Wicked Nights With a Proper Lady (6 page)

“Dancing is not allowable under any circumstance for a chaperone, especially with someone of Barrington’s reputation. How can you possibly keep an eye on Charlotte if you are indulging in wickedness of your own?”

Damn it. Why had she even mentioned dancing? Regardless of whether or not Aunt Millicent heard of her
escapades
from one of her many acquaintances later on, Genny wished she hadn’t plainly spelled out what she’d done wrong.

What made all this worse was that Genny had a feeling she’d see Barrington and Castleigh in the coming days. And she was not looking forward to the battle that was sure to arise when she informed Charlotte she would have to strive to ignore the two degenerates vying for her undivided attention.

“I can assure you there will be no misjudgment on my part again. It was uncouth of him to approach me when I didn’t even have a dancing card. I put him firmly in his place.” Genny reached her hand out to pat her aunt’s arm reassuringly. “Don’t you worry, Aunt Millicent. He won’t dare approach me again.”

When her aunt didn’t pick up the Bible again, but stared at her probingly, Genny thought she’d have to come up with a better explanation. Thankfully, they were interrupted by Lord Ponsley’s entrance into the parlor.

“Here you are, Mother. I looked for you in the breakfast room first, but I suppose the day is still too early for consuming anything aside from tea.” He came forward, ignored Genny, and pressed a kiss against his mother’s softly wrinkled cheek. “I wanted to wish you a good day. I’m off to my club and then Parliament meetings. I shan’t be home till nigh on the dinner hour.”

“You work too hard, my boy.” Aunt Millicent patted the side of Lord Ponsley’s face. “You should spend the day with your daughter. She expressed interest in purchasing a new bonnet and a few dresses for some upcoming dinner engagements.”

“I would if I could. But I haven’t the time for fripperies just now. You know how it is, Mother.”

“Yes, my darling boy.”

Genny folded her hands in her lap and waited for his lordship to address her, if he even thought to do so. She was usually invisible to the man, which, come to think on it, might be a good thing today. Did he know anything of what happened last evening? Certainly not, or he would have berated her for the indiscretion.

He kissed his mother on the cheek again and turned to leave. Before exiting, however, he turned and said, “Miss Camden, do take Charlotte out and appease her senseless need to shop. Tell her I’ll see her tonight before you leave for the Carletons’ dinner party.”

She dipped her head in acquiescence. “Of course, my lord.”

When the door shut behind his tall, somewhat paunchy form, she slouched back into the comfort of the chaise.

“Do sit up straight, Genevieve. It is no wonder that you failed to marry when your posture is so wretched.”

Yes, surely marriage depended solely upon one’s ability to stand and sit ramrod straight. Genny corrected her posture to appease her aunt.

Once her aunt picked up the Bible again, Genny leaned against the arm of the chaise and fought very hard to keep her eyes open. Maybe she’d be able to sneak in a short nap between breakfast and shopping. She’d have to have her wits about her if she was right about not having seen the last of Barrington and Castleigh.

*   *   *

Leo sat heavily in the chair across from Hayden. A fizzing glass of water—the best hangover cure to be had anywhere in London—was set before him.

Hayden motioned to the glass. “I ordered it when I heard you talking to Brett at the front. You’ll feel immensely more human after half a glass.”

Leo eyed the cloudy water distastefully. He knew he needed something to settle his foggy head and jumbled stomach. After the ball, they’d spent a greater portion of the night at his townhouse. Between the four of them they had split two bottles of rum before the night had concluded. And the only reason he knew they had consumed so much was by the empty glass jugs lying about in bald evidence come morning.

Leaning forward in the chair, he slid the glass closer so the fizzing bubbles tickled at his nose. His stomach protested at the very thought of drinking liquids of any type at present.

“What was it Jez said we were doing tonight? Can’t recall this early in the day, my head has not had time to wake up with the rest of my slow-moving body.” Leo closed his eyes to block out the light. Good God, what had he thought to accomplish by drinking so much last night? He didn’t normally imbibe this freely, and hadn’t since his college days.

“Tristan managed to get an invite to the Carletons’ dinner party. He spent half his night charming the lady and her husband to secure two seats at her coveted dinner party—you being an automatic choice.”

The Carletons were old family friends of his father’s.

“Those who attend are more oft than not invited to her annual house party in the country in June.” Hayden leaned back in his chair, amusement coloring his expression. “I sit this one out, old chap.”

Right, Leo thought dourly as he recalled bits and pieces of his night now. Apparently they were to steal the Ponsley chit out from under Mr. Warren’s nose.

A plate of toast, eggs, and bacon were set in front of Hayden. Leo’s stomach roiled. He had to focus on the pattern in the Turkish rug off to the right of Hayden’s shoulder, though that didn’t help the spinning of his head any better than the sight or smell of food.

“Drink up, so you’ll be able to eat something.”

“I met an old acquaintance last night.” Leo wasn’t sure why he mentioned it, perhaps because it was worth mentioning?

“And…?”

“The chaperone—did I mention she was the girl’s chaperone?—well, she’ll be a problem.” An enjoyable one, but a problem nonetheless.

Hayden put up his hands. “Jez is right stubborn whenever the mood strikes and she told me quite frankly that she’ll not have me interfering with her plans. I think you should humor her for the time being. It keeps her from doing anything … rash.” Hayden took a healthy bite of his eggs before continuing. “What she really needs is a break from society, but when I suggested we spend a week at my country estate, she outright refused. She said the moment she leaves, Mr. Warren will have all her belongings tossed out of her house and into the middle of Mayfair for all to witness.”

“Has Mr. Warren threatened her?” Leo felt his ire rising with every shared detail of Jezebel’s predicament.

“I believe the only reason he’s not thrown her out is that it would damage his reputation considerably by doing it so soon after her husband’s death. Society has always been divided on their opinion of Jez.”

“Too true. Those who hated that blighter husband of hers feel something very close to pity for Jez.” Leo rubbed his temples in an attempt to ease the pounding migraine he felt coming on. He was never going to drink again.

“And those who find her actions and candor distasteful side with her husband,” Hayden finished.

Leo downed half the contents in the glass and cringed as he set the revolting concoction back on the wooden table with a thunk.

“Jesus, man. What is this crap that I’m pouring down my gullet?”

“Something that’ll help you eat.” Hayden waved over the steward. “My friend here is ready for your breakfast specialty. Something to cure his cotton mouth and uneasy stomach.” Hayden looked to Leo and said, “You can thank me later for the cure-all you’re throwing down your
gullet.
”

“Much gratitude, Hayden.” He scrubbed his hands roughly over his eyes, wishing the spinning would settle long enough for him to drink up the remainder of the fizzing mixture in front of him. “Back to Jez for a minute here. Have you seen your solicitor yet?”

“Not for another two hours. But I should warn you, changing the outcome of the will is about the only way she’ll listen to reason. I’ll try and have it held up in court. Perhaps Mr. Warren will draw up a settlement to appease Jez if he’s made to wait a lengthy period.”

Jez’s choices were few: she could marry again, and hope the man was decent, or she could figure out a way to live on a small fraction of the money she was used to.

Leo pulled out his fob, and flipped the gold case open. Nearly eleven and he wanted nothing more than to sleep off his headache. Though it seemed to be receding with every minute that passed.

“Right, then,” Leo said. “I’ll take myself about the shops and buy something nice to cheer her up. What do you reckon she desires most?”

Between bites of his poached eggs, Hayden said, “Aside from dashing Mr. Warren’s chances of ever marrying, I suggest something frivolous and completely useless. She does love her baubles and she was admiring a fan inlaid with jade on Bond Street last week. Or perhaps some new hair combs?” With a shrug of his shoulders, Hayden wiped his mouth on his napkin and tossed it down on his finished plate. “I have some errands to attend. Will I see you at Tristan’s before you make your way to the Carletons?”

Leo nodded and pressed his fingers to his aching temples again. Saying no to Jez was not something he or Tristan had ever been able to do. “I believe ‘after eight’ were his words, though I can’t be sure.”

Hayden laughed at him as he stood, doffed his hat, and slapped him on the back of his shoulder. “Till this evening,” were his parting words.

Once Leo finished his meal, he felt marginally better and called for his jacket and hat. It was time to head over to Bond Street to buy something for Jez. And he would shamelessly use said gift as a bribe to persuade Jez that she should plan a trip to the countryside. She did need to get away from the hubbub of the city at least for a short time.

As he turned off Piccadilly, whom should he see but Miss Camden and her cousin? He paused at the corner of Old Bond and watched them for a moment. The driver of the coach helped Genny’s cousin down the last step of the carriage. Done with his task, the driver held out his hand for his coin, which Genny placed in his ungloved palm.

Well, didn’t this just make his day a little brighter? He did enjoy the fact that he could fluster Miss Camden so early in the day—maybe he enjoyed doing that a little too much.

Genny’s dress was a white-sprigged muslin, with little yellow flowers dotting her bodice and skirts, simple yet elegant. Though her companion wore a pink and green checked silk day dress with a slight dip in front and back, and of a much finer material, his gaze swung immediately back to Genny. She clasped a white parasol in her delicately lace-gloved hands. Unfortunately, a silk moiré bonnet shaded her face from his vantage point.

She would not see him coming, then. He’d have the opportunity to take her unawares. What would her reaction be on seeing him today?

A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth, and he picked up his pace, heading in their direction. They disappeared behind the dark-stained wooden door of a jeweler’s.

Leo pushed his way through the same door they had entered a few minutes later. A brass bell jingled above his head, heralding his arrival. It was busy—there were about a dozen patrons looking over the wares—so no one turned or took notice of him, aside from the shopkeeper who smiled brightly and approached to offer assistance.

“Good afternoon, my lord.”

“Afternoon.”

“Might I be of assistance?”

“I intend to catch up with the ladies.” He nodded in the direction of Lady Charlotte and Miss Camden.

The proprietor stepped back with a bow. “I will not keep you, my lord. Let me know if you require any assistance.”

“I will. Thank you.” He stepped farther into the store and closer to his quarry.

A store clerk was showing Ponsley’s daughter a hatpin. He placed the emerald-studded piece through the young woman’s hat and showed her the image she made with a handheld mirror. Miss Camden looked like the most patient woman in the world, standing off to the side, hands folded demurely over her front, head nodding as she said something too quiet for him to hear from this distance.

Should he approach the cousin or Miss Camden first? Maybe he should approach the salesclerk helping them, since he did plan on buying some sort of bauble for Jez and this was just as good a store as any. That settled it then, two birds with one stone as the saying went.

He stepped out from the melee of people crowded around the glass cases situated at the front of the store.

Lady Charlotte turned to him with an inviting smile, fingers clasped to the soft yellow brim of her hat as the clerk pulled out the hairpin lodging it in place.

“Lady Charlotte,” he said, tipping his hat forward. “Your very presence has made my morning all the brighter.”

For the briefest moment, there was a glint of wickedness in her smile before she schooled her expression into something more becoming for a lady fresh out into society. It was practiced coyness and far too knowing for a woman who was under the age of twenty and unmarried.

And it was in that moment—after not having spent any time alone with her the previous evening—he understood she was not a woman easily taken by surprise. He would have guffawed at the realization if they were the only two people in the room. Maybe he need not worry about her virtue. He had a suspicion the young lady knew precisely how to handle Tristan. It might be wiser to worry for his friend.

“Lord Barrington. Fancy we should find you here. I don’t believe we’ve had the pleasure of running into each other before now.”

“Evidently, it is my good fortune that finds me here while you are out shopping.”

Charlotte’s gaze slipped past his shoulder. It was brief, but he noticed her attention was momentarily distracted. A shame he hadn’t thought to invite Tristan along for his outing. The wastrel was probably still abed.

“Alas, my lady, I am alone in my travels today.”

Her perfectly plucked brows arched just as Miss Camden’s arm slipped through hers.

Genny inclined her head politely, but he didn’t miss the flash of annoyance in her light brown gaze. “Lord Barrington,” she said tersely. At least she acknowledged him. To her cousin she said, “I saw the most beautiful hairpiece. I must show it to you at once.”

She tried to tug her cousin away from him, but Charlotte budged not an inch.