Wolfishly Yours (7 page)

The duchess wore an eyeglass that hung around her neck and, at the moment, it was tucked directly between her breasts. With a mighty heave, she retrieved it and held it up to her left eye. The eye grew about ten times in size as her light blue orb blinked at Livi. “Pretty little thing,” she said. Then she lowered her eyepiece slowly and cocked her head at Sophie. “Doesn’t look like a banshee. She looks like her mother but a bit darker. Must be the French in her.”

Livi did wish people would stop saying that as though it was an insult.

“I’m certain Lady Grace was just as delightful as Miss Mayeux is,” Sophie replied and kicked Livi under the table. Blast, she must have been scowling.

Livi sat up straighter. “Lovely to meet you, Your Grace.”

“Lovely?” the woman crowed. “It’s never lovely to meet old ladies.” Then she turned her eyes back to Sophie. “Madeline is worried about you.”

Sophie shook her head. “She is sweet to do so, but there is no reason.”

“So Violet Radbourne is treating you well?”

“Of course.”

“And what of her scurrilous sons?”

“I see very little of them to be honest, Your Grace.”

The old woman harrumphed. “Did you know they are opening a gambling establishment?” She lowered her voice to an annoyed hiss. “
My
granddaughter married to the proprietor of a gambling establishment.”

An expression of sympathy settled on Sophie’s face. “You know she loves him.”

Finally a smile cracked the duchess’ lips. “And that is why he continues to breathe.” Then she winked at Sophie before turning her attention to Livi. “How are you enjoying the Pump Room, Miss Mayeux?”

“To be quite honest,” Livi said, leaning closer to the duchess, “I’d rather be anywhere than here, smelling these foul waters.”

Sophie stiffened in her seat. “But we’re happy to be here taking advantage of the healing waters,” her tutor added.

The duchess interrupted her with a harsh snort. “Healing waters. It’s more like social hour. Seeing and being seen.” She narrowed an eye at Livi again. “Wouldn’t you agree, Miss Mayeux?”

“There must be some benefit to smelling that rotten odor. It’s worse than the docks in June,” Livi said. “The fish wash ashore and the ships come into port. The men smell like they’ve been at sea for months and didn’t have a pot of water to wash themselves in.” She inhaled slightly, which made her cough. “I think this is worse.” She winced.

Sophie dropped her head into her hands beside her. Livi was probably making a mess of things. “Do you remember we discussed appropriate topics of discussion?” Sophie hissed at her. “Unwashed men do not fall into that category.”

“Did I hear something about unwashed men?” a voice asked from behind them.

The smell of unwashed men?
Bon Dieu.
She’d made a mess of it, hadn’t she? Livi glanced over her shoulder at the man. He was tall, with broad shoulders, and his handsome face was completed with a nose strong enough to match his jaw. “Lady Sophia.” He bowed in the tutor’s direction.

For the first time since Livi had met her, Sophie wore what appeared to be a genuine smile. “Henry Siddington, what brings you to Bath?” she asked pleasantly.

“Robert Hayburn invited me to accompany his family,” the man said. He adjusted his jacket and looked a bit awkward for a moment. “I couldn’t find a good reason to decline.”

The duchess snorted and the man grinned at the old woman.

“The fact that he’s a reprobate, a ne’er-do-well, and a drunkard were not enough for you?” Sophie asked, without even breaking the serene look on her face. Sophie shook her head at the tall fellow. “Certainly, you can find better company.”

“One would think so,” the duchess agreed.

The man arched a brow at the tutor. “Certainly, you can still skewer a man without even holding a sword.” He clutched a hand to his chest as though her words had wounded him. “Pray introduce me to the lady, Sophie,” he said.

Another
gentleman
who
called
her
Sophie. Interesting.

“Oh, where are my manners? Miss Liviana Mayeux, this is my cousin Henry Siddington. I’ve known him since he was in short pants. We have played together most of our lives. Until we grew too old to play, that is.”

Mr. Siddington looked offended. “One is never too old to play, my dear cousin.” He turned his full gaze toward Livi. “Enchanting to meet you, Miss Mayeux,” he said.

“Henry.” Sophie tapped the man’s hand. “I’ve need of you for a few moments this evening,” she said. “You do plan to attend the Longboroughs’ musicale, do you not?”

“I’d hoped to avoid it. I’d rather listen to Robert blather about his latest conquest than listen to young misses struggle to stay on tune.” He shuddered, which brought a smile to Livi’s face.

“And his conquests are many and varied,” Sophie tossed in.

Talk about improper discussions.

“Yet you seem to have avoided falling into his trap,” Mr. Siddington said. “Bravo for you.” He clapped lightly and dramatically. Then his face softened. “Truly, how are you finding your position with Lady Radbourne?”

“Heavens.” Sophie sighed heavily. “Everyone wants to know the same thing. Is there a wager on the book at White’s that Lady Radbourne would throw me to wolves or something?”

Wolves? A sputtering sound escaped Livi at hearing that particular turn of phrase. Did the man know of Lycans? Mr. Hadley had made it seem as though no one knew of such things.

Mr. Siddington cast Livi a confused expression before turning his attention back to his cousin. “I suppose none of us are accustomed to seeing you in a subservient role. You can’t blame us for that. You know you always have a place with me, Soph,” he said gently. “And I won’t even force you to wash chamber pots or bring tea.”

Livi tried to hold in a giggle, but to no avail. She couldn’t imagine Sophie bringing tea or washing chamber pots. Mr. Siddington was quite amusing. And handsome. And he seemed to be friendly enough. Her laughter drew his attention back to her once more.

“That sound is the most melodious tinkle I’ve heard all day.” His brown eyes twinkled with happiness. “Miss Mayeux, you should do it more often.”

Sophie shot him a stern glance and then looked at Livi. “Well-placed laughter is fine. But try to contain your mirth when you’re able.”

“Still spouting rules and regulations, Soph?” He made a noise in his throat. “At some point, you’ll have to stop being quite so proper and have some fun.”

“I’ll have fun when I have my cottage back,” Lady Sophia said in a soft voice.

Mr. Siddington’s face fell into a sympathetic smile.

There was a story there. And Livi was determined to find out what was so special about this blasted cottage. She fanned her face. “I find it very stuffy in here,” she said.

“Indeed,” the duchess agreed.

“So, tonight, at the musicale—”

“That is a very nice try, Sophie,” Mr. Siddington cut her off. “Only the loss of an unfortunate wager would make me attend that musicale. I’d like to still have my ears in working order this time tomorrow.”

Sophie sighed. “You were always so difficult.”

“One of my better qualities.”

“Henry,” Sophie pleaded. “Miss Mayeux is new to England and hardly knows a soul. If you won’t attend the Longboroughs’ musicale tonight, then I’ll expect you to show your face at the Assembly Room tomorrow. And I’ll expect you to partner Miss Mayeux for at least one dance.”

Mr. Siddington gazed at Sophie critically and said in a teasing voice, “So I can tread upon her toes? You know dancing is not my forte.”

“Then the two of you shall suit perfectly,” Sophie said. She gave him a pleading look that reminded Livi of her brothers’ hounds.

“Oh, good God. I’ll do it.” He bowed toward Livi. “Until tomorrow, Miss Mayeux?” he asked.

Dancing? Livi nodded reluctantly. He seemed like a nice enough man, especially if Sophie liked him. But dancing?

Sophie cleared her throat as though urging Livi to accept the offer.

“Until tomorrow,” Livi muttered.

Mr. Siddington nodded to someone across the room, then smiled back at the women at the table. “Do excuse me.” Then he turned on his heel and made his way through the crowd to Lord Robert’s side. Indeed,
that
man made the hair on the back of Livi’s neck stand up. How was it possible that the two men were friends?

“If only Mr. Siddington could be a good influence on Robert,” the duchess grumbled, “I’d leave the man half my fortune.”

Anxiety gnawed at Livi’s stomach. She looked at Sophie, who appeared to be engrossed in thought. “I believe you forgot one thing,” Livi said.

“What is that?” Sophie asked, her brow knitting.

“I do not know how to dance.”

The duchess gasped and Sophie rushed to soothe the old woman by placing her hand on one of the duchess’. “She is jesting, Your Grace. Miss Mayeux is a beautiful dancer.”

And Lady Sophia was a fantastic liar, but Livi held her tongue. She and her tutor would have to have a long talk as soon as they left the odiferous Pump Room. How in the world could Livi possibly become a beautiful dancer in only one day?

***

Gray slumped into a high-back chair in the front parlor, a copy of
The
Times
in his hand. Thankfully his head pounded less, though that probably had more to do with the fact that no one but himself, the mostly silent servants, and the still sleeping Earl of Holmesfield were in residence than with the damned raw egg he’d swallowed. He couldn’t imagine what had possessed him to try such a thing. Positively disgusting.

He heard the front door creak open just as Holmesfield’s butler said, “My lord, welcome back.”

“Thank you.” Archer’s voice filtered into the parlor. “Be a good man and tell me the best path to take to avoid Lady Sophia.”

Gray sat a little straighter. “No one is here but me, Arch!” he called loudly.

A second later, his brother stood on the threshold, wearing the same clothes he’d donned the day before and with hair so rumpled that only a whore’s fingers could have done the job. “You look like hell.”

“So do you.”

Archer scoffed as he leaned against the doorjamb. “What you see before you is a gentleman who is both relaxed and in high spirits.”

His brother must have done even better at the tables after Gray returned to the house last night. “Hmm. What I see before me is a viscount who was just begging a butler to tell him how to escape a little slip of a lady.”

Archer’s golden eyes darkened. “A harpy, you mean. Where is she, by the way?”

Gray gestured toward the front window. “Out.”

“A man of few words today, are you?”

“If your head ached like mine, you’d say very little yourself.”

At that Archer chuckled, then pushed himself from the doorjamb and sauntered into the parlor, dropping onto the settee across from Gray. “Did the gin not set well, little brother?”

Gray growled low in his throat. Lycans had a high tolerance for spirits; however, even Lycans had their limits. “I had a little more than I should have,” he agreed, “and then Miss Mayeux coerced me into drinking a raw egg.”

Archer’s face scrunched at the very thought. “A raw egg? Does that double for an aphrodisiac in America?”

An aphrodisiac? Gray narrowed his eyes on his brother. “It was to help with my headache.”

“And did it?”

His head did feel a little better, or it had until his brother returned home. “I’m not sure.”

Archer smirked. “And where is your little poodle?”

Gray didn’t even bother to correct his brother. Doing so would only inspire Archer to needle him more. “With Lady Sophia. They headed into town for a morning in the Pump Room.”

“Then we should be safe for the time being.” Archer seemed to relax as he leaned back in his seat. “After you left last night, Lavendon took me to a very nice establishment.”

“Filled with pretty doxies?”

Archer chuckled. “How did you know?”

“Your hair looks as though you spent all evening standing in the middle of a tempest.”

Archer touched a hand to his hair. “They were a bit of a whirlwind. But that’s not where I was going with this. Well, not really. With the spot we’re using off the Thames for our establishment, what do you think about transporting a barge full of wenches to see to our customers’ needs and perhaps provide distraction from the play on the tables?”

Gray scoffed. “I think Wes would put a bullet in your skull. He dreamed up this idea as a source of income for each of us, not so we could make ourselves glorified flash men. He has a very proper wife, you might remember.”

“His connection to the Hayburns is a thorn in my side.”

“I cannot even imagine what the duchess would do to us if we connected her granddaughter to a place filled with whores. She’d turn us all into eunuchs before slowly murdering us.”

Archer scowled. “Her Grace is here in town, by the way. Lavendon told me as much last night. Why don’t we abandon all this nonsense in Bath and head for London?”

That was exactly what Gray had wanted to begin with. But before he could say as much, someone cleared her throat in the doorway. At the same moment the scent of violets drifted into the room. Lady Sophia. Gray’s and Archer’s eyes both shot to the doorway to find their tutor frowning at them with her arms folded across her chest. They both leapt to their feet like chastened schoolboys.

“London?” she asked. “Did I overhear you correctly, Lord Radbourne?”

Archer looked supremely satisfied. “Afraid you’ll miss me, sweetheart?”

“I have asked you not to call me that.”

“And I have asked you to go away.” Archer grinned unrepentantly. “Apparently, neither of us is to get our wish where the other is concerned.”

Lady Sophia heaved a sigh. “Neither of you are escaping to London. I need your assistance here.”

“You need us?” Archer quipped.

She narrowed her eyes on him. “You are to help me with Miss Mayeux, both of you.”

“She’s just one slight girl,” Archer protested. “Surely you can handle her all on your own, sweetheart.”

Lady Sophia straightened her spine. “I have yet to send my weekly report to Lord Eynsford. Please do not make me have to inform him that you are being difficult, my lord.”

A muscle twitched near Archer’s eye.

Gray cleared his throat. “I don’t see why you need us. Holmesfield doesn’t want us anywhere near the girl, and serving as escorts is really unnecessary, all things considered.”

A frown marred Lady Sophia’s pretty face. “I’m not certain what all I’ll need you for, Grayson. But today… Well, today I need your help in teaching Miss Mayeux to dance. I’m afraid she doesn’t know how, and tomorrow we’ll be at the Assembly Room.”

Teaching Liviana Mayeux to dance? Gray’s heart sped up at the thought of holding the chit in his arms. Honestly, staying in Bath couldn’t be that taxing, could it? He could stay a day or two more. London wasn’t going anywhere.

“If we do this,” Archer began, “may we be excused from the musicale this evening?”

She glared at him. “Why, my lord? So you may find your own entertainments as you obviously did last night?”

“One must be entertained,” Archer returned.

“But must one wear the same clothes two days in a row?” She sighed heavily and turned her attention back to Gray. “Please meet us in the music room in half an hour for her first lesson. And please make sure your brother is actually presentable.” Then she turned on her heel and disappeared down the corridor.

“Who knew,” Archer said quietly, “that she paid attention to my attire?”

Gray couldn’t help the laugh that escaped him. “You look a mess, Arch. Have you even peeked in a mirror? I’m not certain you can be ready in half an hour.”

“Then won’t that little harridan be disappointed,” his brother grumbled.