The Perfect Suitor (Bewildering Love Series)

by Hilden, L. A.

  The marquis leaned forward from behind her again, making it quite clear that he wasn’t about to sit back and allow some foreign count to sweep her off her feet without giving him a chance. Eve smiled at his dogged determination. “Would it be permissible if I came by next week to take you for a ride in Hyde Park, Lady Evelyn?”

  “I would like that very much, Lord Bakersfield,” Eve answered, aware of the count watching her and thrilled by all the attention she was receiving.

  Lord Bakersfield leaned back in his chair after casting a smug look toward the count, at which the count smiled, undaunted.

  After the recital, the Stonehaven family said their goodbyes and thanked their hosts. Lord Bakersfield reminded Eve of their ride next week and helped her with her cloak.

  “Excuse me, Lord Stonehaven, but would you mind if I attended the Countess of Madison’s soiree with you? I have my own carriage and would like to follow you there,” said the count. He had obviously followed them to retrieve their cloaks.

  Well, isn’t he persistent?

  “That would be fine,” her father exclaimed while helping Mother with her wrap.

  Eve stepped up into the carriage and her sister quickly followed. “It looks like you’ve acquired a couple of new admirers,” Cassie stated, adjusting her skirts and sitting down.

  “Yes, they both seem nice.”

  “Nice? Such a dull word to describe them. Only yesterday I heard you describe a certain earl in a way that was utterly poetic, so much so that even I sit on pins and needles waiting to gain a mere glimpse of him.” Cassie smiled. “I’m teasing, sort of. But please tell me, out of the two gentlemen paying you so much attention, did you prefer the marquis or the French count?” Cassie shifted to allow her mother to sit.

  “At the moment, I’m unsure.” She didn’t want to talk about either of them. She was anxious to reach their next stop. “I noticed you turned your fair share of heads this evening, Cassie. I daresay, if Mother and Father had allowed it, you would have dozens of suitors clamoring for your hand. Did you notice how the Earl of Winchester watched you? I’d say he was quite smitten.”

  “Yes, I did notice, and he was very appealing to my senses.”

  “Evelyn Marie Manning, stop encouraging your sister. She still has a couple of years left to enjoy her youth.”

  “Yes, Mother.” Eve smiled at Cassie.

  “What did you think of Bakersfield?” Father asked, once the carriage started rolling on its way.

  “Why do you like him so much?” Mother asked before Eve had a chance to answer her father.

  “He seems like a fine fellow. He appears intelligent and knows a great deal about government and politics,” Father replied.

  “If all he talks about is politics, he must be an absolute bore,” Cassie stated.

  “I found him charming enough, and very attentive,” Eve replied, glancing out the window as the flicker of the gaslights that lined the street of Pall Mall caught her eye.

  “What was your impression of the count?” her father questioned.

  Madeline frowned with concern. “I don’t know if I like the idea of my daughter being courted by a Frenchman. I would hate for you to move from England, especially to a country at war and filled with turmoil. I’m afraid, as a mother, I must forbid it.”

  “Criminy, Maddie. They just met,” Father uttered in exasperation.

  “What about love at first sight?” Cassie questioned.

  Father sighed. “There is no such thing.”

  “Then what about you and Mother?” Eve inquired with a sly smile.

  Their father, confronted by the glare he was receiving from their mother, threw up his hands in defeat. “All right, on occasion love at first sight can happen.” In his most reasonable tone he added, “However, it is extremely rare.”

  “Good recovery.” Mother laughed.

  “Well, you can all rest assured that it isn’t love at first sight between the count and myself.” Eve straightened her short white gloves.

  “No, she felt that way about the Earl of Devonhurst,” Cassie said teasingly.

  Eve kicked her sister to quiet her.

  Mother glared at Cassie. “I do not wish for you to mention the earl’s name again, Cassandra. Is this understood?”

  “Yes, Mother.”

  Cassie sounded so forlorn that Eve had to suppress a laugh.

  ***

  Henri Leverett, Count Vernon, sat in his newly purchased carriage contemplating his new alibi. He was tired of espionage, but as one of Napoleon’s Lègion d’honneurs, he wouldn’t disappoint his emperor. It was not an easy task to discern England’s strategies, nor was it easy to send the information he gathered to an emperor in exile on the Mediterranean isle of Elba. And now that he was keeping an eye on England’s activities from inside the country, communication was going to be even more difficult. However, Henri was determined. He didn’t believe the Bourbons deserved to sit on France’s throne. He knew that, if it wasn’t for the damn war in Russia, Napoleon would still be emperor and Louie XVIII would be in hiding with the rest of his cowardly bunch.

  Henri looked around at the London streets and cursed. England, so grand in appearance and yet governed by a spoiled, incompetent prince who ruled beneath an insane king. The Prince of Wales clearly believed it his due to run the country into further debt with his extravagant lifestyle, and George IV was a pompous ruler who gave his friends gifts of office, title, and contracts and otherwise got his way by using bribery. England had the worst kind of bought off government. It sickened him.

  Napoleon was a true leader. He saw the faults in the system in France and turned it around to promote people based on merit, not their social standing. Napoleon was a king for the people.

  Unfortunately, Henri was in England and he had a job to do. If he wanted to know what the English were planning, then he had to socialize with the titled gentry no matter his feelings for the lot of them. To avoid bringing attention to himself, he needed a reason for his sojourn in England, and Lady Evelyn seemed as good a reason as any to prolong this trip. Besides, the lady was unbelievably lovely for an English woman, which meant attention would be diverted from him to her, the belle of the Season.

  Henri grinned wickedly. If all went well, Napoleon would be back in France where he belonged in no time. Yes, all was falling into place. Soon Henri would find out exactly where the military garrisons were located and just which allies England acquired against Napoleon; and with this knowledge, his emperor’s enemies would face defeat.

  Then, Henri Leverett, a mere commoner before Napoleon assumed power, would rise even further in the ranks due to his skill as the finest operative in the Lègion d’honneur.

  ***

  “Now, remember girls. The countess is a known flirt. She means no harm so don’t take offense if she’s a bit reckless with your father. He is a handsome and intelligent man and many women can’t help themselves.” Mother ducked her purple turban with bright orange feathers on it out of the carriage and stepped down onto the brick pavers leading to the house.

  “Thank you, dear.” Father grinned at the array of compliments.

  After ridding themselves of their cloaks, they greeted the eccentric countess. Eve turned to find Count Vernon at her side. “May I have the pleasure of escorting you into the ballroom, my lady,” he addressed her while offering her his arm.

  “Yes, thank you.” Eve was nervous and placed a gloved hand on his arm. She looked back to see her father escorting her mother and sister. All eyes were on the latecomers and Eve put on her best smile as she descended the last steps.

  “It seems your beauty is causing a stir,” the count commented, leading her to an area adjacent to the dance floor. Eve’s family followed them.

  When they all reached their destination, a sitting area near the refreshment tab
le, Cassie pulled Eve to her. “It’s like a dream, isn’t it? Everything here glitters and sparkles. Look at your dress. It sparkles too.” Cassie was in her romantic realm. “I have never seen a lovelier room.”

  “It is amazing,” Eve agreed while searching the crowd nonchalantly.

  “If you’re looking for you know who, the man whose name I am forbidden to mention, from your description, I believe the man by the open balcony doors may be the Adonis you’re looking for.”

  Eve immediately turned her gaze in that direction and sucked in a breath at the two men watching her. She looked back at her sister. “Oh my heavens! That’s him.”

  “Of course it is, silly. He told you he was coming. He’s been staring at you since we entered the room.”

  “Well, I can’t approach him. I promised Mother.”

  “I don’t think you’ll have to worry. He sees you and so knows you are here, and when you are close enough, you can just give him that come-hither look you practiced earlier.”

  Eve took a deep calming breath and looked away from him. She wasn’t about to stand and stare. “I don’t want to appear anxious. Look at all the people watching us. Were we really that late?”

  Mother heard the question and walked over. “No, my dears. You both look lovely, perhaps too lovely, but then you are my daughters and so it cannot be helped. People can’t help but admire my beauties.” Mother patted the side of her head in vainglory and they laughed.

  ***

  Paxton stood transfixed, his gaze locked on her image.

  “Who is she?” Cole asked, most likely readying himself to introduce himself to the only enchantress in the room.

  “We met at the theater. I was remiss in asking her name,” Paxton admitted hesitantly.

  “Don’t fret. I shall retrieve it for you.” Cole started to walk away, but Paxton’s firm hand on his shoulder abruptly halted him.

  “So it’s like that, is it? That must be why you forgot to ask her name, because she swept away all your sense.” Cole’s spine stiffened as he saw the man escorting her down the steps. He made some kind of grunt of disgust. Then his attention appeared to be diverted by the vision coming in behind them. “Who is the lovely creature behind her?” Cole asked before giving a soft whistle of approval.

  Paxton reluctantly looked away and then back again to the vision he had been waiting for all evening. “I don’t know her.” He watched attentively as the other girl pulled his lady to the side. The lady who piqued his interest was exquisite. Her white muslin dress was cut in the classical style, with a small train and heavily embroidered throughout with glass beads. Every bead on the dress shimmered in the candlelight and made every covered inch of her glimmer. On her head, she wore a small glittering tiara that held up curly tendrils of her fiery auburn hair.

  The sight of her was spectacular, and he was all too aware that he wasn’t the only male in the room thinking this true. He then looked at the sharply-dressed man standing a little distance to her left and talking to an older gentleman, probably her father. But who was the other man? Could she have found a suitor so quickly? He knew that was a foolish question, Of course she could have. For some unexplainable reason the thought bothered him. “Who is the man with her?” Paxton knew he sounded stern, but it was Cole to whom he spoke and so it didn’t matter.

  Cole couldn’t help but tease him. “I’d say the older couple are her parents. The young lady next to her, I assume, is her enchanting sister.”

  Paxton wanted to glare at his friend, but just then she looked at him.

  “She sees you,” Cole taunted. “The man is Count Vernon. He is from France and allegedly here on holiday.”

  The lovely lady he had waited patiently all night to see looked away, and so Paxton looked at Cole questioningly. “What do you mean allegedly?”

  Cole looked around at all the people. “I can’t discuss details here.”

  The tone of his friend’s voice had Paxton curious. “Then follow me.” He led them through the ballroom, down a long cove-ceilinged hall, and into a dark vacant study and closed the door. The moonlight allowed them only to see each other in shadow. “So is he here on holiday?”

  “Some government officials of my acquaintance do not believe him to be. He’s being watched, in fact. Thus far his behavior has been impeccable. With his title and his money, he’s invited to mingle with most of the gentry, and so far, I’ve heard that everyone considers the count to be a fine man.”

  Paxton was going to say that he already didn’t like the man, but he kept his thoughts to himself. “Why is he being watched?” Cole’s lack of information was irritating.

  “Obviously you are not going to rest until I tell you the particulars. Mind you, I heard this from my father, who heard it from the Duke of Mayberry, who heard it from a close confidant of the Duke of Wellington, who, as you know, is a confidant of the king.”

  “Oh bloody hell, Cole. Proceed!”

  “You must vow not to tell anyone, including the young lady he is with.”

  “I won’t tell anyone.”

  “All right. You know this is a government secret.”

  “Cole, in a minute I’m going to start breaking things over your obstinate head.”

  “We have it on good authority that he is part of Napoleon’s Legion of honor, an award given to him at the age of eighteen for the rendering of special services for France. He now claims to be loyal to the Bourbon regime. However, when Napoleon was exiled, a few of his faithful officers saw him off, Henri Leverett among them. So, you see, it is in our country’s best interest to keep an eye on him while he’s here. However, he has been here for some months now, and due to his inactivity, he is no longer being observed very closely. It is costly to keep twenty-four hour surveillance on a man when he shows no signs of causing trouble.”

  “I see. For what was he rewarded by Bonaparte?”

  “Espionage.”

  “And the English lady? Do you think she may be a traitor?” Paxton’s distrust of women immediately surfaced.

  “I have no reason to believe this the case. You’re the one who met her. What did she tell you?” Cole asked.

  “She said it was her first Season and she was looking for a husband.”

  Cole grinned, seemingly knowing Paxton must have hated the lady telling him she was interested in marriage. “I assume she didn’t tell you this in French.”

  “Of course not. She spoke perfect English.”

  “Then I am sure she was telling you the truth and she is merely in the marriage market.”

  Paxton looked at his friend in irritation, knowing Cole enjoyed repeating that last bit of information. As the men left and headed back down the hall, Paxton added, “One can never be sure when it comes to women. They are completely untrustworthy.”

  Cole shook his head as they made their way back into the ballroom.

  CHAPTER SIX

  “Where did she go?” Cole asked Paxton teasingly.

  Paxton glanced around the large ballroom. Although it was crowded and hard to see, he spotted her right away. “She’s dancing to our left, behind the Everton’s.” He glared at Cole when he laughed.

  “Why don’t we introduce ourselves to the rest of her family?” Cole didn’t wait for Paxton to respond but started making his way toward them. Upon closer examination, Cole informed Paxton that the older man they were quickly approaching was the Viscount of Stonehaven, a man Cole had previously met through his father. “Good evening, Lord Stonehaven. I am Cole Stanton, the Marquis of Geary. I believe you are acquainted with my father, the Duke of Scottsdale.” Cole shook the viscount’s hand.

  “Yes, of course, the Duke of Scottsdale’s son,” Lord Stonehaven said, seemingly recalling the duke. “And how is your father?”

  “He is quite well, sir. He’s rusticating at our country ho
me. He abhors travel.”

  Charles laughed. “Yes, I remember that about him. This is my wife, and this is my daughter, Cassandra.” After Cole greeted the ladies, Charles introduced him to the count, who stood quietly nearby.

  “And may I introduce my good friend, the Earl of Devonhurst.” Paxton came forward at that point and made the appropriate remarks. He regarded the count with keen interest.

  “Is your sister here with you today?” Lady Stonehaven asked Paxton, pulling his attention away from the Frenchman.

  “As a matter of fact, she is, my lady. I am in London as her official escort. Perhaps this will be the Season she decides to wed.” Paxton knew what he told her was a bit personal, but he wanted this pretty lady with the funny headdress to talk freely to him about her own daughters, the older one to be more exact. What better way than to let her know the plain truth, that they were in London on similar missions.

  “Your sister is still young yet, my lord. Perhaps you should wait to commit her to such responsibilities for a couple of years. I was told Lady Lydia is only eighteen. That’s my Cassandra’s age. I don’t feel it necessary to subject a lady that young to the rigors of marriage.”

  “Madeline, dear, the earl may have a different view,” Stonehaven gently reprimanded his wife.

  “It is quite all right, my lord,” Paxton said. “I believe your wife is correct. However, Lydia has a wild spirit, and I feel it would be in her best interest if she had a family to focus upon. I’m afraid she can be a handful.”

  “I see.” Lady Stonehaven seemed somewhat miffed by Paxton’s honesty.

  Paxton looked at Cole, who was gazing continuously at the lovely Cassandra while listening to this conversation. She kept her eyes cast demurely downward. Smart girl, Paxton thought.

  “Lord Stonehaven, would you mind if I had this dance with Lady Cassandra?” Paxton expected an outright refusal to Cole’s request. He watched as Cassandra’s cheeks flushed pink.

  Lady Stonehaven looked on the verge of saying no on her husband’s behalf, for she seemingly noticed the way Cole was openly staring at her daughter. Instead, she looked at her husband, most likely hoping he read in her eyes the refusal she wished him to give.