“We?”
“Father has been in London all this time since you and I last spoke. D’you think he’s gone deaf and wouldn’t hear these rumors?”
“How angry is he?”
“Very.”
He sighed. “You were correct, I am discreet—unless there’s a reason I ought not to be. Trust me. You will laugh about this nonsense someday.”
She raised a brow. “That’s it? I’m to make do with a promise of an explanation—someday?”
“You could remember that I’m your favorite brother—”
“Who says you are?”
“And you know me very well, so you must have already concluded that there is more to this than silly rumors.”
“Who says I have?”
He gave her a tender look before kissing her cheek. “I do, because I know you very well, too—except when it comes to your husband. Shall we discuss him again?”
“I think we’re done talking,” she said, and left him there in the middle of the dancers.
But the music had stopped, and as Vanessa passed him, he pulled her away from the fellow escorting her back to her mother. She gave him an inscrutable look, but he didn’t have time to wonder why when the orchestra started playing and he began to dance with her.
“Again you don’t ask?” she said curtly.
“Again I don’t want to cry if you rebuff me.”
That should have gotten a smile from her, but her expression didn’t change. She was definitely annoyed about something.
“I was wondering if you would come tonight, Montgomery Townsend.”
And there it was. If she’d heard his real name here, he didn’t doubt she’d heard a great deal more.
Which she confirmed when she nodded toward Lady Halstead. “Really? Her? She’s old enough to be—”
“Yes, yes, so people keep telling me,” he cut in, then added drolly, “I must not have noticed.”
“Too foxed at the time?”
“Or it was too dark.” He didn’t want her to think badly of him, so he leaned closer to whisper, “Some things are not what they seem.”
She gave him a skeptical look before glancing away. He was struck with an odd frustration because she was displeased with him and he couldn’t say anything that would get him back in her good graces. But he couldn’t believe that she was jealous over rumors about affairs that had supposedly occurred before they’d even met. Was she just very disappointed in his choice of paramours?
And then he noticed who Vanessa was suddenly glaring at and laughed. “My sister Claire is here. She’s going to wonder why you’re casting daggers at her.”
Chapter Thirty-eight
VANESSA ROLLED HER EYES. She did not just get jealous over his sister. Embarrassed that he knew she’d done exactly that, she started to leave the dance floor. But Monty—Montgomery—followed her. “Don’t blush, it clashes with your glorious hair. Would you like to meet Claire?”
“No.” She said it too soon, when she realized she would like to. So she stopped so he could come abreast of her.
“Dare I guess you won’t be glaring at her anymore?” he asked.
“You have another life. I’ve known that from the beginning.” And then she grinned. “I’ll keep my daggers sheaved. It won’t happen again.”
“Well that’s a shame. Other than being briefly confused by your jealousy, now that I’m not, I—”
“Talk too much.”
“—find it a delightful surprise,” he finished.
“Really talk too much,” she repeated. “And that’s enough amusement for you tonight. Besides, I’ve changed my mind. I’d like to meet your sister.”
“By all means,” he said, and walked her over to Claire to make the introductions.
Same hair, same eyes, why couldn’t she just have noticed the resemblance immediately? She couldn’t believe she’d gotten jealous, and over nothing. That silly rumor about him and older women she hadn’t credited in the least and would have only teased him about it. But a woman as lovely as Claire was another matter.
And she was charming—and a teaser like her brother. “A pleasure, Vanessa, and you’re so young!”
Vanessa laughed. Monty was the one glaring daggers now, because that was a direct hit about the rumors about him that were circulating through the ton, and she wasn’t clueless, having just heard them tonight herself.
But Claire didn’t overdo the dig, she politely went neutral in asking, “Where did you two meet?”
Vanessa wasn’t about to answer that, pistols and rebels and—no, not a word. But Monty apparently didn’t want any of that known, either, because he went for an even bigger whopper. “At the Rathban ball the other night.”
“Is it true the parents are determined to get their errant son leg-shackled this Season?”
“Was their throwing a ball for him that obvious?”
“Oh, indeed. So many mothers were chirping about it today. He is quite a catch, and it’s such a surprise that he’s finally putting himself on the marriage block.”
Monty looked at Vanessa before he replied, “I’d say he’ll fight it tooth and nail, but don’t repeat that. Merely my opinion.”
Claire snorted delicately. “Don’t think I don’t know you’re talking about yourself, brother, not Daniel Rathban.”
Vanessa waited for Monty to deny that teasing charge, but he didn’t, merely said, “Give it a rest, Claire. There’s nothing left of that bone to gnaw on.”
It was a disquieting moment to have his aversion to marriage confirmed by a member of his own family. After the siblings hugged and parted, Vanessa moved ahead of him to return to her mother and stick close to her, determined to ignore that confirmed bachelor for the rest of the night.
Her mother was standing with Lady Roberts and another old dame, and she heard Lady Roberts say, “Silly boy fancied himself in love with a housemaid. It was barely a tidbit, when so many young men get their first taste of amour with servants who are conveniently under their roof. Always underfoot, available, etcetera. It was never confirmed, but the consensus was that his father paid the gel to leave England. But it was all rather typical, so it wasn’t noteworthy gossip at the time. But why the interest in such a lothario, Kathy? D’you want him for one of your gels?”
Kathleen smiled. “As you know, I’ve been away from London for a few years. And who better than you to tell me about the current eligibles.”
Lady Roberts shook her head. “I’m not so sure our Danny is all that eligible. He keeps three mistresses, you know, yes, I did say three, and they even like each other! And he still philanders on the side. But his father obviously thinks this is the year to change all that. Hope springs eternal!”
The other matronly woman standing next to Lady Roberts finally piped up. “It won’t happen.”
“We don’t know that, Gerty,” Lady Roberts disagreed.
“Of course we do. That rift ’tween father and son is so wide now, all of England could fit in it! The boy went from gloomy to enraged, that his father would do it again!”
Vanessa almost intruded to ask “Do what?” but she really didn’t want to draw attention to herself and have the two gossips tone down what they were saying, which was far too pertinent to her ears.
“That was a low blow,” Lady Roberts agreed, “though it’s been several years now since Danny fell in love with that second gel. And what else was Lord A to do after he heard she didn’t have a spotless reputation?”
“It was more likely that he felt she didn’t have sufficiently distinguished bloodlines to enter his family,” Gerty said. “You know how snobbish he can be.”
“Well, it’s too late now for Lord A to figure out that might have been his last chance to get his boy wed. She’s living up north now with the minor noble she married instead. But obviously he must think there’s still a chance. Why else would he host a ball, which he’s never done before?”
“That family has had its share of trials and tribulations with broth
ers dying too young and recalcitrant sons. So dreary!”
“Indeed,” Lady Roberts concurred.
Vanessa wondered if the already-agreed-upon engagement to her might have had something to do with Albert’s refusing that second woman Daniel had loved. But it was daunting, knowing what else she was up against. Not once, but twice Lord Albert had ruined his son’s chances for romantic happiness. No wonder Daniel hated his father so much that he would do exactly the opposite of what Albert wanted.
“However, young Montgomery Townsend is a prime subject!” Lady Roberts added. “If that boy really has developed a taste for maturity—I think I’ll go flirt with him m’self.”
There was that high tittering laugh again before the lady moved off with her friend. And Kathleen remarked in a low tone, “I can see now why Lord Monty wanted a sojourn in the country, which makes me wonder what brought him back to London. Why set all these tongues wagging again?”
Her mother was giving her a pointed look, pretty much accusing her of encouraging him, but Vanessa managed a disinterested shrug. “Of course I like him. How could I not, as amusing as he is?”
“Not too much, I hope.”
No, they couldn’t have that. Fall in love with the wrong man? Not a wrinkle either of them wanted. But she dismissed the subject when she asked, “I take it you actually asked Lady Roberts about Daniel?”
“Of course. And I noticed your arrival. You heard the gist of it. I’m sorry their gossip wasn’t more useful to your campaign.”
It wasn’t, but then what had she expected? To learn something that would help her to mend the fence between father and son? “I’m not so sure it was entirely useless. It was a little encouraging to know that Daniel can fall in love.”
“Or just the opposite, that after two heartbreaks he won’t be willing to risk a third. I hope I’m wrong and you’re right, but he’s here if you’d like to test which of our theories is correct.”
Vanessa immediately looked about the room until she spotted Daniel standing with his mother near the ballroom entrance, but her eyes didn’t stay on him. She continued looking until she found Monty at the refreshment table talking to a pretty woman. Up went the bristles again. What the devil? She had no right to get jealous. He wasn’t hers, would never be hers, so—what the devil?
“He’s coming,” Kathleen whispered.
Vanessa’s eyes flew back to Daniel. She noted again how handsome he was, imposing in size, and looking bored again. She could definitely harp on about his jaded reputation. Three mistresses! She still mustered a smile when their eyes met across the room.
She didn’t offer a hand when moments later he bowed curtly before her because she was absolutely certain that he would ignore it. So she was quite surprised when he simply grasped her elbow to lead her out to the dance floor. Without asking!
And he quickly warned, “Don’t mistake this, it was my mother’s idea.”
She almost laughed. Having a soft spot for his mother wasn’t a bad thing. “At least you like one of your parents,” she remarked. “How ironic that we have that in common.”
He wasn’t curious enough to ask for an explanation but said in a blasé tone, “For some reason, you impressed her the other night.”
“Perhaps because I didn’t swoon over your rude snub?” she guessed.
His eyes narrowed at the criticism. “For whatever bloody reason. I need to show her that I’m utterly uninterested in you.”
She refused to let his insult offend her this time. She even smiled. “By all means, snub me again. That should do it.”
“Not if you don’t swoon this time.”
Had the odious man made a joke? But if he meant to be humorous, he must have regretted it because he immediately went on the attack, adding, “I should be dancing with one of your sisters instead. An unusual pair, pretty and identical. It would be interesting to have them both in my bed.”
She was so shocked she couldn’t even attempt to reply. Unfortunately, she didn’t think he was joking now. Not lambasting him for his salacious remark about her sisters was likely the most difficult thing she’d ever done. Instead, she did her best to project an air of nonchalance. And, thankfully, he said no more. But he did go straight from dancing with her to asking Layla to dance. And Vanessa’s protective instincts shot to the fore. She wasn’t about to let either of her innocent sisters get involved with any member of that family.
She immediately looked for Monty and was glad to see him walking toward her, so she met him halfway and guided him onto the dance floor. He obliged.
As soon as they began dancing he mentioned, “Now that the hordes know I’ve returned to London, people might remark on my dancing with you more than once this evening—which could be to your benefit—depending.”
“Oh?”
He didn’t elaborate but instead asked, “You’re still annoyed with me?”
She realized she must still look perturbed from her unpleasant encounter with Daniel, so she smiled at him. “No, not a’tall.”
“A wonderful trait, not to pout.”
“Oh, be quiet. What benefit?”
“You haven’t accepted my offer of lessons yet.”
“Oh, but I am now, most definitely. What do your lessons entail?”
“Are you absolutely sure you want to do this?”
She’d rarely seen him look so serious. “He’s showing an interest in the twins. I can’t allow that.”
“Ah, mother hen has arrived.”
“Don’t joke, not about this. When do we begin?”
“Immediately—one of the two barrels I mentioned, remember? I will dance us close to him. You’re going to laugh with me, give me a few adoring looks—if you see that he’s watching us. And should you speak with him again tonight, make sure to tell him you have other options, or at least, mention me.”
“But I told him I like older men.”
“I’m twenty-six, old enough for our purpose and still younger than he is, which will bite all the harder if he does get jealous.”
“If? There’s no guarantee?”
“He has to at least have some interest first for it to annoy him. So we will likely only be planting the seed tonight.”
“And the other barrel you mentioned?”
“Mothers teach their daughters only what they were taught—prior to marriage. They don’t teach what they gain in experience and sophistication after marriage. We need to arm you with the latter, in point, step up your flirting techniques to a more worldly approach—we’re close to him.”
She panicked. “I’m not good at faking laughter!”
“Do I need to step on your toes tonight?”
She laughed. “Not if you value your life.”
“That will do. And keep looking into your target’s eyes, mine in this case. Especially in conversation, don’t look away. Keep your eyes on his and try to smile, a more mysterious one as if you are having improper thoughts.”
She demonstrated how easy that would be—with him. She only had to remember that day in the meadow and how hotly they’d kissed, or when they’d ridden together on Snow and his hands had been all over her . . .
But he drew in his breath. “Good God, woman, what the devil are you thinking about?”
She laughed in delight. “I take it I just passed your test?”
“It wasn’t a test, just one of many lessons, but yes, you’ve definitely got the hang of that one. Now let’s make sure Daniel is paying attention.”
Monty danced closer to the target and bumped into him, though he immediately apologized before he added, “Wasn’t watching where I was going, but can you blame me?”
Vanessa got one of Monty’s more potent smiles, but Daniel remarked, “I’ve heard you’ve been keeping yourself busy, Townsend. Isn’t the Blackburn girl a little too young for you?”
Vanessa wondered how many of those “rumor” digs Monty could stomach, but this time it didn’t seem to faze him, because he grinned before countering, “Aren’t yo
u a little too old for your partner, old boy?”
Monty immediately whisked Vanessa back toward the center of the dance floor before saying, “First mission accomplished. And don’t decline a dance from Charley when I send him over. He won’t need to pretend he adores you, and we want Daniel to notice that you attract gentlemen of all ages. For the rest, we will need privacy, which we don’t get much of at your mother’s house. Any suggestions?”
“I’ll come to your room tonight.”
“You would do that?”
“Why not? Or will I have reason to yell or throw things at you? That will certainly give us away.”
“Not a’tall. It’s just highly improper, and I thought you had fully donned proper.”
“Exceptions must be made. And I don’t think my mother would object if she knew. She wants this match as much as I do and has implied that I will need to do more’n just bat my eyes at Rathban to succeed.”
“Now that just—infuriates me.”
“Why?”
“Because she should be your stalwart protector, not your pander.”
She chuckled but caught Daniel’s eyes on her, so she patted Monty’s cheek, whispering, “He’s watching.”
He sighed. “I should have known.”
The music ended. Daniel returned Layla to Kathleen and caught Emily on her way back. She certainly didn’t look pleased by Daniel’s dance request, but she still agreed, probably with the thought that he might end up a member of the family. But Daniel was definitely making a point of his own—to Vanessa. But what? That he was serious about his preference for the twins, or was he only trying to make her furious enough to end her own pursuit of him?
Chapter Thirty-nine
“TAKE EVERY OPPORTUNITY THAT avails itself to touch him—discreetly, of course. On his hand, his arm, even his chest, anywhere you can reach and pretend, slyly of course, that it was an accident.”
As Vanessa listened to Monty, she tried to concentrate on what he was saying, not on the excitement that had started bubbling up inside her when she’d knocked on his door and entered his bedroom, anticipating that some of his lessons might involve touching, not just the mention of it.
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