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her death. It had struck a chord with Lily, for she herself was still living with
her grief for her papa. But of this particular Earl, there was little gossip to be
had. He lived a far too cloistered and sheltered life for it to be of any interest
to the scavengers of the ton.
But why this man was asking her to do this, she did not know and if she
weren't so frightened, would have thought the entire situation a complete
and utter farce!
“You love your mother, do you not, my lady?”
Lily gasped and this time, she did spin around but the sudden clamping of
two fierce hands about her upper arms kept her in position. She cringed as
she felt the heat of his body against her.
“Why do you dare to bring up my mother?”
“Lives are fragile, my lady.” He laughed. “But then, you know that. You've
just lost your father and understand how it feels to lose someone so close to
you . . . . How would you feel were your mother to suddenly disappear?”
Fear ripped through her with a frightening speed. It was followed closely by
a nauseous sickness that rushed through her system and had her almost
vomiting over the balcony!
“You would not do such a thing! My mother is innocent! I . . . I am innocent!
Why are you doing this?”
“You do not know me, girl. You do not know what drives me. I will kill your
mother without a moment's hesitation and will do much more than a delicate
lady such as yourself can even comprehend. I will make her suffer until her
last breath, until she begs me to kill her, to end her suffering. Believe this
like you believe in naught else.”
“But I cannot seduce the Earl! I wouldn't even know what to do!” she cried.
“There are far more experienced women, surely they can help?”
“Do not waste my time. It is a precious commodity. Nor should you play with
me. Is your mother's life not worthy of this? Are you saying that you will not
do it and press me to kill her?”
“No!” she gasped and began to struggle within his grasp. “No, please do not!
My mama is my everything . . . I shall do it. I do not know how to do it, for I
have never seduced anyone before, but I shall try. I cannot guarantee that I
will succeed.”
“You shall just have to find a way then, shan't you, Lady Lily? Failure is not
an option. Do not forget your motivation, for I certainly shan't! I will be
keeping an eye on you and shall send word of the Earl's arrival to your
aunt's home. I want to see you flirting and playing up to him on the very
first occasion you both attend. If I don't . . . well, we both know what will
happen to your mother, don't we?”
With that threat uttered, he disappeared and left her gulping for breath as
terror and a feeling of being quite lost beyond all salvation drowned her
alive.
She stood there, gasping, when Mr. Derricks returned with her drink. She
snatched it from his hand, murmured a quick but harried thank you and
drank the entire punch in one instant.
“Dear lady, are you quite yourself?” Mr. Derricks asked, concerned.
“Yes.” Her reply was faint and such a lie, that she was surprised she was not
struck dead with a bolt of lightning from the heavens.
Shudders began to rack her slight frame and taking it as a sign that she was
cold, he took her arm and led her quickly from the verandah and into the
warmth of the ballroom.
Before she even realized it, Mr. Derricks had chivalrously delivered her to
her aunt and within ten minutes, she was being stuffed into her uncle's
carriage with Aunt Millie's smelling salts wafted every now and then under
her nose as they traveled hurriedly through London and to their Mayfair
home.
Chapter Three
Feeling terribly like some sort of ludicrous French spy, Lily looked around
Lady Greene's ballroom in the vain hope that Earl fforbes-Hyde would be
here. A part of her felt almost like dropping to her knees and praying to God
for guidance, and the other felt like fleeing, but how could she? Her mother's
life was in danger! To simply not go through with that mad man's plan could
place her mama in serious peril and even though the man might simply be
playing with her, for whatever nefarious reason, she could not take the
chance!
This morning, when Janie had passed her the silver salver with the missive
resting upon it, she had felt almost as though she were about to touch
molten glass! Instinctively, she had known who had sent it and had dreaded
reading it. As soon as the paper had touched her fingers, she had felt as
though it had indeed been as hot as hell.
It had simply said:
fforbes-Hyde arrived in London this night past. Is due to attend the Greene
ball- be there or Mother dearest will suffer. Don't forget. I won't.
Any thoughts she had about ignoring the letter had instantly dissipated and
so, here she was. The thought of her mama being in danger, was more
terrifying than words could say and so, the seduction was due to commence
as soon as she could set her eyes upon the esteemed Lord and all Lily could
do, was simply endure the situation.
And it would be just that, a test of endurance. Being completely in the dark
as she was about seduction and its art forms . . . well, it had her pushed
between constantly flushing and blanching.
With the odds so terrifyingly against her and her beloved mama, Lily felt
disgustingly disadvantaged. Indeed, she wasn't even sure if she could follow
through with the entire plan, for what occurred in a seduction was still
beyond her.
The days prior to her having received the missive, she had attempted to
gently quiz her aunt, who had also managed to both flush and blanch with
great success. Thereafter, Lily had dropped the topic, for it was quite
obvious that her aunt was terribly discomforted by the whole thing. Although
why, she did not understand. Surely . . . it was a natural process? Her
distress had shot Lily's own tension into the sky, for was it so horrid? So
terrible that it was quite sufficient for a woman of her aunt's age and
experience to be so horrified by the entire thing?
Janie had been a little helpful, but more bewildering than anything else.
There had been a lot of coughs and nervous laughs. “Eh, miss, you shouldn't
be asking me this,” Janie had oft muttered, flustered with embarrassment.
There had also been awkward bobbing curtsies and quick, harried escapes
until she'd had to almost pin her down and ask what seduction entailed and
again, hardly any information had been imparted and Lily was left feeling
more confused than ever!
Thus Lily felt unbearably lacking in knowledge of what she would be taking
on with this mission of hers. All she knew was that her ultimate fate did not
appear to be all that fortuitous!
Having stayed close to her aunt throughout the entire evening, for Millie was
bound to point out the eligible bachelors in the room at will, her
steadfastness proved successful for almost out of nowhere, Aunt Millie's fan
was raised and begun to flutter.
“Lily,” she
hissed behind the fan.
“Yes?”
“Look at the fireplace, by the Neville chit.”
“The Neville chit?”
Aunt Millie sighed impatiently. “Yes! The Neville chit, in the entirely
inappropriate brown taffeta! The girl looks like a wren!”
Feeling very unkind, for Lily's eyes instantly found the 'wren', she winced.
“Yes, I can see her,” she murmured.
“Look at the green fireplace, beside it, the blond man.”
“What about him?”
“It seems Earl fforbes-Hyde has returned to the ton's bosom!”
“That is he?” she asked, faintly surprised. Now that he was here, she felt
both terrified and relieved and her voice reflected that melange of emotion.
“Yes. He always was a handsome devil! And I must say that he does not
appear to be too pleased to be here!”
Now that was quite an understatement. His face was a picture of bored
disdain. Indeed, disdain was too polite a word to use. He looked completely
and utterly disinterested by his environs and as though he would rather be
anywhere else but here.
In fact, his expression reminded her of herself and her own weariness at the
ton's seemingly endless events before that evil man had pushed her into this
ridiculous yet horrifying situation!
The Earl was surrounded by men she could only assume were his friends.
Surely, if they were not, they would not be standing with him, not with that
sourpuss face, at least!
From her memory, she could easily recall each of the men there and every
single one of them were below par. Rakes and men that at some point or
another during the Season her aunt had warned her against seemed to
make up the entire group!
A part of her wondered why he had attended the ball if the entertainment
did not make him happy. But then, it did not make her happy either, yet
here she was and had been throughout all the other soirees she'd had to
attend. So Lily supposed that she could not really make an issue out of that
particular fact!
As soon as her eyes spotted him and her gaze touched him, Lily instantly
recalled that the . . . the . . . she resorted to a word her brother used and
one her parents had scolded him for . . . bastard had told her he would be
watching her and instantly, she felt as though all eyes were on her. As
though her every move were being watched and she were currently under
examination by the horrible devil who had set her this dastardly task.
Sucking in a breath, once more she was assailed with fear. Fear for the
unknown and fear for her mother. How was she to proceed? How did one go
about seducing a man? What was she to do?
Lily felt so completely lost, that despair rushed through her and she had to
close her eyes to withhold the tears that longed to fall. Swiftly, for her aunt
could be the very devil if she spotted emotion, Lily pressed the thumb and
finger of her left hand together fiercely, until the joints literally hurt and only
then, did the tears cease. She blew out a quiet breath and felt it whistle
slightly between her teeth.
Lily straightened her back and then forced herself to look at him and study
him in detail. As she did so, she wondered how on earth she would be able
to approach him. To simply walk up to him . . . . It just was not done. Ladies
never approached gentlemen! But Lily had to admit, that were she ever to
break the rules, then it would be for the particular gentleman standing
before her. She shook her head at the thought, but it would not be denied.
There was an air about him, a somber yet restrained attitude that seemed to
suit his blond looks. His face was tanned which told its own tale and she
knew that he would be an outdoor man and not a dandy who was afeared of
the sun! From this distance, she could see his green as grass eyes which
were as piercing as glass and just as quick to cut. His jaw was strong, as
was his aquiline nose and in general, he was a man that many of his own
sex would aspire to be like.
He made a dashing figure in the tight fawn breeches, which were tucked into
gleaming Hessians. A taut emerald green waistcoat fitted him perfectly and
set off the light in his eyes. His cravat and linen shirt were perfection, the
former being a waterfall of tumbling material, which was the only
unrestrained part of his outfit. His jacket displayed his broad shoulders
delightfully and added to his aura of strength.
Despite herself, she felt a frisson of something rush through her and Lily
wished that she knew what it meant. Regardless of her fear of the situation
she found herself in, this frisson touched parts of her she had never even
known about, parts that had never before been touched! But Lily wasn't
altogether sure that it was that fabulous a time to actually be experiencing
something of that nature!
Inwardly grimacing, she separated from her aunt with an air kiss to her
cheek and then departed to the refreshment table, which was fortunately
close to his position. When she moved, she kept her head tilted towards the
Earl's location and managed to look at him without seemingly doing so. In
fact, she could almost liken herself to the afore-mentioned French spy! Only
this time, it was not so ludicrous.
As she perused the tempting foods on display, her stomach rumbled a tad,
but she realized that to take a bite of anything but a very light ice, would be
like tasting ashes and as such, hideous! With a sad smile, she discarded the
tasty tarts and treats and simply cast her eye over the length of the table
and then, fortune smiled on her. For she heard the butler call out that the
next dance would be the choice of the ladies!
Was fate on her side, she wondered, as she swiftly moved down the length
of the table and returned to her earlier position. Within seconds, she found
herself standing before him and his set, which had suddenly ceased their
bantering and had grown silent.
Lily stared at the Earl for what felt like endless moments and although she
was aware that the men were making sly and very quiet, so as not to offend
her, innuendo, she easily ignored it. Completely unaware of her beauty and
the effect she had on the man she was staring at and those that surrounded
him. All she felt was . . . fear, discomfort and God help her . . . excitement!
What was wrong with her?
Her mouth felt dry as her eyes met his and she felt almost pierced to the
core with that same frisson that she did not understand. Before she could
make a larger fool of herself by simply standing there like a cursed
bedlamite, Lily curtsied. “Lady's choice, my lord,” she murmured, her voice
soft and as feminine as she could make it.
The Earl scowled. But then obviously realized that he could not refuse
without causing a fuss and so, he ironed out the frown on his forehead and
plastered on an obviously false smile. He then held out a reluctant hand and
bowed. “My Lady?”
“Lady Lily Mercer, my lord.”
“Earl fforbes-Hyde, my lady.”
The formality was stifling but appearances were always considered in this
superficia
l ton of theirs and as he led her away from his sniggering-like-
schoolboys friends, it was difficult not to turn her head and stick out her
tongue at the fools. Only the fact that she was in one of the most artificial
places prevented her. It would have spread around like gossip that one of
the diamonds of the ton had taken to acting like a saucy chit and to deal
with the aftermath of such talk was beyond her at that moment!
Gracefully, he took her to the dance floor and instantly led her into a waltz.
Lily thanked the Lord that she'd already attended Almack's and had received
permission from the Lady Patronesses to dance this particular dance, for
again talk would surely have followed! In her current situation, with this
threat hanging over her head like the sword of Damocles, it was the last
thing she needed to be at the center of such gossip!
Not that her mind was actually on the threat, not when her partner danced
like a dream come true. It was like floating on air with him and it was
something she had never before experienced. In fact, it seemed that tonight
was a night of firsts!
And while she was enjoying herself and could enjoy the sheer pleasure of
being with a man who could dance as perfectly as he did, she knew that he
did not feel the same. It was evident in the stiffness of his form- which
somehow did not affect his dancing- and also in the cast of his face, which
throughout the entire dance seemed to be set in stone!
She found herself . . . actually feeling upset by this. Dancing with him sent
these strange fizzles through her, feelings that she could only liken to
pleasure, yet he looked as miserable as sin.
Was it even possible to feel pleasure from this? Was it? How could she feel
pleasure from something that was being forced upon her?
She wanted to speak, to say something to him, but his expression seemed
to forbid it and as he held her close and spun her around the ballroom, she
felt a tense excitement course through her as their bodies met and turned
and twisted as they danced. When the music came to a halt, they paused
there in silence. Their eyes close, their mouths even closer and she felt a
sudden urge to shorten the tiny gap that separated them and press her lips
to his.
For a moment, he hesitated and she felt certain that he was going to take