Wicked Nights With a Proper Lady (11 page)

“If she doesn’t do anything damaging to her reputation in the meantime, yes.”

“I’ll talk to Jez,” he said with a nod and left Hayden’s study.

It suddenly felt like Leo’s reasons for continuing with Jez’s charade were selfish. And they absolutely were. He’d lost sight of his purpose the moment he’d laid eyes upon Genny.

What he needed to do was help Jez. She needed to let go of the past, of the abuse she’d suffered at the hands of her husband and move on. Leo’s stepmother had learned to move on with the help of Leo’s father.

Leo still remembered the day the woman he loved like his own flesh and blood had come to them. One eye swollen shut from the fist she’d taken to the face, her right arm broken and hanging limp at her side, her underclothes in which she’d escaped from her house covered in mud and soaked right through from the rain. Leo’s father had taken her in, helped her, and eventually married her when word came that her husband had died in a carriage accident. Though Leo was sure there had never been an accident, but a duel between rivals. He’d never know the truth now that his father had passed away.

The only question that remained was whether he would be able to help Jez as his father had helped his stepmother.

*   *   *

Genny sat at a writing table that faced a window overlooking the back garden. She was writing a letter to her friend Helena. She could see her cousin from the corner of her eye, sitting on the chaise and reading a letter of her own.

Charlotte folded the parchment and tucked it in the book she had been reading for the past few days. “When did you meet Lord Barrington? You seem rather knowledgeable about his character.”

Genny supposed it was an innocent enough question from her cousin and one that deserved a truthful response. She turned on the stool to face her cousin directly. “I met him in my third season.”

“I heard he courted you for a short time.” Charlotte’s brow rose marginally as though waiting for her denial. “At least that is the impression I received from Lady Hargrove.”

“Charlotte Lindsey, why do you bother asking me if the rumor mill has been busy enough to inform you of my past?”

“It’s obviously been years since you’ve seen each other and I wanted the truth from you. One can never be sure until the actual source verifies the facts.”

Her cousin was astute, but Genny could never reveal just how close she’d been to Leo.

With a heavy sigh, she gave in to her cousin’s curious nature. “If it appeases you in any way, and if the truth persuades you to cease this line of questioning, then I’ll tell you what you are so eager to know. While Barrington and I were well acquainted, we were no more than friends.”

“Well, I’m going to offer up my opinion on the matter now that you’ve given me enough to form one,” Charlotte said.

Genny would really rather not hear her cousin’s opinion. If there was one thing Charlotte excelled at, it was sorting out a puzzle before anyone else could begin to connect the pieces for themselves.

“I believe,” Charlotte went on, “that you met him and became fast friends—you can be charming and witty when you aren’t such a slave to my father’s orders.”

Genny made a face at that assessment and turned to put away her writing accessories. “Must we have your opinion at all? Barrington and I were friends
ages ago,
as you’ve so kindly pointed out.”

“You’ll have it anyway.” Her cousin gave a short laugh of amusement. “I believe you started as friends … only you might have developed a
tendre
for the young Lord Barrington. The feeling was not returned, was it?”

“You’re wrong on so many counts that I can’t even think of where to start to correct your misconceptions.” Was she so transparent to everyone or just her cousin? Genny wiped the nib of her pen off and put the cap back on the Indian ink.

“I’m not wrong in this. You know you wouldn’t try so hard to persuade me otherwise if I were off my mark.”

“Fine, Charlotte.” Genny let out a frustrated sigh. “If you are correct, then tell me … do I still harbor feelings for the earl?”

Charlotte’s forehead puckered in thought. Charlotte had seen them interact and there was no love apparent with their constant bantering, so she couldn’t possibly think Genny wanted to reacquaint with Barrington.

“It remains to be seen,” Charlotte finally said. “What would you do if Lord Castleigh and Lord Barrington made an appearance at the theater tonight?”

“Why should it matter?” She refused to believe it would happen. “We will be in Lady Carleton’s box, and I imagine both gentlemen have their own family boxes.” She turned to her cousin once again.

Charlotte tapped her chin and narrowed her eyes as she assessed Genny.

“I know that look.” Genny put her elbows on her knees and leaned forward. “It is as though you’ve a bit of the devil in your eyes. There will be no mischief on your part.”

“You really do try to take the fun out of everything.” Charlotte pouted, tossed her book next to her on the chaise, and crossed her arms over her chest. “When Papa announced that you would escort me around for my debut instead of Grandmamma, I was beyond thrilled to have a confidante. But you play too close to the rules instead of having fun with life. Have some fun with me—I feel as though the opportunity for any excitement is about to run out.”

Genny stood from the stool and made her way to her cousin. She gave her a hug of reassurance before releasing her.

“You can have all the fun you desire once you are married.”

“Oh, I intend to. But at the same time, I will not allow my pending marriage to stop me from enjoying the attentions I am receiving now. Castleigh understands my position and he does not shelter me nearly as much as you. It’s nice to be courted by a man not of my father’s choosing.”

“It is my duty not only as your chaperone but as a member of your family to keep you away from men of his character.”

Charlotte leaned back on the cushions with a discontented sigh.

“Castleigh has ruined more than a few good ladies’ reputations with his antics. Have you told him of your upcoming nuptials?”

Charlotte shook her head. “I haven’t, but it’ll be obvious to everyone soon enough if Mr. Warren continues to call on me and take me around the park in his barouche. Then again, with the marquess seeking me out, it might look as though I have a few contenders for my hand.”

Could it be that Lord Castleigh liked Charlotte in more a capacity than friendship? Did he wish to court her cousin? That didn’t seem likely. Leo had asked quite pointedly who the girl was to Genny. There was trickery at play with both gentlemen. And she would not let her guard down, no matter how innocent a scene she’d walked in on with Charlotte and the marquess.

Her experience had been much different with Leo, and it had happened so many years ago now that she couldn’t be sure if she had instigated the seduction or if he had simply made her believe that.

“Do you have feelings for the marquess?”

Charlotte’s grin was everything but innocent. “Castleigh and I are no more than
friends.
”

The butler entered the parlor, cutting off Genny’s reply—not that she was sure what her rebuttal would be. He bowed and presented a silver platter on which sat a small vellum box with a brown satin ribbon tied in a neat bow around it.

“A present arrived moments ago. A messenger awaits your reply,” the butler said.

The box was small and unremarkable. A neatly folded, unmarked envelope was tucked just beneath the top of the ribbon. Charlotte clapped her hands together excitedly and stood to retrieve the card. Genny could not make out the words on the heavy parchment from where she sat.

Her cousin’s eyes widened and her mouth formed a little O of surprise as she turned her gaze in Genny’s direction.

“Who is it from?” In all likelihood—and judging by the size of the box, which she guessed housed jewelry of some sort—they’d be returning the gift.

“
Friends,
you say?” Charlotte’s tone was teasing as she passed over the opened notecard.

Genny took it reluctantly.
He wouldn’t
. He wouldn’t
dare
send her a present for all to take note of.

Her hand shook slightly as she read the neat cursive message:

My Dearest Miss Camden,

Something to catch the fire in your eyes.

Your

L

Her fingers itched to free the ribbon and see what lay inside the box. Of course, she could never open it. She would have to send it back to Leo immediately. Why did he have to do this to her? Why should Charlotte have to witness this? It negated everything she’d said earlier about her past association with Lord Barrington.

Genny made her way toward the settee, needing to be out of reach of the present Leo had sent. She arranged her skirts into something altogether neater as she perched herself on the edge of the seat, glaring back at the box, which was nothing more than a bribe and a declaration of Leo’s challenge to win her over.

It would not work.

“Please have it returned from whence it came.” She regretted having to send it back at all and wished that the present could be considered a spoil of their war.

The butler didn’t so much as blink an eye. “Instructions for the carrier, madam?”

She busied herself with a wrinkled frill on her bodice. “No message is required.”

Which was a lie. There was a lot to be said about Leo’s boldness. How dare he endanger her position by doing something so … so
obvious
. How dare he express his attraction toward her in such a public way. She sincerely hoped this wouldn’t become the talk of Town.

As the butler left the room, Charlotte sat beside her on the settee.

“You should have at least taken a peek before sending it off. I’m desperate to know what he bought for you.”

That small bit of camaraderie with her cousin brought a smile to her lips and a little pitter-patter to her heart. Genny found herself responding honestly. “It was too neatly put together to do such a thing. Yes, I wish to know what the box contained, but it simply wasn’t meant to be. You know why I couldn’t open it. It’s wholly inappropriate for Lord Barrington to send such a thing. Let this be a lesson in life.”

“There you go again…” Charlotte shook her head. “There is no lesson other then self-torture. Why would you subject yourself to that? You’re going to forever wonder which hair comb he purchased for you. And now you’ll never know.”

“It was necessary.” Genny’s gaze slipped to the door, almost wishing the butler would come back with the box she desperately wanted to open. “Why is that so hard for you to accept?”

“Because I don’t. You’ll never convince me now that your association with the earl is only as deep as friendship. He likes you, and I think that scares you.”

“He does not scare me.” Her voice sounded too defensive even to her own ears.

Charlotte laughed as she stood and made her way from the room. “You can keep telling yourself that if it makes you feel better.”

Chapter 8

It appears that Lord B
^___
has taken to courting. That is not something this writer thought would ever be put down in ink. Perhaps all he has in mind is another discreet affair that will be surrounded with speculation but buried in secrecy like his past relationships.

Also, a notable blush stole over the mysterious Miss C
^___
’s cheeks as she was escorted about the opera house on her admirer’s arm. Yes, I believe courting to be too tame a word for what Lord B
^___
has in mind. Perhaps this is a most illicit liaison in the works and hopefully one that will be exposed this time.

The Mayfair Chronicles, June 1, 1846

As Genny and her cousin entered the private box, the glow of the gaslights behind them flashed orange tendrils of light across the richly carpeted floor. The box went dark as the red velvet curtains fell back in place, and they slowly wound their way around the chairs and toward two unoccupied seats in the front row next to Lady Carleton.

Charlotte sat beside their host and Genny took the chair on the end. Even if Castleigh did come, there would be no available seat near her cousin. And that was all that mattered at the moment. Leo was another matter entirely. Not that he’d be able to sit with them in the front of the box, since the chairs could not be arranged any differently to accommodate more seats per row.

The wall fixtures set around the stage gave little light to see by; most had been lowered or snuffed completely as the orchestra set up for the opening act.

Patrons were still finding their seats, conversing with the people they sat next to, and gawking at other guests around and above them. The opera was set to start momentarily, and there was no sign of Barrington or Castleigh this evening. That brought a smile to Genny’s face.

What a perfect evening this was turning out to be.

“Here, Miss Camden,” Lady Carleton said. “Take my opera glasses. Squinting at the surrounding company is unbecoming for a lady.”

Genny felt a blush infuse her cheeks. “My apologies. I didn’t even realize I was doing that.”

“No need to apologize. But you should know that Barrington is with my husband, and they will be joining us when their matters at Parliament wrap up this evening.” Lady Carleton tapped her white satin glove to her chin. “They do seem to be running later than usual.”

Equal measures of desire and irritation filled Genny on hearing the announcement. She should be thankful Castleigh wasn’t attending but was too annoyed to put much thought to that welcome fact.

“What matters are keeping them in Parliament if I might be so bold to ask?”

“A tax is being levied on sugar imports coming in from the West Indies and more specifically Barbados. Did you know my husband has fifty acres next to Lord Barrington’s property?”