The Duke's Night of Sin (10 page)

She was nearly giddy at the expanse of teaching opportunities in Bath.

“Next, I shall instruct you how to promenade like a true lady, moving demurely yet confidently, drawing only
desired
attention. Like this.” Siusan raised her head, extending her throat gracefully, then peered across the room at a young man. The man’s eyes immediately lifted, and he met her gaze. Siusan smiled primly, then looked away. At once, the young man started across the room toward her.

“Now, gather round, my little ladies.” She raised her arms, and they encircled her. The gentleman stopped midstride in the center of the Pump Room. “Aye, attention is as easy to control as that.” The girls giggled softly, eager to begin rehearsing. “I fear most of you are too young to
attempt drawing desired attention, but I recommend that you understand its value to a lady, for it is an important skill.”

She palmed the weight of her reticule again. “Before we practice our promenade, who else wishes to take the water? Remember, a true lady must never allow herself to wilt. Doing so ruins the line of your gown.”

Four of the girls rushed forward for a cup of salty swill.

Siusan watched them eagerly drink the water down as she considered her next outing with the students. Would tomorrow be too soon? she wondered.

P
ray, just what do you think you are doing lying about in bed when you have a class in session, Miss Bonnet?”

“W-what?” Siusan slowly opened her eyes only to see Mrs. Huddleston standing over her huffing and glaring like a bull readying to charge. Oh, that’s right. The girls.

“I heard clapping and laughter from a lecture
room and what did I see when I entered—a man.” She wedged her fists onto her hips.

Siusan pushed up from the bed and hastily tucked a few pillow mussed locks into place. “Aye, the dancing master I engaged to teach the girls the latest dances … appropriate in polite society.”

Mrs. Huddleston narrowed her eyes, something she seemed to do an awful lot in Siusan’s company. “Exactly. He is teaching the students, and my instructor is sleeping.”

“Napping, actually.” She looked down at her gown and grimaced at the fine wrinkles that had appeared there despite her effort to remain flat on her back, gown smooth beneath her whilst she slept. “I have been adequately trained in the steps of all of the dances, Mrs. Huddleston. So I thought it wise to conserve my energy for our lecture outing this evening.”

“Another outing?” Mrs. Huddleston sputtered. “Just how much will this frivolous adventure cost the school?”

“The outing is not frivolous. It is an important part of the girls’ education.” Siusan lifted her eyebrows and looked down into Mrs. Huddleston’s eyes. “And you will be pleased to learn that it will not cost the school anything.”

“Come now, a cotillion at the Upper Assembly
Rooms? Why the subscription alone must cost—”

“Nothing. Lord and Lady Philamont were so pleased with their daughter’s progress in finally comporting herself as a lady that they made special arrangements with the Master of Ceremonies to provide tickets for their daughter and the next eldest student and myself. I should inform you now, if you were not already aware, that the cotillion will end promptly at eleven this evening.”

“Too late.” Mrs. Huddleston crossed her arms over her chest. “You are aware of the rules, Miss Bonnet.”

“Aye, which is why Lady Philamont has agreed to speak with you herself about a special exception for her daughter’s first cotillion. She is quite persuasive, and I have little doubt you will come to understand the importance of this event to her daughter.”

Mrs. Huddleston shook a long, pointy finger before Siusan’s nose, muttering silently to herself for several moments. “I knew you were trouble from the first we met, Miss Bonnet, and you have done nothing to change that impression of you.

“Except bring praise to the school … as well as two new students.”

Snatching up her chatelaine from her belt, she twisted off the key to the school’s front door. “Take it. But do not lose it, and be sure to lock the door behind you when you return tonight.”

Siusan accepted the key, then gestured to her bedchamber door. “After you, Mrs. Huddleston. I must return to my class, after all.”

As Siusan walked down the passage, she wanted to shout with joy. At last, she was going to a ball in Bath! Life resumes.

One thing Siusan hadn’t considered was how she and her charges, Miss Gentree and Lady Penelope, would arrive at the Upper Assembly Rooms … the other was the weather.

The school was not so very far from the Upper Assembly Rooms, no more than a brisk walk up the hill, but the ground was still wet with a recent rain, and a sudden cold spell had coated the pavers with sporadic crystals of ice. There was no possible way they could reach the cotillion on foot, especially in blue satin, heeled slippers.

Mrs. Huddleston, feeling forced to relaxing her stringent rules, held Siusan at her word that the school needn’t pay a single penny for tonight’s lecture outing. Siusan had no choice but to pay from her own reticule for a hackney to transport herself and the girls to the Upper Rooms. But the
cost was worth it. She was going to be back in Society, even if only superficially.

“The footmen will take your wraps,” she told the two girls, who were entirely possessed by nerves as they passed through the columned entryway to the Upper Assembly Rooms.

Siusan knew exactly how they felt. She had to assume it was possible that some members of London Society would be in attendance tonight.

After all, when Parliament was not in session, no one wished to remain in London if any other more exciting options were to be had. And though, in Siusan’s limited opinion, Bath was quite staid in comparison to London, there were those of Society who came to take the healing waters and bathe in the hot mineral pools as a respite from the grueling Season.

Siusan squinted in the bright lights of the octagonal entrance. Crowds became momentarily caught in the too-narrow entry before pushing through the double doors and spilling out into the grand ballroom.

The girls, neither having ever attended a public ball, gaped at the spectacle of Bath Society. Even Siusan was impressed. Bath seemed so different from Edinburgh and London that she had not anticipated
the sheer numbers of elegant ladies and gentlemen of Bath Society there tonight.

Massive crystal chandeliers cast a magical glow over the dancers in the center of the floor. Miss Gentree’s eyes were glistening.

“What is it? Is something amiss?” Siusan asked her.

She shook her head. “No, everything is perfect. It is just I never imagined myself at a real ball.”

“Nay?” How queer. Her white muslin gown was smartly embroidered and well tailored to her form. Hers was no doubt a family of privilege else Miss Gentree would not be wearing such a fine gown and attending such a very expensive school for girls. “Well, we have Lord and Lady Philamont to thank for this night. There they are now.” Siusan nodded to two rows of cushioned settees beneath a deep-set balcony, where nearly a dozen musicians played.

Lady Penelope waved madly at her parents before glancing up at Siusan and remembering that tonight was a demonstration of her manners and maturity. Recovering, she tipped her head to acknowledge them, then curtsied in greeting when they all arrived before them.

“Miss Bonnet … or, this evening shall I address
you as Lady Siusan?” Lady Philamont’s eyes brightened with the witticism.

Siusan did not falter. “As you wish, Lady Philamont. Since I am not known in Bath Society, I vow no one would know the difference.”

Lady Philamont laughed, taking Siusan’s words as a joke. Little did she know how truthful Siusan had been. “You are so very diverting, Miss Bonnet, and I am so happy that you and Miss Gentree were able to attend the cotillion as our guests with our daughter. Our Penelope has written of nothing but your lecture tours, Miss Bonnet. No reading, writing, or ciphers—”

“Except as they pertain to a lady’s life,” Siusan added.

“Yes, yes, quite right!” Lady Philamont shot her husband a knowing glance. “The entire tone of Penelope’s letter has matured and become more elegant. The change was so great in such a short time that we were compelled to come in from the country this night to see if our daughter’s transformation from child to a woman is as complete as her letters would indicate.”

Lord Philamont smiled approvingly at his daughter. “I must say, she appears quite the lady this eve.”

Lady Penelope blushed becomingly, then looked
to Siusan for encouragement. Siusan glanced at her charge’s white muslin gown as a prompt. “Mother, I vow you will be so proud when you learn that I directed the mantua-maker in the construction of this gown myself. I am honored that I am able to wear it before my parents to my very first public ball—even if I am not yet out.”

“My dear, that glorious day may arrive sooner than you imagine,” her mother said, adding, “thanks to Miss Bonnet’s clever lessons.”

Lord Philamont wasted no time excusing himself to enter the card room, leaving the ladies to their own devices. Unfortunately, that meant leaving Siusan and her charges sitting on the benches, while Lady Philamont chatted with anyone who would listen to the tale of her daughter’s miraculous transformation under the tutelage of Miss Bonnet.

Siusan watched the couples on the dance floor with no little amount of envy. It was so long since she had danced that she was sure her legs had gone stiff with lack of proper use. Mayhap a lecture tour to the baths themselves would be advisable, though, after taking the water in the Pump Room, she was not certain she could withstand the sulfur fumes in such abundance.

“I know, since I am not yet come out, I cannot
dance this night. But why are you not dancing, Lady Siusan?” Lady Penelope asked. “A notable number of gentlemen have sought your notice.”

“The cotillion is a public ball, my dear. Were this is a private ball, I would be free to dance with any gentleman who requests the set. Here, I may only dance with someone I have been formally introduced to—and since I have no acquaintances in Bath, except your mother, who is entirely engaged with her friends, I am forced to remain a wallflower.”

“Oh.” Miss Gentree sighed. “Then shall the three of us stroll the perimeter as a diversion?”

Siusan echoed Miss Gentree’s bored sigh. “The crush is too much. I think it best that I remain here and protect my gown, but the two of you may rehearse your promenade. Remember, though, do not allow your eyes to stray to the few young gentlemen in attendance. Neither of you is out.”

The two girls jumped to their feet, giggling in their excitement to begin their promenade around the room.

Siusan calmed them instantly with a scolding look. “But mind your manners. You are elegant young ladies.”

The girls nodded and, to Siusan’s surprise, honored her with suitable curtsies before beginning their stroll around the ballroom.

Siusan sighed. This was not what she had hoped for. Not at all. She glanced around the crowded room, then pinned her gaze on the double doors, wishing someone she knew from the London
ton
would enter, looking for a diversion after a day spent at the baths. But she knew her wish was futile. The weather was too miserable to hope a refined member of the London
ton
would make the trek to the Upper Rooms.

She sighed again, feeling very sorry for herself.

Then, something snared her notice. She straightened her back and focused. A tall, broad-shouldered gentleman entered the room through the double doors and stopped, as if looking for someone.

The music seemed to stop along with him. Or perhaps Siusan was too distracted to hear it any longer, for the dancers were still swaying. Slowly she came to her feet. His dark hair was thick with a slight wave to it. Though he was dressed in a smart coat cut for dancing, he wore boots rather than slippers. There was a sprinkling of growth on his angular jaw, too, as though he had decided to attend the cotillion only belatedly.

Then his eyes met hers. The suddenness of his attention sent a jolt through her, but she did not withdraw her gaze. Lord above, but he was a handsome devil of a man.

From the distance, she could not discern the color of eyes. Were they blue … or green? Honestly, it didn’t matter. It was that all-encompassing way he studied her that did.

A warm quiver shook through body. She didn’t know him, but lud, everything about him made her want to. His gaze alone awakened her womanly desires, sending a flush of warmth into her cheeks.

“Lady Siusan?” Someone was shaking her arm. “Forgive me, Miss Bonnet?”

Emerging from her daze, she looked to her side and saw her two students standing beside her.

“Oh Miss Bonnet, I am all aquiver. My new guardian has come!” Miss Gentree told her. “This is so unexpected, I am at a loss as to what to do. And yet, there he is! What a surprise.” She nodded toward the door. “My word, you do not think he has come to take me from the school? I shall die if that is his plan.”

Siusan followed her gaze to the very gentleman who had so engaged her own attentions.
“He
is your new guardian?”

“Yes. Oh, do come with me, Miss Bonnet. You too, Penelope—you
must
meet him.”

At last, there was his ward. Sebastian exhaled in relief. From Gemma’s letter, the one that practically
left his grandmother wilting beneath a vinaigrette, he’d half expected to find the young miss dancing the waltz with some wasp-waisted pink of the
ton
and her bag packed for a lecture tour to Gretna Green. Instead, she was standing with another demure young miss beside a proper lady.

A very beautiful woman, one, if he had his wish, he would gaze upon all evening.

He reined in his straying gaze and focused on Gemma. Where was this Miss Bonnet creature mentioned endlessly in the letter—the mistress responsible for stripping the innocence from a young girl’s mind and replacing it with altogether womanly wiles? When he stopped by the school, Mrs. Huddleston had told him Miss Bonnet was here … with Gemma.