“No, Sid, you are a woman being awoken to desire.”
“Sheffield claimed his intentions were for marriage this morning. He has declared to Papa his suit and forms strong claims to our union.”
Sophia came off her chair and knelt in front of Sidney as she drew her hands into hers. “You cannot marry that conceited arse. He would be the biggest mistake of your life. Promise me you will not tie yourself to him. Give Wildeburg a chance.”
“Sheffield provided good points for our union. Mama and Papa would never worry about money, and the boys would have bright futures.”
“Do not sacrifice yourself for status. Your family wouldn’t expect it from you. Sheffield is only planting ideas inside your head.”
“You warned me, and I didn’t listen.”
“You never do, that is what makes being your friend so adventurous. Now give me details. I want to know if kissing Lord Wildeburg is as delightful as it looked.”
“Even more so,” Sidney sighed.
“When are you seeing him again?”
“Tonight, at the Steadhampton Musical.”
“Perfect. I will run interference with your other suitors while you two sneak away for some private moments. But Sidney, you must be careful you don’t get caught.”
“I only need a few moments with him to inform him he needs to court me properly for our acquaintance to continue. If he is interested in me for more than my body, then he will agree. If not, then he isn’t the one for me. I need to know his true intentions.”
Sophia agreed with her, then she let the subject drop. She could tell Sidney’s thoughts were troubled and that she needed to process her emotions on her own. She continued to hold her hand as her friend’s eyes drifted away, lost in reflection. While she wished to know more of what transpired before she interrupted them, she understood that they were private memories Sidney wished to keep to herself. Phee took absolute delight in the scene she walked in on and knew without a doubt Lord Wildeburg was just the man to lead her friend on a romantic journey.
It was not long before Mama and Rose invaded her room. They bustled in with a new dress of Phee’s they hemmed for her, declaring how gorgeous she would look tonight.
“What are you twirling around in your hand, dear?” her mother inquired.
Sidney’s eyes widened at her mother’s question. Sophia acted quick on her feet when she grabbed the fabric and shoved it inside her pocket.
“Only a piece of fabric I plan on using for a blanket I am making for Mama. Please keep my secret. It is a surprise for her birthday.”
“You are a dear girl, Sophia. Mum’s the word. I cannot wait to see the finished product. From what I saw, it was a lovely shade of blue.”
Sidney rose from the chaise in panic but calmed when her friend covered for her. Her antics would soon draw her mother’s full attention. But it seemed, after she skirted one issue, another soon arose when Rose saw the state of her undress and the missing buttons from her dress.
“It was if someone ripped the garment from your body. This will take me the entire evening to repair.”
Her mother frowned at her state of undress. A man’s cravat and ripped clothing sent Sidney into a panic as she noticed the messed bed sheets. Soon, her mother would add all the evidence together and come to a conclusion that would end her research. She shot her eyes to Phee and motioned with her eyes toward the bed. Her friend realized her dilemma and threw herself on the bed to muss the cover more.
“That was all my fault, Lady Hartridge. I told Sid about the dress you fixed and was eager for her to try it on. In my excitement, I popped a few buttons lose. Someone hooked them so tight, I pulled, and then poof, they sprang apart.”
“Well, that is all right dear. To be honest, this rag needs to retire to the dustbin. I’m ashamed the Duke of Sheffield witnessed you in this monstrosity. The horror. What must he think of our family?”
“Mama, there is no need to be ashamed. I hardly think Sheffield took any notice of my apparel today. His mind was otherwise occupied.” She wrapped Mama in a hug while she whispered a thank you to Phee over her mother’s shoulder.
Phee lay on the bed with a mischievous grin on her face while she picked up the pearl-seeded buttons scattered across the counterpane. After she finished, she wandered to Sid’s desk, where she slid the buttons and cravat into her secret drawer. By then, Sidney’s mother and Rose had removed her clothes and prepared her for the evening. Phee crossed to her side and kissed her on the cheek in good-bye, with a promise to see her later at the musical.
SIDNEY WAITED AT THE entryway to the music room as she searched for him. He had not shown his face yet, and no mention of him amongst the guests meant he wasn’t present. A throng of people entered the room, for the concert was set to start soon. She stood on her tiptoes to look above the gentlemen’s heads, as they obscured her view of the door. Soon her mother was upon her and urged her to take her seat.
“I will be along shortly, Mama. I am waiting for Sophia.”
“Well, don’t be long, dear. Sheffield is saving our seats.”
“I promise.” Sidney grimaced at the thought of being stuck in the duke’s company for the evening.
Sophia soon rushed to her side with her mother. Phee promised her mother they would be in soon as she noticed Sidney’s attention focused on the door. She had a notion whom she waited for. When the last of the guests trickled inside, Sidney’s eyes took on a dejected expression.
“Perhaps he is running late.”
“Or he decided not to appear after all.”
“Who will not appear this evening?” Rory asked over their shoulders.
“A friend,” Sophia replied.
“Which friend?”
“We should take our seats; the musical is about to start.” Sophia tried to direct them into the music room to conceal Sidney’s questionable behavior from Rory.
Sophia was unable to direct them inside before Sheffield came upon them. He positioned himself next to Sidney as he displayed his dominance over Rory. Sophia narrowed her eyes at his domineering behavior. Phee would not allow him to win over Sidney. She made a promise to herself that Sidney would find love, and Sheffield wasn’t the man.
“Your Grace, I notice you’re missing your sidekick this evening,” Sophia said.
“Ah, Wildeburg. I’m afraid he had a previous engagement with Madame Bellerose.”
“Madame Bellerose?” Sidney questioned.
“Now, Sheffield, these ladies should not be subjected to this discussion,” Rory interjected. He reached for Sidney’s arm, disgusted with Sheffield’s comments.
Sheffield stood with a smirk of satisfaction. He managed to lay doubt in Lady Sidney’s mind about Wildeburg. Also, he knew between her and Lady Sophia they would wiggle Madame Bellerose’s identity from Lord Beckwith. While he was not a good friend to Beckwith, he admired the man and his intellect. He also spotted him as competition. His protective behavior didn’t go unnoticed as he watched Rory escort Lady Sidney to her mother.
He proceeded to follow them when he heard a humph next to him. When he glanced to his right, he observed Lady Sophia with her arms crossed, glaring at him. Her feet beat a fast rhythm as she tried to keep her temper under control. His interest did not lie with her, but she portrayed a fetching piece when riled. Her blonde hair was piled high on her head, displaying her creamy neck, where ear bobs dangled as she shook her head. Her violet eyes shot daggers in his direction. Violet? Were her eyes really purple? He stepped closer to her to discover. When he brought himself within a few inches, he found they were. A dark amethyst that became darker as he peered into them. He felt her breath fan out across his lips as he continued to gaze into her eyes. They were fascinating to him. When she pressed her hand against his chest to push him away, he shook himself out from under her spell.
“Who is this Madame Bellerose?”
“A lady of ill repute.”
“Why were you so cruel to mention her to Sidney?”
&
nbsp; “Sometimes you must use cruelty to prevent heartache. I can understand Lady Sidney’s draw to Lord Wildeburg’s charm, but it can only end badly.”
“You cannot control them.”
“Oh, but I can, and I will. I am a duke, and I have chosen her for my bride, and that is how it will be.”
“You are a pompous man.”
“You are allowed your opinion. But let me send you a warning. Nobody—and that includes you—will stand in my way. So, tread softly, My Lady.”
The lights dimmed as the concert began. He offered his arm because he knew she would take it. For her to snub a duke would be the end to her current season and any season in the future. She slid her palm over his arm, and her fingers gripped him in frustration, which only made his smug smile grow wider. Her perfume swirled around them as they threaded their way to their seats. The only two remaining seats in their party were seated together. It would seem he must endure the concert surrounded by her anger. Well, he found it delightful, and he had succeeded in tarnishing Wilde’s name. He relaxed into his seat and divided his attention between the ladies.
“Who is Madame Bellerose?” Sidney whispered to Rory from behind her fan.
“Nobody you need to be aware of.”
“Please tell me, Rory. I must know.”
“No.”
Sidney lowered her fan and closed it to squeeze between her hands. Sadness invaded her soul when she realized she wouldn’t see Wildeburg this evening. Her anger grew when Sheffield informed her of Wilde’s current amusement. Then Rory attempted to keep her in the dark. She’d about had it with him. His brotherly concern annoyed her.
Rory sensed Sidney’s anger. He witnessed it multiple times before and knew enough to know they were about to come upon a storm if he didn’t calm her. He laid his hand over hers and loosened the fan from her grip. When she released the fan, he patted her hands to calm her. To his relief, her grasp relaxed, and she rested her palms on her skirts. As she turned her tear-filled gaze to him, he became lost in their sorrow. It was then he realized he had no chance with her, but that the other two gentlemen didn’t deserve her affections either. As long as they would pursue her, then so would he. So, for her best interests, he continued what Sheffield started. He slandered Wildeburg in her eyes.
“Madame Bellerose is the most sought after madame in all of London. She runs a brothel of the highest esteem for gentlemen in the aristocracy. Wildeburg is a frequent customer of hers, so I have heard.”
Sidney shook her head in denial to his claim. He answered with a nod of his head in the affirmative. She glanced over her shoulder to Phee, who regarded her with a look of sympathy. When she noticed the smugness covering Sheffield’s face, she felt betrayal seep into her heart. Sheffield’s looked also displayed his determination to make her his bride. When he arched his eyebrow at her, she turned back in her seat. Sidney couldn’t tell you about the concert performance, for she sat twisting her hands in her lap as she tried to control her emotions.
Why, after the affections he bestowed on her the night before and throughout the day, did he betray her with a visit to a brothel? Did he toy with her emotions as part of a game? While her heart screamed no, her mind informed her yes. Wildeburg’s dalliances were well-known throughout the ton, and she had just fallen victim to his wicked charm. When the singer sang a sorrowful passage, Sidney’s bruised heart cried. Silent tears flowed inside as her dreams of romance died on the final notes. As she stood to applaud the concert, her heart hardened, and her mind became determined to finish her research, exposing all the men and their games to the female heart.
When the concert ended, both men tried to push their way to her side to escort her around the room. She evaded them and pulled Phee into an empty room. They slipped inside the dark parlor, and Sidney sank onto the sofa.
“He preferred a brothel to my boring company.”
“You are never boring, my friend.”
“Why did I imagine I could intrigue a man of Wildeburg’s esteem?”
“He could only be so lucky for your attention.”
“I was a fool.”
Sophia rested beside her and drew her into her arms. “He was the fool, Sid.”
Sidney shed the tears she held inside herself during the concert. Wet drops slid along her face as her friend comforted her. Sophia’s soft words helped to bolster her tattered ego. When she regained control over her emotions, she sighed and rested her head on Phee’s shoulder. Neither one of them discussed Wildeburg, each confused with the gentleman’s behavior. Sophia reached into her reticule and handed Sid a handkerchief. Sid wiped her eyes and handed the garment back to Phee. She pasted a grin on her face and hugged her friend.
“Onward and upward, Phee.”
When Sidney uttered those words, Phee knew it was hopeless to persuade her with a list of excuses for Wildeburg’s absence. She already moved on, and it would be pointless to convince her of the marquess’s innocence, especially when she wasn’t convinced herself. He was a rogue who played a part in convincing her how to lure her friend into his charm. She was partly to blame for Sidney’s disappointment and felt an extreme sense of guilt.
“I’m sorry, Sidney.”
“You have nothing to apologize for. It’s my own fault I fell for his charm.”
“But I helped him.”
“Nonsense, you fell for his charm too. Only he conned you into helping his bid along.”
“But—”
“But nothing. We are finished with the subject of Lord Noah Wildeburg. He is only to be mentioned as a subject for my research. After the Havelock Ball, he will no longer be a thought in our heads. I will take my revenge on him soon enough.”
Sidney rose from the couch and held her hand for Phee. Together they made their way to their mothers’ sides. As they made small talk for the remainder of the event, Sidney was well aware of the curious glances Rory and Sheffield settled on her.
Neither man pressed their suit this evening, both aware of her vulnerable feelings. While it would be the perfect time for them to strike on their advances, both men understood her temper and didn’t want it projected amongst themselves. Tomorrow would be the earliest time to continue their pursuits.
FOR ALL OF HER ARGUMENTS with Phee on the removal of Lord Wildeburg from her mind, they were nothing but brave words to soothe her ego. As she sat at her desk taking notes, she waited for him. Every whistle of the wind or tree branch scraping her window brought her to her feet, anxiously waiting for him to climb into her bedchamber. When the hour grew late, drawing into the wee hours of the early morning, Sidney finally faced the fact that he wouldn’t appear. She blew out her light and wandered to the window, where she pulled the drapes back to peer into the garden. As she looked outside, the moon rose high in the sky with the stars shooting light into the garden. There was still no sign of Wildeburg. She glanced to the bench where he offered her candy, only to find it empty. She sighed and crawled under the covers. As she stared at the ceiling, a sense of loss invaded her soul. A loss she couldn’t understand, for it was a loss of the unknown. Still it saddened her. She rolled on her side and closed her eyes as exhaustion took hold. As she drifted to sleep, tears rolled onto her pillow, soaking into her hair.
HE WATCHED HER BEDCHAMBER from the alleyway behind her house for hours. He waited for her light to extinguish, but it never did. Wilde failed her this evening and knew, without a doubt, he had lost his chance with her. When her room was shrouded in darkness, he noticed her curtains open. Her silhouette appeared before the window as she searched the garden. Did she hope to find him there? She only waited for a moment, but it was long enough for him to decide she was worth the fight. Sidney held a goodness to her that he didn’t deserve but wanted to explore.
Wilde discovered this evening the depth of his need to conquer. After he located Sheffield at White’s, he discovered how far his friend went to slander his good name with the lady. When he came upon his friend, he found him sharing a drink with Rory Beckwith. Wi
lde’s suspicions grew when he joined their party because the two men rarely ran in the same circles. The smug smile of victory that graced Sheffield’s face was nothing compared to the glare from Beckwith. The man appeared ready to leap from his chair and slug him. He narrowed his eyes back at Beckwith, and then at Sheffield. Something was amiss, and it pointed toward Wilde.
“Bugger off, Beckwith. I need to have a private word with Sheffield.”
“Not until I discuss your involvement with Sidney.”
“Sidney who?” Wildeburg questioned while not taking his eyes off of Alex.
“Lady Sidney Hartridge,” Rory growled as he advanced on Wildeburg.
Wilde turned his head toward Beckwith, pretending indifference of the subject being discussed. “And who is she again?”
“Why, you ...” Rory gritted his teeth as he grabbed Wilde by the lapels of his suit.
By this time, every member inside the club gathered around them hoping to witness a fight. Soon, bets rang out, with Beckwith in the favor. Every gentleman of the ton knew of his temper and the strength of his fists. A good deal of them wanted revenge against Wildeburg for the attention he paid to their wives or daughters. Nobody knew yet of the reason for their altercation, and they didn’t care. It would be a source of entertainment for a dull evening.
Sheffield rose and separated the pair. He pushed Wilde into a leather chair near the fire while he whispered to Rory a promise to take care of their problem. With one last furious glance at Wildeburg, Rory strode out of the club while the patrons moaned their disappointment in the background. They questioned Beckwith as he exited, but he swatted their questions away in annoyance. Not only were the men out of watching a scuffle, they had no gossip to spread with their wives or mistresses. Sheffield waved the server over to bring Wilde a drink. Once the waiter filled their glasses, Sheffield lifted his whiskey in a toast to his friend.
“You sure know how to make enemies, my friend. Pretending ignorance of the young lady will not gain you any favors.”
Whom Shall I Kiss... an Earl, a Marquess, or a Duke? Page 11