”

“She turned down the Rivertons?” Geoff laughed, keeping his voice low. Really, that was something to talk about. He hadn’t thought Kate had grown that shocking in her opinions.

“The Rivertons are no match for my wife in a highly emotional state,” Derek muttered, his eyes dancing with amusement. “I am to return to her side the moment our business is completed.”

“I’m surprised she let you come at all.”

Derek’s amusement faded and he gave Geoff a serious look. “When I told her what we were doing, she turned me from the room and literally forced me out and into the carriage. She is in full support of this, and I have no doubt that she will be just as invested in it as the rest of us.”

Geoff nodded without speaking, touched beyond words. When he had approached his friends only two days ago with his thoughts, they had latched onto it. They scoured their acquaintances for any that might be of use and were willing to throw their individual or combined influences behind whatever came of it. He was grateful for such friends and allies.

Tonight was the first opportunity they would have to begin.

Derek led him around and through the many guests in the ballroom, somehow managing to avoid becoming trapped in conversation with any of them.

Geoff was grateful. He had no wish to delay any further than they already had, and he had appearances to keep up, so he must dance and converse and dine as he usually would. There was little time, but they would make use of it.

“Now, we will be speaking, as I have told you, with Captain Riverton, late of His Majesty’s Navy.”

“Riverton?” Geoff interrupted, coming close to Derek’s side. “As in…?”

“The second son of the earl,” Derek replied with a nod. “The title and family name are the same. He is an old companion of David’s and a very discreet gentleman. He has made his fortune and is preparing to resign his commission. I, however, have convinced him to wait for the time being.”

They were nearing the man in question, Geoff could see from the uniform, and he turned to Derek quickly. “Does he know what we are going to request?”

Derek shook his head. “I didn’t give him any particulars, merely that it involved his profession.”

“And his reputation in the Navy?”

“Very well respected,” Derek assured him. “He knows absolutely everybody.”

Geoffrey nodded firmly and allowed Derek to lead the rest of the way.

Captain Riverton was a rather tall man, and had the same strong features as his father and brother, but with the fair coloring of his mother. He seemed a somber man, by appearances, which would have made him an odd companion for the wild and reckless Lord David Chambers. He was standing apart from all the rest, and seemed content to be ignored. Would a man such as he be willing to do so much for a man he didn’t know purely on the word of one he did? He hoped so, as no other alternatives had presented themselves as yet and there was not time for reconsideration.

He saw them approach and turned at once, bowing smartly to Derek. “Whitlock,” he greeted in a voice lower than Geoff had expected. “You haven’t changed much.”

Derek grinned and clamped a hand on the younger man’s shoulder. “Only in wisdom and vigor, my dear chap. But look at you! So tall and tanned, you look like a foreigner rather than a specimen of His Majesty’s Navy.”

The captain smiled and inclined his head in acknowledgement. “There is no substitute for sea air, Whitlock. I’ll outlive you and your brother by a full decade because of it.”

Derek laughed out loud. “I have no doubt of it.”  He turned to Geoff. “Geoffrey Harris, may I present Captain William Riverton, of the Royal Navy. Will, this is one of my closest friends, Mr. Harris. It is he who has need of you.”

Captain Riverton bowed again, then extended a hand. “A pleasure, Mr. Harris.”

“For me as well, Captain.”

“Whitlock said you have need of my connections,” the captain said, taking no time for pleasantries. “How can I be of assistance?”

Geoff looked around, then back up at the young captain. “Might there be somewhere private we could converse? The situation is delicate.”

He nodded. “Of course. Follow me, please.” He turned and exited the ballroom, and they followed.

Not a word was said between the men as they passed servants bustling with food for the dinner and footmen standing silently in their livery, and it wasn’t until they had entered what was undoubtedly Lord Riverton’s study that the captain even faced them once more. He gestured that they sit, as did he.

“How can I be of assistance, Mr. Harris?” Captain Riverton asked once more.

Geoffrey looked at Derek, who nodded in encouragement, then returned his gaze to the captain. “What do you know of Lieutenant Simon Wyndham?”

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