The Distinguished Rogues Bundle

by Heather Boyd

  Lilly turned in his arms, swiping at her cheeks. “You are about to get ridiculously sentimental, aren’t you?” At the earl’s nod, she pressed a quick kiss to his lips and pushed him away. “Go and check the value of your investments again, Giles. I’d rather not spend Agatha’s visit weeping at your declarations.”

  The earl grinned again and ducked out the doorway.

  “I take it back,” Agatha murmured.

  Lilly laughed heartily. “He is the most devoted man. So patient with me when I don’t understand the significance of the commonest of news.” Lilly caught up her fingers and led her to the couch. “He has been such a dear friend to me.”

  Curiosity ate at Agatha. “What did he do to cure you?”

  Lilly passed over a teacup. “Have you any understanding of treatments applied to horse limbs after exertion?”

  Agatha nodded. Her grandfather was always berating the grooms for inattention to his horses in the cold.

  “Giles said my limbs were stiff with tension so he tried to soften them. It worked startlingly well, but I need regular treatments to remain pain-free.”

  “That was terribly clever of him. Had no one ever tried that before? I thought your father had taken you to every medical man he could find.”

  Lilly leaned back in her chair. “No one even suggested it, as far as he could remember. Anyway, I wouldn’t care to have a complete stranger touch me.”

  “And Lord Daventry determined this treatment after you married?”

  Lilly bit her lip over a smile. “Between us? Before.”

  Agatha pressed her hand over her face. She should have known there might be some wickedness involved, but Lord Daventry was famous for his rules. No virgins or married women. It was a shock to discover that he’d broken them.

  “I was always his, you know.”

  Agatha forced a smile to her lips, remembering Lilly’s aborted betrothal. “That’s right. I had forgotten all about that. So he offered to honor it?”

  “Yes, he did eventually.” Lilly admitted. “But I did my best to refuse him. I thought he shouldn’t have to deal with my troubles for the rest of his life. He disagreed.”

  Moved, Agatha caught up her friend’s hand. “Well, however it happened I am very glad to see you well and happy.”

  “I have been more fortunate than I know. He loves me, Agatha. How is that possible?”

  “Because you are you?” Agatha caught her friend in a gentle hug and squeezed carefully. “He had no chance of escaping you.”

  “Indeed I didn’t.” Lord Daventry laughed as he approached. “I am going to step out, my dear. Is there anything you need?”

  “You have spoiled me enough as it is. Have a nice time.”

  Lord Daventry swooped to capture his wife and pressed a long, possessive kiss to her lips. Eventually, he let her come up for air. “I won’t be long.”

  Lord Daventry hurried out again.

  “Goodness.”

  Lilly fanned herself. “Exactly.”

  They burst into giggles and spent a very pleasant hour discussing the change in Lilly’s life.

  “Now, what about you?” Lilly asked as she stretched out on a couch.

  “Me?”

  “Yes, you. What wonders fill Agatha Birkenstock’s days?”

  Agatha smiled. “The children from the Grafton Street Orphanage occupy most of my time.”

  Lilly frowned, and shuffled around to get comfortable. “Is that all?”

  “Yes, that is all. I spend my days there, and I manage my grandfather’s house for him.”

  Lilly frowned. “You’ve never married? But you are so pretty.”

  Agatha laid a light blanket over her friend’s legs, fighting a blush at the compliment. “No, I’ve never been asked.”

  Lilly caught her fingers and squeezed. “I’m so sorry. I remember you were looking forward to managing your own house.”

  Agatha forced a smile to her lips. Such days seemed so long ago now. “Perhaps it is for the best. I manage my grandfather’s home and do not have to please a husband’s demands.”

  A secretive smile flitted over Lilly’s face. “Sometimes the demands are very pleasant.”

  Agatha sank into her chair, attempting to hide her understanding of Lilly’s words. She did know the joy a lover could bring a woman, but for all Oscar’s skills he was quite undependable. When she glanced at Lilly, there was a question hovering in her gaze. One she didn’t want asked because she would never answer it honestly.

  Lilly fussed with her blanket. “Giles is determined to show me off soon, and I was wondering if you would accompany me as my companion. I am anxious that Giles not be forced to stay by my side all night.”

  Agatha was not keen to rejoin the earl’s circle of acquaintances. She didn’t feel comfortable there. “Judging by his behavior today, you might have trouble getting him to leave you. Besides, his friends will not desert you when they return to Town.”

  “Do you mean Lady Ettington and Lady Hallam?” Lilly’s fingers brushed harder over the blanket. “I haven’t met them yet.”

  Sensing Lilly’s unease, she reached forward to still her hands. “They are both wonderful women, very kind, and without a hint of coldness about them. You will be in good company with them. With all the earl’s friends, for that matter.”

  Lilly sat up. “I’ve already met Lord Carrington. He tells me you are acquainted.”

  Agatha’s heart stopped for a full minute. In all her pleasure at hearing of Lilly’s return to good health, she had forgotten the connections Lilly would now make due to her marriage. Had Oscar been indiscreet about their association? She hoped not. If he had, Agatha would have to deny it and lie to her friend. “His London residence is next door to my grandfather’s,” she answered carefully. “We have had some conversation over the years.” Very little really. Conversation didn’t feature heavily in their recent interactions, only mind-numbing scandalous pleasure.

  “He visited with Giles recently.” Lilly laughed. “Can you imagine we didn’t get along at first?”

  “No, not really. He appears to be a universal favorite with the ladies.” Agatha quashed the bitter jealously filling her mouth with bile. Countless tonnish ladies threw themselves at Oscar. He had never been without his admirers.

  “He came to Cottingstone Manor while I was there. He saved my life.”

  Lilly’s words echoed around the room. Saved her life?

  Agatha swallowed. “What?”

  Lilly’s lips twisted with distaste. “I shall say this in a rush because the memory is still vastly unpleasant. My cousin, Bartholomew Barrette, was quite mad and meant to kill me, as he had tried to do many years before. To cut the story very short, Carrington saved me when I thought Barrette would either shoot me or shoot Giles. Lord Carrington’s accuracy with a pistol was quite deadly. One shot, and Barrette was gone.”

  “He killed someone?” Agatha held a hand to her chest and pressed her fingers into her skin. “I don’t believe you.”

  Lilly nodded. “Giles tells me we should keep it quiet, but since you are my friend, I cannot see the harm. You do hold some regard for the viscount, don’t you? I wouldn’t have the story gossiped about. The viscount and I, as you can imagine, have become friends.”

  Agatha shook her head in confusion, then quickly nodded as Lilly’s expression turned grim. “Of course I will keep the secret.”

  Oscar had shot someone dead. Could that explain the haunted look in his eyes, the sadness that lingered just below the surface? And the sleepless nights he’d mentioned. Agatha pressed her hand to her face, horrified that Oscar had been placed in a situation where a killing had been the only solution.

  “This must come as a shock to be living next door to a man capable of such an act, but you can understand that I am forever in his debt. I fear I must warn you that he will be here directly. Giles went personally to invite him to luncheon with us. We have much to be thankful to him for.”

  Agatha surged to her feet. “
Then I should go.”

  Lilly swung her legs out from under the blanket and stood too. “Are you certain? I am now considered a suitable chaperone. You may stay with no risk to your reputation, and besides, he is an engaged man.”

  Agatha’s heart beat fast in her chest. “It is not that,” she lied. “I have duties at home that I have neglected. Thank you for the wonderful visit. I’d like to call again another day, if I may.”

  Lilly came forward to embrace her. “Of course, I hope to see a lot of you too. We’ve missed so much time.”

  Agatha turned away, collected her bonnet and gloves, then hurried out the door, ignoring the butler’s protests that her conveyance wasn’t ready. She’d not wait for a carriage. The walk would cool her mind from its panic.

  Oscar had killed to protect Lilly and had become her friend.

  There would be no doubt that she’d be forever stumbling into him now. What to do? She couldn’t very well break off her connection to Lilly without explaining her dilemma and hurting her feelings. Yet their friendship had survived Lilly’s illness. Agatha would just have to try harder to ignore Oscar, should their paths cross while she was visiting with her friend.

  Chapter Twelve

  THE FLOOR BOARDS creaked behind Agatha’s back, and she turned to find her grandfather hovering at the door. Garbed in expensive superfine and crisp, white linen, he intimidated her without even trying. Immediately, she closed her book and stood. “Can I help you, sir?”

  “No, no.” He moved into the room, peering around him, frowning at her scattered possessions. “I just thought I’d enquire how your visit with Lady Daventry went. I imagine her drawing room was quite full.”

  Agatha smoothed her slightly wrinkled skirts. “Lady Daventry chose to entertain in a limited fashion yesterday.”

  His dark eyes narrowed. “How limited?”

  She took a cautious pace to the side, under the pretext of more fussing, but she was afraid he would be very unhappy after she spoke. “I only saw Lord and Lady Daventry, sir. As far as I am aware, there were no other guests invited.”

  Her grandfather’s jaw clenched over the news. As she had feared, he had expected the drawing room to be filled with the cream of London society, all clamoring for a glimpse of the new bride. And filled with potential candidates for her to marry, no doubt. Agatha braced herself for the lecture to come, but instead of puffing out his chest and blustering, he sank into a deep chair.

  “I had expected Lord Daventry to show off his wife now that he’s stirred himself to marry and work on getting his heir. Is she an embarrassment to him?”

  Agatha gasped, affronted on Lilly’s behalf. “Of course not. He was very attentive to his wife.” Almost too much so, Agatha thought. Daventry was besotted.

  “Hmm, well give the man a wide berth anyway, child. He’ll soon go back to his scandalous ways, once the shine of his marriage dims. Most men are the same.”

  While Agatha struggled to hide her surprise at his candid confession, her mind shrieked. How could he sit there condemning—no, not even condemning—his own sex and expect her to marry one of them?

  His fingers tapped his knee. “When I come back from my business trip, we shall have to widen our circle of acquaintances. I had hoped that my extended dealings with the Marquess of Ettington and his circle would prove beneficial to you. Never mind. I think a few new dresses and an increase in your social engagements should do the trick.”

  Agatha nodded, keeping her face clear of expression. A dozen new gowns would hardly matter to the gentlemen he introduced her to if she never gave them the slightest encouragement, a habit she’d managed to hide from her grandfather for the last few seasons. “How long will you be gone this time, sir?”

  A brief smile flickered across his face then just as quickly disappeared. “I will return on Wednesday, late in the day perhaps. The negotiations should be easily dealt with.”

  Agatha sank into a chair, relieved that he’d dropped the discussion of their association with Lord and Lady Daventry. “Well, that is all to the good. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if a simple letter could deal with the situation instead of dragging you from London so frequently? You must become quite vexed with Mr. Carney’s incompetence.”

  “Tis not incompetence, but my affairs do require a firm hand and the personal touch to keep them running smoothly.” Her grandfather chuckled. “You will remember that George is to accompany you when you leave the townhouse in my absence. I could not bear it if something was to happen to you while I was away.”

  Agatha forced her lips to curl into a smile. “Of course I will take George. I agreed, didn’t I?”

  Grandfather clambered to his feet, crossed the room, and cupped his hand around her jaw. “Always the dutiful granddaughter. But I see resentment bubbling beneath the surface of your eyes. What troubles you?”

  Agatha shrugged, attempting to dislodge his fingers. “I do not like to be followed about.”

  His fingers slipped from her skin. “It is for your own protection. A woman’s virtue, once lost, is irreplaceable. I am only thinking of your future. The man who marries you expects a certain kind of female. One untouched by the sordid traps women often fall prey to by the rogues of society. Suffer George’s company so that I may be at peace.”

  Agatha lowered her head. Again, despair trickled through her over how he would react to the news she had no virtue to protect. “Yes, Grandfather.”

  His large palm pressed upon her head briefly then his heavy footsteps crossed to the window. She lifted her head and watched him watching the view. His presence in the chamber made her feel decidedly untidy.

  After a moment, he turned to face her again. “I will be leaving in a moment. So you are not unduly surprised should anyone relate the news, I am escorting Lady Carrington part of the way, to Chertsey. She’s visiting with a friend there. Given the demands of her son’s engagement, he isn’t free to accompany her. I thought it prudent to offer my protection from brigands on the road for the trip there and back. There has been much made of their activities in the press.”

  “Yes, I had heard something of that. Are you really expecting trouble?”

  Grandfather tugged on his waistcoat, smoothing the already precise material. For all of his advancing years, he still kept a trim figure, still retained a vital physique that was much admired by the ladies. Agatha had heard more than one salacious whisper about him, and from surprising directions.

  “I am always prepared for trouble, but I have made arrangements to stop overnight along the road so as not to travel through that troubled part of the countryside late at night. I’ll keep the good lady safe.”

  Agatha smiled. “I’m sure she appreciates your efforts.”

  Another fleeting smile crossed his lips as he bent to kiss her cheek. “Be a good girl, Agatha. I will see you on Wednesday.”

  With a spring to his step, her grandfather hurried from the room and began shouting orders to George. Within a quarter hour, his carriage had drawn up to the door and he was on his way after briefly returning Agatha’s happy wave.

  No lectures, no precise routines to follow.

  She had five whole mornings of complete bliss ahead of her. Agatha twirled about the entrance hall, determined to make the most of her temporary freedom.

  She would spend all day with the orphans.

  ~ * ~

  “Can you make my hair as pretty as yours?” Mabel asked as Agatha ran her brush over the girl’s gleaming locks. They were settled in the nursery, Agatha sitting on one of the lumpy beds while she twisted and tied Mabel’s hair into a neat braid.

  She leaned close to the child and kissed her cheek. “I might. But I think your hair will be much lovelier. I quite admire your dark curls.”

  Mabel clutched her hands together. “Really?”

  Agatha turned the girl around and touched her nose. “Really.” She looked past Mabel to the last girl waiting. “Come along, Kitty. Your turn.”

  Kitty had fine, straight hair, an
d Agatha twisted the pale strands into braids quite quickly. When the pair was done, she stood and held out both hands. The girls bounced on the spot and they slowly descended to the rear gardens. Agatha crinkled her nose. The grim yard was hardly a pretty space, but the children knew no better. It was good enough for their imaginations, and she wondered what fantasy place she would be transported to today. A pirate ship, or one of the King’s vessels. With the boys outnumbering the girls, their play tended to be much more rough-and-tumble than her own childhood had been.

  “Avast. Who be comin alongside?” Simon demanded of the trio.

  Kitty, the eldest, snapped to attention. “Miss Kitty to the quarter deck, Captain.”

  Mabel tugged her sleeve. “I wanted to be a fine lady today.”

  Agatha crouched down. Poor girl. They hardly ever got to play at being ladies. “Perhaps you could be a sea-faring lady, chasing down adventure on the high seas.”

  Mabel cast her a puzzled frown, shrugged, then ran off to play with her brothers and sisters without a backward glance. Agatha turned to join the nurse where she sat on a sunlit bench by the wall with the infant, Betty, playing at her feet. With a happy wail, little Betty crawled off her blanket, caught Agatha’s gown, and pulled on the material until Agatha relented and picked her up.

  She hugged her close. “Oh, you are an angel, sweetheart.”

  “More like a devil in disguise,” the nurse muttered. “She’s biting something fierce today.”

  Agatha peered at Betty’s wet mouth. “Thank you for the warning.”

  The nurse stood. “It’s your fingers.”

  She hastily pulled her hands away from Betty’s eager mouth. “Naughty girl. I need those to play the pianoforte with.” She reached for Betty’s doll and turned the child so she could nibble while she watched her siblings play. “Do run along, Bates. I’ll mind the children for a while on my own.”

  The nurse nodded. “Your ears.”

  Once the nurse disappeared, the children mobbed her. They had all kinds of questions and indeed, Agatha’s ears did cause her some pain after twenty minutes of solid chatter. Suddenly, Simon pulled at her sleeve. “Who’s that over there watching us?”