Too bad her mouth escaped her control. She rather liked Mr. Spencer. He didn’t dress like a dandy, which she preferred. In her mind, how could she take a gentleman seriously when he wore a salmon or chartreuse colored greatcoat, waistcoat, or breeches? No. She’d learned long ago dandies were not to her taste. Handsome looks were an asset, but not something she needed in a husband. Kindness was a necessity as patience and a sense of humor were as well. Because she spoke her mind before thinking, a sense of humor topped her list. Money and wealth might top her parents’ list, but if she wanted a nice, happy life, her husband must laugh and laugh aplenty. Or at least laugh with her when she made a faux pas. Which to the horror of her parents, she did often.
As her thoughts drift back to Mr. Spencer, she had to admit he was most handsome with his dark hair and bluish-green eyes. At times they appeared green and other times blue. How odd, yet she’d found them mesmerizing.
She spoke the truth when she told him he danced gracefully. He did indeed. They were well matched in that respect since she could admit to herself she was indeed a fine dancer. More than fine, quite competent as was he.
His voice, a deep baritone, caused her skin to tingle in a good way, not like nails on a board in the schoolroom.
Too bad she ruined what they might have had with talk about men sleeping with men. She saw the blood drain from his face at her words. No doubt if the waltz hadn’t concluded when it had, he would have bowed off, embarrassing her and her parents. Oh well, nothing to do about that now. It was in the past. As was Mr. Spencer.
“Miranda,” her mother’s voice interrupted her musings, “Please let me see your dance card. It should be full with names by now.”
She reluctantly handed it over.
“Tsk, tsk, this will not do. Come with me while I introduce you to the gentlemen on our list. We can’t have you sitting out dances, you will get the reputation of a wallflower. And no daughter of mine will be reduced to wallflower status.”
“Yes, Mother.” She sighed as she wondered if she could somehow break her leg, now, rescuing her from those men on the list.
The next hour passed in a blur of introductions and dances with strangers. Several of whom had horrible breath and sweaty hands even through their gloves and hers. And most of these men were not on the list. Torture, it was pure torture to keep a smile plastered on her face and partake in polite conversation. A time or two she shocked her partner with her candid words. One gentleman blushed profusely. Really? Am I that horrid and embarrassing when I speak my mind?
Once, she found herself dancing a waltz with Lord Thomas Seabrook, who practically ignored her and if she wasn’t mistaken appeared to be in his cups. Oh, he was handsome, and debonair, but not for her. He wasn’t even out of university. Why her mother had his name on the list was crazy.
And contrary to what her mother suggested, she would not try to ensnare any man into marrying her. He either wanted to marry her or he didn’t. Simple as that.
Besides, she could not, in good conscious, compromise herself for the sake of her parents, nor would she do that to anyone else. Why should they suffer because of her father’s bad judgment when it came to managing his finances?
Oh, she knew entrapments happened and often. But not to her. She could never forgive herself for deceiving someone. For luring him out into the gardens on a warm, dark night such as this. Letting herself be caught with her lips on his, or worse, his hand on her bosom. In her mind, the lips she kissed belonged to Stuart Spencer. Her arms went around her waist as she shivered in awareness. Awareness of what, she wanted to know.
Not far from where she stood now, near the refreshment table, a deep voice drifted her way enhancing her already over-aware senses. Mr. Spencer was in deep conversation with his cousin, she presumed the man to be his cousin as they resembled each other. She could only surmise as she had yet to be introduced to him. An oversight on her mother’s part, no doubt.
Plucking a cup of punch off the table, very carefully so as not to get a drop of the pink liquid on the fingertips of her pure white gloves, she sipped it while pretending to listen to her closest friend Lady Beatrice Stone prattle on and on about dancing twice with Lord Frances Herman. A bore of a man in her opinion, not that Beatrice cared about her or anyone else’s opinion. She looked smitten with the bore.
“Beatrice, surely you are not setting your sights on Lord Frances already?”
Her friend blushed which answered the question. “Why not. He is handsome and witty. Why I nearly peed myself laughing while we waltzed.”
“No reason. The Season is just beginning, you don’t want to find yourself betrothed so soon you miss the rest of it.” Surely her friend wasn’t in love already? Love at first sight? Please, some people were so gullible to believe in such a farce.
“Is not the point of a Season to find a husband?”
Sometimes Miranda wondered how she and Beatrice ever became friends. They couldn’t be more different. Perhaps that’s why the friendship worked so well.
“I believe you are right. And if Lord Frances is who you want, then I’m happy for you.”
Beatrice leaned close to her ear and whispered, “I see who has caught your eye and he is most handsome.”
Miranda blinked and to her horror, blushed.
“Did you think I didn’t notice you waltzing with Mr. Spencer? Nor the way you were just eyeing him like candy the whole time I was talking to you. Which was so rude, did you even hear a thing I said?”
No...I mean yes...sorry.” She should have known. She’d never been able to keep secrets from Beatrice. Lowering her voice she said, “He is very handsome and appears nice enough.”
“But...”
“But, you know me. I may have said a thing or two that shocked him during that most scandalous dance called a waltz. Which I cannot believe my parents let me participate in. Most debutantes are not allowed to waltz. It’s unseemly intimate.”
Beatrice shook her head and frowned. “You might as well tell me what you said? I’ll find out sooner or later.”
“You don’t want to know.”
“That horrible?”
“Well, I shocked even myself after I uttered the words. And I’m quite convinced Mr. Spencer was too. Because really, how could he not when I asked if his cousin, William, preferred the company of men.”
Beatrice gasped and covered her mouth. A confused expression crossed her face. “I don’t understand?”
Good, Miranda thought.
Chapter Two
“Who do you keep looking at?” questioned William.
“What...who...I don’t know what you mean.”
“Oh come now Spencer, I know you too well. And if I had to guess I would say Lady Miranda Carlton has caught your eye.”
He smiled as he remembered the inappropriate conversation they had during their dance. “She is lovely, if a bit unconventional. Speaks her mind which is refreshing, but I best stay clear. She has set her sights on marriage.” Too bad really because he would like to get to know her better.
William laughed. “Don’t they all.”
“Have Geoffrey and Katherine arrived yet? They are awfully late.”
Spencer felt bad for causing the scowl on his cousin’s face. Poor William. Caught in so many secrets and lies. Secrets Spencer knew, not that he was ever told, but he put it all together not long ago.
“They are not attending. Got a missive from Geoffrey right before we left explaining Katherine was feeling under the weather, which was a lie no doubt.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Just because we live in the same house doesn’t mean I have to tell you everything.”
“Sorry.” Spencer, wanting to escape his family, but not interested in renting rooms where all the other bachelors of the ton resided, moved in with William into one of his family’s Mayfair homes right down the street from Spencer’s.
“Sorry. None of my business.”
“Correct.”
“
Anyway, I suppose you could do worse than Lady Miranda. She is comely and her teeth are white and straight.”
“You noticed?” Spencer was shocked.
“Yes, well,” he shrugged his shoulders, “not until you seemed interested in her.”
“I haven’t made up my mind about interested or not. She has her sights on marriage, and I’m not convinced I want to give up my degenerate ways just yet.” Damn it all. If only she didn’t need to marry soon. Getting to know her would be a welcome surprise.
William laughed. “You are such a reprobate and a rakehell. Do you think you can change?”
“Funny. If you could, then I certainly can.”
“Who says I changed my ways?”
Spencer ignored the question. He didn’t want to get into all the secrets that surrounded William, Geoffrey, and Katherine. But what secrets of theirs he did know were safe with him.
***
Spencer had a lapse of sanity the following morning and not only sent flowers to Carlton house but also arrived for tea during afternoon visiting hours.
Led into a drawing room on the second floor, the butler announced him.
“Mr. Stuart Spencer.”
He took a seat in a vacant chair facing a settee where Lady Miranda and her mother resided. One other chair was occupied by the elderly Lord Templeton. Surely he was not in the market for a wife? Worse yet, would Miranda’s parents consider him. He was worth a small fortune and would undoubtedly die soon, leaving Miranda a wealthy widow.
“Lady Miranda, Viscountess, thank you for receiving me. What lovely weather we are having today.”
“Not that lovely,” mumbled Lord Templeton, “my rheumatism is acting up, rain is coming.”
Did the man know that would not help his cause any? He sat, hunched over, clutching his walking stick. His eyes were bloodshot, his skin puffy and bluish in color. Clearly the man had indulged in more than his share of spirits during his lifetime. His long lifetime at that.
“Yes, well, it is lovely now,” replied Lady Miranda. “Mother and I plan to take a carriage ride in the park later, so I hope the rain holds off.”
“I think it will.” Damn, how could Spencer have forgotten how much he hated calling on a lady? He was no good at small talk. The weather, who cared about the weather except for the elderly like Lord Templeton with his rheumatism.
What he wanted was to spend time with Lady Miranda. The real Lady Miranda. Not the impostor sitting prim and proper before him. Not that she wasn’t prim and proper, she was, it’s just she was more than that. He could admit today, after being shocked by her words last night, that she was a breath of fresh air with her candid and honest words.
Of course, her parents would be shocked at what she said to him. But he wouldn’t mind learning more about these unconventional things she knew about even if they were a little too close to home for comfort.
“As I was saying, Mr. Spencer,” said the viscountess, interrupting his thoughts, “I didn’t see your mother or grandmother last evening. Are they in the country?”
“Grandmother no. She attended last evening, although she left quite early. My mother and my younger sisters are in the country for some fresh air.”
“Are they not attending the Season then?” Miranda asked.
“No. My sisters are young. Only six and seven. It’ll be a while before they make their come out.”
“I didn’t realized they were so much younger than you,” the viscountess said.”
“Yes, well.” He shrugged his shoulders. “They are.” Spencer never really thought about the years in between his birth and those of his sisters. Obviously, his mother had trouble conceiving after him. It was after the birth of his younger sister, Elizabeth that their father died from consumption. The loss still pained his heart. His father had been larger than life to him. And ever since his death their mother had wallowed away in her grief and invented ailments. Thank God for their grandmother who basically raised his sisters.
Shortly after, he took his leave and found himself walking into White’s to a loud commotion. The hairs on the back of his neck rose as he recognized the voices of Sir Phillip Trenton, Geoffrey, and William arguing long before he caught sight of them.
“What is going on,” he said as he stepped up to the three men standing close together. Sir Phillip had murder in his eyes. Spencer never did like the chap. He had beady, shifty eyes that made one uncomfortable. Made one wonder what lurked inside his mind.
Sir Phillip turned his way piercing Spencer with those murderous dark eyes. “These two are keeping me from seeing my sister.”
“I beg your pardon, but as I understand it, Lady Katherine doesn’t want to see you,” Spencer said with conviction.”
Both cousins looked his way, shocked. “How do you know?” Geoffrey asked.
“She told me.”
“She did?” This from William and Sir Phillip simultaneously.
“Yes. Now if you don’t want the whole of the ton to know about your personal differences, I suggest you end this conversation. They probably already have the betting books out and money being put down on the outcome. Not that there will be an outcome, as I believe, Sir Phillip was just leaving.”
Spencer hated when he had to get in the middle of his cousins and Sir Phillip. Especially since he only could speculate on the dissention between the three. It would be much easier if he knew the whole story.
After Trenton left, Spencer gestured to a group of chairs facing the hearth. Once seated, he motioned to a server for drinks. Glass in hand, he downed it in one swallow. “What the bloody hell were you two thinking?”
“He started it,” William said with a frown. “He wouldn’t shut up about Katherine. She doesn’t ever want to see him.”
“He is a moron. A money grubbing moron,” Geoffrey said into his still full brandy. He placed it on a side table and rose. “I’m going home.”
“Is Trenton becoming a bother?” Spencer asked William once Geoffrey was gone. Clearly he was if the altercation he just happened upon was any indication. Had there been other instances he didn’t know about? He also wanted to know if William, Geoffrey, and Katherine were taking great pains to keep their secret affairs just that—secret. If knowledge came out...Spencer cringed at the thought. Three people’s lives would be ruined beyond repair. Not to mention, what this would do to their grandmother? Spencer didn’t believe she would survive the scandal.
William shrugged his shoulders. “Nothing we can’t handle.” He held his glass up. “Another round.” He mouthed to the server. “So please tell me you didn’t call upon the lovely Lady Miranda this afternoon?”
Spencer’s mouth dropped. “How did you know?”
“We do live in the same house. Besides, the butler informed me. Are you out of your bloody mind? Never mind. Don’t answer that because I know you are.”
“If anyone is out of his mind it is you.” Did William have any idea he played with fire with the risk of incineration.
“Me?”
“You know what I’m talking about. But as for me, I haven’t met a lady who intrigues me as she does. She speaks her mind and doesn’t appear to play games. It’s refreshing.”
“Just don’t find yourself alone with her in a dark corner, or in a deserted room, or out on a dimly lit terrace, or in a poorly lit garden, the list goes on and on. Because if you do, you’ll find yourself with a fiancée.”
“Would that be so bad?”
“Are you daft?”
Was he? He didn’t think so. Just tired of life as it was. He didn’t want a wife just yet. But he did want Miranda. In every way possible known to man. He’d already acknowledged he wanted to get to know her better. Now he admitted to wanting more. He wanted to possess her mind, body, and soul.
***
“Please, Claudia,” Miranda said. “Hurry up already, Mother must be waiting and I don’t want to arrive late for my first night at Almack’s. I’ve waited a lifetime for this night to come.” And she had. Ev
er since she’d been a little girl her mother talked about her time at Almack’s. How it was where she met her father and knew instantly she would marry him. Miranda didn’t believe in love at first sight, but she always dreamed of Almack’s and her very own knight in shining armor. Tonight she would see firsthand if the famed club lived up to its reputation.
“Oh, milady,” Claudia said as she placed the last cream flower in her hair. “You look beautiful. You will probably get three marriage proposals tonight alone.”
Miranda’s heartbeat increased. “Oh, how exciting that would be. But truly, I’m not ready to get betrothed until the end of the Season. I don’t want to miss out on anything.” Did she just utter the words, how exciting that would be? No. It. Would. Not. Be. Her father would make her accept the first one that came in, and she didn’t believe Spencer would be offering any marriage proposals. She didn’t want to get married until she had time to get to know him. Something about him made her eager to be in his company. And there was so much more if she admitted it to herself. Last night she’d dreamed of a mysterious man who kissed her and made her feel wonderful and free. Free from her parents’ strict rules. Free from her mother’s nagging to sit up straight, be a lady, and think before you speak. Oh, she loved her mother dearly, but she needn’t remind her so often. It made Miranda feel lacking somehow.
Now, as they sat in their carriage, it was no less. Her mother ticked off all the things she need do and must not do. Did the woman have any idea how it twisted up her insides until it confused her? She quite possibly might mix up the do’s and don’ts.
Arriving at Almack’s took longer than Miranda thought possible. She could barely sit still in the coach as they waited to disembark before the long stairs that would take them into the famous establishment.
Once inside, she could hardly believe all the young debutants, such as herself, milling around smiling, laughing, and gossiping. Where were all the gentlemen? Oh there were men around, but not nearly in the numbers she had thought. Perhaps it was early in the evening and they came later after visiting their clubs. Yes. That must be it.
Spencer meets his Lady Love Page 2