The Disgraceful Lord Gray

by Virginia Heath

  ‘Of course you did.’ Gray winked saucily. ‘Rich food. A pre-dawn stroll and wearing the first clothes you could grab. Such excellent embellishment and so early... You old dog!’ It had the most spectacular effect.

  Clenched fists at his sides. Blinking and stuttering. ‘Keep your filthy accusations to yourself, Gray! I went for a walk, damn it. I haven’t seen her ladyship since I left her last night!’

  ‘Of course, sir. And let’s not forget the indigestion. Did the exercise help it in any way?’

  The sound of horses outside prevented Gray’s immediate murder. Two agents burst in without knocking and got straight to the point. ‘There have been developments, sir. The Excise Men have captured a ship at Leiston! It’s full to the brim, sir.’

  ‘Do we have the crew?’ Lord Fennimore snapped into action, his embarrassment and indigestion now miraculously cured.

  ‘Every single one of them. And there’s more, sir. Within the last half-hour, an express arrived at Gislingham Hall. The rider must have been minutes behind ours on the road from the coast.’

  Nobody needed to mention how significant this coincidence was. It was their first tangible clue that The Boss and Gislingham were one and the same. ‘I assume you are planning to check on Archimedes this morning?’

  ‘I was heading there straight after breakfast.’

  ‘Good. Observe the lay of the land, but tread cautiously. I’ll head to Leiston to interrogate the crew.’ The light of battle was in Lord Fennimore’s eyes. ‘The net is closing in, gentlemen. This is the most perilous time. Keep your wits about you and don’t make any mistakes. One wrong move now and we destroy a year’s worth of work.’

  * * *

  Less than an hour later, Gray trotted casually into Viscount Gislingham’s stable yard with Trefor in tow, expecting to see some hint of uproar, but instead nothing appeared out of the ordinary. He dismounted and went directly to Archimedes, who was gingerly putting some weight on his newly strapped leg as he munched on hay. Only after he had given the animal a thorough going-over did he risk heading to the house to report the good news to Thea.

  To his surprise, the ancient butler immediately invited him upstairs to the Viscount’s private apartments where the old man was sat eating a jovial breakfast with his niece as if he hadn’t a care in the world. ‘Lord Gray! Sit! Sit. Cook has outdone herself with the coddled eggs this morning. You won’t be disappointed. Will it be coffee or chocolate today?’

  Next to him, Thea beamed and, despite his important mission, everything else went out of Gray’s mind as he basked in her smile. He sat in the chair directly opposite, allowing himself a surreptitious inhale of her sultry jasmine perfume as she lent down to make a fuss of the bouncing Trefor at her side, then caught the Viscount eyeing him with interest. ‘Coffee, if you please.’ He needed his wits about him today of all days. But, lord, she looked lovely this morning. ‘How are you this fine morning, my lord?’

  ‘Cannot grumble, young man. I slept like the dead and woke with the lark. And today promises to be most entertaining. Harriet is coming around to paint my portrait.’ He chuckled, nudging Gray with his elbow. ‘Is it wrong that I find myself delighted at the prospect? There is a disastrous inevitability about it, which appeals to my warped sense of the ridiculous. I am determined to hang the finished monstrosity in the gallery next to my father’s portrait. Purely to vex the old tyrant. He always took himself far too seriously.’

  Concentrating proved difficult as Gray felt Thea lean to pour his coffee and his eyes involuntarily flicked to hers. Locked. Held. They did that a lot nowadays. Lingering glances and knowing looks that negated the need for words. All very worrying, but equally as special. All seemingly as natural as breathing. ‘I hope you two youngsters aren’t going to waste this glorious day inside.’

  ‘I have a basket to deliver in the village if Trefor would appreciate the walk?’

  He needed to stay close to the hall. ‘Trefor always appreciates a walk. And a good sniff. We’ll happily accompany you.’ He really needed to work harder at being a better spy. ‘At least for a little while.’ Where he would use the time to subtly interrogate her as well as thoroughly enjoy her company. He watched her rise and prepare a plate for him and tried not to wish she could be there for every breakfast.

  ‘I suppose at some point I should ask you about your intentions, young man.’

  ‘I’m sorry?’ His head whipped around to find the Viscount grinning.

  ‘One of those cringingly awkward man-to-man conversations which have been laid down in the statutes, where I stand like an admiral inspecting the fleet, rocking on my heels and piercing you with my overprotective and fatherly glare.’ Gray felt the colour drain from his face, not at all liking the direction things were going. ‘I shall enquire about your prospects and be generally intimidating.’

  ‘Er...well...’ Exactly how did he get out of this without hurting Thea, insulting the Viscount and jeopardising the mission? The plate of coddled eggs appeared in front of him alongside Thea’s hand on his back. He felt that touch everywhere. Didn’t want it to end.

  ‘He’s testing you. For his own wicked amusement. And you are failing abominably.’ She sat down, her own cheeks a little pink, he noticed. ‘He’s been doing the same to me since you knocked me into the brook.’

  ‘And I’ve got precious little out of her. It has both me and Harriet intrigued. The pair of you have been the source of much speculation.’

  Thea pointed at her uncle with her fork. ‘Desist or I shall tell Bertie you have been very lax with your exercises and I caught you smoking that cigar.’

  ‘Talk of the devil and the devil appears.’ The Viscount’s manservant suddenly filled the door frame, still in his travelling clothes.

  ‘Bertie! You’re home early!’ Yet another pertinent coincidence this morning. Thea tossed down her napkin and greeted the servant like a dear friend, kissing him on the cheek. ‘We didn’t expect you for another week at least.’

  The manservant and his master shared an odd look, one that spoke volumes. ‘I knew I was needed, so cut my visit short. Lax in his exercises, you say? Then I am glad I came home...’

  * * *

  Aside from that look, nothing else untoward happened in the next hour. Bertie disappeared and then reappeared just as quickly in fresh clothes. Neither man seemed in a hurry to do anything or seemed particularly perturbed. Harriet arrived with her easel and among much hilarity she began to paint. As they left, Gray took his time, watching the servants, the outbuildings and the drive for signs that something was amiss. But if The Boss was bothered about losing a ship loaded with brandy as well as its entire scurvy crew, he did a very good job of hiding it.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Gray was unusually quiet for the rest of breakfast, something Thea entirely blamed her uncle for. Intentions and prospects indeed, when neither of them had discussed anything vaguely romantic since their truce! Although the past week had been romantic as far as she was concerned. She had never spent so much pleasant time with a man. And although he never instigated any of their casual walks or rides after he had attended to Archimedes, he had never turned a suggestion down either. Which she had decided to take as a very good sign, despite the dire lack of flirting or touching or incendiary heated looks.

  If anything, he had been the perfect gentleman. Rigidly sticking to the parameters of their truce but allowing their new friendship to blossom. She was glad for that—but wanted more. Especially since Impetuous Thea had been out in the wild for seven whole days now, too, and nothing untoward had happened at all. She never curbed her in front of Gray or Harriet and had twice told her uncle off quite forcibly. Once for the sneaky cigar she had caught him with and then briskly confiscated, and once for his shameless cheating at chess. Both times he had bristled and bit back, and neither time did he keel over. It encouraged her to be bolder, which in turn made her feel lighter and happier
than she had in years. It also made her wonder if that boldness might be just what was needed to give Gray a gentle nudge to let him know she was open and receptive to more should he feel inclined. The more she got to know him, the more it seemed a shame that such a warm and passionate man was so averse to allowing himself to love again.

  His was a big heart, filled with joy, and it was increasingly playing havoc with hers. With each meeting, a little more of her wariness melted away and she became more convinced he wasn’t forbidden fruit, but the man for her. And she was the woman for him.

  Yesterday, she had almost kissed him. They had been walking along, chatting amiably and laughing, then her eyes had locked with his and lingered. She had instinctively licked her lips and watched those wolf-like irises darken, found herself leaning towards him in invitation. Then lost her nerve at the last moment, fearing she had misread the signals or might push him away because he was adamantly wary of anything involving hearts. Particularly when one of the hearts was his.

  They had discussed that a little this past week also, always at Thea’s instigation, too, and although it was still clearly a very sore topic, he had opened up. Enough that she was now convinced it was the fear of heartbreak that made him keep his heart at arm’s length, rather than his continued deep and abiding love for the awful woman who had broken it. In fact, he had confessed yesterday also that he now had to concentrate hard to properly recall Cecily’s face. Something which had apparently surprised him, but made Thea’s heart soar.

  Because her wary heart was waning. Instead of being instantly suspicious or worried about his motives, she found herself thoroughly enjoying each and every moment in a way she never had before. She got butterflies before she saw him, tingles once she did and a delightfully warm feeling deep inside simply knowing they occupied the same planet. As well as a completely different sort of warm feeling every single time she looked at him or pictured him naked in the brook.

  ‘Fetch the ball, Trefor!’

  Shamelessly she feasted on the sight of him pulling back his arm and throwing the tattered ball, admiring the way the muscles in his shoulders and back bunched. He really was a very fine specimen of manhood. Once she plucked up the courage to kiss him again, she was going to allow Impetuous Thea to thoroughly explore those muscles. He glanced back, then paused to wait for her, his eyes fixed on Trefor as he bounded through the tall grass after his beloved cricket ball. ‘I meant to ask—one of the grooms mentioned your uncle received an express early this morning. I trust it was not bad news.’

  ‘He did?’ That was news to her. ‘He never mentioned anything, so I doubt it was of much importance.’

  ‘Perhaps they were mistaken. He seemed in perfectly good spirits. It was good of Bertie to come back early, although I am not certain your uncle was as surprised to see him as you were. He looked relieved, though—as if he had wanted him back.’

  ‘Bertie is his right arm. Always has been—but more so since his stroke. He’s worked for Uncle Edward for all the years I have been alive and longer. Although I have no idea how many years. I’ve never thought to ask. Dear Bertie is the only person truly able to make my stubborn uncle do what he is supposed to.’ Without his diligence, he might have died in those first dreadful weeks after the stroke.

  ‘Really? He holds that much sway?’

  ‘Much more than me, I’m sorry to say. But then Bertie doesn’t have my fiery temper or my uncle’s pig-headedness. He simply issues calm instructions and miraculously we all comply. It’s his gift.’

  ‘I wish I could manipulate people to do my bidding.’

  ‘Me, too. Perhaps we both need to be more overt in our manipulations? Perhaps that is the secret. It certainly seems to be working for Harriet.’ Something Thea was becoming more and more envious of. ‘She seems to have your dour cousin Cedric eating out of her hand.’ Gray grinned wickedly, then chuckled, but didn’t elaborate as he picked up his pace. ‘You know something, don’t you?’

  ‘I do.’ Gray bent to wrestle the soggy ball out of Trefor’s jaws and threw it again into the trees that hid the brook. ‘But daren’t tell you.’

  ‘Daren’t? Is it a secret? For if it is, I have to tell you Harriet will tell me herself.’

  ‘I doubt that. It’s not for delicate ears.’

  ‘My ears are hardly delicate! And it shows how little you know Harriet if you think she would censor something. I have been privy to some eye-opening confessions.’ Harriet was a great fan of bed sport, as she called it. ‘Besides, it strikes me as grossly unfair that you should know something that I don’t.’ He had jogged on ahead after the dog, forcing her to sprint after him and catch him by the arm. ‘Tell me, you wretch! Did you catch him stealing a kiss?’

  He grinned and shook his head. ‘So innocent... Worse!’ He was laughing, the deep sound doing odd things to her nerve endings.

  ‘Worse?’ He watched her puzzle it through, making no attempt to hide his delight when shock replaced curiosity. ‘Oh, my goodness! They are...’ She felt her cheeks heat as she struggled to find the polite term for the act she suspected.

  ‘The word is lovers, Thea.’ He raised his dark eyebrows suggestively. ‘In truth, I’ve been itching to tell you all morning, because nobody is as shocked or thoroughly entertained by the situation as I am. But there is no doubt. He came home at the crack of dawn this morning, attempting to creep in in the exact evening clothes he went to hers to dine in last night—minus his cravat.’

  ‘There might be a perfectly innocent explanation...’ Harriet was incorrigible. She knew that in her bones. Although scandalous, part of Thea—the impetuous and wilful part—couldn’t help but be impressed. Her friend didn’t waste time with doubt or overthinking. When she wanted something, she leapt.

  ‘There was nothing innocent in his guilty, convoluted excuses or the brilliance of his beetroot face. Consequently, I am left in no doubt that our older and wiser companions have...’

  ‘Seen each other naked.’ He roared with laughter and Thea found herself giggling. ‘Oh, my goodness. Cedric and Harriet...do you think this is just an affair or something more...serious?’

  He paused as if considering it for the first time. ‘I have no idea. Cedric keeps his cards very close to his chest. They have been spending an inordinate amount of time together.’

  ‘So have we.’ The words had popped out before she could stop them and then she saw his shoulders stiffen. ‘By which I mean, they might just be friends. As we are.’

  His shoulders relaxed. ‘Yes, but they have seen each other naked. There is a difference.’

  ‘I’ve seen you naked.’ What was the matter with her? Why was she intent on spoiling a perfectly lovely walk by pushing him into discussing something he really did not want to discuss.

  ‘Again, there is a difference. You saw me in the altogether from a polite distance. Their nakedness was up close.’ There had been nothing polite in the way her eyes had greedily drunk in the sight.

  ‘Do you know, I was secretly rather jealous of you and Trefor that day? It’s been so hot and that water looked so cool. Then, of course, thanks to Trefor, I got to enjoy it.’

  ‘Fully clothed is hardly the same. You should give it a go one day when there’s nobody around. A naughty bit of nude bathing sounds exactly like the sort of pursuit Impetuous Thea would enjoy.’ She would. Except Impetuous Thea wanted to do it with him. An errant thought which made her suddenly peculiarly warm.

  ‘I suspect it’s something Trefor is currently enjoying.’ Gray stared at the trees and shook his head. ‘His absence suggests he’s clearly been waylaid by the water again.’ It was exactly then that Thea’s toes reached the edge of the mystical precipice Harriet kept going on about and immediately all her friend’s advice made sense. If there was any sort of future between her and Gray beyond this lovely friendship they shared, then one of them had to leap.

  * * *

  They
found the dog swimming backwards and forwards with the ball clamped in his mouth, his tail swishing from side to side like a rudder. Gray tried to get him to stop, feeling slightly uncomfortable that they were in this intimate, secluded spot when moments ago they had been talking about it and other wholly inappropriate things, and his mind was now filled with images of Thea floating naked in the water. Copper hair unbound and fanned out on the surface.

  He never should have told her about old Fennimore and Harriet. No matter how easy he found her to talk to, how frank and open and honest their conversations were, there were certain subjects a gentleman didn’t discuss with a woman who wasn’t his in the biblical sense. Now all he could think about was what it would be like to know her in a biblical sense and that was playing havoc with his senses.

  Obviously, she wasn’t similarly affected, because she made herself comfortable on the bank. ‘Oh, to be a dog! Leave him be for a little while. I’m in no hurry and I’d hate to spoil his fun.’ She patted the ground next to her, a place he really did not want to be. Not when his breeches were suddenly tighter and all he wanted to do was kiss her again—and more.

  ‘I should check on my grooms. They claim they will have the exercise yard cleared by today.’ Good grief, he sounded jittery. But his feelings regarding Thea were becoming more complicated with every passing day.

  ‘Then leave Trefor with me. I might just allow Impetuous Thea to join him in the water.’ She offered him a mischievous half-smile, peering up at him through her ridiculously long lashes which his rampant body responded to immediately. He really didn’t want to know that. Or be beyond excited at the idea. Not when he was failing abysmally at being a better spy thanks to his overpowering need to be with her.