It Started With a Whisper

by Dawn Brower

  The blush that stained her cheeks was more than endearing, and Reese quickly rounded the back of his phaeton and then climbed up onto the seat beside her.

  Miss Beckett glanced over the edge of the conveyance and then turned her attention to Reese. “Is this safe?”

  “Being seen with me? Or riding in this phaeton?”

  She did laugh then, and it appeared some of her anxiety dissipated. “I foolishly already made the decision to be seen with you, but riding in this thing is another matter.”

  “Are you so timid, Miss Beckett?” he teased. “You seemed, last night, like a girl with a spine of steel.”

  “Just be careful, will you?” she asked as she slid closer to him on the bench. “I’d rather not fall to my death.”

  If she’d sit that close to him for the duration of the ride, he’d be as careful as she wanted. “I’d never put you in any sort of jeopardy.” Then he unhooked the ribbons and urged his bays back down Curzon Street toward the park.

  After a moment, Reese glanced back down at the pretty redhead beside him and said, “So, how are you enjoying London?”

  The question seemed to take her off guard, or perhaps it was just her fear of riding in his high perch phaeton. “It’s…delightful,” she finally replied, though she didn’t sound like she meant that in the least.

  Reese wasn’t certain why but her reaction struck him as particularly amusing and a laugh escaped him. “Come now, Miss Beckett,” he began. “If you don’t care for London, you won’t hurt my feelings.”

  She tilted her head slightly as though to see him better and said, “You won’t think I’m awful if I admit to preferring Bermuda to England?”

  “I said London,” he teased her once more. “Certainly, you can’t prefer any place in the world as much as you do England.”

  At that, she laughed in response. “Have you been to Bermuda?”

  “I’m afraid I have not.” But if all the girls there were like her…

  “Well, you can’t possibly know if England is superior, then, can you?”

  “I am English.” He winked at her. “That is all the proof I need.”

  “Ah, spoken like a proper Englishman,” she replied with another laugh.

  Reese directed his bays into Hyde Park and glanced down at her beside him on the bench, once more. The sun reflected off her fiery hair and he couldn’t help but be enchanted every moment he’d spent in her company.

  Refreshing.

  She was refreshing in her honesty and there was something about her that was more than engaging. He couldn’t help but want to know every single thing there was to know about the Bermudian beauty.

  “Well, now you have me intrigued,” he said as they started toward Rotten Row.

  “Do I?” She grinned up at him.

  In more ways than one. “What is so remarkable about your island home?” he asked.

  “What is so remarkable about yours?” she countered, her light green eyes twinkling just so.

  Reese laughed in response. She did charm him, even though he suspected she was not trying to do so. “Certainly, you don’t expect to win votes by saying such things.”

  “Certainly not,” she agreed. “But since you don’t have a vote…”

  “Then you can be completely honest with me?”

  “Something like that.”

  “Speaking of votes, I’m certain you’ll be delighted to know that Mellor has agreed to vote your way when the time comes.”

  “Indeed?” She blinked up at him, her mouth slightly open in surprise. Damn it all, she was very likely the most stunning girl in all of London this season. “You really did that for me? Calling in that debt he owes you?”

  “I am at your service,” Reese replied and then slowed his bays as the line of open air coaches along the row was now moving at a slower pace.

  “I don’t know what to say.” And then she shook her head in surprise. “Thank you.”

  He glanced back down at her and grinned. “I am hoping you will now reward me, Miss Beckett.”

  “A reward?” Her pretty eyes twinkled once again. “That sounds very dangerous, Reese.”

  It certainly could be, Reese supposed, but he’d been mostly on his best behavior with her. “It’s not so much to want to call you Cara, is it?”

  Her answering grin lifted his heart slightly. “Only when we’re alone? When it’s just the two of us?”

  Alone. Was there any lovelier word in the English language? Reese winked at her. “I shall endeavor to find as many opportunities as possible for it to only be the two of us, then, Cara.”

  Her grin widened. “I shall look forward to those endeavors, Reese.”

  So would he, but before he could say as much…

  “Reese Delacy!” a familiar voice called out from across the row.

  Damn it all! Only one person in the world called him that and he’d been avoiding her summons ever since that damned Lady X had whispered about him all over Town. Reese glanced toward a carriage heading for them from the opposite direction, and he groaned when his fears were confirmed.

  “Who is that?” Cara asked.

  “My sister,” he grumbled in response. His oldest one, to be precise. He supposed he was fortunate it was just Sophia with a couple of friends instead of all of his sisters ready to thrash him about the ears, though dealing with Sophia alone would be bad enough. She was the most formidable of the lot.

  The driver of an open-air coach directed his conveyance up alongside Reese’s high perch phaeton. There were three ladies inside the coach in question, two with dark hair and one who matched Reese’s coloring with her light brown locks and warm eyes. His sister. She had to be.

  “Sophia,” Reese muttered in greeting.

  And if Cara was in any doubt about the lady’s identity, the light-haired woman leveled the handsome earl with a rather icy stare. “I sent you a note, Reese Delacy.” Then she shook her head. “Actually, I’ve sent you a number of them.”

  “I have been occupied, Soph,” Reese replied.

  The lady’s gaze flicked toward Cara briefly. “So I see.” Then she returned her attention back to her brother. “You’ll come by Plumstead House tomorrow, won’t you? We’re overdue for a chat.”

  But Reese shook his head. “Sorry, my dear,” he replied as he gestured to Cara. “Miss Beckett and I are headed to the Hadleigh fair tomorrow. Perhaps after we return to Town in a few days.”

  “The Hadleigh fair?” the younger of the dark-haired ladies asked. “We are headed there ourselves the day after tomorrow, aren’t we, Marianne?”

  “Y-yes,” the older woman replied a bit nervously.

  “Apologies.” Reese turned his attention to Cara and gestured to the three ladies in the other coach. “My sister the Countess of Plumstead; her friend Viscountess Fitzhugh, and her sister-in-law Lady St. Giles. My ladies, this is the lovely Miss Cara Beckett of St. George’s in Bermuda.”

  “A pleasure to make your acquaintances.” Cara smiled at the trio. “Did you say you’re traveling to the Hadleigh fair as well?” she asked Lady St. Giles.

  The raven-haired beauty nodded in agreement. “One of my husband’s favorite events. We never miss it.”

  St. Giles? Cara wasn’t familiar with the title, but the fact that his lordship never missed the fair did make her hopeful that the event would be one that would allow her to meet a number of sitting lords who might be influenced in regard to her cause.

  “I’m certain we’ll see you there,” Reese said to the lady, then he glanced toward his sister. “I’ll be sure to call on you upon my return to Town, Soph.”

  “I will find you, if you don’t,” Lady Plumstead threatened.

  “I’d be disappointed if you didn’t try.” Reese tipped his cap in farewell to his sister and her friends, and then urged his pair forward, leaving the trio of ladies behind them. Once they were far enough along to be out of earshot, he glanced down at Cara and said, “St. Giles does not have a vote. There’s no use wasting y
our time on him.”

  Well, that was unfortunate. “How did you know what I was thinking?”

  “Have you engaged in many thoughts that have nothing to do with Bermuda since you arrived in London?”

  Her cheeks burned slightly at the accusation. Was she so easily read? Or was Reese just particularly good at doing so? “I’m sure I’ve had one or two.”

  He chuckled in response. “Oh, to be the focus of those one or two errant thoughts…”

  Cara rolled her eyes playfully. “You are the slightest bit arrogant. Are you aware?”

  “Indeed.” He agreed with a nod, his warm eyes twinkling a bit wickedly. “But not without cause, Cara, I assure you.”

  There was something in the way he said her name that sent a set of tingles racing down her spine. Some girl, any girl who wasn’t aware of his wager and goal might very easily find herself in love with him. But Cara did know of his wager, and she could not let him distract her from her ultimate goal. “Well, unfortunately for you, I did come to London with a purpose.”

  “Yes, yes.” He heaved a sigh. “But focusing even a thought about St. Giles is a waste of time. Someday he’ll be the Duke of Margate, but not yet.”

  “Margate?” Cara echoed. She knew that name. Papa had mentioned the duke’s unwavering support for the Bahamian claim. Perhaps Lord and Lady St. Giles weren’t a waste of time after all. “Do you suppose he’ll be there? His Grace?” If she could make any inroads with Margate…

  Reese laughed at the suggestion. “The duke is a curmudgeon of the worst variety. If he ever stepped foot near a fair I’m certain his son and everyone else in the vicinity would die of shock.”

  “They don’t get along? Margate and his son?”

  “About as well as Cronus and Zeus on any average day, I suppose.”

  “Before or after Zeus overthrew his father?”

  Reese laughed in response. “I don’t believe it would matter either way.”

  Cara shook her head, a bit of disappointment settled in her chest. “So a connection to Lady St. Giles…”

  “Is completely worthless,” Reese finished for her. “You’ll be better off trying to charm some fellow who’s already a peer in his own right.”

  “Indeed?” She couldn’t help but tease him. “So I should abandon you upon our arrival? Is that what you’re saying?”

  “Minx.” He playfully scowled down at her. “I would never say such a thing.”

  “Then what are you saying?”

  “That you are the most lovely girl I’ve ever seen, and that perhaps you could spare one or two thoughts for me while we’re on the Essex coast.”

  “Just one or two?” Did he really think she was lovely? Or was he just saying that?

  “Well, I’d like all of them, if we’re being honest.”

  If they were being honest…A prick of something pierced Cara’s heart. They were, after all, not being honest. Not either one of them with the other, both of them playing at ulterior motives. And yet, she was not sorry for that. After all, if she hadn’t agreed to participate in the duchess’ ridiculous plan to win her wager, she would never have met Reese. And, in her heart, Cara was quite certain that would have been a tragedy, even if she should be wholly focused on Beckett Salt.

  “Will three or four suffice?” she asked and couldn’t help but grin.

  “At least we’re moving in the right direction.”

  Chapter 5

  DAY THREE

  The River Thames

  Westminster Bridge Stairs, London

  Reese stepped onto the barge and then turned back to help Cara onto the Hadleigh vessel as well. When she took his hand and looked up at him with her soft green eyes, he would have sworn the world stopped spinning and that something inside him melted a bit. He’d already convinced her to let him call her Cara. How much would he have to do in order to earn a kiss? He smiled at the thought of holding her in his arms, of kissing away all other thoughts but of him from her head.

  She eyed him a bit warily and said, “I think I’m afraid to know what’s going on in your mind.”

  He grinned even wider. “Where you’re concerned, that’s probably always wise.”

  The light pink that stained her cheeks was more than endearing. “You are—”

  But whatever she meant to say was cut off when Arch Atherton clapped a hand to Reese’s back.

  “Excellent! You made it, old man,” his friend said.

  Where in the world had he even come from? And then Reese glanced around the deck and realized there were quite a few people already aboard and that they were looking at him…and Cara. A fair number of them were looking at her as well. And the daggers Miss Emma Atherton was shooting in Reese’s direction would have been impossible to miss. That damned Lady X and her bloody whispers.

  “Miss Beckett!” Miss Atherton called, waving her hand in the air. “Do come join me.”

  Cara glanced up at Reese. “I’ve been summoned.”

  “You’d best go,” he whispered. “Her father is an influential Tory. He could do wonders for your cause.”

  “When put that way…” Her eyes crinkled as she smiled before she turned on her heel and started directly for Miss Atherton.

  And Reese’s gut twisted at the idea that the girl in question might fill Cara’s ears with the details of his wager. He glanced at Atherton a few feet away and leaned closer to his friend. “Your sister isn’t going to ruin things for me, is she?”

  Atherton shook his head. “She thinks you’re the worst sort of villain, but Emma isn’t the sort to tell tales out of school.”

  Reese wasn’t necessarily reassured by that statement. “I hardly think I’m the worst sort of villain.”

  “No, of course not,” his friend chuckled. “First there’s Nero, Caligula, Attila the Hun, Napoleon, and then you.”

  “Oh?” Reese grumbled. “In that order, is it?”

  Atherton laughed in response. “I’m sure by the end of the fair Emma will have come around. In the meantime, she’ll keep a watchful eye on Miss Beckett.”

  “In other words, she’ll keep me at bay.”

  “Something like that,” his friend agreed. Then he smiled over Reese’s shoulder and called toward the shore. “We were just about to leave without you, Gates.”

  Reese turned around to find Lucien about to climb onto the barge, trying to steady himself with his cane. Reese started toward the edge and offered a hand to his friend. “The water’s not all that smooth today. Step carefully.”

  Lucien accepted Reese’s help and cautiously made his way onto the barge. “Thank you,” he muttered to his friend. “Not even certain why I agreed to this.”

  “Because you’re determined to put the past behind you and move forward with the rest of your life?” Reese suggested.

  “Yes, well, we’ll see if that’s possible.” Lucien sighed. “But don’t get your hopes up.”

  “How long have you been in London?” Miss Atherton asked as she drew Cara down next to her on a wooden bench.

  “Barely a sennight,” Cara replied and smiled at the dark-haired girl beside her. “You’re quite kind to extend this invitation to me, I know so few people in Town.”

  “Honestly, more the merrier,” Miss Atherton replied though her brow knitted with concern. “But you’ve only just been here a sennight?”

  “During this trip, yes.” Cara nodded. “Though I’ve spent quite a bit of time in England when I was younger. Papa was from Kent,” she explained. “And he had business here from time to time.”

  Miss Atherton nodded. “Well, I hope this particular stay will be delightful.”

  Delightful would be nice, but Cara would much rather settle for successful. After all, her success here would be much more important in the long run than any sort of enjoyment she might have while in Town.

  “Do you mind if I offer a bit of advice?” the dark-haired girl asked.

  Advice? Heavens, was Cara going about something the wrong way? And was it so very o
bvious to be noted upon? “Please do so,” she said.

  “I’m not certain what sort of people you’re accustomed to dealing with in Bermuda, but here—” she winced “—Well, here, people are not always whom they appear to be. The most charming fellow, for instance, could really be the worst sort of villain if you’re not careful. A wolf in sheep’s clothing, so to speak.”

  Reese. Cara’s gaze darted across the barge to land on the handsome earl. Miss Atherton was, in her very soft-spoken, English way trying to warn Cara about the duplicitous earl; and that was rather sweet of her. The girl could have very waspishly spilled all of the details about Lady X’s whispers, without a care for how such information might affect Cara. But Emma Atherton seemed honestly concerned for her well-being which was refreshing as the majority of English society had never given her much notice or care over the years. She was, after all, half Irish and the daughter of a tradesman. But Miss Atherton’s kindheartedness was refreshing and Cara decided to put the girl’s fears at rest.

  “I know about Lord Darling’s wager,” she quietly admitted.

  “You do?” Miss Atherton’s silvery eyes rounded in surprise. “Then why—”

  “Why would I have anything to do with him?” At the girl’s nod, Cara continued, “Would you believe I simply enjoy his company?” There was, after all, no reason to divulge the information about the duchess’ wager. Miss Atherton seemed a very sweet girl, but she was barely an acquaintance and hardly a trusted friend.

  The other girl shook her head. “So you’re not entertaining ideas of a match—”

  “With Lord Darling?” Cara laughed in response. “No, no, Miss Atherton, I didn’t come to London for the marriage mart or with ideas of finding any sort of match at all.”

  But the thought that anyone might come to London for any other reason hardly seemed possible to the girl, and she simply blinked at Cara.

  “I’ve come to influence a particular vote in parliament,” she explained. After all, that was why she’d come; and Reese had told her that Miss Atherton’s father was an influential Tory. There was no reason to pretend otherwise, especially if the girl might be of assistance.