The Decadent Duke (18 page)

“The Act of Union will have to be passed by the parliaments of both countries,” John cautioned.

“Chief Irish secretary, Lord Castlereagh, assures me their parliament will agree to the union if, once it is passed, we promise to allow Catholics to become members of parliament, and if we remove the duties on Irish goods sold in England.”

You will achieve it through the age-old Tory method of patronage and bribery, which are against my principles. Still, I am quite willing to hold my nose to achieve Catholic emancipation.
“I will get you your Whig votes, Mr. Prime Minister.”

Pitt rubbed his nose. “Your brother Bedford is an intimate friend of the Prince of Wales and Charles James Fox, is he not?”

“Point taken, sir. I will keep to myself what you have told me in strictest confidence about the king.”

Pitt rose and shook John Russell's hand. “My deepest thanks, Lord Tavistock.”

 
On his way home to Russell Square, John decided his good friend Holland would be the first Whig member he would approach.
For some reason Henry hasn't been in the House for the past two days. I'll visit him at home tonight.

Francis greeted him when he arrived. “Hello, John. I hope the rain holds off. Are you sure I cannot persuade you to come to the Devonshires' ball tonight?”

“No, I'm off to Kensington to see Henry tonight.”

“The Hollands won't be home, John. They'll be at Devonshire House, along with everyone else we know.”

“Do you think so?” John asked skeptically.

“I
know
so. They were at the Gordons' ball until six in the morning. Lady Holland certainly won't pass up an invitation to Devonshire House.”

“That explains why Henry wasn't in the House for the past two days. Francis, I've changed my mind. I will attend the ball.”

 
It was after ten o'clock when the Russells' carriage arrived at the gates of Devonshire House. Empty conveyances filled the courtyard and were lined up on the long driveway, so John suggested that their driver take the carriage home.

A battery of footmen stood in the entrance hall, waiting to take the guests' cloaks. John tried not to stare at their scarlet and sepia livery.
Francis wasn't exaggerating when he said I'd find plenty of things to amuse me.

“Loo!” The Duchess of Devonshire swept forward to embrace Francis. “Your presence guarantees that my daughter's coming-out ball will be a triumph.”

“Your Grace, I took the liberty of bringing my brother, John.”

“Lord Tavistock, you do us great honor.”

John kissed her outstretched hand, and with iron determination kept his glance from straying to her towering wig, adorned with pink ostrich feathers. “The honor is mine, Your Grace.”

She turned her attention back to Francis, tucked her arm beneath his, escorted him to the ballroom, and led him straight to her daughter.

John followed them to the ballroom entrance, spied his friend Lord Holland, and made good his escape.

“Henry, you're just the man I want to see.”

“John, I'm glad to see you here. Beth will be delighted. She's off dancing with Richard Sheridan. Let's go and have a drink. There are three rooms set up with refreshments.”

Over a glass of burgundy, John turned the conversation to politics. “Pitt is going to propose an Act of Union, and put it on the floor of the House for a vote. If you and I and a few more Whigs vote in favor, it will pass.”

“You can count on my vote, John. What about Lennox? He's here tonight. Well, speak of the devil, here comes Charles now.”

“Join us in a glass of wine,” John invited, “while I shamelessly solicit your vote.”

“You caught me just in time. Charlotte longs for her bed. We put in a token appearance only to repay a social obligation.”

John explained to Charles that his vote was needed to pass the Act of Union.

Lennox was more than happy to oblige. “We are on our way to Goodwood tomorrow, so let me know when the vote is to take place, and I'll be there.”

 
Georgina bade her sister good night.

Charlotte whispered in her ear, “Your beauty is so vivid tonight, you put the other debutantes in the shade.”

As Charlotte and Lennox departed, the Duchess of Gordon turned her attention to her youngest daughter. “The Duke of Bedford is here, though our hostess has shamelessly monopolized him since the moment he arrived.”

“I didn't notice. I was dancing the cotillion with Prince Edward.”
And had a devil of a time with his wandering hands.

“Royal princes cannot offer marriage—dukes can,” her mother pointed out. “You are naturally flirtatious, Georgina. When Bedford addresses you, I'm sure you can entice him to dance.”

“I will do my best.”
Mother will never stop nagging me until I dance with the arrogant duke, so I'd best get it over with.

Georgina saw her friend Dorothy and joined her. “You are in great demand tonight. You haven't missed a dance.”

“Your brother partnered me. He's so handsome!”

Georgina spied Francis Russell heading straight for her. She took a deep breath and smiled.

The Duke of Bedford ignored her completely. “Lady Dorothy.” He gave an elegant bow. “Would you do me the honor of allowing me to partner you in this dance?”

Lady Dorothy giggled and allowed him to take her hand.

Georgina was amused.
He is paying me back for the deliberate snubs I have given him.
She saw her friends Beth and Henry Holland and walked toward them. Before she reached them, a gentleman garbed in elegant black joined them. She blinked in disbelief as she recognized John Russell.

Lady Holland suddenly became all aflutter. “John, my dear, how delightful to see you here.”

Russell raised her fingers to his lips. “Beth, you look lovely tonight, as you always do.”

She slapped his sleeve with her fan. “Flatterer.”

Russell's glance moved politely to Georgina, and to her utter dismay, she felt herself blushing as usual.
Damn you to hellfire; you always have this disquieting effect on me.

Beth said prettily, “Allow me to introduce my friend Lady Georgina. She has just made her debut.”

John's eyes met Georgina's. “The lady and I are acquainted.”

“Oh, how silly of me,” Beth said, laughing.

Without taking his eyes from Georgina's, he said, “May I partner you in the next dance, my lady?V

“Thank you, John,” Beth replied. “I would love it!V

Georgina knew he had meant her. He gave her a rueful smile of apology.
We just communicated without words. We read each other's minds.
His smile left her feeling strangely breathless.

Lord Holland said happily, “That leaves me to partner the most beautiful debutante of the Season. I've been waiting all night.”

When the floor cleared and a contradance was announced, Henry said regretfully, “Just my luck.”

“Sorry, Henry. It's too bad there won't be any reels tonight.”

The gentlemen led the ladies out and the couples formed two lines facing each other. In a contradance, everyone changed partners. Before it was over, each man would partner every lady.

When Georgina realized that her next partner would be John Russell, she experienced a small ripple of panic. As they stepped toward each other and he took her hands, she blurted, “Is your wife here tonight?” Then she blushed again.
Damnation! The arrogant devil will think I have a
tendre
for him.

“Why do you ask?”

“Because once again my curiosity outweighs my good manners. I'd like to know what she looks like.”

“My wife looks like an angel.”

His tone had finality about it, warning her that he did not wish to discuss his wife with her. He placed his hand on her waist to swing her around, and she imagined she felt the heat of it seep through the delicate material of her gown. She flushed again, and shivered. His dark eyes saw and her blush deepened.

Georgina felt weak with relief when he moved down the line to the next lady. She saw that her new partner was the Earl of Lauderdale, and it gave her a chance to recover her composure.

He winked. “Scottish lassies make the best partners.”

“Do you mean in the dance, Lord Lauderdale, or in marriage?”

“Call me James. In both, come to think of it. I wish these musicians would play us a rousing reel.”

After the partners changed half a dozen more times, Georgina saw that the next man in line was Francis Russell. She masked her amusement that he would no longer be able to ignore her.

He nodded politely, but did not smile.

“Your Grace, it is such an honor.”

“The honor is mine.V His tone was cool and detached.

“Yes, indeed it is.”

A fierce light kindled in his eyes, proving he was neither cool nor detached. “You are playing a teasing game of cat and mouse.” He placed his hand on her waist and squeezed. “I would enjoy playing other games with you, Georgina.”

He's flirting outrageously with me, yet I feel absolutely nothing, apart from distaste.
“Lanterloo, perhaps?” She tried to keep the sarcasm from her voice, knowing she would be rid of him in a moment or two.

“We could play for forfeits,” he said with a leer.

Georgina heard the echo of her brother's words:
You shouldn't banter with Bedford like that. He is a known womanizer.

When the contradance ended, Georgina's mother cornered her.

“When Bedford partnered you, I hope you encouraged him.”

“He needed no encouragement. His manner was most familiar.”

“Splendid! I knew if you plied him with charm, he wouldn't be able to resist you.”

“Lady Gordon,” a Scots voice boomed. Lord Lauderdale bent his head confidentially toward Jane. “This ball canna compare to yours. These musicians dinna know how to play reels.”

“James, you are too kind.”

Georgina saw John Russell walking a straight path toward her and went suddenly weak in the knees.

He nodded politely to her mother. “Lady Gordon.” Then he spoke to Lauderdale. “James, if I can steal you from the ladies, I'd like you to join me in a drink.”

“There's an offer I never refuse. Holland told me ye were looking for me.” He bowed gallantly to Jane and Georgina. “Please excuse us, ladies?”

The uncouth brute totally ignored me.
She was highly offended and stared after him, feeling strangely abandoned.
If the surly sod does ask me to dance, I shall refuse him outright!

Georgina was rescued by the Earl of Spencer's son, Lord Althorp. Jack, Lady Dorothy's cousin, was a red-haired scamp of eighteen and a fun-loving friend of Georgina's.

“Jack, I'm so glad you are here. I looked for you earlier, but couldn't find you.V

“I've only just arrived. There was a hell of a row at Spencer House tonight. Since the Duchess of Devonshire is Father's sister, he insisted that we must attend. Mother adamantly refused because she detests her sister-in-law.”

Georgina laughed. “Poor Lavinia lost the argument.”

“Absolutely not,” Jack said with a grin. “She went off to the theater instead with an old admirer.”

After she danced with Jack, she felt thirsty and headed toward a refreshment room. She encountered John Russell at the doorway.

A look of amusement crossed his face. “Are you by any chance looking for me, Lady Georgina?”

Conceited swine!
“Sorry to disappoint you, Russell. The only thing I'm looking for is a glass of champagne.”

The amusement left his face. “Aren't you a little young for champagne, mistress?”

“God in his goodness sent the grapes to cheer both great and small; little fools will drink too much, and great fools none at all,” she quoted.

John felt the urge to protect her. “Wine can steal the senses and lead a young lady into trouble.”

“I certainly hope so. Trouble is my middle name.”

“Must you always be so
extreme
?”

“Indeed I must. Extremes are sharp black and white . . . that's why I love them.”

Georgina returned to the ballroom, where Prince Edward partnered her again. He tried to lure her into a rendezvous, and she gave him a set down. Nevertheless, the prince's advances made her feel vulnerable and she sought the safe company of Lord Holland. After Henry partnered her, Georgina's confidence was restored, and she went on to dance with Lord Petty and the Earl of Winchilsea. After that, Lord Granville Leveson Gower asked her to dance.

After so many dances, Georgina found the ballroom extremely warm and stuffy, and she fanned herself to catch her breath. She saw her mother, who'd been in deep conversation with their hostess, raise her head and search the ballroom with her eyes.
Lord, she's looking for me
. Georgina slipped out onto a balcony and drew in a deep breath of fresh air.

She lifted her face to the dark sky and gazed at the glittering stars. After a few moments of blissful solitude, she noticed the aroma of tobacco and sensed that she was not alone. She glanced across the stone balcony and saw the glow of a lit cheroot.

“I'm sorry, I didn't mean to disturb you.”

“You don't disturb me,
little girl
.”

She drew in a swift breath as she recognized the deep voice.

“You!” she accused.

“Obviously you were expecting someone else.”