A Traitorous Heart

by Tammy Jo Burns

  “It’s time,” she said, using the only words she knew in all of their years of marriage that would wake him up quickly. It had worked exactly three times in the past, and she would have to beg his forgiveness later, but the person at the door sounded desperate.

  Richard, Duke of Thornbrook, ever elegant and composed, quickly jumped to his knees, his hair standing on end and looked quite disconcerted. “It’s time? What do you mean? Are you in pain? Talk to me woman!”

  “Darling, I’m fine, but someone at the door is not.”

  “You’re fine?”

  “Absolutely.”

  “You are going to pay for this.”

  “I know,” a delicious thrill crept up her spine, for she knew her husband would not stay angry at her long. They turned in unison as a knock sounded on their door. “A moment,” Dru called as they both reached for dressing gowns.

  “What is it?” Richard asked as he went to the door.

  “Is Lord Blackburn still here?”

  “Yes,” a voice croaked down the hall. “My head is pounding as it is, can someone stop that racket?” he complained.

  “Sir, the Duke sent a message!”

  “Lucas, is that you?” Derek asked squinting towards the stairs.

  “Yes, sir. The Duke sent word Lady Tessa is at the opera.”

  “He must be mistaken, I told her we were not going this evening,” Derek slumped against the door, still fully clothed.

  “Sir, you don’t understand,” Lucas ran the rest of the way up the stairs and grabbed Derek’s shirt in his fists. “Lady Tessa is there with a man!”

  “What?”

  “Lady Tessa is there! She can’t leave us!” The boy repeated, his chin quivering. He had heard the fight earlier, the yelling and the breaking glass; the bitter words she had yelled at Derek. Lucas feared that his now perfect world was falling apart at the seams. “He said to tell you she is with the director.”

  Derek hesitated slightly as he took in this news.

  “I will kill the bastard,” Derek growled flying down the stairs. He ran out of the house to the stable and quickly found Goliath. Instead of waiting for him to be saddled he grabbed his mane and rode him bareback, making his way as quickly as possible through the throng of people congesting the streets of London.

  Chapter 31

  Tessa didn’t know how long she cried. She did throw three more things and relished the cacophony they made as they hit the wall and shattered. The sobs slowed to hiccups as she lay across the bed, covered in the bathing sheet, staring at the ceiling. Slowly the sadness she felt evaporated to be replaced by a deep, burning rage. A knock sounded on the door before it opened revealing Sarah.

  The maid took in the pieces of glass all over the floor near the door and her mistress lying on the bed and surmised not all had gone well with his lordship.

  “I will clean this mess up right away. This note came for Lord Blackburn, but since he has left, Ramsey instructed me to deliver it to you.” Tessa waited for Sarah to bring her the note since she remained barefoot and did not want to risk cutting her feet. She broke the unfamiliar seal and read the hastily scribbled note.

  I will be by at 8:00 to pick the two of you up for the theater. Please be prompt.

  S. McKenzie

  Tessa found herself not hesitating in the least.

  “Sarah, leave that mess for now. Bring the aquamarine dress,” she scrambled off the bed and to her dressing table. “I need to be ready in twenty minutes to attend the theater.”

  “But, Lord Blackburn...”

  “Can go hang,” Tessa interrupted. “The dress, nowm and we must figure out something to do with my hair.” She looked up to see the maid hesitating and clapped her hands. “Quickly Sarah, we haven’t a moment to spare.”

  “Yes, m’lady,” she scurried, quickly calling for another maid to pick up the shattered glass and porcelain that littered the floor. Sarah went to work on Tessa’s hair and attempted to masquerade the redness of her eyes. She refused to let her look in a mirror until fully dressed. “There now, what do you think, m’lady?”

  Sarah grinned in satisfaction at the look that befell Tessa’s face. Tessa’s curls were piled on top of her head with some escaping their confines to frame her face. Sarah had woven jet beads through her hair that reflected the light. She then secured a pair of jet earrings and necklace.

  The aquamarine color of the dress complemented Tessa’s pale complexion and red hair. She hoped the black overlay gave it just the right touch of elegance for an evening at the theater. Black beads reflected the light along the lace overlay and she tugged black silk gloves up to her elbow, just giving the slightest hint of skin between sleeve and glove. The bosom of her dress gave just a hint of the delights it hid. Her black slippers completed the ensemble.

  “You look beautiful, m’lady.”

  “Thank you, Sarah. I can hardly believe it’s me.” Tessa’s head cocked to the side as she heard a knock downstairs. “That will be Director McKenzie.”

  “Here, m’lady, be sure and take this,” Sarah handed her a black shawl.

  “Thank you, Sarah. For everything,” Tessa said, impulsively hugging the maid and then dashing downstairs. She reached the bottom of the stairs to see the director pacing and looking at his pocket watch. He looked very fine in his evening clothes. Tessa thought some woman would be very lucky indeed to have this man by her side. “Good evening, Director McKenzie,” she greeted. When he looked up she could tell he appeared stunned by her looks. “Is this appropriate for the theater?” she asked, worrying her lip.

  “You, Lady Blackburn, look quite lovely this evening,” he stepped forward, grasped her hand and bestowed a quick kiss on the back of her fingers. Tessa could not help blushing and found she liked the way his Scottish brogue fell on her ears. It reminded her of home. Derek had been the only one to kiss her in any form before this evening. Sensing her hesitancy, he dropped her hand. “Where is Blackburn?”

  “I wouldn’t know, Director. He disappeared this afternoon after telling me he had work to do and would not be able to take me to the theater after all.”

  “Where the hell is he?” His brogue became thicker as he became angrier.

  “I couldn’t care less,” Tessa shrugged her shoulder. “Shall we continue on with our plan, Director?”

  “Ach, so that is the way of it,” he mused. “And don’t call me ‘Director’ all night. Stuart or Mack will suffice for this evening as we are supposed to be friends.”

  “All right, Mack,” she replied hesitantly.

  “Y’know, people will talk about you being escorted by someone other than your husband.”

  “Then he should be here, shouldn’t he?”

  “I think you’ve made your decision, lass.”

  “Indeed I have, and please feel free to call me Tessa.”

  He nodded and escorted her to the waiting carriage and assisted her inside. On the way to the theater, she observed the taciturn figure across from her. She wanted to tell him she knew how it felt to feel as if you didn’t belong, but had a feeling that her words would not be welcome. “Does it always take this long to travel through London?” she asked curiously.

  “During either of the social seasons, trying to get anywhere in the evening is practically impossible. For some reason more people remained in Town when the Season finished this year instead of retiring to their country estates for a few months. Now that the Little Season has begun, it seems like more people are in town than usual this time of year. Perhaps the intrigue of Bonaparte has them riled up and no one wants to be the last to hear the latest bit of gossip.”

  “Is that all people think of?”

  “You’ve no idea, lass,” the words rolled off his tongue, and in that moment he sounded twice his age. “This would be easier had your husband found it suitable to join us, but we’ll make it work. I will introduce you to as many people as I can. It shouldn’t be hard to draw a crowd with your beauty,” his voice had a teasing quality to it
.

  “I’m just nervous.”

  “I know lass. We’ll be sitting in your husband’s box. I’ll stay as concealed as possible. We want anyone who isn’t watching the opera to be watching you.”

  “I understand,” she said wetting her lips nervously.

  The director silently cursed Blackburn for not being there. He would be damned if he cuckolded another man, not with his history, but this woman before him was temptation itself.

  “When the women find out you are Blackburn’s wife, they will treat you indifferently. Be prepared for whisperings about you. The men will be intrigued as most do not care if a ring resides on your finger or not. Also, be on the lookout for Daniel. If he has connections, he could find out you are there and come after you at any time during the evening. He could be following us right now.”

  “I understand.”

  “At intermission I will leave you alone for a few moments. This will give people time enough to come by and gawk, but I will not be far away.”

  “You are not painting a very pretty picture of London society.”

  “And you, Lady Blackburn, are a quick and astute pupil. Above all else, trust no one,” Tessa found herself straining to hear him say, “not even your family.”

  * * *

  The carriage lurched to a stop twenty minutes later. Mack flicked back the curtains on his side and saw the line of waiting carriages.

  “It’s a good thing we came early.”

  “All these people are going to the theater?”

  “Yes.”

  “Will we all fit?”

  “Yes.”

  Tessa looked out the window, taking in the line of carriages and the crowd of people entering the large building ahead. Thirty minutes later their carriage finally arrived close enough to the front doors of the palatial theater to allow them to disembark without a long walk. Tessa waited for Mack to help her out of the carriage, took his arm, and the two joined the flow of people.

  They found themselves surrounded by lords, ladies, and commoners alike. All were there to see or be seen. Very few actually attended the theater to watch the performers. Mack remained stiff and alert next to her. She found herself also aware, constantly searching for Danny’s familiar face. Once, she thought she caught a glimpse of him, but he disappeared so quickly she decided her eyes were playing tricks on her.

  They made their way slowly up the steps into the theater, and Tessa worked very hard to keep her jaw from dropping open in awe. Red and gold accents surrounded her. The interior had an almost gaudy opulence. The ceilings were high, and the room echoed the conversations going on around them. In the center of the room a wide staircase could be followed to a large landing. From there, it branched in two directions, taking patrons to either side of the auditorium. Underneath the branching staircases were open doors that led to the floor seats.

  The lords and ladies of the beau monde were dressed in their finest, definitely there to be seen. Women twittered and fanned themselves in the growing warmth created by all the people. A very impressive matronly woman approached them, tugging a simpering blonde girl behind her.

  “Good evening, Mr. Stuart,” the lady and girl curtsied.

  “Lady Travers, Miss...”

  “Hornsby,” the girl announced with a giggle. Tessa rolled her eyes at the pair, fairly certain they failed to see it their attention so focused on Stuart Mackenzie.

  “Of course. Many pardons, Miss Hornsby.” Again, a giggle. Goodness, Tessa thought to herself. “Have you met Lady Blackburn?” McKenzie asked knowing full well they had not.

  “Lady Blackburn?” the older woman sputtered.

  “Indeed. My very good friend, Derek Simmons, Earl of Blackburn has been hiding this beautiful creature from us. They were secretly married in Portugal at the end of last year. Quite romantic. Did you not see the announcement in the paper this morning?”

  “Must have missed it,” the older woman replied disgustedly.

  “How do you do?” Tessa asked politely. From the crestfallen looks on the two women’s faces, Tessa hesitated to guess they were not doing very well at all.

  “But where is Lord Blackburn and why are you escorting her?”

  “Unfortunately he has been unavoidably detained and asked me to bring her until he could arrive.”

  “Hmmph,” the older woman made a rude noise. “Tell us Mr. McKenzie that you do not have a secret wife squired away somewhere,” the woman purred once more.

  “Ach, m’lady, not many women can cope with a Highland winter,” he teased the matron.

  “Perhaps someone will have to encourage you to stay further south,” Lady Travers said coyly, pushing her youngest daughter towards him.

  “Perhaps,” he replied. “We must find Blackburn’s box. As always, it was a pleasure,” he said bowing over the two women’s hands and bestowing kisses upon their fingers.

  “Are you sure you aren’t an actor, Director McKenzie?” The man shot her a devastating smile and shrugged boyishly. “How much more of that will we have to endure tonight?”

  “I would hazard to say a few more rounds before word spreads. Lady Travers is already doing her part.”

  “This is horrible.”

  “Blackburn doesn’t realize how lucky he is to have married you and saved him from all this.”

  Tessa did not have to answer because another young lady and her chaperone arrived. Several more came and went, whether out of a morbid sense of curiosity or to lure Mack into their clutches. Tessa had a feeling the wanted to do both. After the last pair left them, McKenzie guided her up the staircase.

  “My, my. You are a popular man.”

  “I have money, am an enigma, and am surrounded by scandal.”

  “You sound positively morose.” He continued up the stairs not answering her. “It is just my lowly opinion that any woman would be lucky to have you, scandal or no,” she said. “You have shown me more kindness than someone else in your position might, and for that I will always be grateful.”

  “You’re very welcome, Lady Blackburn,” he said as he guided her to Blackburn’s theater box. He pulled back the curtain and held out his hand motioning her into the box. Tessa moved inside and looked out. “Oh my,” she whispered softly.

  Chapter 32

  Three tiers of private boxes surrounded the theater, and they sat in one in the middle level. Blackburn had a rather good box location. It lay fairly close to the stage, but not so close that you would miss anything on one side. Lanterns were lit everywhere to provide light. Some people sat on the very outskirts of the stage, and a staggering number of people sat in the floor seats. Tessa leaned out over their ledge to get a better look at her surroundings. Again, the gold and red theme had been carried through to the auditorium itself.

  She lowered herself into a red brocade chair and attempted not to appear so gauche. Stuart lowered himself into one as well and stretched out his legs, hiding in the shadows as promised. Hawkescliffe pulled back the curtain and entered the box.

  “Well, Lady Blackburn, you have your first male visitor of the evening. Doesn’t she look lovely Hawkescliffe?” A bit of acidity laced Stuart’s words.

  Gabe’s head snapped around at the unexpected sound of McKenzie’s voice. “What the hell are you doing here, McKenzie?”

  “Part of the plan, remember Hawkescliffe?”

  “Where is Blackburn?”

  “I have no idea,” McKenzie and Tessa said in unison.

  “What do you mean by that?” The irate man asked just as the lights began to dim.

  “Please, Hawkescliffe, the show is about to begin,” the director said alluding to a double entendre.

  “Fine, but I will be watching you, Director,” his words dripped with anger. “Countess, I will stop by at intermission, should you need my assistance sooner I am just across the way.” He indicated an empty box almost directly across from them. The drapes fell behind him closing them in. Tessa began to feel as if she were being watched and mentioned the fac
t to Mack.

  “You are. The ton is curious about you. You were an absentee wife for the first part of the season. And now you have taken one of the prime catches off the market without their ever knowing. Very sly of you, Countess.”

  “Well, I wish someone else would garner their attention.” The Director gave a small chuckle. Tessa flashed him a smile. She caught sight of Gabriel entering his box. The man never even turned towards the stage, but instead faced them. “Do you think he will cause trouble tonight?”

  “Hawkescliffe? More than likely,” Mack said, his words sounded as if he relished a coming battle with the other man. Tessa sat rigidly, her hands knotted in her lap as the theater darkened almost completely except for the stage area.

  Tonight the actors and singers performed the mythical love story of Pygmalion and the ivory statue he fell in love with. Tessa felt herself being pulled into the action on stage and for a brief while forgot about her fight with Derek and the danger that currently surrounded her. Right before intermission a note came for Mack.

  “I must see to this. Hawkescliffe will be by to check on you during the intermission. I should be back shortly afterwards.”

  Tessa nodded before turning back to the stage. At intermission, the curtains went down and the lights that had been dimmed were brightened once more. Someone pulled the box’s curtain back, and a dashing young man entered. He bowed graciously to her and she nodded at him.

  “Good evening. I wondered if dear Miss Simmons attended with you this evening?”

  “No, she didn’t,” Tessa answered kindly. “May I tell her you inquired about her, Mr.?”

  “Devon, Mr. John Devon. Thank you,” the man cocked an inquiring brow at her.

  “Lady Blackburn, Countess of Blackburn.”

  “A pleasure indeed, my lady,” he said bowing low before quickly disappearing. Not much time had passed before several more young men arrived asking the same question.

  The next time the curtain parted, it revealed a very handsome young man. He looked around the box inquiringly before he addressed her.