To Seduce a Bride (24 page)

“I didn't realize,” Lily said, impressed.

Peg blushed. “Well, I have no
real
training, but I designed a morning gown for Miss Delee last season, which she professed to be very pleased with.”

“I will arrange something, I promise you.”

         

It was a promise she would do her utmost to keep, Lily vowed moments later as she climbed the stairs to her own bedchamber, where she sat and stewed about what to do for Betty and Peg.

An even greater tragedy, Lily reflected with anger and dismay, was that there were countless other young women just like them who faced similar bleak futures. Girls who found themselves destitute and defenseless, with no one to turn to and no friends or family to depend on.

In the long term, Lily resolved, she would set her mind to determining how she could help some of those poor unfortunates find shelter and support. Somewhere they could be safe, where they could learn a trade so they wouldn't have to turn to prostitution merely to survive.

But that could wait, Lily knew; her friends needed help now.

She was confident she could find suitable employment for Peg, but with a child on the way, Betty was a much more serious problem.

She would have liked to talk the situation over with Fleur and Chantel—now, at once. The sooner she could find positions for the girls, the sooner they could begin their new lives and leave the ones they hated.

But the elderly courtesans were still attending the play with Lord Claybourne and Lord Poole. And Basil was out with his chums and fellow law clerks at his favorite tavern. After the success of the soiree, Basil had been eager to return to his former life, since his tutelage was no longer required by their pupils.

Asking Winifred to help Betty, however, would likely be futile, Lily suspected. Ordinarily the wealthy widow sympathized with the working class, since she came from the same origins. Winifred could usually be counted on to be magnanimous with the vast fortune her late industrialist father had amassed from his manufacturing and mining enterprises. But in this instance, Lily surmised, Winifred would just tell her to apply to Lord Claybourne.

She could perhaps ask Marcus for assistance, since he was now her brother by marriage as well as her former guardian. But Marcus had done more than enough for her by taking in the two boarders she'd already sent to Danvers Hall last month.

“You know what you must do,” Lily murmured to herself.

She worried her lower lip as she came to a reluctant conclusion: Even though she disliked asking Heath for help because she didn't want to be indebted to him, he was her most logical choice. She shouldn't let her aversion to being dependent on a man stand in the way of doing what was best for Betty.

As a wealthy nobleman, Heath had significant resources she didn't have, including several estates and a vast servant staff. Moreover, he had voluntarily found a home for a stray dog. He might be willing to do the same for a deserving young woman and her unborn child.

And as her sister Arabella had recently pointed out, Lily reflected, Heath didn't seem to be the typical selfish, uncaring nobleman—although in her case, his generosity toward her had doubtless had a purpose, trying to earn points to win their game.

Deciding she ought to approach Heath first, Lily put her mind to developing the argument she would present to him in order to persuade him.

Three hours later, nearing the time when she could reasonably expect his carriage to return from the theater, she went downstairs and took up a position in the entrance hall on a footman's bench, passing the interval reading
Travels
by the light of a wall sconce.

As soon as she heard the sound of carriage wheels out on the street, Lily threw a shawl around her shoulders and went to the front door.

It was indeed Lord Claybourne bringing his party home, she saw upon stepping outside. Night had fallen, but the carriage lamps illuminated his tall, powerful figure as he stood on the curb, saying farewell to his guests.

In the event he didn't plan to accompany them inside, Lily descended the steps and moved down the sidewalk toward the street.

Lord Poole noticed her first. “Ah, Miss Loring, I did not expect to see you again this evening. The play was splendid, just splendid. You should have come.”

Chantel had explained to her new beau that Lily didn't want to attract notice by going out in public, but the elderly viscount was a bit absentminded, so he tended to forget.

Lily murmured something polite in response to Lord Poole's comments, but her attention was on Heath, whose eyebrow was arched in question as he asked, “Is something amiss, Miss Loring?”

“I wondered if I might I have a word with you in private, my lord.”

After a moment's hesitation, he nodded. “Of course. Shall I accompany you inside the house, or would you prefer to use my carriage?”

Glancing at his carriage, Lily flushed as she remembered what had happened the last time she was alone with him there. “The house, please.”

They had followed the Cyprians and Lord Poole inside when Fleur stated, “We will be in our sitting room when you are finished, my dear.”

Nodding, Lily led Heath to the nearby parlor.

“May I offer you some wine or port?” she asked as soon as he shut the door behind them.

His penetrating gaze surveyed her. “Why so formal, angel?”

“I suppose because I am nervous.”

“You? Nervous?”

“Well,” Lily replied, ignoring the hint of amusement in his tone, “the stakes
are
rather high. You see…I have a very large favor to ask of you.”

Heath regarded Lily another moment before repeating slowly, as if in disbelief, “You wish to ask me a favor.”

“Yes, although it isn't for myself.”

The corner of his mouth curved dryly. “It never is.”

“Would you care to have a seat?”

“I prefer to stand. Why don't you just come out with it, Lily? What favor do you need?”

Deciding it would be easier to explain if
she
was seated, Lily moved over to a wing chair and perched on the edge. “The thing is…one of our boarders is facing a difficult dilemma. Do you remember Betty Dunst?”

“Petite, dark hair, blue eyes?”

Lily wasn't surprised that as a connoisseur of women, Heath recalled the pretty lightskirt. “Yes, that is Betty. Unfortunately she is expecting a child.”

When Lily briefly told him about Betty's circumstances, she grew angry all over again at the injustice of it all—a young woman being thrown onto the streets and forced to work in a brothel, and then being gotten with child by one of her many customers.

“It is hardly her fault that she is
enceinte,
” Lily said in a tight voice. “But now that she is, she wants to have the baby—although only if she can provide him a decent future.”

Thankfully, Heath seemed to take her request very seriously. “Does Betty want a marriage arranged for her, so the child won't be born out of wedlock?” he asked. “Securing a husband for her would be the customary course.”

The question made Lily hesitate, since she hadn't even considered that option. “I don't know, actually. But I don't believe she wants to marry—and she should not be forced to wed if she doesn't choose to,” she added adamantly. “Being trapped in an unwanted marriage could be nearly as bad as her current situation, possibly even worse.”

Her fierceness brought a faint smile to Heath's lips. “I am well aware of your feelings on the subject of matrimony, sweeting. But Betty may hold a different opinion from yours.”

“She told me she wants to work for her living. Her father was a chief gardener on a large estate, and she claims to be good at growing things. I was thinking that you might find a place for her on one of your estates, where she might raise her child in safety. A baby would fare better in the country than in London.”

To her relief, Heath nodded. “The housekeeper at my family seat may be amenable to taking her in, but I want to speak to Betty first, to ascertain her true wishes.”

“Thank you!” Lily said, rising to her feet. “I will fetch Betty at once—”

Heath held up a hand. “There is no need to interview her this late at night. But you needn't worry. I will take care of the matter.” He cocked his head at Lily. “You realize this will likely earn me another point in our game?”

“I expect so, but it is worth the price if Betty can be free of a life she despises.”

“Very well, then,” he murmured. “If that is all you require of me…?”

Heath glanced over his shoulder toward the door, as if impatient to leave, but Lily found herself wanting him to stay. She hadn't planned on mentioning Peg's troubles to him, yet she found herself blurting out a request for him to wait.

“There
is
one more thing,” Lily said, taking a step toward him.

He regarded her expectantly. “Yes?”

“It concerns one of our other boarders…but the matter is somewhat indelicate.”

When Heath merely waited politely for her to explain, Lily rushed on. “You said you have had several mistresses in the past, so I hoped you might know the modistes they frequented.”

“I beg your pardon?” His eyebrow had shot up, and he was looking at her as if he had misheard.

She felt color rise to her cheeks. “Well, you see…Peg Wallace is dreadfully unhappy having to work as a courtesan. And even though her new patron could improve her circumstances significantly, she wants out of that life. So I promised I would try to find her employment as a modiste's apprentice. And I thought that if you had spent a fortune on clothing for your former mistresses, you might have some sway with their modistes, and you could persuade one of them to consider Peg for a position.”

When Heath remained silent, simply gazing at her, Lily added hastily, “I cannot ask Marcus about his former mistresses now that he is married to my sister.”

“But you can ask me? Should I be honored?”

Lily flashed him a reluctant smile. “I don't think so. I just would rather spare Arabella the discomfort of bringing up her new husband's rakish past. And you are the only other gentleman with experience in such matters whom I know well enough to approach with such an improper request.”

His mouth twitching, he shook his head slowly in disbelief. “You never cease to amaze me, darling Lily.”

At his response, Lily began to feel uncomfortably awkward. “Well then, please forget I mentioned it. I can doubtless find a position for Peg on my own…. Although the modiste who fashioned new wardrobes for me and my sisters this summer is a high stickler and would be unlikely to hire a former courtesan. I can ask Fanny's dressmaker, but she caters mainly to the demireps of the theater and opera, and I would rather give Peg a chance to break with her old life, if possible—”

“I will see what I can do,” Heath broke in.

Lily stopped to eye him warily. “You will consider helping Peg?”

“Yes, I will help Peg if I can. But I pay little attention to such things as modistes. I will speak to Eleanor Pierce, though. She should know the best course to take.”

Lily frowned. She had greatly enjoyed meeting Marcus's younger sister at Arabella's wedding last month. Lively and beautiful, Lady Eleanor was a significant heiress who dressed in the height of fashion. But she was also a single gentlewoman with a reputation to protect.

“Lady Eleanor?” Lily said skeptically. “She might not care to become involved with the fortunes of a lightskirt.”

“She won't mind,” Heath assured her. “Nell is no shrinking violet. I will ask her tomorrow morning when I see her.”

“You will be calling on her tomorrow?” Lily asked, highly curious about his relationship with Lady Eleanor.

“Yes. We are riding in the park together. I escort her on her daily rides with some regularity, particularly now that Marcus is spending so much of his time at Danvers Hall. She is an avid horsewoman, although perhaps not quite as zealous as you.”

Lily found herself wishing that she could join them—but of course she could do no such thing if she wanted to keep her encounters with Heath to a minimum. Her inability to ride was no doubt the cause of the twinge of jealousy that rippled through her. She didn't care that Heath seemed to be on excellent terms with Marcus's sister. Nor did she care what he did in his free time when he wasn't here courting her.

Her only concern was what he could do for her courtesan friends—which reminded Lily of the subject at hand.

“I would be grateful if you would ask Lady Eleanor then,” she told Heath, “although I hope it won't be too much of an imposition on her.”

“It won't be. She is sure to admire your desire to help Peg. I will let you know what she says about a modiste. So is there anything else I may do for you?”

Lily blinked, realizing he was eager to be gone. “No, but please let me thank you—”

“I don't want your thanks, Lily,” Heath said, his expression enigmatic.

Then, with a brief bow, he turned away and exited the parlor, leaving Lily staring after him, torn between gratitude for his generosity and regret that he hadn't wanted to remain in her company even a moment longer.

         

“Most certainly I will help,” Lady Eleanor said as soon as Heath explained what he wanted. “And I have just the modiste in mind. The same one who created this riding costume for me.”

He glanced critically at Eleanor, who rode beside him along the Row in Hyde Park. She was garbed in a stylish emerald green habit and jaunty military hat that set off her short raven curls and rosy complexion to perfection. “You look quite fetching,” he said approvingly.

Marcus's irrepressible younger sister dimpled. “Thank you for the pretty compliment, but Madame Gautier deserves the credit. Not only can she work wonders with her needle, she has a marvelous sense of fashion. And as it happens, she was remarking just last week how she despaired of finding skilled seamstresses. Madame will be in raptures if this Peg has an aptitude for designing as well as fine stitching. I will arrange an interview and notify you about the particulars.”