No Decent Gentleman

by Grasso, Patricia;

  "You are very welcome," Adolphus said, rising from his chair. "I really must be leaving ... leaving ... leaving."

  Uncle Charles stood when the prince stood. "Be certain to tell Belladonna about our little visit."

  "Thank you for visiting," Sabrina said, starting to rise.

  "Don't get up," Adolphus ordered. "Carry on as you were. As you were ... As you were."

  The two older gentlemen crossed the drawing room to leave. Sabrina glanced at Adam, who wore a grim expression on his face.

  "What is wrong?" she asked.

  "Nothing is wrong," he said, and gave her a reassuring smile. "Now, I must be leaving for my appointments."

  Without warning, Adam leaned close and planted a kiss on her lips. Then he turned away and left the drawing room.

  The marquess was lying, too, Sabrina decided. Something was definitely wrong, or he wouldn't have been wearing that expression. If mistaken, she'd eat a piece of her own hemlock pie.

  Chapter 9

  Had it only been two days since she'd waltzed with the marquess in the drawing room? Sabrina wondered as she paced back and forth across her bedchamber. Those two days felt more like two minutes now that the moment had arrived to attend her coming-out ball. Almost as bad, the urge to bake was growing stronger with each passing second.

  "Come in," Sabrina called when she heard someone knock on her door.

  With a blush of nervous anticipation staining her cheeks, Courtney walked in and closed the door behind her. "Belladonna and Aunt Tess are tormenting me with the rules and regulations of London society," her sister complained, sitting down on the edge of the bed. "I thought I might escape them here."

  Sabrina smiled and joined her sister on the edge of the bed. "You look lovely in your white gown," she said, and then fixed her gaze on her sister's neck. "Where did you get those pearls?"

  "The marquess purchased them to complement my gown," Courtney told her. "Isn't he the most thoughtful man in the whole world?"

  "I have not thought of Adam in those precise terms," Sabrina said dryly. "In fact, I've—"

  "Have you begun to love him?" Courtney asked baldly.

  "You certainly get straight to the point," Sabrina said with a smile. "To answer your question, I don't know how love feels. I consider Adam a charming and attractive man, but he is also exceedingly arrogant and much too authoritarian."

  Courtney placed a hand over her sister's. "I'm certain that you and the marquess will enjoy a long, happy marriage."

  Sabrina burst out laughing. She was sorry she hadn't been quieter when her aunt opened the door.

  "Here they are," Aunt Tess called, marching into the bedchamber. Behind her walked Lady Belladonna.

  "Stand up," Belladonna cried. "You'll wrinkle your gowns before the guests arrive."

  In an instant, Sabrina and Courtney rose from their perch on the edge of the bed. The two older women descended on them, smoothing nonexistent wrinkles and fixing perfect coiffures.

  "We want to give you a few last-minute instructions," Belladonna announced, standing in front of them like a general addressing his troops.

  "Oh, dear!" Aunt Tess exclaimed. "Sabrina's gown is cut too low in the front."

  "Nonsense, that neckline is all the rage," Belladonna assured her. She gave the girls her attention again. "We'll stand in the reception line until Prince Adolphus arrives and then escort him upstairs to the ballroom."

  "Don't eat too much when we go down to supper," Aunt Tess ordered. "Ladies do not stuff themselves."

  "Don't dance with any gentleman more than twice," Belladonna advised. "To do so would cause a scandal because you were favoring one gentleman over the others."

  "You need not accept a dance with a gentleman merely because he asks," Aunt Tess added. When Sabrina and Courtney looked at each other and dissolved into giggles, she demanded, "What is so funny?"

  "Dear Aunt, I believe that both Courtney and I have been concerned with a lack of requests to dance," Sabrina said.

  "Don't be ridiculous," Belladonna admonished them. "Courtney and you will need to fight potential suitors off. In a manner of speaking, that is." She turned to Tess and asked, "Can you think of anything else?"

  Aunt Tess nodded and, in a stern tone of voice, ordered, "Don't forget to smile. Let's go downstairs now. Our guests will soon be arriving."

  "I'll be along in a moment," Sabrina said. "I need a few minutes to myself." She glanced at her sister's frightened expression and added, "I'll be there before the first guest arrives."

  How long would it be before the ton learned that she and her sister were frauds? Sabrina wondered, crossing the chamber to the window to gaze at the night sky. What would they do when the rumor spread that she and Courtney were adopted bastards?

  Sabrina knew the humiliation of their social cuts would be unendurable. If only the St. Aubyns had never come to Abingdon, she would be enjoying a peaceful evening at home, where she was accepted. On the other hand, her father would have been buried without a death knell if Adam St. Aubyn hadn't arrived when he did.

  Sabrina closed her eyes. Would she meet the man of her dreams tonight? Or had she already met him? The marquess's image floated through her mind.

  Sabrina crossed to the full-length framed mirror to inspect herself one last time. Her ice-blue satin gown was high-waisted with a deep V-neck where she'd pinned the marquess's diamond frog brooch. The gown had short melon sleeves and a hemline border of white silk roses. Her elbow-length gloves were white kid, as were her sandals with crossed ribbons.

  Winter roses, Sabrina thought, staring at the border of embroidered roses adorning her gown's hemline. The marquess had said that was what she reminded him of.

  Sabrina lifted her hand to touch her frog brooch, and the softest of smiles touched her lips. If she kissed the marquess—really kissed him—would he turn into a handsome prince?

  Sabrina knew the moment to go downstairs had arrived. She didn't want to be put in the embarrassing position of having the marquess come looking for her. Taking a deep breath, Sabrina turned away from her image and crossed the chamber to open the door. Discordant notes wafted up the stairs as the musicians tuned their instruments.

  Sabrina walked down the third-floor corridor like a woman going to the gallows. Reaching the top of the stairs, she stopped short in surprise. Leaning against the mahogany banister with his arms folded across his chest, the marquess waited for her.

  Adam St. Aubyn reminded her of Lucifer before the fall. He wore formal black trousers, black jacket, and black waistcoat with white shirt and tie. The starkness of the colors accentuated his dark good looks and his penetrating blue eyes. When he smiled, as he did now, his teeth appeared strong and straight and almost as white as his shirt.

  Sabrina stared at him in fascination. The marquess was the handsomest man she'd ever seen. He reeked of health and virility. How could any woman not be attracted to him?

  "I wondered how long finding your courage would take," Adam said.

  "If I really lacked courage, Winston would be standing by my side," Sabrina said.

  "Why depend on Winston when you have me?" he replied.

  His words flustered her. She didn't think she could handle the ton and his suggestive bantering at the same time.

  Adam gave her his devastating smile. His gaze drifted from her face down her body, pausing only for a brief second on the frog brooch. When his eyes met hers again, they gleamed with appreciation and possessiveness.

  "My compliments to whoever your natural parents were," he said.

  Sabrina felt the blood rushing to color her cheeks at his reminder of her bastardy. She used every ounce of inner strength to remain rooted where she stood instead of running back to her chamber.

  "My words compliment your beauty," Adam said, as if he recognized her distress.

  Sabrina inclined her head. "Thank you ... I think."

  "You aren't suffering the urge to bake?" he teased her.

  "I managed to fight it off," she a
nswered with a smile.

  "The others are in the foyer, but I wanted to speak with you privately before the evening begins," Adam said, taking her arm in his and escorting her down the stairs. "Will you accompany me to the drawing room?"

  "I don't think we should," Sabrina said, too nervous to be alone with him when he looked so devastatingly handsome. "I promised Courtney not to leave her alone to greet the guests."

  "Please?" he coaxed. "I promise to deliver you to the receiving line before any guests arrive."

  Sabrina nodded. What other choice did she have when he was holding her arm?

  The orchestra music grew louder as they descended the stairs to the second floor. Passing the ballroom, Sabrina heard the distinctive sounds of a cornet, a piano, a cello, and several violins. She couldn't help thinking that five hundred members of the ton would soon crowd into the ballroom, and the marquess expected her to mingle with them.

  God shield her, but she felt like a fraud. Those unsuspecting members of society had no idea that they were welcoming two adopted bastards into their fold.

  "Be careful, Princess," Adam murmured. "Your face might freeze into that pinched expression."

  "My nerves will calm as soon as the guests arrive," Sabrina said, managing a faint smile for him.

  Adam led the way into the drawing room. With one slight flick of his wrist, he sent the servants scurrying out and closed the door behind them.

  Sabrina wondered how he managed to order the servants about without ever saying a word. A remarkable talent, to be sure.

  "Prince Adolphus wants the first dance with you," Adam said, crossing the chamber to stand in front of the hearth. "Uncle Charles wants the second dance. I want the third, the one before supper, and the last dance of the evening with you."

  "Our aunts said not to dance more than twice with any man," Sabrina protested.

  "They meant any man except me." Adam gave her a devastatingly wicked smile. "I am your betrothed."

  "Very few people know that."

  "I am your guardian," he amended himself.

  "Uncle Charles and Aunt Tess are my guardians," she corrected him.

  "Don't forget, Princess, I hold the purse strings to the Savage assets," Adam pointed out.

  "You blackmailing, arrogant—" Sabrina paused, unable to conjure more vile insults to hurl at him.

  "Always keep your expression placid, Princess, no matter your inner turmoil," Adam said.

  "My lord, I thank you for your sound advice," Sabrina said. She lifted her upturned nose into the air, showed him her back, and walked toward the door.

  "I haven't finished, Princess."

  Sabrina turned around. Keeping a placid expression on her face, she arched a perfectly shaped copper brow at him and asked, "There's more?"

  Adam grinned. "I knew you'd be a quick learner."

  His smile and his words conspired against her. In spite of her annoyance, Sabrina returned his smile.

  "Come, Princess," Adam said, holding out his hand. "I have a gift for you."

  Sabrina closed the distance between them. Adam reached into his jacket pocket and produced a small gift box. He opened it to reveal a magnificent, obviously priceless ring. Before she could protest, he slipped it onto the third finger of her right hand, saying in a husky voice, "I want you to have this for luck."

  Sabrina stared down at the exquisite piece of jewelry. Lying on a bed of diamond ice were pearl snowdrop blossoms surrounding an enormous ruby rose.

  "As I said before, roses and snowdrops remind me of you," Adam told her.

  Sabrina hesitated. "I don't know what to say."

  "Say thank you."

  "Thank you, my lord." Sabrina looked at the exquisitely lovely ring again. Something about it bothered her. And then she knew.

  "This has the look of a betrothal ring," she said in an accusing voice, expecting him to deny it.

  "It is a betrothal ring."

  "But you promised—"

  Adam placed one finger across her lips to silence her. "When you are ready to accept our betrothal, simply move the ring from your right hand to your left hand."

  "And if I never accept it?" she asked.

  "You will."

  His arrogance annoyed her. "How can you be so certain?" she asked.

  "I am certain because I have seen the sorry lot of bachelors that English society has to offer," Adam answered, and then winked at her.

  Her annoyance left her as quickly as it had come. "You speak as if you don't consider yourself one of them."

  "Only my mother was English," he replied. "Remember?"

  "Perhaps someday you will tell me who you really are," she teased him.

  "What do you mean?"

  "I'm beginning to believe that you could be a prince in disguise. You certainly order everyone about as if you were royalty," Sabrina answered. "I sense that you have omitted important details about yourself. Will I ever know the real Adam St. Aubyn?"

  "Princess, I will explain everything once we are married," Adam answered.

  "Do you actually believe I'd marry a man without knowing him?" Sabrina asked, wondering for the thousandth time what he was hiding.

  "Trust me, Princess. You will marry me," Adam replied with a confident smile. "Shall we go downstairs?"

  In spite of her misgivings about what he'd said, Sabrina accepted his arm. Tonight was not the time for her to delve further into his past life. Together, they left the drawing room.

  "The room adjacent to the ballroom has been set aside for refreshments," Adam told her. "Beyond that is the card room and then the ladies' retiring room. Aunt Belladonna's maid will be available for minor repairs to gowns. The study downstairs will be used as the gentlemen's smoking room."

  "You seem to have forgotten nothing," Sabrina said.

  "I've asked Jamie to come early," Adam said as they walked down the stairs to the foyer. "Lily can offer you and Courtney moral support."

  Sabrina gave him a grateful smile. And then her aunt's voice reached her.

  "Oh, how I wish Henry were alive to see how beautiful you and Courtney look tonight," Aunt Tess was exclaiming as Sabrina took her place beside her sister.

  "Do you think Dudley Egremont will attend?" Courtney whispered, a high blush of excitement staining her cheeks.

  "He'll be here," Sabrina assured her.

  "Where did you get that ring?" Courtney exclaimed in a voice loud enough for all to hear.

  Sabrina flicked an embarrassed look toward the marquess and then held her hand up for everyone's inspection, saying, "Adam gave it to me." She glanced at Uncle Charles, who was beaming with approval, and suffered the sudden feeling that she was being trapped into an engagement with the marquess.

  "It looks like a betrothal ring," Courtney said. "Are you going to announce your betrothal?"

  "No," Sabrina said emphatically, and sent the marquess a decidedly unhappy look.

  How could she meet and encourage eligible gentlemen if they believed she was betrothed to Adam St. Aubyn? Was this a plan to discourage other gentlemen? If so, why would the marquess bother when he could have any woman he wanted? What was so damned attractive about her?

  "The Duke and Duchess of Kinross," Baxter announced, drawing her attention.

  James Armstrong winked at the haughty majordomo as he and his wife walked past him. Sabrina wished that all of the ton could be like Adam's friends.

  "Both of you come with me," Lily Armstrong ordered.

  Sabrina and Courtney followed the Duchess of Kinross to the opposite side of the foyer. In a low voice, she began a lecture obviously meant to bolster their courage.

  "No one could have been more nervous than I was the first time Jamie introduced me into society," Lily began. "And I didn't enjoy the luxury of having someone like myself to lend me support."

  Both Sabrina and Courtney smiled at that.

  "The ladies of the ton are sharks ready to draw blood at the first oportunity," Lily continued. She glanced at Courtney and warned, "Do
not even consider swooning." She looked back at Sabrina and said, "There is a way to confound them, however."

  "What would that be?" Sabrina asked.

  "Develop an attitude," Lily answered. "Pretend you are doing them a favor by speaking with them."

  "I'm not sure I could do that," Sabrina said.

  "I wouldn't know how," Courtney agreed.

  "Whenever someone intimidates you, picture the offending person with a remarkably ugly appearance," Lily told them. "An annoying gentleman receives buckteeth and crossed eyes. I always imagine an obnoxious lady as suffering from baldness."

  Sabrina burst out laughing. "I can do that."

  "So can I," Courtney agreed.

  "Then it's settled. You will not be nervous," Lily insisted, as if saying made it so, and returned them to the receiving line.

  Sabrina overheard Adam saying to Jamie, "The arrow has left the bow."

  "When do you think Ambassador Zaganos will receive a reply?" Jamie asked.

  "These things take time," Adam answered with a shrug. "Patience is a virtue."

  "Patience is reckless when your life is at risk," Jamie disagreed. "Let those two giants of yours do their jobs until then."

  "I wouldn't have it any other way," Adam said.

  Overhearing their conversation, Sabrina froze in fear. Was Adam's life in danger? Who would want to hurt him?

  "Sabrina, we'll see you upstairs," Lily was saying, accepting her husband's arm and letting him lead her toward the stairs. "Prinny sends his best regards," she called over her shoulder.

  "The Regent?" Courtney exclaimed.

  "No, the pig," the duchess called, and disappeared up the stairs with her husband.

  "The Duchess of Kinross has a pet pig named Prinny," Sabrina told her sister.

  Turning to the marquess, Sabrina whispered, "Your life is at risk? Did someone threaten your life?"

  "Nothing important has happened," Adam lied, his gaze on her warm. "I'm pleased that you fear for my safety."

  Sabrina flicked him a sidelong glance and said, "My assets are invested with you, and I don't want to lose them."

  Adam smiled at her words and leaned close, saying, "I know you are hiding your true feelings for me behind cruel words."