Wicked Nights With a Proper Lady

by Tiffany Clare

  Charlotte leaned back on the cushions with a discontented sigh.

  “Castleigh has ruined more than a few good ladies’ reputations with his antics. Have you told him of your upcoming nuptials?”

  Charlotte shook her head. “I haven’t, but it’ll be obvious to everyone soon enough if Mr. Warren continues to call on me and take me around the park in his barouche. Then again, with the marquess seeking me out, it might look as though I have a few contenders for my hand.”

  Could it be that Lord Castleigh liked Charlotte in more a capacity than friendship? Did he wish to court her cousin? That didn’t seem likely. Leo had asked quite pointedly who the girl was to Genny. There was trickery at play with both gentlemen. And she would not let her guard down, no matter how innocent a scene she’d walked in on with Charlotte and the marquess.

  Her experience had been much different with Leo, and it had happened so many years ago now that she couldn’t be sure if she had instigated the seduction or if he had simply made her believe that.

  “Do you have feelings for the marquess?”

  Charlotte’s grin was everything but innocent. “Castleigh and I are no more than friends.”

  The butler entered the parlor, cutting off Genny’s reply—not that she was sure what her rebuttal would be. He bowed and presented a silver platter on which sat a small vellum box with a brown satin ribbon tied in a neat bow around it.

  “A present arrived moments ago. A messenger awaits your reply,” the butler said.

  The box was small and unremarkable. A neatly folded, unmarked envelope was tucked just beneath the top of the ribbon. Charlotte clapped her hands together excitedly and stood to retrieve the card. Genny could not make out the words on the heavy parchment from where she sat.

  Her cousin’s eyes widened and her mouth formed a little O of surprise as she turned her gaze in Genny’s direction.

  “Who is it from?” In all likelihood—and judging by the size of the box, which she guessed housed jewelry of some sort—they’d be returning the gift.

  “Friends, you say?” Charlotte’s tone was teasing as she passed over the opened notecard.

  Genny took it reluctantly. He wouldn’t. He wouldn’t dare send her a present for all to take note of.

  Her hand shook slightly as she read the neat cursive message:

  My Dearest Miss Camden,

  Something to catch the fire in your eyes.

  Your

  L

  Her fingers itched to free the ribbon and see what lay inside the box. Of course, she could never open it. She would have to send it back to Leo immediately. Why did he have to do this to her? Why should Charlotte have to witness this? It negated everything she’d said earlier about her past association with Lord Barrington.

  Genny made her way toward the settee, needing to be out of reach of the present Leo had sent. She arranged her skirts into something altogether neater as she perched herself on the edge of the seat, glaring back at the box, which was nothing more than a bribe and a declaration of Leo’s challenge to win her over.

  It would not work.

  “Please have it returned from whence it came.” She regretted having to send it back at all and wished that the present could be considered a spoil of their war.

  The butler didn’t so much as blink an eye. “Instructions for the carrier, madam?”

  She busied herself with a wrinkled frill on her bodice. “No message is required.”

  Which was a lie. There was a lot to be said about Leo’s boldness. How dare he endanger her position by doing something so … so obvious. How dare he express his attraction toward her in such a public way. She sincerely hoped this wouldn’t become the talk of Town.

  As the butler left the room, Charlotte sat beside her on the settee.

  “You should have at least taken a peek before sending it off. I’m desperate to know what he bought for you.”

  That small bit of camaraderie with her cousin brought a smile to her lips and a little pitter-patter to her heart. Genny found herself responding honestly. “It was too neatly put together to do such a thing. Yes, I wish to know what the box contained, but it simply wasn’t meant to be. You know why I couldn’t open it. It’s wholly inappropriate for Lord Barrington to send such a thing. Let this be a lesson in life.”

  “There you go again…” Charlotte shook her head. “There is no lesson other then self-torture. Why would you subject yourself to that? You’re going to forever wonder which hair comb he purchased for you. And now you’ll never know.”

  “It was necessary.” Genny’s gaze slipped to the door, almost wishing the butler would come back with the box she desperately wanted to open. “Why is that so hard for you to accept?”

  “Because I don’t. You’ll never convince me now that your association with the earl is only as deep as friendship. He likes you, and I think that scares you.”

  “He does not scare me.” Her voice sounded too defensive even to her own ears.

  Charlotte laughed as she stood and made her way from the room. “You can keep telling yourself that if it makes you feel better.”

  Chapter 8

  It appears that Lord B___ has taken to courting. That is not something this writer thought would ever be put down in ink. Perhaps all he has in mind is another discreet affair that will be surrounded with speculation but buried in secrecy like his past relationships.

  Also, a notable blush stole over the mysterious Miss C___’s cheeks as she was escorted about the opera house on her admirer’s arm. Yes, I believe courting to be too tame a word for what Lord B___ has in mind. Perhaps this is a most illicit liaison in the works and hopefully one that will be exposed this time.

  The Mayfair Chronicles, June 1, 1846

  As Genny and her cousin entered the private box, the glow of the gaslights behind them flashed orange tendrils of light across the richly carpeted floor. The box went dark as the red velvet curtains fell back in place, and they slowly wound their way around the chairs and toward two unoccupied seats in the front row next to Lady Carleton.

  Charlotte sat beside their host and Genny took the chair on the end. Even if Castleigh did come, there would be no available seat near her cousin. And that was all that mattered at the moment. Leo was another matter entirely. Not that he’d be able to sit with them in the front of the box, since the chairs could not be arranged any differently to accommodate more seats per row.

  The wall fixtures set around the stage gave little light to see by; most had been lowered or snuffed completely as the orchestra set up for the opening act.

  Patrons were still finding their seats, conversing with the people they sat next to, and gawking at other guests around and above them. The opera was set to start momentarily, and there was no sign of Barrington or Castleigh this evening. That brought a smile to Genny’s face.

  What a perfect evening this was turning out to be.

  “Here, Miss Camden,” Lady Carleton said. “Take my opera glasses. Squinting at the surrounding company is unbecoming for a lady.”

  Genny felt a blush infuse her cheeks. “My apologies. I didn’t even realize I was doing that.”

  “No need to apologize. But you should know that Barrington is with my husband, and they will be joining us when their matters at Parliament wrap up this evening.” Lady Carleton tapped her white satin glove to her chin. “They do seem to be running later than usual.”

  Equal measures of desire and irritation filled Genny on hearing the announcement. She should be thankful Castleigh wasn’t attending but was too annoyed to put much thought to that welcome fact.

  “What matters are keeping them in Parliament if I might be so bold to ask?”

  “A tax is being levied on sugar imports coming in from the West Indies and more specifically Barbados. Did you know my husband has fifty acres next to Lord Barrington’s property?”

  So this was how he so easily secured a seat at Lady Carleton’s dinners and summer house parties. “I wasn’t aware. I suppose you’
ve known Lord Barrington for as long as you’ve been married to your husband.”

  “I have, and his father when he was alive, too.”

  “And what of Lord Castleigh, my lady?” Charlotte interjected.

  Lady Carleton turned her sharp assessing gaze on Charlotte and cocked one eyebrow. “Don’t think I haven’t noticed your regard for the marquess. And though he declined our invitation tonight, you should know he’s not the kind of gentleman for you, dear Charlotte.”

  “He’s kind to me, my lady. I count him as a friend.” Charlotte gave an ineffectual pout.

  Lady Carleton squeezed Charlotte’s hand with a cluck of her tongue. “I’m sorry to tell you this, but allowing a man like Castleigh to court you, as charming and sweet as he is, would have you shunned from good society and make you a mother before you are ready to take it to task.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  Genny had to tell her cousin the truth about the scandal that man would bring to Charlotte’s name should she pursue more than friendship with the man.

  “What she means, Charlotte, is that Lord Castleigh has two children out of wedlock living with him.” Her cousin gasped. “No one even knows who the mother is. Rumor has it that they were dropped off on his front steps the day they were born. The worst of it is that he allows them to live openly with him in his own home. So any woman he does marry will come under the scrutiny of society for allowing such a thing to continue.”

  “Oh, I hadn’t any idea. H—he never told me that he had … children.”

  “That is exactly as it should be. Believe it or not, he was doing you a great favor by not telling you. One doesn’t talk about these things in polite company,” Genny said.

  Maybe now her cousin would take her advice and avoid the marquess.

  “Enough with all this speculative talk. I hear my husband.” Lady Carleton turned her back to the stage and faced the closed curtain.

  Genny took a deep breath and focused on a stain on the wall as all three of them stood in anticipation of the men’s arrival. She heard Leo talking quietly to Lord Carleton as they entered.

  “Lady Charlotte. Miss Camden.” Leo’s deep voice sent a titillating vibration right down to her toes.

  And because half the opera house probably watched their exchange, Genny forced herself to meet his gaze. It wasn’t as though she could avoid him for the remainder of the night.

  “Lord Barrington.” She dipped her head in a semblance of polite greeting.

  Barrington took her hand and placed a kiss on the back of her knuckles. Though she wanted to pull her hand out of his reach, she held firm and let her displeasure be read clearly in her narrowed gaze. His dark eyes only twinkled in amusement.

  After greetings were exchanged, Lord Carleton sat next to his wife, which meant Genny needed to take the seat next to Barrington behind the first row of chairs.

  She would not allow Charlotte to sit beside the lout. Though there was a distance of about a foot between their chairs, Leo slid his marginally closer. Would he attempt to whisper sweet nothings in her ear? If he did that, he would leave her with no choice but to pinch him.

  As delicious as their stolen kiss had been, there would be no mistaking it for anything but an awkward misunderstanding. Just because they had once been lovers did not give him license to assume anything had changed between them or that they could simply pick up where they had left off.

  * * *

  “I did not take a program from the usher when I arrived. Which opera is it tonight?” Leo asked of no one in particular.

  Lady Charlotte turned in her chair and passed back her leaflet of paper. “Albert Lortzing’s Undine. I’m told we will not need a handkerchief for the ending, as this particular opera is a romance.”

  “Really? It’s a shame that I haven’t more time for the opera when Parliament is in session. I do enjoy spending my evening in the company of such lovely ladies.”

  “So good of you to treat yourself to a night out, then,” Genny said under her breath.

  “I was not able to catch what you said, Miss Camden? Would you mind repeating it?” He enjoyed teasing her far too much.

  “Nothing of import, my lord. Just nattering on about how good it is that no one dies in the opera tonight.”

  “Quite the save, Miss Camden. Quite the save.”

  She put her shoulders back and tilted her chin up haughtily. “I don’t know what you refer to, Lord Barrington.”

  “Of course not.” He gave her a knowing grin.

  She picked up her opera glasses and looked around the opera house, deliberately ignoring him. He’d not give her the opportunity to snub him for the remainder of the night, however.

  Quickly reading over the synopsis for the opera, he handed the program back to the front row. “Thank you, Lady Charlotte.”

  “You’re welcome,” she responded before turning back to the front.

  Grasping the arm of Miss Camden’s chair, he leaned in close to whisper in her ear. “A tale of a water nymph getting her prince. How fitting when I met you in nothing more than your chemise whilst swimming.”

  Without hesitation or warning, she rapped him on his hand with her closed fan. He yanked his smarting hand away and rubbed the back of his knuckles. And though he wanted to laugh, he did not want to draw eyes their way. Right now, he had her all to himself and he’d like it to stay that way for as long as possible.

  “Where have you been all my life, Miss Camden? I don’t think I’ve enjoyed anyone’s company above yours. You have a miraculous way about you that keeps me in line when I most need straightening out.”

  “I’m afraid the sentiment will have to go unreturned.”

  “Touché.”

  She did not respond further, only glared at him, retribution clear in the perturbed pinch of her lips and the crack of wood as her hand tightened around her closed fan.

  As the orchestra started the opening act, he took advantage of the noise to slide his chair nearer yet to hers.

  He sat close enough that he could make out every delicate feature of her face in the dimly lit box. Her chin was slightly pointed, her cheekbones high but not overly defined in her fairylike face. Her lips weren’t very generous, but had enough flesh to pull and suck on when they kissed.

  He wanted to taste her lips now but forced his gaze downward to assess the rest of her ensemble.

  Her collarbone and shoulders were exposed tonight in a dress that scooped down on her curvaceous frame. It looked to be another dark and drab color, but he’d not be able to confirm that till the lights were restored in the opera house.

  Her skin shone luminescent like a pearl glimpsed in the murky gloom of seawater, but she was all warm flesh and blood that he craved more than ever to touch and feel for himself. Her bosom was pushed high and unfortunately covered except for the very top swell that caught the black-beaded drops of her necklace. She should have a strand of diamonds wrapped about her neck and be draped in the finest of silks, not wearing paste jewels and outdated styles.

  Her hair was coiled and held in place with plain hairpins and a simple, black lacquered hair comb. A shame she hadn’t accepted his gift; it would have looked lovely in her hair tonight.

  He had to pry his eyes off her and physically turn in his seat so he could focus on the stage for the opening act. It felt like forever before the first intermission came upon them.

  “The music is lovely,” Lady Charlotte exclaimed, taking Lady Carleton’s arm as they headed out of the box for refreshments.

  “So glad to have joined you. I’m pleased to know the ending won’t be the typical operatic bloodbath,” Lord Carleton said, following his wife from the box.

  Leo didn’t fail to notice that Genny held back, so Leo stood aside to let the rest of their party precede them.

  She grasped his wrist and pulled him out of sight from the other attendees outside their private box.

  “Why are you trying so hard to unsettle me?”

  Knowing they wo
uld only have a moment alone, he acted quickly. Placing his palm to the small of her back, he used his free hand to flick one of the heavy velvet curtains around their forms and pressed her gently against the recessed wall at the back of the Carleton box.

  He must have caught her off guard because she didn’t struggle to be free of him. They were effectively locked together in their own little realm of velvet and gilt where no one could witness what might transpire. The familiar lavender scent of her clothes clung to her like fresh spring rain. God, the woman drove him mad with lust just by being so close to her.

  “I like you unsettled, Miss Camden. It allows me to take certain advantages I wouldn’t have the opportunity for otherwise.” He paused in his speech, his eyes dropping to her mouth. “Nothing would please me more than kissing you. Right here. Right now.”

  “Your behavior is uncalled for.” She shoved at his chest, but it wasn’t to push him away because her hands flattened and relaxed there. “We will be missed if we don’t find the rest of our party.”

  He couldn’t care less about her cousin and the Carletons when he was too busy imagining the wicked things he could do to her. Like peel her dress away and lick every inch of her skin, which he knew was as soft as the petals of a flower in bloom. He wanted to hike up her skirts and feel the litheness of her legs as they wrapped around him. Neither of those things could be accomplished here, but when he did finally have her in his bed again, he’d take his time and savor every touch, every taste, until he was drowning in her very essence.

  A small taste of her would have to suffice for now.

  Placing his thumb on the center of her chin, he inched it down far enough to separate her lips and see her tongue peeking out from between the pink folds. His gaze caught hers full on. He couldn’t stop himself from sliding his fingers over the side of her face and slipping them lower to capture her neck in his hand. She didn’t resist him, didn’t pull away. Instead, she arched her body marginally forward in invitation.

  She was an enthralling and fascinating creature. His very own water nymph come to life.