To Love a Scoundrel (Zebra Historical Romance) (6 page)

"Kissed you? Surely you jest"

"I'm afraid I'm entirely serious. I've no idea why,
considering he finds me as attractive as a horse, but he
did. A small kiss, nearly chaste, but a kiss nonetheless."

"Please tell me you did not allow it."

"Of course not! Once I regained my wits, that is."

Selina bit her lower lip, looking toward the door. Returning her gaze to Eleanor, her curiosity was unmistakable. "You must tell me, what of his looks?" she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Have they diminished at
all? Is he still as terribly handsome as before?"

"Selina!" Eleanor cried, feigning shock. "Weren't
you just chastising me for kissing him?"

"Oh, Eleanor, I will be the first to admit that Frederick Stoneham is precisely the kind of man one can't
help but daydream about. But he's certainly not the sort
of man a gently bred lady like yourself marries. Still,
you must describe his appearance. I'll see for myself
soon enough, but I'd best be prepared."

Eleanor sighed heavily. "If you must know, his looks
have only improved with age. He's far too handsome for
his own good, and well aware of it, I'll wager."

"His hair? Still as black as midnight?" Selina laid a
hand on Eleanor's wrist.

"Yes, and far too long to be fashionable, though he no
longer wears it in a queue. His skin is tanned, his shoulders broad, and he has a wild, near-dangerous look about
him now." Eleanor nodded to herself. "More so than
before, though I wouldn't have believed it possible."

"No. Oh, no, Eleanor, this is far worse than I'd imagined." Selina rose and hurried to her side, clasping
Eleanor's trembling hands in her own. "Even now, after
all this time, after everything wicked you've heard of
him ... you still fancy him, don't you?"

"Of course I do not fancy him. Don't be silly. Why, I
have not spared the man a single thought in all these
years," she said, amazed that the lie slipped so easily off
her tongue.

"But ... but you kissed him," Selina pressed.

"Not on purpose, I vow."

"You cannot say it was an accident, Eleanor. Am Ito
believe that you inadvertently fell upon his lips, then?"

Eleanor sighed in exasperation. She should never
have told her about the kiss. However would she explain it? "Nothing as foolish as that. Truly, I cannot explain it
except to say that he somehow caught me unaware.
Almost as if he'd ... he'd. . " Eleanor cast her gaze
wildly about the room, searching for the right word to
describe the indescribable. "He'd transfixed me, somehow. Hypnotized me, like a viper does its prey. I'd taken
off my bonnet and boots, you see, and-"

"Taken off your boots?" Selina interrupted, releasing
Eleanor's hands. "Whatever for?"

Eleanor raised her gaze heavenward. "It's far too embarrassing to discuss."

Selina clasped her hands to her breast, her eyes shining with gathering tears. "We must find you someone
right away. A suitable man. Someone honorable and
kind, someone to divert your thoughts from Frederick
Stoneham as quickly as possible."

Eleanor nodded her agreement. "But who? I've already had two Seasons, you know."

"Yes, and perhaps you should not have been so
choosy," Selina scolded. "After all, nearly any gentleman is better than Frederick Stoneham."

Eleanor could not argue that point.

"I cannot sit idly by and watch your poor, fragile
heart get trampled on once more by that scoundrel."
Selina patted her on the shoulder. "Do not fret, Eleanor.
I will think of something"

Eleanor only hoped she'd be quick about it.

"Devonshire? What would he be doing in Devonshire?" Henley poured a generous amount of brandy
into an intricately cut glass and handed it to Frederick.

"My fear is that he plans to set sail from Plymouth.
Of course, it's entirely possible that he's not in Devonshire at all. Maria's in no shape to determine just what information is credible right now." Frederick took a long
draught of the brandy, savoring the full, smoky flavor as
it burned a path to his stomach. "I've no idea where she
obtained her information, though she claims a reliable
source"

Henley nodded sharply. "Still, the lead is worth pursuing. My youngest brother George resides in Devonshire. He has a lovely estate south of Plymouth, on
the coast. He'll have no objection to aiding us"

"Us?"

"Of course. I'll travel there with you"

"I cannot ask that of you, Henley, with you so newly
wed. And to lovely little Selina Snowden-however did
you manage it, a cowhanded old chap like yourself?"

Henley raised one dark brow. "You're acquainted
with my wife?"

"Since long before she put her hair up. Gloriously
fair hair, if I remember correctly." Frederick attempted
a lascivious smile.

"It is, indeed." Henley eyed him coolly, clearly taking
Frederick's bait.

There was no need to involve Henley in such unpleasant business. He would take care of Eckford himself. "I
must say, I'm eager to reacquaint myself with your wife,"
he said with a leer. "Is she home at present?"

Henley's scowl gave way to a wry grin. "I say, you had
me going for a moment there, Stoneham. Indeed, you
shall reacquaint yourself with my viscountess, and we
shall all travel-together-to Devonshire. I will hear
no more objections."

Frederick shook his head. "Despite any promises you
might have made my brother before his untimely
demise, you owe me nothing" Henley was a good man,
a man of worth. Frederick knew he did not deserve such
a champion.

"Charles was a very good friend, indeed, but he's
been gone more than a decade now. You've been my
friend in his stead, all these years"

"Not so good a friend as to get invited to your wedding, Isee," Frederick grumbled.

Henley had the good grace to look uneasy. "I'm sorry
about that, Stoneham, old boy. But with all the talk surrounding you these past months, I decided it best-"

"Do not worry yourself over it, Henley. I shall do my
best to overcome the slight," he quipped.

"Yes, well. Ahem. Anyway, Charles did ask that I
watch over your welfare in his absence, and it has been
an honor and privilege to do so, though God knows I've
failed you more than once. I will aid you in this"

Frederick shifted his weight uncomfortably, wishing
he could dissuade the man, yet grateful for his tenacity
at the same time.

"Now," Henley said, clapping him on the back. "Shall
we go and find my wife?"

"I'd like nothing better. I hope you don't think me ungrateful, Henley. I do appreciate your support. I only
wish I could spare your involvement in such an unpleasant situation as this."

"Nonsense, old boy. Come now, let's adjourn to the
sitting room. I'm willing to bet Selina is wearing the
carpet thin, awaiting to receive you"

Frederick wasn't sure the woman would be quite so
pleased to see him. Still, he nodded and followed Henley
down the narrow corridor, vaguely wondering if Lady
Eleanor remained in the woman's company. If so, his reception would no doubt be icy indeed.

Henley paused beside an arched oak door. "Here we
are," he said, reaching for the brass handle and pushing open the door. "My dearest, my business is concluded with our guest here and-oh, good day, Lady Eleanor. What a pleasant surprise" He bowed toward
the room's far corner.

Frederick stepped across the threshold and saw
Eleanor there, standing before a plum-colored damask
chair, glaring at him.

"Henley, dear, you near enough frightened us to
death," Selina chirped, hurrying to her husband's side.

"You remember Frederick Stoneham, do you not?
The Baron Worthington's son?"

Selina raised her cornflower blue eyes to his face, her
eyes widening perceptibly. "Oh, dear! Goodness, it is true"

Frederick quirked a brow, then executed an exaggerated bow. "Lady Henley. How good to see you after so
many years. I didn't believe it possible, but you have
grown even more lovely than I remembered."

A giggle escaped her lips, and Frederick smiled inwardly. It would seem that she, at least, hadn't changed
all that much.

"You flatter me, Mister Stoneham. And where have you
been all these years? We've missed you in this district"

"In Ireland, madam. At my father's estate in Connemara, though I've spent these past six months in
Town" He couldn't keep his gaze from straying to the
corner where Eleanor still stood, mute. Ali, but he'd affronted her maidenly sensibilities with his kiss. How
very charming.

"Lady Eleanor," he added with a bow in her direction.

"Mister Stoneham," she bit out in reply.

"You two are acquainted, then?" Henley asked.

"We are indeed," Frederick said.

"Good, very good. I say, Stoneham, you must concur
that the two loveliest and most charming ladies in all
of Essex stand right here before us, do they not?"
Henley smiled jovially as he rocked back on his heels,
his hands thrust into his pockets.

"That cannot be argued otherwise," Frederick agreed
with a nod. "How very fortunate for us both. Why, only
this very afternoon, out in your park-"

"Only six months in Town, you say, and already your
reputation is near-legendary," Eleanor interrupted. The
air around her was charged with tension, her eyes flashing dangerously. "However did you manage it in so
short a time?"

"A natural talent for scandal, I suppose"

Eleanor smiled archly. "And how proud you must be
of such an accomplishment."

"Aye. Amazing what one can do, when one focuses
his efforts"

She took two steps toward him, and he noticed that
her cheeks had flushed deliciously. With anger, no
doubt. "I was surprised to learn you were so well acquainted with Lord Henley," she said.

"Oh, I do occasionally venture out in respectable
company. Keeps the tabbies guessing. I wouldn't want
to become too predictable."

"No, I suppose you wouldn't. That explains, then,
why you would so rashly agree to an arrangement that
you never intended to honor."

"Actually, I had every intention of honoring it until
just this morning."

"What the deuce are you two talking about?" Henley's
gaze swung from Frederick to Eleanor and back again.
Beside him, Lady Henley's eyes were wide as saucers.

Frederick reached down to straighten his waistcoat.
"Nothing of consequence. Perhaps it's best to let the
subject be, if you'll pardon me, Henley."

Henley cleared his throat, looking flummoxed. "Yes,
well. Ahem."

An uncomfortable silence ensued. Eleanor retreated
toward the sofa, her temper evidently subsided.

"Well, Stoneham, shall we give my wife the news?"
Henley asked at last. Frederick said nothing in reply.
"Selina, dear, you must arrange to have your trunks
packed at once. We shall travel with Mister Stoneham
to George's estate in Devonshire in two days' time"

"To Devonshire? Whatever for, Henley? We've only
just returned from Town, and I'd hoped-"

"I've some business to attend there with Stoneham. We
shall stay no more than a month, I vow. I say, I've an
idea" Henley thoughtfully stroked his whiskers. "Perhaps
Lady Eleanor might join us on our journey. Otherwise,
you shall have no female companions there, and Lady
Eleanor's company will no doubt enliven the partyGeorge can be so very dull. Say you'll come, or my wife
will surely perish from boredom whilst Stoneham and I
are away, attending to our business"

Eleanor's gaze snapped up and she shook her head,
horrified by the suggestion. Travel to Devonshire with
the devil himself? Never. "I thank you for the kind
offer, Lord Henley, but I simply cannot"

"You must reconsider," Lord Henley interjected. "I
cannot bear to leave my wife behind, yet I do not wish
to drag her there and leave her with no one save George
to entertain her."

Selina reached for Henley's sleeve. "Really, dear,
George is not so bad."

Henley's brows drew together. "Isn't he?"

"No, not at all." She turned toward Eleanor, reaching
for her hands. "I vow, George Whitby is an amiable and
sensible man. A fine sportsman, and quite handsome,
too. I think you'll enjoy his company. Perhaps you should
join us."

Eleanor shook her head. Had Selina lost her wits?
Did she realize what she was suggesting?

Just then, Selina looked furtively over her shoulder at Frederick, who was standing by the bookcase and idly
examining a brass kaleidoscope that sat on one of the
shelves. Returning her attention to Eleanor, Selina
leaned toward her. "This might be the perfect solution
to your predicament, Eleanor," she whispered. "Oh, why
did I never before think of it? We could be sisters," she
added breathlessly.

Sisters? Whatever did she mean? Eleanor allowed the
thought to trail off before realization dawned on her. Of
course. It would not be the advantageous match she had
hoped for, not to a viscount's younger brother, but if this
George Whitby was as amiable and handsome as Selina
suggested, then it would be a far cry better than marrying Frederick Stoneham. And what could be more pleasing than gaining Selina as a sister-in-law?

Yes, perhaps it might work-if only Mister Whitby
might come to admire her. Feeling trapped, she resolved
at once to accept Henley's invitation. Her mother would
gladly give her permission for Eleanor to travel with the
Henleys to Devonshire, though her father would be
cross at her for leaving Mama alone. Still, desperate
means required desperate measures.

If Mister Whitby was everything Selina said he was,
she would put forth her best effort to secure the man's
affections as expeditiously as possible. If she managed
to succeed, she could return triumphantly to Essex and
beg her father's approval of the match. If he refused his
consent ... well, there was always Gretna Green.

"Yes, then," she said with a nod. "Thank you, Lord
Henley. I will be delighted to join you"