Undressed (Undone by Love) (9 page)

Brenna’s eyes narrowed suspiciously
. “Whatever do ye mean?”

“I’ll let Hugh tell you the fine news.”

“Of course.”  Hugh set down his glass, exchanging a smile with their mother. “It seems that you’ve managed to capture the attention of Lord Thomas Sinclair. Just today he declared his intent to pay you court, and I’ve indicated our family’s approval.”

Brenna felt the few bits of food she’d managed to eat pitch about her stomach
. Not Lord Thomas, of all people. Despite his charming manners and good looks, he made her more than a wee bit uncomfortable.

“Just think, Margaret,” her mother interjected, “a duke’s son, even if he
is
a younger son. Truly, we could not have hoped for better. You should be very pleased.” 

“Just what do ye mean, ‘pay court’?” Brenna asked, her voice laced with hesitation.

“Why, escort you to balls and the like, take you riding in the park.”  Her mother waved one hand in the air. “That sort of thing. I vow you’ll find it pleasurable enough. And if all goes well, I’ll expect an offer of marriage in a fortnight at most. From what I hear, the man’s quite smitten, isn’t he, Hugh?”

“He is, indeed
. He finds your spirit and intelligence refreshing, and never was I more glad to hear it. I wasn’t sure we’d find a man of such means who would find your...ahh, unique nature so very acceptable. But, there it is.”

“We will be delighted with such a match
. Why, only last week your father was lamenting his diminishing allies amongst the powerful Whigs. Think what this connection would do for our family—the Duke of Eston your father-in-law!”  Lady Danville’s eyes positively glowed with excitement. “And, of course, his courting you will keep Mr. Rosemoor away.”

Hugh shook his head
. “I just don’t understand what’s become of Colin Rosemoor. For many years he was a good friend, yet now he forces me to choose sides. I’m afraid I cannot find any truth in his allegations against Sinclair. It would seem that he only seeks to lay blame on others for his own misdeeds. As distasteful as the notion is, I’m afraid I haven’t a choice but to sever our friendship.”

Lady Danville nodded in agreement
. “You must. Your name cannot bear the association. I only feel sorry for his family, such lovely people.”

Brenna fidgeted in her seat, wishing the conversation would come to an end
. She had heard more than enough.

“Anyway, enough about Rosemoor,” Hugh said, as if reading Brenna’s mind
. “I’ve some news of my own, fine news, at that.”

“Do tell,” Lady Danville demanded with an eager smile
.

“We shall soon be celebrating my own nuptials.”

Lady Danville raised one hand to cover her mouth as she suppressed an almost-girlish giggle. “Hugh, how lovely.”

“Isn’t it
? It’s well past time I take a wife, and the most enchanting young lady has accepted my offer.”

“Well
? Aren’t you going to tell us who the young lady is? Wait, let me guess.”  Lady Danville pursed her mouth thoughtfully. “Lady Amanda Rutherford? No, wait. Miss Cecily Baker?”

Hugh shook his head, clearly enjoying the sport
.

“Surely she’s a diamond of the first water
. Lady Bettina Wallingford?”

“Wrong again, but she is indeed a diamond
. Shall I tell you?”

“Please do,” Brenna said, finding her voice at last
. “We canna stand the suspense.”

“Miss Honoria Lyttle-Brown,” he answered, his voice filled with obvious pride
. “An unexpected surprise, indeed. We’ve only recently become so well acquainted, but I knew at once that we would suit. No sense in wasting time with a lengthy courtship.”

Honoria Lyttle-Brown
. The name sounded so familiar, yet Brenna could not place it.

“Oh, Hugh, how positively delightful.”  Lady Danville clapped her hands together
. “Such a lovely, charming young lady she is. And to think, she came so very close to accepting Colin Rosemoor.”

Brenna inhaled sharply
. So
that’s
where she had heard the name. She was the woman Colin had intended to marry, the woman who had withdrawn her affection after his expulsion from White’s. And now Miss Lyttle-Brown was marrying Hugh? Very curious, indeed.

“Thank goodness Mr. Rosemoor’s true character revealed itself when it did, before an agreement had been reached,” her mother continued
. “Her parents must be
so
relieved.”

“Her father is indeed very pleased with our match, if I might say so myself.”  Hugh was as puffed up and cocky as a rooster
. Something about the whole situation just didn’t sit well with Brenna.

Her mother turned toward her with a smile
. “Well, Margaret, perhaps I should hope for a double wedding?”

“Nay,” she blurted without thought
.

“No?” her mother asked with a scowl
. “Pray tell me you are not back to that ridiculous notion that you should return to that...that dreary pile of stones in Scotland? I didn’t think you as ungrateful as that, after everything your dear father has done for you here—after everything we’ve all done for you, all the sacrifices we have made.”

“I
am
grateful, Lady Danv—”

“Mama.”

“Mama, I meant. Truly I am. But ye must see that I dinna belong here, that I dinna fit in here.”“You don’t fit in because you make no effort to fit in, Margaret. You sit outside and stare at the night sky when you are meant to be in drawing rooms and ballrooms, enjoying the company of others. When a gentleman does manage to engage you in conversation, you speak of crops and livestock, unwomanly topics at best. Worse still, you insist on going about regaling people with outlandish tales of brutality in Sutherland, as if anyone should care about—”

“They
should
care.”  Brenna rose, her cheeks inflamed.

“Bah
. I still cannot believe you spoke of such vulgar matters at Lady Hampton’s soiree. I asked your father to have a word with you about it.”

“And he has
. Aye, I assured him I will be more discreet in my efforts from now on, but I shan’t remain silent on the matter, not when the livelihood of so many are at stake on the whim of an English landlord.” 

“Well, in Hampton’s case, you might have saved your breath,” Hugh interjected, a wry smile curving his lips
. “He carelessly lost his Highland property in a hand of cards, you know.”

Brenna frowned
. “No, I didna realize that was so.”“Indeed, it is. Perhaps he was simply eager to unburden himself of such unproductive land. Whatever the case, it is no longer his worry. But what you’ll find most interesting is the news of who now holds the deed to Hampton’s lands.”

“Oh?” she asked, near breathless with anger
. As if it mattered. One absentee landlord was as bad as the next, particularly if he were English.

“The new landlord is none other than Colin Rosemoor,” he answered, his smile near triumphant
.

All the breath left Brenna’s body in a rush.

“Though whether or not he won the deed fairly and legitimately is still being hotly debated,” he continued. “What
is
certain is that he’ll clear the land to fund his debts. A shame, isn’t it?”

Brenna sank back onto the velvet-covered chair
. While her mind fought to grasp the unthinkable, Hugh and her mother stared back at her with victorious smiles, clearly taking pleasure in her discomfort.

She rose again, this time unsteadily
. “If you’ll excuse me,” she said.
I think I’m going to be ill
, she added silently, then fled to the sanctuary of her bedchamber.

As soon as the door shut behind her, Brenna hurled herself onto the bed
. Hera jumped up beside her, licking her arm with a rough tongue. Brenna heaved a sigh, then pulled herself to a seated position, settling the cat into her lap.

“It canna be true, Hera
. Can it? Holding Hampton’s lands and not telling me? Why ever would he do such a thing?”

The cat stared silently at her in reply, her nose twitching
.

“I’m a fool, aren’t I
? Aye, look at me, talking to a cat.”  She stroked the soft, gray fur behind Hera’s ears. “But you’re not just any cat, are ye? You’re the only friend I have here, save Jane Rosemoor, and I canna talk to her about her brother now, can I?” 

Brenna shook her head
. Of course she couldn’t talk to Jane about such matters, much as she’d like to. She’d have to find the answers for herself. And to think, she’d wasted her time at Lord and Lady Hampton’s soiree, going on and on about the Clearances as if they’d cared. Lord Hampton had rid himself of his estate, passing it to a man more in need of funds than he was. Of course Colin would clear the land. How else would he fund his debts?

“Which is precisely why he never mentioned winning the land to me,” she concluded aloud
. “He was well aware of my feelings on the matter. Ooooh, the black-hearted rogue. Hera, if ever that man comes near me again, ye have my full permission to scratch out the scoundrel’s eyes.” 

Somehow, she would learn the truth
. And then perhaps she’d scratch out his eyes herself.

She set Hera carefully on her feet, then retrieved her leather-bound chart book from her writing desk
. “Come, Hera. Let’s go to the garden and chart the skies. I think some fresh air will do us both good, don’t ye?”

‘Twas certainly better than sitting here, allowing Colin Rosemoor to occupy her thoughts
.  

Chapter
8

“No, it cannot be true. Come now, Lady Margaret, such violence?”  Lady Bertram lowered her quizzing glass and shook her head, the ribbons on her lace cap dancing merrily with the movement. “Sir George would have mentioned it to me, wouldn’t you have, dear? He knows I have a fondness for keeping abreast of current affairs. I’m especially concerned about the plight of those unfortunate members of lesser society.”

“True, true, indeed,” Sir George answered, patting his wife’s hand
. “Lady Bertram is a true philanthropist at heart. No, I am sure it cannot be as bad as the young lady claims, my dearest. You may rest easy on that count. And even if it were, it isn’t really our place to meddle, is it? Haven’t we concerns enough of own, closer to home? The rookeries and such. It’s no longer safe for people of quality to venture near the East End.”

Brenna felt a flush climb up her neck in response to the ignorant words, spoken so carelessly
. If Lady Bertram was a philanthropist, then Brenna was the Queen of England. She took a deep, calming breath before speaking. “Ye must excuse me, Sir George, but I can assure ye I speak naught but the truth. And if Lord Stafford’s own peers won’t speak out against such atrocities, who will?”

“Why should the English interfere
? It sounds as if most of the atrocities you speak of are committed by Scots, against Scots. Isn’t that so?”  Sir George asked, stroking his whiskers.

“Aye, in some cases, but Stafford is no Scot
. Besides, the English crown has never before hesitated to interfere where Scots are concerned. Why ever should they start now?” 

“Well, I never,” Lady Bertram huffed
. “The impertinence—”

“Lady Margaret’s convictions are charming, are they not, Sir George?”  Lord Thomas smiled down at Brenna, placing one hand possessively on her shoulder.

“Yes, charming, indeed,” Sir George replied at last, clearly not at all charmed.

She certainly hadn’t meant to be charming
. It was unimaginable that the English remained so blind to the news of the Clearances—so disinterested.

“Lady Margaret, I’ve yet to hear you entertain us on the pianoforte
. Might I convince you to do so?”  Lord Thomas moved toward the polished case in the room’s corner. “Nothing would give me greater pleasure.”

Brenna forced a bright smile
. “I’m afraid I dinna play, Lord Thomas.”

“Don’t play?” Lady Bertram gasped
. “Surely you jest. Come now, we don’t expect perfection. Just a light tune will suffice.”

“Truly, I canna play at all
. I’m afraid I havena an ear for music.”

“Balderdash,” Lady Bertram exclaimed
. “Why, even the simplest girl can learn to plunk out a few notes. How
do
you occupy your time, then? Do you paint? Write poetry?”

The evening was beyond hope
. She might as well tell the truth. “I enjoy astronomy a great deal.”

Lady Bertram’s brows rose in astonishment. “Astronomy?”  She practically whispered the word, as if it were too vulgar to say aloud
.

“Yes, charting the night sky—the positions of the stars and planets and such
. I havena a telescope here, not yet, but at Glenbroch I’ve a tower observatory, and—”

“Speaking of such things, Lady Margaret,” Lord Thomas entreated, moving stealthily to her side, “perhaps you’ll join me out on the terrace
. I confess to sheer ignorance where astronomical matters are concerned. Perhaps you can help set me to rights?”

Brenna sighed, weighing her options
. Either she could remain here in Sir George and Lady Bertram’s drawing room, suffering their censure while her parents remained obliviously engaged in their own conversation across the room with Lord Thomas’s brother Simon, the Marquess of Everton. Or she could accept Lord Thomas’s invitation and join him on the terrace. As unappealing as that option seemed, it was far less so than the former, at least at present. Reluctantly she nodded, taking the arm that Lord Thomas offered.

Lord Thomas tipped his head toward his aunt and uncle
. “If you’ll excuse us.” 

She could sense the couple’s relief as she followed Lord Thomas across the room, past her parents, who smiled encouragingly at her, and through the open set of double doors. He led her to a bench, then stood opposite her, leaning indolently against the terrace’s railing
.

Brenna looked past his shoulder, her gaze settling on the moon, but Lord Thomas shifted, blocking her view in an attempt to gain her attention.

“I hope you won’t hold my aunt and uncle’s behavior against me,” he said, his eyes lit with amusement.

No doubt he
would
find it amusing. “Nay, of course not. I’m sure they are lovely people,” she lied, feeling suddenly charitable. Truly, their reaction wasn’t so different from the rest of the
ton
’s, save the Rosemoors and the Mandevilles—two families that Lord Thomas never missed an opportunity to disparage.

Why, just last night she’d accompanied Jane Rosemoor to dine with Lord and Lady Mandeville
. While she still couldn’t help but wonder about the nature of the marchioness’s relationship with Colin, Brenna had to admit she found the woman exceedingly pleasant, and her husband equally so. After their meal, they’d retired to the drawing room, where Brenna had found herself easily chatting with Lady Mandeville about horses and livestock, and then just as easily discussing crop irrigation and rotation with the marquess. Lord Mandeville himself owned a small estate in Scotland, in the lowlands. Indeed, he spoke of his time spent there with great fondness, and she’d been delighted to hear him talk about the horses he’d bred from Galloway stock.

The evening’s conversation had seemed rather unexceptional, though Brenna could only imagine the vapors Lady Danville would suffer had she heard such “unladylike” talk
. Indeed, it had likely been the most enjoyable evening she’d experienced out in society since her arrival in London. She’d said as much to Lord Thomas in the carriage as they’d made their way to the Bertrams’ town house in Cavendish Square, and she’d watched in morbid fascination as his handsome face morphed into an ugly, derisive sneer.

“You should choose your friends more wisely,” was all he had said in reply
. His voice had held a tone of menace, of barely restrained malice, that she had never before recognized. Brenna shuddered even now at the memory. She raised her gaze to his face, wondering just what malevolence lurked beneath the attractive, boyish façade. Only then did she realize he was speaking to her.

“Well, what do you say?” he was asking
. “Might I serve as your escort?”

She shook her head in confusion
. “Ye must excuse me, Lord Thomas. Pray tell, escort me where?”

His smile disappeared
. “My brother’s masquerade,” he said curtly, glowering at her. “I was saying that it has become an annual tradition and that I would be honored to act as your escort. Ballard suggested it, so your family’s approval is already secured.” 

Was there even any point in demurring
?

“You haven’t any objections, have you?”

“Nay, of course not.”  She sighed, feeling defeated.

“I’m glad to hear it
. I find masked balls to be highly entertaining, as I’m sure you will. Always a certain...leeway of sorts with propriety at a masquerade. Quite liberating, really.”  He reached for her hand and brought it to his lips.

Brenna fought the urge to recoil
. A shudder ran down her arm, causing her hand to tremble.

“Have no fear; I won’t ravish you here on my aunt’s terrace, not with your parents looking on.”  His rakish smile had returned, as if he’d misinterpreted her reaction and found encouragement in it
.

“I canna say I thought ye would, sir.” 

“Not that I wouldn’t take great pleasure in it. I like your spirit, Lady Margaret. Or shall I call you Brenna? Ballard tells me that is what you call yourself, and I must say, it suits. A fiery name for a passionate woman. I think you’ll find we have much in common, Brenna.”

“Perhaps,” she said noncommittally, snatching back her hand
. “Shall I point out a constellation or two, Lord Thomas? Look, over there.”  She pointed beyond his shoulder, to the cluster of stars above the trees. “’Tis—” 

“Oh, I didn’t really want to talk about stars and such nonsense
. It was simply an excuse to escort you outside. Tell me, what sort of costume will you wear to the masked ball?”

“I havena any idea, sir
. Whatever Lady Danville thinks best, I suppose.”

“Mmm, a serving wench, perhaps
? Or a mermaid. Yes, that would please me immensely.”  His eyes nearly glowed with heat as his gaze slid across her body, making her feel positively unclothed. “I’d love to see you in a gauzy gown, the color of the sea. To match your eyes. And how would you see me? A pirate? Or perhaps a prince? What would set your blood on fire, Brenna?”

“’Tis a wee bit chilly
. I think I’d like to go back inside now, if ye don’t mind.”

“Of course
. How cruel of me, going on in such a vein when we cannot yet act on our desires. It’s much too tempting, isn’t it? Perhaps at the masquerade we’ll find some real solitude, without fear of discovery.”

Brenna’s stomach lurched
.
Not bloody likely
, she thought. She didn’t know what games they were playing, her brother and Lord Thomas. Whatever they were, she would play right along, never letting them know she possessed far more intelligence than they credited her with. But she would make it her mission to ensure that she was never alone with Lord Thomas—at least not where there was no fear of discovery. She disliked him, distrusted him, but it was more than simply finding him objectionable or unpleasant. She recognized an aura of danger about him that she thought wise to heed.

And more pressing, just what did that say about her brother by association
? Didn’t the company one keep speak volumes about a person’s character? If so, Hugh’s character just sank a good deal further in her estimation.

***

Colin glanced both ways before ducking into the alleyway beside the curiosities shop. Sir Nigel Portman stood waiting, cloaked in shadows and wringing his hands nervously, heavy beads of perspiration dotting his forehead.

Colin stepped close to the man, speaking softly
. “Have you any news, old friend?”

“Indeed, though I don’t think you’ll like what I have to tell you
. Sorry news. Sorry news, indeed.”

“Well, go on, then.”  Colin grew impatient
. He didn’t want to risk being seen in Nigel’s company. If he meant to gain any useful information, it was imperative that it appear as if their long-standing friendship had reached an impasse, that the two no longer kept polite company. Otherwise, no one would dare speak openly in Nigel’s presence. Colin reached for his pocket watch, checking the time.

“Hugh Ballard,” Sir Nigel muttered
.

Colin froze, the watch clutched tightly in his palm
. “What do you mean, Hugh Ballard?”

“If what my man at White’s tells me is correct, then there are rumors that Hugh Ballard was involved in your ruination, along with Lord Thomas Sinclair.”

Colin shook his head, his insides twisted into a painful knot. “Not Ballard. I don’t believe it. Besides, he was away from Town, in Sussex at the time. How could he be involved?”

“Trust me when I say I was equally stunned at the news
. Ballard has been our friend for many years, and a good one at that. I wouldn’t have thought him capable of it. But my man vows he heard another waiter boasting of his own involvement in the scheme, claiming that Sinclair and Ballard had struck some sort of bargain to ruin you.”

“Was he certain he heard them speak my name
? God knows they could have been speaking of any number of men, with the way Sinclair goes about making enemies. What reason could Ballard have for wanting to ruin me? I’ve done nothing against him.”

Sir Nigel shrugged
. “I do not know the details. Yet my man feels certain that Ballard was indeed involved.”

A white-hot rage flowed through Colin’s veins
. “Damn that bastard to hell.”

“I’ve one more thing to add, old boy, and it’s equally unpleasant.”

Colin flinched. “It can’t get much worse than this, can it? Please, go on.”

“Have you heard the news of Miss Lyttle-Brown’s recent engagement?”

“Her engagement? Is that all? So Sinclair finally managed to win over Honoria. Well, he’s welcome to her, faithless chit.”

“It’s not Sinclair who has won your fair maiden’s hand.”

“No?”

“No
. It’s none other than Hugh Ballard.”

Colin clenched his hands into fists
. “And there you have it. Motivation. The bloody bastard ruined me for a woman. A
woman
,” he spat out as bile rose in this throat. “And not even such a fine specimen, if her easy defection is any indication.”