She laughed. “I haven’t settled on one yet.”
That was only half a lie, and she felt no shame in telling it. She couldn’t exactly share her goal to win the Rathban scion with the MacCabe brothers. Donnan, at least, might get it into his head to let her father know that she wanted to marry a man by the name of Rathban, and she wasn’t about to let William risk coming home to dissuade her.
“Are you that eager, then, to return home? You could, you know. I’m perfectly safe here.”
“Did I no’ just mention muir taverns than we’ll ever get tae?” He grinned. “We were just curious if yer pleased with the pickings so far. We ken ye dinna have the whole o’ the town tae choose from, only a handful o’ young lairds.”
She chuckled. “More’n a handful, and I haven’t even seen them all yet. It’s too soon to fret over choices.”
Her two escorts arrived with a mare for her. Monty wasn’t one of them. She’d left the house for this ride long before the calling hour, so she would have an excuse to miss it. There was no point for her to court boredom in that parlor, whether her mother wanted her there or not. But if she was going to be honest with herself, she’d hoped Monty would join her for the ride. Her sisters weren’t with her, so she could have him to herself this time. She kept glancing behind her on the way to Hyde Park but was disappointed each time because she didn’t see him.
It was only when she gave up looking that he arrived. She wished it didn’t please her quite as much as it did. She wished her smile wasn’t as wide as it was, too. Did she have to be so bloody obvious that she craved his company?
“How is it that you know when I’m going for a ride? Are you spending all your time lurking in the stable waiting for me?”
“I would like to say yes—sounds rather romantic, doesn’t it? But no, I’m giving coin to a few members of your household staff to keep me apprised of your comings and goings. I was just caught unprepared this time, still abed, actually, or I would have been here sooner. And why aren’t you observing the social niceties with your sisters this morning?”
She shrugged, saying lightly, “They are being courted while I’m doing my own courting—which won’t happen in my mother’s parlor.”
“Getting yourself back into britches, are you?”
She chuckled. “I didn’t mean changing roles, only that I have my target and intend to ignore all other Romeos.”
“You wound me.”
“You aren’t a Romeo.”
“I could be, with a little encouragement.”
“Don’t tease.”
“You’re asking me to surrender half my arsenal!”
She laughed. He was often endearingly silly. And she loved his teasing, just not when it implied he might be available, which he wasn’t.
But then he said, “Since you haven’t mentioned it, dare I hope you are declining my offer of lessons?”
She raised a brow. “I thought you were sincere in wanting to help?”
“Oh, I was, but I can still hope you’ll come to your senses and leave this path you’re—”
She interrupted him. “If you are about to repeat your prediction that misery and other forms of unhappiness await me, don’t. Nothing is absolutely certain, and anything can change—and I am still considering your offer.”
“Then forgive my momentary morbidity,” he said, and offered a conciliatory grin. “Ride with me?”
She was about to say they were already riding together when she saw him pat his lap and her eyes flared wide. “Whatever for?”
“Because I long to touch you again.”
Hot color rose up her cheeks as quickly as her pulse now raced. He was doing it again, provoking her passion with mere words, and so easily! She quickly glanced ahead and cleared her throat to say, “There’s nothing wrong with my mare to require the necessity.”
“She’s lost a shoe.”
Her eyes came back to him. “No, she hasn’t.”
“Give me a moment and I’ll show you.”
She burst out laughing, amused that he would actually pry off a horseshoe just to prove his statement was true.
Chapter Thirty-six
VANESSA EXTENDED HER RIDE much longer than she meant to, but how could she not with such charming company? She was almost late for lunch because of it, so she didn’t bother to change clothes first, just removed her riding jacket. Monty couldn’t be as quick, since he didn’t dare appear at the table in his borrowed groom’s attire. And Charley arrived just after her and, in his usual chipper way, complimented everyone, even Kathleen.
It was a pleasant lunch inasmuch as Kathleen didn’t need to scold anyone. While Layla was delighted that Lord Harris had called today and she couldn’t say enough nice things about him, Emily was mostly silent, broodingly so. But Vanessa caught not one but two frowns cast her way, which made her decide to have a talk with Emily right away.
Before Vanessa left the dining room she whispered to Emily that she would like a private word, but her sister didn’t follow her out. She waited for Emily across the hallway in Kathleen’s study. And waited. Everyone except Emily had left the dining room.
Vanessa returned to the dining room, but Emily immediately said, “I’m not done eating.”
Vanessa considered that an absurd statement when only a single small slice of sausage was left on Emily’s plate and she was moving it around with her fork in a desultory manner rather than eating it. Vanessa took the seat next to her sister, saying, “We’ll talk here then.” But when she saw a single tear slip down Emily’s cheek, Vanessa gasped. “Em, what is troubling you?”
Emily’s pale blue eyes, so like her own, glared at her. “You are! I hate you! But I hate hating you!” Great sobs arrived with that confession. “And it’s tearing me to pieces—just go away.”
Vanessa was taken aback, but she certainly couldn’t leave her sister like this. “No, we’re going to discuss this until you feel better.”
“How typical of you,” Emily sneered. “Dearest Vanessa to the rescue as usual. But I won’t be feeling any better, how can I when you’ve ruined everything? Why did you have to come home?”
“I always intended to,” Vanessa said carefully. “Did you actually think I wouldn’t?”
“No, but you weren’t supposed to return this year. I was to have all the eligible bachelors to myself. You were supposed to have your Season before us, so we wouldn’t have to fight over our choices. But then you didn’t come home, and we didn’t know when you would.”
“I really don’t understand, Em. You would still have to share the crop of eligibles with Layla.”
“That’s different. Of course I would, but she’d defer to me. You, on the other hand, are entitled to first choice since you’re older. It’s not fair! You shouldn’t be here this year. My year.”
Vanessa wasn’t sure how to respond. She’d never guessed that she would come home to this sort of sibling rivalry. Had Emily been dealing with these conflicting feelings ever since she returned?
“And it’s already happening!” Emily suddenly added accusingly. “I want Monty, but he sees no one else in the room when you’re there.”
Vanessa frowned. “I suppose he’s at the top of your list?”
“He was the only one on it before we got here.”
“Of course he was, there are so few eligible gentlemen at home. And now? Is he still the only one on it?”
“Well, no—”
“Well, what I’m gathering from what you’re saying is that you want them all for yourself, leaving none for me and Layla?”
Emily’s cheeks blossomed with color. But Vanessa hadn’t meant to go on the offensive like that. Bloody hell, she’d just displayed the same jealousy Emily had—over the same man.
“I’m sorry. It appears you aren’t the only one who can be bitten in the arse by jealousy. Yes, I also like Monty. He’s a charming flirt, very amusing, but I’m aware he isn’t serious. He’s a rake, Em. Marriage isn’t what rakes have on their minds. Beside
s, if a man hasn’t shown interest in you, then he’s not worth having.”
Good Lord, was she remarking on her own situation with Daniel? But she couldn’t back away or her goal of bringing her father home would be out of reach again. And yet it was such good advice—except when a vendetta was involved.
“Easy for you to say when you’re the one he’s smitten with,” Emily snapped.
“But he’s not! That’s the point I’m making. It’s just fun and games for him, nothing more. And since I know that, I’m not going to get hurt by getting my hopes up over a man who isn’t eligible. And I’m already engaged, which you keep discounting. So answer me this, why would you waste your time and thoughts on someone who isn’t captivated by you, when so many others already are?”
Emily shot to her feet. “D’you think I haven’t tried to squelch this jealousy?! I told you I hate hating you!” The tears were back to prove it. “And you haven’t been the least bit helpful!”
Emily ran out of the room.
Exasperated, Vanessa yelled after her, “If logic won’t work, we can revert to hierarchy. I’m older and I met him first!”
Angry at herself for getting into a childish tug-of-war, she hit the table with her fist—and barely heard the tsk behind her. But she did hear it and glanced around to see Kathleen standing in the doorway with her arms crossed—and braced herself for a reprimand.
“Was it necessary to stir up all that nasty emotion?” Kathleen asked. “She’s going to have red eyes now for the ball tonight.”
Kathleen had pretty much just admitted to eavesdropping, though she didn’t appear the least bit contrite about it. “How much did you hear?” Vanessa asked.
“Just the end.”
“Were you aware that Emily is jealous of me? She thinks I came home just to ruin her Season.”
“The twins don’t confide in me, only each other,” Kathleen said. “But it does explain her quarrelsome behavior since your arrival.”
“She’s very conflicted. She doesn’t think I should marry Rathban, not only because he’s a little older than we expected but also because you picked him for me. Yet she doesn’t want me casting even a glance at any of the men on her list.”
“Do I need to be concerned about our houseguest’s attention to you?”
“Not in the least. Monty is charming but not serious. He’s amusing himself with what I believe you would call ‘a harmless flirtation.’ ”
Only a smidgen of a blush colored Kathleen’s cheeks. “I should still have a word—”
“No,” Vanessa cut in. “There is no point in embarrassing all three of us when he knows I’m already engaged. Perhaps Emily will be relieved once the engagement is official, since talking to her didn’t do a bloody bit of good.”
“Perhaps. And I’ve had word from Lord Albert this morning. Daniel will be escorting his mother to the ball tonight, so you will have another opportunity to advance the campaign, as you termed it.”
Vanessa nodded. “Good. And I meant to ask you if you know why Daniel hates his father?”
“That’s a strong word.”
“Not really, not when the mere mention of his father yesterday enraged him, and Mavis Collicot also said as much and blamed their animosity on two lost loves that Albert rejected,” Vanessa said.
“I warned you not to believe that woman. She fabricates most of her rumors. But I suppose something like that could explain Daniel’s obnoxious behavior.”
“And also why he does just the opposite of what his father would want.”
“Then we shall find out if it is true. Lady Roberts might know. I’ll broach the subject subtly tonight if she attends the ball and let you know.”
Chapter Thirty-seven
IT WAS A LARGE town house, but the small back garden and terrace were completely walled in. Montgomery stared at the wall he was considering climbing. Six bloody feet tall! He should have just dyed his hair like Charley, then they both could have gone through the front door with their fake names as part of the countess’s party. He could have averted his face during the announcement. Charley didn’t need to worry about being discovered here, but Montgomery’s face had recently been seen in London, so his false credentials wouldn’t necessarily keep him from being noticed by the wrong people, though he didn’t expect the noblemen he’d supposedly cuckolded to attend a debutante ball. Not that he cared if he moved back to the top of the gossip lists—well, actually, he did. He’d rather Vanessa not hear about those sordid affairs, fake or not.
“Your ancient bones can’t manage it?” Charley said as he leapt up to snag the top edge of the wall, pulled himself up and climbed over it.
The boy obviously considered this a fun adventure, which is why he had declined entering the house with the countess. Montgomery certainly didn’t. He should have stayed in the Blackburn house. He didn’t have to attend every ball Vanessa went to.
At least Rathban’s ball had been a much smaller affair with a carefully selected guest list. From the very long line of coaches out front, he knew this ball was far more grand and would include a fair number of crashers like himself—and too many gossips. He could still turn about, but it was too late to drag Charley away with him. The boy was already on the other side of the wall. And he told himself the only reason he was going over that wall was because he still had to keep an eye on Charley.
But it was Vanessa he looked for as soon as they entered the house. He saw her on the dance floor with a young man, resplendent in her pale yellow gown, too damn beautiful again. She appeared bored, which shouldn’t delight him but it did.
Charley had already gone off to ask one of the debutantes for a dance, leaving him to get ambushed, which is what it felt like when he heard, “Father is in town. Have you visited?”
That took his eyes off Vanessa. His sister Claire looked lovely tonight in a dark emerald gown that complemented her auburn hair and green eyes so like his own. She gave him a kiss on the cheek before he could reply, “No, and try to restrain yourself from sharing the news that I’m back in London.”
“I didn’t know you’d left. Where are you staying? A new flat?”
“With friends.”
“You ought to ask me to dance while we catch up.”
“We can catch up another time. I am otherwise occupied tonight.”
She glanced back to find out who he was looking at, but her eyes stopped on another lady. “Ah, her, your mistress.”
He followed Claire’s gaze and groaned when he saw Lady Halstead. “Don’t start, Claire. You know nothing about it.”
“But I do—Lady Halstead is not the only one. From what I heard, you were on your way to filling your stable with old mares.” And having gotten that nasty tease in, she patted his cheek. “Maybe now you’ll dance with me?”
“Maybe now I’ll throttle you. What are you even doing here?”
“Giving my husband a reason to divorce me.”
“He’s here with you?”
Her mouth turned pouty. “No, but several of his friends are and will surely tell him what a wonderful time I’m having—without him.”
“Why don’t you just get it over with and forgive him. You know you will in the end.”
“I will not! He cheated on me. He’s lucky I didn’t try to cut off—”
“Bite your tongue. If I didn’t sympathize with him before, I certainly do now. Will dancing shut you up?”
She smiled. “It might.”
He started to lead her onto the dance floor, but she paused to whisper, “Find me after you’ve dispatched this fellow. I don’t think he needs to be introduced to me.”
Montgomery didn’t recognize the older man who was walking straight toward him until he said, “I’ve sent for my seconds.”
“Lord Halstead, I presume?”
A curt nod. “We shall settle this tonight.”
The man was in his fifties and of diminutive stature, at least a half foot shorter than Montgomery. There was no anger in his expression, j
ust deadly resolve. After four written demands for a duel and now this fifth one, Halstead obviously felt a duel was mandatory given the situation, whether the reason for it was true or not.
But Montgomery’s resolve hadn’t changed, either. He wouldn’t kill a man over something he had only pretended to do. And yet he still couldn’t give up the absolute truth to the fellow.
So he said in a low tone, “Let me propose this instead, a test of marksmanship tomorrow. You can even bring your seconds, and we will shoot at targets, rather than each other. If you win, I’ll agree to a true duel then and there. If I win, we can put this nonsense behind us.”
Halstead hadn’t looked angry before but he certainly did now. “You want me to audition for a duel with you? By God, I should challenge you again for that slur on my marksmanship!”
“You can kill me only once.”
“To my regret, but I’ll have my once. You’ll be hearing from me—”
“Can we not do this again?” Monty said in an earnest whisper before the older man marched off. “I didn’t bed your wife, man. I only tried to. What a man does when he’s foxed shouldn’t lead to anyone dying. And I do vaguely recall being rebuffed by her.” And then with a note of regret in his voice, he added, “But if you insist—?”
There was a very long pause before Halstead said, “Perhaps not.”
Montgomery was a little incredulous as the man walked away from him. Bloody hell, it was that easy? Maybe he should try that excuse on Lord Chanders tomorrow as well and see if his luck held. It still wasn’t the truth, but it preserved George’s supposed innocence, and the respective wives’ fidelity. Drink was the scoundrel instead of himself!
He caught up to his sister and whirled her onto the dance floor. “I’m feeling much better,” he said with a grin.
“Nasty business all solved?”
“Very likely.”
“How many more must be placated?”
“Just one. But don’t believe a word you’re hearing, Claire—just don’t defend me, either.”
“We thought you were more discreet,” she huffed.
Temptation's Darling Page 23