What a Wicked Earl Wants

by Vicky Dreiling

  “Well, you do look in much better health tonight. I hope Bellingham was a gentleman when he escorted you home. A scamp like him would not waste a golden opportunity all alone in a dark carriage with a beautiful lady.”

  She had to deflect her friend. “We talked about Justin,” she said.

  “I might have known,” Lady Atherton said as if she were disappointed.

  “Bellingham is a good role model for my son.”

  Lady Atherton lifted her quizzing glass to look about the other boxes. “I’ve heard others say that he is too blunt, but I think he has an ability to see through a person’s veneer, if you get my meaning. That talent has served him well in his political career.”

  They remained silent for a few moments, and then Lady Atherton spoke again. “What do you think of Bellingham?”

  He is a superb lover. She told herself not to think of her wanton behavior last night or her face would give her away. “When he wishes, he can be quite charming.”

  Lady Atherton lowered her quizzing glass. “I think he pours on the charm for a certain pretty widow.”

  Laura grew uncomfortable and changed the subject. “Most of the ladies are wearing tall feathers in their hair. I never cared much for the fashion.”

  “Fashions come and go,” Lady Atherton said. “Now it is my turn to change the subject. You’ve said nothing of Montclief. Has he written?”

  “No,” Laura said. “I rather hope he never does, but that is wishful thinking on my part.”

  “What will you do about the secret engagement?” Lady Atherton asked. “It seems to me that you and Bellingham could easily find yourselves in hot suds if that information ever came to light.”

  “I sometimes fear that Montclief might reveal the engagement out of spite. It would be a disaster.”

  “The worst that can happen is that you and Bellingham must marry,” Lady Atherton said.

  Laura couldn’t breathe for a moment. “How can you say that in such a detached manner? You forget he is a determined lifelong bachelor. An enforced marriage would only create resentments on both sides.”

  “Well, if you are found out, he would have no choice. His honor and yours would be at stake.”

  “No, that cannot happen,” Laura said. She had fallen in love with Bellingham, but she knew that if he was pushed into marriage, it would breed acrimony. And she feared that Bellingham would refuse. She thought of his words: I never met a rule I didn’t wish to break.

  Laura felt anxious and decided she’d better discuss the situation with Bell. They had to prepare in the event that Montclief threatened to expose them.

  Footsteps sounded. Laura turned around and her heart beat faster. “Lord Bellingham.”

  Lady Atherton rose, and Laura only then remembered her manners. She stood and a dizzying feeling rushed through her as she dipped a curtsy.

  He smiled. “I saw you from across the theater.”

  “Do join us,” Lady Atherton said.

  “Thank you, I will.”

  He took the chair next to Laura. “You look ravishing tonight.”

  Laura felt the blush rising to her cheeks. She wasn’t adept at concealing her thoughts and worried Lady Atherton would somehow guess that she and Bellingham had become lovers.

  Sure enough, Lady Atherton regarded her with a knowing expression.

  “It is a pleasure to see you again,” Laura said to him.

  His blue eyes gleamed. “And you as well, Lady Chesfield.”

  “Your visit is timely,” Lady Atherton said. “We were just discussing your dilemma.”

  Laura regarded Lady Atherton with a warning look.

  “There’s no point in avoiding the issue,” Lady Atherton said.

  “What issue is that?” Bellingham asked.

  “Your secret engagement, of course. What will you do if Montclief threatens to expose you? He may very well try to use your secret to take the boy.”

  “I made plans in the event he does,” he said.

  Laura looked at him, the question unspoken.

  “If he tries to blackmail us, I will counter with my own information, which I hope to get soon.”

  “But what if you do not find anything?” Laura said.

  “I will,” he said. “Whatever happens, I won’t let him take your son. He’s shown no inclination to do his duty to the boy, and I will not hesitate to make that known if necessary.”

  “But Montclief is his guardian. Legally, you can do nothing to stop him,” Lady Atherton said.

  “If, as I believe, he is in serious debt, his creditors are probably hounding him. I can put word out that Montclief is on the verge of fleeing the country. The creditors will descend on him like locusts. The last thing he’ll want is another mouth to feed.”

  “But then he will be desperate,” Laura said. “He’s likely to demand money in exchange for Justin.”

  “I’ll bribe him if necessary,” Bellingham said.

  “I cannot allow you to do that,” Laura said.

  He gazed at her intently. “I was under the impression you would do anything to keep your son.”

  “I don’t like this,” she said. “I have a terrible feeling it will all blow up in an awful scandal. You should not have to bear the consequences.”

  “He treats you and Justin abysmally,” Bell said. “I will not allow him to ruin your lives. But we speak of worst-case scenarios. My instincts tell me that Montclief has some dirty dealings he doesn’t want anyone to know about. The only reason he threatened you in the first place is because his friends discovered he was shirking his duty to the boy. My guess is Montclief is nervous about his own reputation, because he likely has something to hide. Once I have all of the information, I will use it to keep him from ever bullying you again.”

  Lady Atherton regarded Bellingham with a satisfied smile. “I might have known you had planned for any contingency.”

  “It is the way of politicians,” he said. “Lady Chesfield, I beg you not to worry. I know you are vexed, understandably so, but I believe we will resolve this matter before the season ends.”

  “I am appreciative,” she said. “But you made all of these plans without consulting me.”

  “I wanted to plan it all carefully before presenting it to you. It’s the way that I work, nothing more,” he said.

  She didn’t really believe him, but she didn’t want to argue the point in front of Lady Atherton any longer. “We will have to take it one step at a time,” Laura said.

  “Your main concern is keeping the secret engagement a secret,” Lady Atherton said. “But you must both prepare yourselves for the possibility that it may be divulged. Then you’ll have no choice.”

  “There are always choices,” Bellingham said.

  “Well, we are here for entertainment,” Laura said. “And we will not resolve the issue of Montclief tonight.”

  Bellingham gazed into her eyes. “Yes, I weary of him when there are more pleasurable diversions to be had.”

  A warm flush spread to her cheeks. She busied herself by smoothing her skirt to conceal her blush from Lady Atherton. But his words were like a seductive potion making her yearn for more of his touch. She remembered the heady sensation of making love to him and squeezed her thighs. The spurt of pleasure made her eager to join him tonight.

  Voices sounded outside the box. Laura unfurled her fan to cool her face. Dear heaven, she must learn to hide her feelings for him, but it wasn’t easy when he was so near.

  “Ah, there they are.”

  Laura rose with everyone else at the sound of Harry’s voice and saw Colin as well.

  “We wanted to greet you, Princess,” Harry said.

  Colin elbowed him. “And you as well, Lady Atherton.”

  Lady Atherton snorted. “What mischief have the pair of you planned tonight?”

  “Colin’s father threatened to cut off his allowance if he didn’t make himself agreeable to Angeline this evening,” Harry said, grinning.

  “It’s impossible,�
� Colin said. “If I try to compliment her, she pinches me.”

  “Oh, dear,” Laura said. “But, Colin, why does she dislike you so much?”

  “She doesn’t,” Colin said. “She loathes me, and I loathe her. Our families are blind to it all. When they see us quarreling, they call it a lover’s spat.”

  “Surely the two of you can be civil to one another,” Lady Atherton said.

  “I beg your pardon, Lady Atherton,” Colin said, “but in all honesty, it’s hard to be civil to a lady who threatens to stab her fork in your leg under the table.”

  Everyone laughed. As the conversation continued, Bellingham leaned down and said to her, “Meet me in the foyer after the intermission.”

  “I will,” she whispered.

  Bell left with his friends. As he walked away, Laura found herself anxious for the intermission.

  When she returned to her chair, Lady Atherton remarked, “You look very much like a woman in the first blush of love.”

  “He is a friend,” Laura said.

  “He looks at you as if he’s already made the conquest.”

  Laura fanned her face. “I would have to be inhuman not to find him handsome.”

  “You’re lovers,” Lady Atherton said.

  “We are friends,” Laura insisted.

  “My dear, you know my thoughts about grabbing life’s opportunities. I do not disapprove, but you must learn to conceal your feelings for him. From the moment he walked in this box, you lit up like the lanterns at Vauxhall. For the sake of your reputation, you must learn to adopt a cool façade in his presence.”

  Laura lowered her fan and toyed with it. “I don’t know how to do this.”

  “No need to worry with a man like him. I’m sure he knows a dozen ways to Sunday how to pleasure a lady.”

  Laura gasped. “Oh, my stars.”

  “You’ll get over the shy stage.”

  Laura wafted her fan. Lady Atherton was certainly blunt about intimate matters.

  Lady Atherton shook out her own fan. “He made arrangements to meet you, I assume.”

  “Yes,” she said. “After intermission.”

  “I will leave the box at the same time to visit friends. To those in the theater, it will appear we are leaving together.”

  “I’m sorry to involve you,” Laura said.

  “There is no reason to apologize. You’ve been alone for many years and put all of your energy into your son. You will not regret this affaire de coeur.” She sighed. “I would add that you should guard your heart, but I see very well that I am too late.”

  “How could I not love him when he has done so much for Justin and me?”

  “He is a fool if he doesn’t make an offer for you,” Lady Atherton said.

  “You know as well as I do that he will never marry. I cannot allow myself to even contemplate it, because then I might hope.”

  “Then live in the whirlwind and do not let guilt interfere. You’ve given to everyone else but yourself. In years to come, you will be glad that you lived in this moment.”

  Laura’s nerves jittered a bit as she descended the stairs to the foyer. There were still a few people walking about, but she didn’t recognize them. When she stepped onto the marble floor, she looked around for Bellingham and saw him talking to an older gentleman. She walked over to a painting, pretending to admire it. As much as she wanted to be with him, this secretiveness troubled her, and yet it was very necessary to guard her reputation.

  “Lady Chesfield, I thought I saw you in Lady Atherton’s box.”

  Laura’s hands trembled upon hearing Lady Rentworth’s voice. She turned and said, “Hello, Lady Rentworth.”

  “Are you waiting for someone?” Lady Rentworth looked past Laura. “Is that Bellingham?”

  She looked over her shoulder. “Yes.”

  Lady Rentworth’s smile spoke volumes. “I have heard your name in connection with his on several occasions. He’s reportedly been at your town house many times.”

  Laura’s heart felt as if it had fallen to her stomach, but she had to remain calm. “He gives my son fencing lessons.” If Montclief heard similar rumors, he would take Justin.

  Lady Rentworth laughed. “He is an expert with a sword, is he?”

  No one could miss the obvious double entendre, but Laura refused to let the nasty woman engage her in a prurient discussion. “Please excuse me.” Laura felt nauseous as she walked over to the ticket desk. “Can you please hail a hackney for me?”

  “Yes, madam. Do you have a wrap stored?”

  She had kept her shawl, thank goodness. “No.”

  “Please wait here. I will call for you when it arrives.”

  Her mouth was dry. “Thank you.”

  She didn’t look at Bellingham. Instead, she stood near the door waiting. Humiliation made her chest burn. This was her punishment for daring to enter into a liaison with him. Behind her, she heard Lady Rentworth greeting Bellingham. At least he would know the reason she’d left. But it did not matter. She was done with this illicit business. Shame overcame her as she thought of her son and all that she’d intended to risk for a man who would only offer his bed.

  Lady Rentworth had obviously guessed her intention. Now all Laura wanted to do was flee this place, but she must wait until a hackney arrived. The minutes ticked by and still Lady Rentworth chattered on. The other man with Bellingham said something she couldn’t hear.

  The clerk entered. “Your hackney is here, madam.”

  She rushed out into the night. The driver opened the door, and she almost fell in her haste to board the hackney.

  “Careful, madam,” the driver said as he handed her up.

  When he closed the door, Laura covered her mouth. Never again, she silently swore. She had violated her own beliefs, and now she knew Lady Rentworth had ammunition to gossip about her.

  She had willfully lain with a man who only offered his bed temporarily. Lady Atherton had been wrong. She already regretted living in the moment.

  Bell gave Lady Rentworth a bored look as she continued to chatter about his generous contribution to the orphan charity. He knew damn well she’d been watching Laura and him in the box. She’d probably followed Laura downstairs. He was glad Laura had told him about her encounter with Lady Rentworth last night. Now he was stuck, listening to this woman who had obviously been waiting to pounce.

  “Well, I suppose I had better return to my husband, not that he will notice.” She gave him a sultry look. “Of course, I could be persuaded to something more agreeable.”

  The devil, she was propositioning him. “I hope you find it,” he said. Then he strode over to the clerk to collect his greatcoat, hat, and gloves. When he turned toward the door, he noticed that Lady Rentworth had disappeared.

  The wind whipped his greatcoat, chilling him. Laura was overset, and now he had to reassure her that she’d played her hand well. When his carriage finally arrived, he gave the driver directions and climbed inside. The horses started, but the streets were crammed with vehicles and carts. He planned what he would say to Laura and guessed her response. She would likely tell him that it was over, but he wouldn’t allow it. Their plan had gone awry, but Laura had done well by leaving.

  An interminable time later, his carriage arrived at Laura’s town house. Reed opened the door. “My lord.”

  “Thank you, Reed.”

  “Lady Chesfield is not at home,” Reed said woodenly.

  “Reed, let us do away with the formalities. I know she is at home, and it is imperative that I speak to her.”

  “I will consult her, my lord.”

  Bell paced the great hall while he waited.

  A few minutes later, Reed descended. He feared she’d refused to admit him.

  “Lady Chesfield will see you in the drawing room, my lord.”

  “I’ll see myself up.” He ran up the stairs and knocked lightly on the door. When she didn’t answer immediately, he opened it and walked in.

  Her face was pale as she rose fro
m the sofa. “I will make this brief,” she said. “I am grateful for all that you have done for my son, but I made a mistake last night. A grievous one.”

  “Laura, you did well tonight. I’m sorry for the circumstances.”

  “Let me finish,” she said. “I was humiliated, but it is my own fault. I willingly entered into this clandestine liaison. I selfishly pushed my son and my family to the back of my mind to lie with you. It was wrong, and what happened tonight opened up my eyes. I am sufficiently punished by my shame.”

  “Laura, you believe that you’re being punished? That is nonsensical. I know that it was embarrassing for you, but we’ll use more care in the future.”

  “No, there will not be another time.”

  “I don’t want to lose you,” he said.

  “As you said, we will go our separate ways when the season ends. You are welcome to give my son fencing lessons, if you are still interested.”

  “Of course I wish to give him the lessons,” he said. “But I don’t want to end our friendship.”

  She wrapped her shawl tighter around her as if it were a shield. “Even if it means only friendship? Because I will not come to your bed again.”

  She was testing him. He knew it. “Yes, even if it means only friendship.”

  “Very well.” She curtsied as if to dismiss him.

  “Laura, may I stay awhile so that we can talk? I feel awful about this.” He swallowed. “I wanted to go to you tonight, but I didn’t because Lady Rentworth was there.”

  “She knew what we were doing,” Laura said. “I went against all of my beliefs for selfish, foolish reasons. I risked my son’s welfare. For all we know, Lady Rentworth is one of Montclief’s spies, but that doesn’t matter. Because Lady Rentworth is a horrid gossip, and by now, everyone in London probably knows that I went to bed with you.”

  He took her by the shoulders. “You made the decision to make love with me. Now you’re feeling guilty and looking to blame someone. The truth is Lady Rentworth might have made that assumption whether we had done something or not.”

  Something hot rushed up her throat.

  “Don’t cry,” he said. “I didn’t want to hurt you.”