Breaking the Rules

by Ruth Ann Nordin

  Lilly recognized Lord Clement as he approached them because her sister had briefly entertained the idea of a courtship with him. The cane he used clacked along the floor until he reached the rug they were standing on.

  “I’m Lord Clement,” he introduced. “I’m Mr. Robinson’s guardian. Are you here because of something he did to upset you?”

  “No, my lord,” Lilly hurried to reassure him. “We only came by for a social visit.”

  Lord Clement frowned. “You don’t plan to go drinking or gambling with him, do you? He can’t handle being drunk. He almost got himself killed in a duel the last time he got drunk.”

  Lilly’s eyes grew wide. He had? Did Claire know this? She doubted her sister would speak so well of a gentleman who did those things since Claire was so prim and proper.

  Forcing the thought aside, Lilly shook her head. “No, we aren’t here to take him drinking and gambling. We have other business in mind.”

  Lord Clement’s eyebrows furrowed in worry. “Oh?”

  “Our business is innocent,” Lilly hurried to assure him. She glanced back at Kitty. When she noticed that Kitty was spitting into her empty glass, Lilly stepped closer to Lord Clement so that he wouldn’t notice her. “Yes, we only wanted to talk about the theatre.”

  “The theatre?” Lord Clement asked.

  “Yes. I heard he saw the play, and we thought we’d see it. Of course, we won’t if it’s boring. If there’s one thing we can’t endure, it’s a boring play.” And that was the truth. She and Kitty had walked out of the theatre twice because the play was much too dull.

  “I can’t recall the last time my ward was at the theatre.”

  “He was there not too long ago.”

  “Was he?”

  Lord Clement studied her, and she had to fight the urge to run out of the room. She wouldn’t have thought it since he seemed so shy at the ball when he talked to Claire, but he could be intimidating when he wanted to be. Lilly had the funny sensation that he could see right into her soul. Surely, he was going to figure out she was lying, and she’d bring further scandal to her parents and Roger.

  Kitty let out a series of coughs, and Lord Clement’s gaze left hers. Lilly released her breath. Any longer under that intense stare and she would have bolted for the door.

  “Do you need some water?” Lord Clement asked as he approached Kitty.

  “Yes, that’s an excellent idea,” Lilly spoke for her friend. “He drank the brandy too fast.” Inspired, she added, “We barely drink at all. In fact, that was his first glass of brandy. And as you can see, I only took a sip of mine.” She showed him her glass. “Here. You can have it.” She gave it to him.

  Lord Clement relaxed. “It’s nice to know my ward has friends who aren’t enthusiastic drinkers. I don’t mind if someone drinks a glass, but no good ever comes from being drunk.”

  He took Kitty’s glass and placed both glasses on the desk. Then he went to the pitcher of water that was in the corner of the room and poured Kitty a glass of water.

  Lilly gave Kitty an encouraging pat on the back and whispered, “He’s getting you some water.”

  Since Kitty was still coughing, she only managed to nod to let her know she’d heard her.

  “I hear I have some visitors,” Mr. Robinson called out.

  Lilly glanced over at the doorway and saw him enter the room. He was wearing a riding outfit and holding a hat in his hand.

  Lord Clement gave Kitty the water, and Kitty gulped it down even faster than she had drank the brandy. Hoping the gentlemen wouldn’t notice, Lilly spoke up, “Yes, Mr. Robinson. Mr. Bartholomew and I wished to have a few minutes of your time.” When Mr. Robinson seemed to be trying to figure out who she and Kitty were, she added, “We made a brief acquaintance at a ball. Lady Roderick introduced us.”

  Mr. Robinson’s eyes grew wide, and she could tell he had just figured out who she really was. “That’s right. I remember now. So, you want to have a word with me?”

  “About the theatre,” she replied since Lord Clement was watching them. “I assured your guardian our conversation won’t involve alcohol or gambling.”

  “It’s not talking about it that I mind,” Lord Clement said. “I just don’t want you three to go running through London engaging in inappropriate behavior.”

  Mr. Robinson rolled his eyes. “After you made me a prisoner at Lord Roderick’s estate, I’ve been on my best behavior.”

  “You weren’t a prisoner,” Lord Clement replied. “You were there to learn.”

  “Well, I learned,” Mr. Robinson said. “Mind if I talk to these gentlemen in private?”

  Lord Clement glanced at Lilly and Kitty. “No, I suppose not. They seem like decent people.”

  Mr. Robinson closed the doors of the drawing room after Lord Clement left.

  Lilly laughed. “I never met a gentleman more in love with social propriety than your guardian,” she said in her normal voice.

  Mr. Robinson shook his head. “It’s embarrassing. No matter who’s been coming by to talk to me, he has to make sure they won’t lead me astray.” He gestured for them to sit. “Since you didn’t come here alone, I suppose this isn’t a visit where you’ll tell me you decided to marry me instead of Mr. Morris.”

  She and Kitty sat on the settee, and she said, “I married Mr. Morris already.”

  Mr. Robinson didn’t hide his disappointment. “That’s a shame.” His gaze went to her friend. “Is that a gentleman or a lady?”

  “A lady. She’s my good friend,” Lilly said. “I brought her along to help chaperone the visit. In case word got out that I disguised myself as a gentleman, I didn’t want my husband to think I came here to engage in a dalliance.”

  “A sensible plan.” Mr. Robinson took a good look at Kitty. “Is your friend anything like you?”

  “No, she’s a very sweet and honorable lady,” Lilly said. “And sensible, too. She never would have made the mistakes I did.”

  “I’m only dressed like this because of our friendship,” Kitty added. “Under ordinary circumstances, I’d never do anything inappropriate.”

  Noting that he was further disappointed, Lilly resisted the urge to laugh again. She couldn’t think of any other gentleman who’d welcome a lady who engaged in scandalous activity.

  Lilly turned toward him. “I’m here to accept your offer of assistance. My husband is more upset with me than I expected. I need your help. I want to get into his good graces again, and I don’t know how to do it.”

  Mr. Robinson rubbed his chin for a long moment. “Is your husband the Mr. Morris who belongs to White’s?”

  Lilly nodded. “He is. Do you know him?”

  “Barely, but well enough.” His gaze carefully went over her. “You make a convincing gentleman. Are you willing to wear that disguise again?”

  “I’ll do anything if it means I’ll get Mr. Morris to think fondly of me again.”

  A slow smile spread across his face. “That’s what I was hoping you’d say. All right. Let me do some thinking over what we can do. I’ll let you know when I come up with something.”

  “We can’t let my husband know we’re talking,” she said. “I don’t want him to think I’ve taken a lover.”

  “I’ll sign my name as Christina. Will that work?”

  She couldn’t think of a single downside to that, so she said, “That will be fine, Mr. Robinson.”

  “Since we’re going to be working together, you might as well refer to me as Christopher.”

  “In that case, you can refer to me as Lilly.”

  He glanced at Kitty. “I’m not sure if we’ll need your friend’s assistance.”

  Kitty’s eyes grew wide. “I don’t want to do anything else. Lilly, you told me this was the only thing I’d have to do. My stomach can’t take any more of this sneaking around.”

  “We’ll have to do this without her,” Lilly told him. “Is that possible?”

  “Yes, it’s possible,” Christopher replied.

 
Kitty visibly relaxed. Lilly didn’t realize it had taken so much of Kitty’s resolve to do this for her. Kitty was a good friend. Emilia was, too, since she was still talking to her after Lilly ruined her life by making Lord Valentine think she was in love with him. Lilly didn’t realize how blessed she was to be surrounded by such loyal friends. And now she had Christopher’s help. She was a very fortunate lady. It would serve her well to be more mindful of how she treated them in the future.

  Kitty let out a hiccup and covered her mouth in surprise. Then she giggled.

  “When I came in here, you two were handing glasses of brandy to my cousin,” Christopher said. “One of those glasses was empty. Am I right to assume she drank all of her brandy?”

  “You’d be right to assume that,” Lilly replied. “Why? Do you think she’ll get sick?”

  “No, but she’s probably going to think things around her are funnier than they really are for a while. My advice is that you wait for an hour before taking her to her townhouse. You don’t want rumors to spread that your friend’s been drinking.”

  Kitty stood up and wobbled.

  “Your advice is noted.” Lilly hurried to help her friend find her balance.

  Kitty put her hand to her head. “Why am I dizzy?”

  “It’s the brandy,” Lilly softly told her. “You’ll feel more like your normal self soon.”

  “Take that glass of water with you,” Christopher said. “It’ll help if she gets a headache.”

  With a nod, Lilly helped her friend out of the townhouse. At least in their disguises, they wouldn’t risk lasting ridicule if someone picked up on the fact that Kitty had managed to get tipsy. She had enough to contend with. The last thing she needed was to make things worse.

  Chapter Eight

  “I don’t understand this power Lilly has over you,” Aaron said the next day as he moved his pawn. “One would swear you’re under a witch’s spell.”

  “I might as well be,” Roger grumbled. He leaned over the chessboard. As much as he was trying to focus on the game in front of him, he was barely able to make out any of the pieces. He groaned and rubbed his eyes. “I’ve barely gotten any sleep since I married her. All I want to do is go to her bedchamber, but I can’t.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because I told her on our wedding day that I want her to stay away from me. I made it clear that she was my wife in name only.”

  Aaron shrugged. “I don’t see what the problem is. Go to her bed. Satisfy that part of things. When you’re done, you can ignore her.”

  Roger winced. “I can’t do that.”

  “Why not?”

  “It seems harsh. I’m surprised you’d even suggest it. I thought you were a nicer person than that.”

  “She’s the one who trapped you into marriage.” When Roger shook his head, he let out an exasperated sigh. “If the situation was reversed, I would say you were wrong to go to her bed and insist she take care of your needs. But this isn’t like that. She had to have known that when she forced you to marry her, she’d owe you a child or two out of the deal. No lady can be so naïve as to think the bed won’t be involved in that transaction.”

  “Being intimate with a lady shouldn’t be a transaction. There should be some…warmth in it. The way you state things, there are no feelings involved.”

  “Feelings don’t have to be involved. Not all children are born out of love. Some are born because the parents needed them.”

  “Well, I can’t separate my feelings from the act.”

  “I thought you haven’t been with a lady before.”

  “I haven’t.”

  “So how do you know if you can separate your feelings from the act or not?”

  Roger rolled his eyes. “I can’t separate my feelings from anything I do with Lilly. I can’t even eat in the same room with her. I had the maid take her meal up to her bedchamber so I wouldn’t have to be in the dining room at the same time she was.”

  “I’m never going to let a lady control me like Lilly controls you. You’re the most pitiful man I’ve ever come across, and that’s saying something since I’ve witnessed gentlemen losing their entire estates over wagers. When I marry, it will only be for an heir.” He gestured to the board. “Are you going to move?”

  “Yes, I’ll move,” Roger snapped.

  “There’s no need to snap at me.”

  Roger picked up his knight and glared at Aaron. “Do you really think I’m not aware of how foolish I am? I didn’t come here to listen to you tell me why I’m pathetic. I want you to tell me that everything will be all right. I want you to tell me that these feelings will go away at some point.”

  “At some point, they will go away. No one stays in a state of angst forever.”

  Feeling a little better, Roger set the knight on another square on the board.

  With a smirk, Aaron added, “Surely, you won’t be moping about her from the grave.”

  Roger shot him a pointed look. “I’m not amused.”

  “I am.”

  “At times like this, I find it hard to remember why I’m friends with you.”

  “I tell you what you need to hear. It might not be what you want to hear, but it’s the truth, and the truth is more important than sparing someone’s feelings.”

  “While I’ll concede to that, you could state things in a more pleasant way. I don’t like being made into more of a fool than I already am.”

  “Ah, it’s the latest member of this fine establishment who’s joined the ranks of the married gentlemen,” someone called out from behind him.

  Aaron glanced up from the board, and Roger turned around. Mr. Christopher Robinson and Lord Edon headed their way.

  Mr. Robinson gave Roger a pat on the shoulder. “I envy you. I heard your wife is the most talked-about lady in the Ton.”

  Lord Edon nodded. “They talk about her more than they talk about me, which is a shame. I try to make sure I’m the person who can shock people the most. If I weren’t so opposed to marriage, I would go up to a lady and give her a passionate kiss in front of everyone.”

  Mr. Robinson snorted. “No one would think anything of it if a gentleman did it.”

  “It would result in a marriage,” Lord Edon pointed out.

  “I know, but you’re a rake,” Mr. Robinson replied. “You do much more than kiss ladies. Your pursuits are things all rakes aspire to. Mrs. Morris, on the other hand, had a spotless reputation before she kissed him.” He gestured to Roger. “Because of her bold and courageous act, she has become infamous in London.”

  Lord Edon grimaced. “Yes, I suppose she has become something of a legend. Why is it so much harder for a gentleman to get into a serious scandal? It’s not fair that a lady can do something as simple as kiss someone and the whole Ton is appalled by it. I’d give anything to be in her situation right now.”

  Roger decided he’d heard enough. He stood up and faced the two friends. “I’m not pleased with the scandal. This isn’t something to envy.”

  Lord Edon looked at him. “It most certainly is something to envy. I’ve been featured in the Tittletattle more than anyone in London, and I have yet to be publicly scolded by Lady Cadwalader and her friends. As long as Lady Cadwalader leaves me alone, I’m forgettable. People only read the Tittletattle and shrug. ‘There goes Lord Edon again with his usual activities,’ they say. In the end, no one is appalled by anything I do.”

  “You poor, poor man,” Aaron spoke up. “You can get away with any kind of scandal you engage in, and you win every single game you play. I’m sure all of London pities you.” He rolled his eyes.

  Lord Edon’s jaw dropped. “I don’t want people’s pity. I want them to be scared their daughters might end up marrying me.”

  “Yes, his goal is to never marry,” Mr. Robinson said.

  “If you get a lady with child, that might be unavoidable,” Aaron said as he picked up his glass of brandy. “An irate father might force you to a vicar.”

  Lord Edon smirked at h
im. “That’s not going to happen. I’m careful. No lady is going to ever have one of my children.”

  “I wouldn’t look so smug if I were you,” Roger said before his friend could beat him to it. “Every time you’re with a lady in bed, you risk a child, whether you’re careful or not.”

  “Not me,” Lord Edon replied. “I’m the exception.”

  Roger rolled his eyes and sat back down. Leave it to Lord Edon to be the biggest braggart in London. He was beginning to appreciate why Lord Roderick avoided him. “We’re in the middle of a game. If you don’t mind, we’d like to get back to it.”

  “If I were you, I’d be with my wife,” Mr. Robinson said. “A lady like that is far more entertaining than a silly game of chess.”

  Roger glared at Mr. Robinson. “What business is my marriage to you?”

  “From your perspective, it’s not any of my business,” Mr. Robinson replied.

  The way he worded that made Roger wonder if Mr. Robinson fancied Lilly. If so, he wouldn’t have been the first gentleman to be taken in by her charms. How often had he, in the past, been forced to compete for her attention?

  “They love scandals,” Aaron said, directing his attention back to the conversation. “It’s how they are. Right now your wife is the most exciting person in London, and because of that, they make it a point to make her life their business.”

  “Yes, you could take it that way,” Mr. Robinson replied. “I wish I’d been the gentleman who’d been the object of scandal that evening. If I were to marry someone like her, I’d have no need to engage in any scandals of my own.”

  Roger thought about saying it was a shame Lilly hadn’t kissed him since he was so delighted by how she shocked everyone, but something—something he’d rather not give any attention to—stopped him.

  “So, when Lord Roderick made you muck out his stables and empty his chamber pots, that wasn’t enough of a reward for disgracing your ward time and time again?” Aaron asked Mr. Robinson.

  Mr. Robinson straightened his shoulders and lifted his chin. “I was bored at Lord Roderick’s estate. Absolutely nothing of interest occurs out there. Mucking up the stables and emptying chamber pots were the only sources of entertainment available.”