Lady in Demand

by Wendy Vella

  “What? How dare you suggest I’m lying.”

  Alex’s smile held no humor. “Not a nice feeing is it.”

  No it wasn’t.

  “You need to open your eyes, Finn, to the fact that she is better than any one of those women you are determined to marry. She’s honest and true and it’s my belief she could save you from the man you are fast becoming.”

  He didn’t want to ask, didn’t need to know, but he heard himself say, “And what man am I becoming?”

  “Emotionless and controlling.”

  Alex slammed out of the room after these ominous words. It took Finn seconds to make his decision to follow him. His concern was that in anger, Alex may deliberately go to some gambling hell, just to get back at him.

  He let Alex get ahead of him and followed at a safe distance until his brother hailed a hackney. Doing the same, he gave the driver instructions to follow and then settled into the uncomfortable seats.

  Emotionless and controlling.

  He replayed Alex’s conversation in his head. There was nothing between Phoebe and his brother, he was sure of this. Alex’s reaction had only confirmed what he already knew, but where had Alex been going every day?

  When the hackney stopped, Finn realized they were not far from Bond Street and thought perhaps Alex was going to visit a shop. Climbing down, he then paid the driver. To his knowledge, he knew of no gambling establishments around here.

  “The gentleman in that hackney went up Plimley Lane, my lord.”

  “Thank you.” Finn tipped his hat and headed in the direction the driver had indicated.

  There were a large number of carriages in the streets and Finn had to dodge around horses and drivers to make his way into the lane.

  “Lord Levermarch, what brings you here? Surely you are not set on visiting Madame Alexander’s also?”

  Finn bowed to the elegant lady who now stood before him.

  “I do not believe I have heard of Madame Alexander’s, Lady Grayson.” Finn looked up the lane but could see no sign of Alex.

  Lord Grayson was an acquaintance of Finn’s; therefore, he had dined at his house and conversed regularly with his wife. She was one of the leading ladies in society; many tried to emulate her sense of style, which of course Finn had never understood. Just thinking of ladies’ fashions made him shudder.

  “La, I declare she makes the most wonderful gowns. She’s just arrived in London, you understand. Miss Langley, Lady Ryder and Miss Wooller all wear her creations. I simply must have one for myself.”

  Finn felt a shiver of unease traverse his spine as he looked at the face of the woman before him. Alex had walked down this lane and he, too, knew those women. And hadn’t he just vehemently defended Phoebe’s honor?

  What the hell was going on?

  “And all theses carriages are here to go to Madame Alexander’s Boutique?”

  “Yes, and I simply cannot tarry any longer. Good day to you, Lord Levermarch.”

  “Good day.”

  Finn walked slowly up the lane, looking in each shop until he reached the one that had a handful of ladies mingling about outside. Tipping his hat, he smiled as some went in while others came out.

  “Such style, and the fabrics. La, I declare I have never seen such quality.”

  He listened as they chattered while he looked at the shop. There was small, blue canopy with gold stripes over the window upon which was displayed in elegant letters Madame Alexander’s. Looking at that name, he felt another shiver of unease. Finn couldn’t go in but he wanted to. His intuition was howling at him to enter but he did not. He would be mobbed by women demanding to know why he was there and then if word got out, he would be laughed out of his club. Retreating a few steps, he saw a narrow alley between the boutique and the next shop. Making sure he was unobserved, he headed down it, stopping at the end as he neared an open door and heard voices.

  “The Duchess of Hathaway was the first to enter so Genevieve told me and then the others followed. We have orders for gowns and day dresses, and we will need to hire several more seamstresses to fill them all!”

  “It’s started so much better than we ever believed it would be.”

  “I believe I said it would be a success from the start.”

  Finn made his way up the small back steps and through the door after he had heard Alex’s voice.

  “Would someone like to tell me what the hell is going on?”

  Three faces looked up at him from around the table. Alex and Phoebe looked shocked, Miss Wooller confused.

  “You followed me.” Alex’s words were quietly spoken yet Finn heard the anger in them; it matched his own.

  “Yes.” There was little point in denying the accusation as it was obvious what he had done.

  “Why?”

  “I was worried you were going to gamble.”

  Phoebe stood so quickly her chair fell backwards. Her hands fluttered in front of her before she clutched them together.

  “Alex has not been gambling, Finn. He has been here with Hannah and me.”

  He passed his eyes over her briefly before returning to his brother; as usual, her beauty hit him straight in the stomach.

  “I asked him to join us here, in this venture, Finn, so if there is any blame to be laid I would have you place it on me.”

  “No he won’t!” Alex stood and moved to her side. “We all went into this with our eyes open and it was my choice to join you; in fact, I demanded you let me invest in Madame Alexander’s.

  “A fashion boutique? This is what you have invested in, yet you lead me to believe you were gambling?”

  “You would not have understood had I told you,” his brother said. “You were so busy trying to get me into that locomotive consortium that you would not have listened.”

  Finn didn’t want to feel guilt over Alex’s words. He had simply done what he believed was right by trying to get him to invest in a sound consortium.

  “You should have told me about this, Alex. For weeks, I have imagined you in the clutches of some ruthless bastard, intent on fleecing you of every cent you own, and all the time you were knee deep in silk and bloody lace!”

  He hadn’t meant to yell, but he was angry and hurt. Hurt that Alex had not believed he could talk with him about this business.

  “Please stop.” Phoebe moved around the table to stand before Finn. “There is no need for this, I assure you, Finn. He will not lose his money; in fact, he stands to make a great deal.

  Finn looked at her, raking his eyes over her features as he felt the familiar tug of need inside him. Last night he had learned the taste of her skin, the feel of her as she arched against him, but he pushed those thoughts aside as he felt anger rush into his body, filling every corner and robbing him of sanity. She knew, too, and had not told him. Phoebe, the woman he wanted to marry, the woman he wanted to spend the rest of his life with.

  God, that hurt.

  “You could have told me.” His voice was thick with emotion.

  She flinched as if he had struck her, but Finn felt nothing, only pain that she and Alex had conspired against him.

  “It was not my secret to tell you.” He steeled himself against the plea for understanding in her words.

  Finn felt as if he was unraveling, his body slowly shutting down as he looked from Phoebe to Alex, who now stood at her side. These two people who he cared about had kept this from him and it hurt. He needed to leave her before he made a fool of himself and did or said something he would regret for the rest of his life. Turning, he headed for the door.

  “Finn, wait.”

  It was Phoebe who reached him, she who placed a hand on his arm, but he shrugged her off, unable to even look into her beautiful face, before he left the building.

  Phoebe couldn’t breathe, her chest was so tight. She moved to the table and braced both her hands on the surface. Lowering her head, she then sucked in a deep gulp of air.

  “Phoebe?” She felt Hannah rub her back in slow circles. “
Sit, love, take a sip of your tea.”

  “I’ve never seen him look that way before.” Alex fell into the seat beside Phoebe and put his head in his hands. “It was as if he was in pain, as if we had hurt him by not telling him.”

  Standing once again, Phoebe moved to his side where she placed her arms around his shoulders and held him tight.

  “He will forgive you, Alex. He is your brother and a good man, and you know this.”

  He leaned into her with a sigh.

  “Promise me that you will mend this with him, Alex.”

  “I promise, Phoebe. But I think it is not just me that hurt him. He loves you.”

  Phoebe’s laugh was harsh.

  “No he does not love me, Alex. I am just someone he cannot control and he has great difficulty with that.”

  “What a mess,” Hannah said, moving to Alex’s other side where she placed a hand on his shoulder. “Phoebe, you are so pale I fear you are about the faint.”

  Phoebe forced a smile onto her face. She was good at pretending, even when her heart ached so bad she feared it would never stop. She knew what she needed to do then.

  “I have to leave London briefly. I will be gone no longer than two weeks, possibly three. I have plenty of designs drawn and you are both capable of running everything until I return.”

  “What!” Hannah and Alex looked up at her as she moved away from them.

  “Will’s next shipment will have arrived by then and we will be even busier. I must do this,” she said, pulling on her gloves. Bella has to return to Twoaks and needs someone to accompany her and that someone, unfortunately, is me.” It was a lie, of course, and she wasn’t proud of herself for using her little sister’s name, but it had to be done; she needed to escape, if only for a while.

  “If you must,” Hannah said, looking doubtful.

  “I was going to tell you when I first arrived but I forgot in the excitement.” Grabbing her reticule, Phoebe hurried to kiss her partners.

  “I will be in Twoaks if you need to contact me, but I know you will cope admirably.” Reaching the door, she turned one last time. “Promise me you will make peace with Finn, Alex. He needs you.”

  “You love my brother, Phoebe, and he loves you.”

  She laughed at Alex’s words, but it came out like a high-pitched trill.

  “Don’t be silly. Now I must leave.” Picking up her skirts, she ran down the steps. He was not in the alley so she hurried along it, and from there she made her way down Plimley Lane. Women were walking up and down; some waved to her and Phoebe hoped she smiled and waved back. In all honesty, she had no idea what she did, as her mind was filled with the vision of Finn looking stricken.

  You could have told me.

  She should have insisted Alex tell him. He had a right to know, especially after he believed Alex was gambling.

  Hailing a hackney, she gave directions to Will’s townhouse and hurried inside. Pressing both fists to her eyes, she then let the first tears fall.

  She’d never seen him like that before, almost as if he was in a trance. They had hurt him badly and now she was hurting, too. It was all such a mess. How could she love a man who believed her so lacking? Phoebe let the tears fall and then twenty minutes later when she walked into Will’s office, she was once again composed.

  “Well are you a success?”

  “I am. There were carriages lined up and down the street when I arrived. We have orders that will take weeks to fill. Madame Alexander’s is a success.

  “Oh, Phoebe.” Livvy, who had just entered the room, rushed to give her a hug.

  “However, I need to tell you both something before Lord Levermarch does.”

  Phoebe had thought this over and believed honesty was the best way to move forward from here. She just had to keep her emotions hidden and stay calm.

  “What has Finn to do with this?”

  “Alex is the silent business partner in Madame Alexander’s and Finn has found out about this.”

  Stay calm, she counseled herself. Just mentioning his name hurt. Like there was a large block of wood in her chest where once there had been her heart.

  Will rocked back in his chair, groaning.

  “Was he very angry?” Livvy looked worried.

  “Angry, yes, but more hurt.”

  “Good on Alex. It’s a brilliant move on his part.”

  Phoebe looked at her brother-in-law and wondered why all men were not cut from the same cloth as he. She was sure there were things about him that drove Livvy to the point of madness; however, there was so much to like, too.

  Taking a breath, she tried to steady her heartbeat. Now for the hardest part of her performance.

  “I want to return to Twoaks for a few weeks if that would be alright with everyone.”

  Livvy moved to Will’s side and they both looked at Phoebe.

  “Why?”

  “I-I want to see Freddy and Jenny and I just feel in need of a break from London.”

  “Now? In the middle of the season and just as your business is about to take off?”

  Will gave her that steady look she knew so well and she crumpled. Falling into the chair before his desk, she lowered her head onto it and cried. She felt one large hand cup her head and then Livvy rubbing her shoulders. When she had finally eased to pathetic sniffles, she lifted her head.

  “Pl-please let me go home.”

  “Will you tell us why?”

  Phoebe shook her head. She would not be responsible for harming Finn and Will’s friendship. “My reasons are my own, and before you threaten to pummel someone, know that I will not tell them to you.”

  “Has anyone hurt you?”

  Someone broke my heart! she wanted to cry but instead she shook her head.

  “Please just let me go.” The plea in her words reached them.

  “It’s my belief that there is a viscount involved here; however, I know you will not tell me. If you want to leave, I will not stop you. However, you will take Luke and Moses and two maids. You will spend one night at the home of Lord and Lady Lucas, and then on the second day you should reach Twoaks. I shall send a note to them stating you will arrive tomorrow.”

  Phoebe nodded but said nothing further. She was so tired and wanted only the quiet that her room offered.

  “The return trip will be in two weeks from this day and I will inform Lord and Lady Lucas to expect you then also.”

  “Oh but—”

  “You have a business and responsibilities now, Phoebe. Two weeks is long enough to be gone.”

  “Of course. Yes, you are right.”

  It had all seemed so simple, Phoebe thought the following morning as Will’s carriage carried her out of London. So easy to run away from Finn and his anger. She wasn’t a coward; she just needed time to collect herself because she knew now that she loved him deeply, with everything that she had at her disposal. She also knew that she would always love him. However, this time away from him would make her stronger, build her defenses so that when she returned she could face him once more, perhaps even dance at his wedding.

  “Are you alright, Miss Langley?”

  Phoebe nodded to Sally and wiped the tears aside with her hand. She would weep for him and then she would stop. When she returned to London, she would once again be the outspoken Phoebe Langley. No one would know that inside she was broken.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  Finn locked himself in his office and drank steadily all day and night. He woke the following morning face first on the carpet in front of the now cold fire. Lifting his head, he looked at the two bottles beside him and groaned. Rolling onto his back, he looked up at the ceiling and wondered if was going to live or if the small orchestra tuning their instruments inside his head would see him into his grave.

  “Finn!”

  Wincing as Alex’s roar reached him through the wood paneling, he rolled onto his side and took a deep breath. Then making it to all fours, he pushed himself up to his feet.

  “Mother of God,
” he moaned as his skull tightened. Waiting until he felt steady, he made his way across the room. He saw his coat and necktie, his boots and several books lying spine up which made him flinch.

  “Bloody hell, Finn, open this door!” This time it was Ben’s voice.

  “Shut up,” Finn whispered, which of course no one heard, but he could speak no louder as it hurt too much. Stumbling to the door, he unlocked it and stepped back as his brothers came barreling in.

  “What the bloody hell did you think you were playing at, locking yourself in here?”

  Finn made it to the chair and fell into it as Alex spoke. They both now stood in front of him, glaring down at him, and he wondered if this was what he looked like when he was lecturing them.

  “I knocked and banged. We even tried to find the spare key but Narrow refused to hand it over, saying that you were obviously in need of some privacy and we would allow you to have it.”

  Finn must remember to give the old bugger a raise if he could ever form a rational thought again without it causing pain.

  “Did you know he was a partner in Madame Alexander’s?” Finn said suddenly as he looked at Ben.

  “Yes.”

  “You trust him but not me?” Alex winced as he swung his gaze back to him.

  “If your eyes are half as bad to look out of as they are to look at, they must hurt like the devil, Finn.”

  “Why did you not tell me?” Finn heard the pain in his words.

  “I was going to at the breakfast table when you summoned me but it all went a bit pear-shaped when you started speaking badly of Phoebe, so I stormed out.”

  Phoebe. God, even the mention of her name hurt his chest. Rubbing it again, Finn wondered if he would ever be able to mold himself back into the controlled man he had once been, because right now he felt raw, as if his heart was bleeding and he did not have a bandage big enough to bind it.

  “The thing is, Finn, I know you want only the best for us, but fashion is something I understand and am good at. Not the designing so much, that’s Phoebe’s thing, although the sleeves on her dress at the Hathaway ball were designed by me.”

  Finn saw Phoebe in that dress and her slender arms beneath the little sleeves.