Lord Robert had the grace to look sheepish and couldn’t quite meet his brother’s eye, but Wyckeham didn’t look at him for long. Instead he returned his gaze to the other man, who shrugged and pulled out a snuff box, from which he helped himself to a large pinch.
‘A night on the town, you know how it is. I was delighted to show our young kinsman the best places to find entertainment.’ The man smiled, but the smile didn’t quite reach his eyes, which appeared to Ianthe to be dark and cold. Fathomless in fact. She shivered.
‘Yes, I’m sure you were,’ Wyckeham replied, his mouth an uncompromising line of disapproval now. ‘So how many gaming hells did you manage to visit?’
‘Only about four, I believe,’ Gervaise replied airily, then threw a speculative glance at Ianthe. ‘But this isn’t a subject fit for a lady’s ears. Aren’t you going to introduce us, coz?’
Wyckeham looked like he wanted to avoid this at all cost, but good manners dictated that he must. ‘Miss Ianthe, this is a distant relative of mine, Gervaise Warwycke. Gervaise, Miss Ianthe Templeton.’
‘Ah, one of the famous twins one has heard so much about.’ Gervaise stood up in the saddle and gave her an exaggerated bow, while running his eyes over her from top to toe and back again in a manner that made her skin crawl.
‘How do you do?’ she said, not wanting to engage in conversation with him.
Wyckeham glanced at her and said, ‘We’d better be on our way. Gentlemen.’ He nodded curtly at both of them, and threw a parting shot over his shoulder at Lord Robert. ‘Get yourself home and into the bath. Then ask cook for a tisane. You’re going to need it.’
A dark shadow seemed to have descended upon them and they rode back to the Templeton house in silence. Ianthe decided now was not the time to discuss Wyckeham’s strange proposal, if that was what it had been. Perhaps if she pretended it had never happened, he wouldn’t refer to it again. To her consternation, however, as the marquess helped her down from the horse, he held her close to him for a moment, much too close for comfort and certainly not within the limits of propriety.
She glanced up at him with a frown to remonstrate, but he was looking down at her, an intense expression in his eyes, and she forgot what she had been about to say.
‘I didn’t mean to offend you,’ he said. ‘We will return to our conversation some other time, when I will try to express myself more clearly. And I’m sorry if I’ve been like a bear with a sore head, but I’m afraid meeting Gervaise always has that effect on me. Can’t stand the fellow.’
Ianthe took a deep breath to steady herself. Being held by him was disrupting her thought processes and she wasn’t sure what to make of his enigmatic words. She took refuge in common courtesy. ‘Well, thank you for taking me riding, my lord. I enjoyed it immensely.’
His eyes seemed to bore into hers and she wondered for a crazy moment if he was about to kiss her – in broad daylight – but he obviously thought better of it. ‘You’re welcome. We’ll have to do it again soon. Will I see you tonight?’
She nodded. ‘If you’re going to Mrs Etchilhampton’s rout, then yes, no doubt our paths will cross.’ She tried for a nonchalant tone, so as not to give the impression that she was eager for his company. And in truth, she wasn’t sure she was now. If all he was looking for was a mistress, then she wanted nothing to do with him. Even if his touch sends thrills racing through me. No, especially then!
‘I’ll make sure of it,’ he said, before finally letting her go. Ianthe felt almost bereft and turned quickly to mount the steps to the front door so he wouldn’t see what effect he was having on her, but before she reached it, he added, ‘Save me the supper dance and tell your sister if she ruins your gown again, she’ll rue the day she was born.’
Jason was in a foul mood as he rode away from the Templeton’s house. Damn Gervaise for interrupting! Not to mention trying to corrupt his brother. Of all the people Rob could decide to be friends with … Jason swore softly. Gervaise was a viper.
‘Friend? Never!’
He’d tried to tell Rob to be careful of gaming hells and other such establishments, but it was all heady stuff for a youngster. ‘Don’t be so boring, Jason. I’m sure you didn’t exactly sit at home when you were my age,’ Rob had said.
This was true, but Jason had learned his lesson and he didn’t want Rob to have to do it the same way, the hard way.
‘I’m enjoying myself, and with your reputation, you’re the last man on earth to lecture me, aren’t you? Even Miss Templeton had heard of your supposed misdeeds. She asked me about them,’ Rob had added. He’d never been insolent to Jason before, but as his brother had been more than slightly foxed at the time, Jason had let this comment go. It still irritated the hell out of him that people couldn’t stop gossiping about Elizabeth’s death, though.
So she fell down some stairs and broke her pretty neck. Good riddance! It had happened ages ago, and no one had been able to prove that it was anything other than an accident.
But he couldn’t help but wonder if Ianthe was also listening to gossip. He’d heard a slight hesitation in her voice just now when they were saying goodbye. Was she seeing him in a new light? Did he scare her?
He sincerely hoped not, because he was coming to realise that was the last thing on earth he wanted to do.
CHAPTER SIX
Ianthe was in a quandary. She had no more remotely attractive dresses to wear, and the green gown, which she had planned to use again, was beyond repair according to Dupont. Appealing to her mother for help would be no use, as Ianthe knew very well there was no more money.
No, she would have to take matters into her own hands.
When Serena and Lady Templeton went out to pay a morning visit, Ianthe crept into Serena’s room and opened the wardrobe which was bulging with garments. Ianthe quickly looked through them and found what she had been searching for, thrust into a corner. A cerulean blue ball gown of shot silk which Serena had declared too frumpish for words because it was embellished with huge pink fake roses round the hem and neckline.
‘I’m sorry, Mama, but nothing in the world would persuade me to wear that. Send it back,’ she had decreed.
Of course, Lady Templeton could do no such thing since the dress had been made to her exact specification and already paid for. Instead, it had languished at the back of the wardrobe for several weeks, while Lady Templeton hoped Serena would change her mind. Ianthe pulled it out and returned to her room, calling for Dupont.
‘Oui, Mademoiselle? Oh là là, what ’ave we ’ere? Quelle horreur!’
‘Yes, isn’t it awful, but I thought that if I remove the roses, it would be quite elegant. The only problem is that I’m taller than Serena, so it’s not long enough. Could you help me find something to lengthen it with, please?’
‘Mais oui, I will ’ave a look.’
Dupont unearthed an old gown with a wide silver lace trim around the hem. ‘Look, this will be perfect, non? I will cut it off.’
‘Oh, yes, brilliant. Do you think if we work together we can have it finished by this evening? Otherwise I can’t go out. I simply can’t wear my old gowns again. Not now that …’
She stopped herself from revealing the exact reason why she wanted to look good. There was no need for Dupont to know that. The little Frenchwoman smiled, however, as if she could guess. ‘Don’t worry, we can do it and you will look wonderful, je promesse.’
‘I can’t thank you enough.’
Dupont leaned closer and whispered, ‘Just promise me if you ever marry, please to take me with you when you leave. Your Maman, she is nice lady, but very …’
‘Demanding? Impossible?’ Ianthe smiled. ‘Of course. I wouldn’t dream of leaving you behind.’
On purpose, Ianthe didn’t go downstairs until the very last moment, when the others were already waiting in the hall and the carriage had been called for. Serena was talking to their mother, but broke off to frown at Ianthe as soon as she caught sight of her. ‘Isn’t that …? It is! Mama, she is
wearing my gown, and … what have you done to it? Go and take it off at once, I won’t have you stealing my things.’
‘I had nothing else to wear since you saw fit to ruin my only decent gown,’ Ianthe said coolly. ‘Besides, there’s no time to change now, is there Mama? We don’t want to be late.’
‘Indeed,’ Lady Templeton agreed.
‘But, Mama, she’s stolen it, been in my room, gone through my things! It’s intolerable.’
‘Enough, Serena. You have more gowns than you can possibly wish for. Surely you can spare your sister one? And one, moreover, which you refused to wear, if my memory serves me. Now let us be on our way and I want no more foolishness from either of you.’
Lady Templeton sounded unusually stern, so much so that even Serena did her bidding without further protest. Ianthe was astonished, but pleased, that her mother had taken her side for once, but judging by Serena’s expression, she felt she might come to regret her coup. Time enough to worry about this later, however.
Mrs Etchilhampton’s rout was not quite as crowded as that lady would have liked, but it was nonetheless well attended and Ianthe couldn’t immediately spot Wyckeham when they arrived. Quite why she wanted to see him again, she couldn’t say. If he was going to humiliate her by offering her a carte blanche, she ought to stay out of his way, but somehow she thought she must have misunderstood. It was not the done thing to ask respectable young girls to be one’s mistress, no matter how impecunious they might be. And although he’d said he had to live up to his reputation as ‘Lord Wicked’, she was sure he was joking. She felt strongly that the real Wyckeham was a true gentleman.
As she stood with her mother and sister, only half listening to Serena’s flirtations with all the young men who flocked to her side, she noticed the marquess’s relative, Gervaise, enter the room with Lord Robert in tow. The two seemed on remarkably good terms and headed straight for the card room rather than towards the young ladies waiting for partners. Ianthe frowned. It seemed unlike Lord Robert to be so rude.
‘So you noticed it too, then?’
The smooth voice was barely audible behind Ianthe’s right shoulder, and she realised Wyckeham wanted no one but her to hear him. His softly spoken words sent a frisson of pleasure shooting down her spine. She turned to see him scowling after Gervaise and Lord Robert, before he sighed and looked at her instead, his gaze softening.
‘I’m sorry, I shouldn’t burden you with my problems,’ he said. ‘Did you save me a dance?’
She nodded. ‘The one you asked for.’
‘Good girl.’ He scrawled a W on her card and handed it back. ‘I’ll speak to you later then. For now, I’ve got my work cut out keeping Rob out of mischief.’
He was gone almost as quickly as he had appeared, and since Serena and their mother were still engrossed in conversation with the Earl of Somerville and one of his friends, they hadn’t even noticed Wyckeham’s presence. Secretly, Ianthe was glad as it meant he hadn’t asked Serena for a dance too.
‘So did you manage to find Lord Robert?’ Ianthe asked when she and Wyckeham sat down to eat their supper at a small table in a corner. It was hidden away behind a pot plant and Ianthe had a suspicion the marquess had bribed one of the footmen to keep it free especially for them. She wasn’t complaining, however, since it kept them away from Serena.
Wyckeham sighed. ‘Yes, but unfortunately he seems to consider Gervaise his new best friend and the fount of all knowledge. Nothing I say registers. I had warned him to be on his guard against older men who try to inveigle him into gaming and, er … such like, but because Gervaise is family of sorts, Rob thinks he’s different and won’t listen to me.’
‘And is he? Different, I mean.’
Wyckeham regarded her with one raised eyebrow and a sardonic smile. ‘What do you think?’
‘I have to confess I took an instant dislike to him, but I don’t know why.’
‘Then you are more astute than my brother.’ Wyckeham shook his head. ‘No, Gervaise is no saint, far from it. Sadly though, I’ve got to let Rob make a few mistakes on his own. It’s the only way he’ll learn.’
‘Are you his guardian?’
‘Not any more; he’s turned twenty-one. But even if I was, I doubt he’d take my advice this time, although normally he would. Our father died when he was ten and I’ve done my best to protect him. He’s never been to London before though, and I should have known how easy it would be for someone his age to be led astray.’ He sighed. ‘Let’s not talk about that though. We have more important matters to discuss.’
‘We do?’ Ianthe felt a small stirring of unease and butterflies danced in her stomach. She wasn’t sure she was going to like what he had to say.
He smiled, which made the butterflies redouble their efforts. She took a bite of her lobster patty in order to try and settle them down, but found it hard to swallow.
‘Are you still certain you’re not afraid of me? I know you must have heard all the rumours by now.’
‘No, I’m not afraid.’ As she looked into his honey-coloured eyes, she knew this was the truth. She was absolutely certain he would never hurt her, although quite how she could be so sure, she had no idea.
‘Excellent, because I can assure you none of it is true. Well, only the part about me hating my wife. Elizabeth was a spoiled termagant and I was happy to be rid of her.’
‘I … should you be telling me this?’ Ianthe didn’t think it was the done thing to talk about one’s dead wife in such terms.
‘Yes. I feel nothing but the truth will do between us. I know you are as straightforward as I am, so I won’t insult your intelligence by pretending something that isn’t true.’
Ianthe nodded. She appreciated him not underestimating her understanding. ‘Why did you marry her then?’ she asked, curiosity overtaking her scruples.
‘I was young and stupid. She was beautiful and an expert at deceit …’ He shrugged. ‘I never saw her true colours until it was much too late and just like Robert, I refused to listen to wiser counsel. It’s a common story.’
‘Yes, so I’ve heard.’ She couldn’t help glancing over to where Serena was seated with Lord Somerville and Wyckeham chuckled.
‘You’re thinking that poor Somerville is going to end up like that, aren’t you. Do you think we ought to rescue him?’
‘No, no, Serena’s not all bad. I’m sure once she is married she will make her chosen husband very happy. She’s just enjoying being the centre of attention at the moment.’
‘Hmm, well you know her best I suppose.’
‘Either way, it’s none of our business, is it?’
He smiled again. ‘You’re right. I think he’ll have to learn the hard way, poor man. But never mind, let us return to our previous subject of discussion.’
‘Oh, yes, well …’ Ianthe felt the butterflies return with a vengeance.
‘What I was trying to ask you in the park before that fool Gervaise interrupted me,’ he continued, ‘was, if you were married to someone, would you mind spending most of the year in the country with him rather than in London?’
‘M-married?’ Ianthe felt relief flooding her. If he was only speaking metaphorically and mentioning marriage, he couldn’t be thinking of any other arrangements. ‘Oh, in that case I wouldn’t mind at all. I told you, I’m not enjoying town life much.’
‘Excellent. I’m only asking, because that’s the way I see it too and it’s not something I’m prepared to compromise on. I despise London society.’
Ianthe waited for him to continue, her breath coming in shallow gasps. Was he saying what she thought he was?
He made sure no one was looking their way, then leaned forward and took one of her hands in his. ‘So if I were to ask your father for your hand in marriage, you wouldn’t refuse me on the grounds that you’d miss out on the social whirl?’
‘N-no, certainly not,’ she managed to stammer out. ‘But you barely know me. I mean, how can you be certain that we’ll suit? We only met a few
days ago.’ There were a dozen other questions whirling round her mind that she wanted to ask him, but dare not. Why her and not Serena? Was he really serious? Did he love her? She shook her head slightly to clear it. It was all too much to take in.
‘I know enough to realise we would suit very well, but I know you are very young and if you’d rather I waited a while and courted you properly, I will. Only, I feel the same way you do about these infernal balls and parties, and I’d rather not stay in London a moment longer than I must. I shall if you want me to, though.’
‘No! No, please, go ahead and … um, speak to my father. I mean, if you’re sure that’s what you would like.’
‘Is it what you want?’
She looked into his eyes and saw a flash of desire which should have frightened her, but strangely enough didn’t. ‘Yes. Yes, I do.’ He may not have declared his undying love for her, but the prospect of spending the rest of her life with him, on whatever terms, was an opportunity she simply couldn’t pass on. She knew she would never want to marry anyone else in any case, now that she had met him.
He held her gaze for another heartbeat before letting go of her hand. ‘Good, that’s settled then,’ he said. ‘I’ll be away for a week or so, but as soon as I return I’ll come and see you and we can make plans.’
She couldn’t trust herself to speak, so she simply nodded acquiescence and prayed that her father would give his consent.
CHAPTER SEVEN
A week and a half had gone by and there was no sign of Wyckeham. Ianthe had begun to think that perhaps she’d dreamed their entire conversation or if she hadn’t, he had thought better of such a crazy idea and changed his mind. Why would he want to marry me, anyway? she wondered. She had no dowry and not much else to recommend her either as she wasn’t an acknowledged beauty like her sister.
When Serena suggested that she come along on an outing to Richmond Park, Ianthe decided she may as well. She had nothing else to do and if she stayed at home, she would only dwell on the marquess’s continued absence. As she came out of the house on the Wednesday and saw who their companions were, however, she almost had second thoughts. Gervaise and Lord Robert! But the two Misses Gardiner were present as well, and this reassured her somewhat. There was safety in numbers and as Serena was helped into Gervaise’s phaeton, she breathed a sigh of relief. If he was dazzled by her sister, like everyone else, she wouldn’t have to spend any time with him. Thank goodness!
Regency Romance Collection From Christina Courtenay Page 14