A Date with Dishonor

by Mary Brendan

  He’d heard from his wife just half an hour ago that a right to do had gone on while he’d been away in town collecting a few provisions. She’d given enough details for him to know a scandal was again brewing for the Dewey household.

  Norman thought that the to do would be far worse if Mr Dewey discovered his younger daughter was again allowing herself to be ravished by a Mayfair rake before the fellow had put a ring on her finger. He took a cautious glance at the fellow’s broad shoulders and thunderous expression. He knew what he’d seen; but he’d pretend he hadn’t, he decided. His wife had said that an engagement might be announced before the day was out. It was obvious Miss Elise hadn’t been putting up a fight.

  ‘Umm...yer pa wants to know whether you’ll want your guest staying for dinner, Miss Elise. Rabbits need skinning and two more chickens need wringing ’cos seems the doctor’ll be coming back and might want dinner ’n’ all.’

  The hand gripping hers in the folds of her skirt tightened. A thumb slipped to and fro against Elise’s soft palm, causing an oddly arousing sensation to weaken her knees.

  ‘Lord Blackthorne would very much like to stay to dine as he’s very hungry, thank you, Mr Francis,’ Elise said impishly, but she avoided looking at Alex even when his stroking became unbearably sensual.

  Norman tugged at his cap and turned to meander back the way he’d come.

  ‘Come, we must go in to see Papa. He’ll be waiting for our news.’ Elise had seen rekindling desire closing Alex’s eyes to sleepy slits. ‘It will not do to scandalise the servants,’ she squealed as his mouth chased hers, claiming another slow honeyed kiss. Despite her fine words she sagged against him, her small hands splaying over white cambric covering hard ridges of a muscled chest.

  ‘I think we should be married here before the week’s out,’ Alex murmured against her cheek. ‘I can’t wait longer for you, I swear. I’ll get a special licence easily enough. Please don’t tell me you want a fancy affair in town.’

  Elise gazed up at him, shaking her dishevelled blonde head. ‘I don’t. I think a quiet country affair sounds perfect.’

  ‘We can honeymoon for a couple of days in a hotel in St Albans, then have a wedding reception in town when we’ve had time to arrange things. In the meantime I’ll arrange for an announcement to be immediately gazetted in The Times.’

  Elise sprang on to tiptoe to kiss his cheek in a show of love and gratitude. She clasped his face with her hands, as she had earlier, keeping his eyes merged with her glowing golden gaze. ‘I love you very much, Alex.’

  ‘I know, sweetheart,’ Alex said softly, soothing her bashful blush with a leisurely stroke from a cool finger.

  Alex started along the path, his strong grip enclosing Elise’s fragile fingers as he led her back towards the house.

  Chapter Twenty

  ‘It is wonderful...’ Beatrice’s eyes were fixed on the sumptuous stone sparkling on Elise’s betrothal finger. ‘I’m very happy for you both.’

  There was wistfulness in her sister’s congratulations and Elise withdrew her hand, feeling rather awkward. Much good luck and happiness had been showered on her in a few hours, whereas for Beatrice there presently seemed only the prospect of being pitied and overlooked as the spinster older sister of Viscountess Blackthorne. Unless... Elise studied Bea’s face, recognising dreaminess in her expression. She realised that perhaps her suspicions were to be proved correct and Bea had really fallen for the doctor. It seemed unbelievable on such a short acquaintance...yet Elise knew it had taken her no longer than a few moments in Alex’s company for exciting, untasted emotions to overwhelm her.

  Alex had left immediately to start making arrangements for the wedding at the village church once Walter had expressed his delight at being informed of the happy couple’s decision to get married. But her new fiancé had said he would be glad to return later to dine with them. Elise’s own excitement at the imminent change in her life had been deliberately muted, acutely aware as she’d been of Beatrice’s disappointment at having gained nothing from their trip to town to get the husband and the family life she craved. But now Elise was wondering if Hugh figured much at all in Bea’s thoughts.

  ‘Have you forgotten all about Hugh?’ Elise asked softly. She picked up the hairbrush from the dresser and gently drew it through her sister’s long pale locks, tilting her head to read Bea’s expression reflected in the dressing table mirror.

  ‘No...I haven’t forgotten him.’ Beatrice glanced at her hands, folded in her lap. They fluttered a gesture. ‘I liked him very well, but...’ She sighed. ‘I accept now that nothing could ever come of it.’

  ‘Do you blame him for leading you on?’

  ‘Perhaps I should, but I can’t claim ignorance of Hugh’s financial situation. His aunt mentioned it to us at Vauxhall even before he’d turned up to be introduced. I knew he must marry an heiress, yet still made it clear to everybody that I had set my cap at him.’ A wry smile tilted her lips. ‘I would have felt dreadfully miffed if he’d not responded to my pursuit.’

  ‘And respond he did!’ Elise chuckled. ‘There was no doubt he was equally smitten.’ After a pause Elise continued. ‘Alex mentioned that Hugh has been visiting the Chapmans.’

  Beatrice met her sister’s eyes in the glass. ‘I’m not surprised; Verity is now spoken for, but Fiona is not. And they are very nice people.’

  Elise nibbled at her lower lip. The same thought had occurred to her: that Hugh might turn his attention to Fiona and her small inheritance once all hope of marrying Beatrice had gone.

  ‘Don’t look so glum,’ Bea rallied. ‘He needs a wife with a dowry; it was silly to expect we could survive on love alone.’

  ‘Did you really love him?’ Elise asked, the hairbrush remaining idle in her hand while she awaited her sister’s answer.

  ‘I expect it was just infatuation. I so wanted to find a nice attractive gentleman who I knew would be kind to me and our children. Hugh met my requirements, you see, and I forgot that money is so very important, too. But constantly fretting over bills would have made us argue, then we’d have grown to hate one another, and that would have made our children sad.’

  Elise knew that her sister was recalling how they had suffered from living in a cold home atmosphere when young.

  ‘Hugh didn’t send word with Alex, did he?’

  ‘No,’ Elise finally said. ‘I’m not sure Hugh realised Alex was coming to see us in Hertfordshire.’

  ‘I am.’ Beatrice’s huffed a laugh. ‘It doesn’t matter. That day at the park Hugh said it would be best if we made a clean break. At the time I thought him heartless. Now I see he was right.’ She stood up, gathered her lemon gown from the bed and held it against her figure. ‘I shall wear this for your engagement supper this evening. I wish now I had done as you said and stitched my new turquoise ribbon about the hem.’

  Elise enclosed Beatrice in a fierce hug. ‘Thank you...’

  ‘For what?’ Bea asked, chuckling.

  ‘For being a good sister...for agreeing to be my bridesmaid...oh...for lots of things.’

  ‘I shall want you as my maid of honour when I wed, viscountess or no.’

  ‘And you shall indeed have me!’ Elise pulled back, looking deep into Bea’s blue eyes. ‘Colin Burnett likes you and you’ve not yet known him one full day.’

  ‘I know.’ Bea’s lips twitched in a private little smile. ‘And I like him. But as you say, I’ve not known him very long at all.’ She turned to her reflection, assessing the dress against her body. ‘I am determined to henceforth be sensible and take things slowly so I don’t raise my hopes, or Papa’s.’ She suddenly grinned, in the excited way that reminded Elise of the old Beatrice who was never at all sensible about gentlemen admirers. ‘Colin is very well situated. He has told me his uncle is a baronet and he is his heir...and he is very interesting to talk to. He
knows a good deal about lots of different things besides the work of a physician—’

  ‘Are you two young ladies ever coming below stairs?’ Mrs Francis had poked her head about the door, interrupting Beatrice. ‘The gentlemen have arrived. The doctor came first on horseback and is joining you at the table. He was pleased to see your father looking so well. The viscount turned up a few minutes ago in a carriage. They have all been having a jolly talk and a drink before dinner while waiting for you to join them.’ Mrs Francis closed the door behind her as the sound of their father’s laughter was heard. ‘All getting on fine and dandy they are.’ She wagged a finger. ‘But you know how your papa is with a few tots inside of him.’

  Elise and Beatrice exchanged a rueful look at that caution. Indeed, they did know how easily their papa could overindulge and empty a decanter.

  ‘Get dressed and come down quickly so I can serve up,’ Mrs Francis instructed. ‘You won’t want your father ending up with his head in his soup bowl, will you?’

  * * *

  ‘Capital!’ Walter raised his glass in a toast. ‘I think Friday is a fine day for a wedding.’ Having just heard from his future son-in-law that he had made the necessary arrangements for the end of the week, Walter beamed at his blushing daughter. ‘What say you, my dear? It will suit us all, won’t it?’

  Elise nodded, smiling at Alex as he picked up his wine to join his host in toasting their forthcoming nuptials. ‘I hope it will not rain,’ she blurted, holding her own cool goblet momentarily against a hot cheek to soothe it. She felt she might burst with excitement and happiness knowing in a few days time she would be Alex’s wife. Through the wavering tapers on the dining table his eyes caressed her and he tipped his glass, a small private salute just for her.

  Colin Burnett glanced at Beatrice and, noticing her glass was almost empty, courteously poured her a small drink from the carafe. The couple then held their wine aloft to complete the circle of crystal reflecting flames from the candelabra.

  ‘To my daughter and her fiancé and wishing them every future happiness that is most richly deserved!’ Walter boomed, then swallowed a good amount of claret. ‘I believe we have some champagne in the cellar. I have been saving it for a special occasion. I will call for it to be brought up later—’

  ‘Perhaps we might have that on Friday, Papa,’ Elise interrupted quickly. Her eyes swerved to Alex, reading from his mild amusement that he could also tell her father was very tipsy. Walter had had a heafty appetite for his dinner, but, despite the amount of good food eaten, the alcohol seemed to have gone straight to his head as Mrs Francis had predicted it might.

  ‘I should like a taste of that champagne on our wedding day, sir, when I might appreciate it to the full,’ Alex tactfully said. ‘Tonight I must drive back to my lodgings in St Albans and arrive in one piece, you know. There are many more arrangements to make tomorrow.’

  ‘Yes...yes...I suppose so. It is a shame we are so cramped for space or you two gentlemen would be most welcome to overnight here and take a nightcap with me once the girls are tucked up in bed.’

  ‘That is kind, sir,’ Colin replied smoothly, taking up the task of dampening Mr Dewey’s eagerness to over-imbibe. ‘But I have to return home, too, as I have an urgent appointment with a patient first thing in the morning.’ He put down his glass and swung a smile between the newly betrothed couple. ‘I wish you good luck and a fine day at the church on Friday.’

  ‘Actually...I was wondering if you’d act as my groomsman?’ Alex asked.

  ‘I’d deem it an honour,’ Colin returned with a beam of surprise. ‘I’m not sure I have a suitable set of clothes.’

  ‘Neither do I.’ Alex grinned. ‘But I’m sure we’ll pass muster.’

  ‘I’m to be Elise’s bridesmaid,’ Beatrice announced, turning to Colin. ‘I’m wearing one of my new gowns that I had made in town.’

  ‘The one you have on is very becoming.’ Colin glanced at the taut pastel material rippling prettily over Beatrice’s pert bosom.

  Beatrice dimpled at his warm admiration and to spare her further blushes Colin gallantly turned to his host to thank him for the fine dinner they’d just eaten.

  Alex echoed that sentiment before draining the wine in his glass. ‘What will you wear sweetheart?’ he asked softly as his fingers found Elise’s under cover of the tablecloth.

  ‘I have a fine new dress, too, that Papa bought for me while we were staying at the Chapmans.’

  ‘The one you wore to the Clemences’ ball?’

  ‘Do you remember it?’ Elise asked, surprised.

  ‘Of course...it’s not white, it’s the colour of your eyes.’

  ‘I don’t care what people make of it, if you don’t.’ Elise chuckled, emboldened by the wine she’d drunk. The warm glow inside seemed to be as intoxicating as the smouldering dark gaze bathing her face.

  ‘If only we had the time I’d engage a dressmaker for you. When we return to London I’ll buy you everything your heart desires,’ he murmured with a hint of apology.

  ‘I have everything my heart desires,’ Elise whispered back, her soulful tawny gaze signalling that she didn’t give a jot for material possessions. Her small fingers turned within his cradling hand, tightened in emphasis. She hoped he understood she’d gladly take him as plain Mr Blackthorne and would live with him in a cottage in the countryside if it ever came to pass that that was all they could afford.

  Aware that their papa had been quiet for some time, the sisters simultaneously turned their attention from their admirers to the head of the table. A snuffling sound confirmed their suspicions.

  ‘Oh...he has fallen asleep.’ Elise gasped a tiny giggle as she fondly surveyed her father. He was leaning back in his carver with his head lolling awkwardly on a shoulder. ‘I shall find Mr Francis and ask him to get Papa upstairs.’

  ‘There’s no need to do that.’ Alex’s warm fingers arrested Elise as she would have stood up. ‘It’s no trouble for me to put him to bed.’

  ‘I’ll gladly give you a hand in getting him out of his clothes,’ Colin immediately offered. ‘Then might I ask for a ride with you back to St Albans? I fear it has come on to rain.’ A hiss of water splashing on to the embers in the grate proved the doctor’s suspicions correct, likewise a pattering against the windowpanes.

  ‘Of course, I’ll be happy to take you. You can tether your horse behind the carriage.’ Alex pushed back his chair and stood up.

  As the gentlemen carefully eased their father from his seat Elise and Beatrice went to find Mr and Mrs Francis to thank them for the fine job they’d done of providing good, ample fare at such short notice. The pea soup had been wonderfully thick and tasty and the chicken and rabbit main courses, served up with plenty of dishes of vegetables and several spiced sauces, had been very well received. The puddings had consisted of a creamy syllabub and sweet tarts of dried fruit steeped in brandy. And, of course, their father had insisted that each course be accompanied by various bottles of wine.

  * * *

  ‘Is he still fast asleep?’ Elise whispered.

  ‘Snoring,’ Alex confirmed on a chuckle as he descended with Colin close behind.

  The sisters had waited at the bottom of the stairs for the gentlemen to come down after settling their father in his bed. Beatrice and the doctor diplomatically disappeared towards the back hall with a mention of fetching coats and hats, allowing the newly betrothed couple a little time alone.

  ‘Thank you,’ Elise said simply, raising herself on to tiptoes to kiss Alex. She suddenly curled her arms about his neck, slipping her soft lips from his cheek to his mouth. He tasted of sweet wine and musky masculinity and, remembering how earlier in the garden he had caressed her mouth with his tongue, she shyly returned the seductive salute.

  Alex seized the delicate wrists gripping his shoulders. ‘God...don’t, Elise,’ he groa
ned, forcing her gently away. ‘It’s torture wanting you, yet knowing I must still wait some days and nights.’

  Elise flicked up her lashes, her confusion at being rejected softening into an expression of wonderment. She hadn’t realised she wielded such power over him. She buried her head against his shoulder. ‘I can’t wait either,’ she said softly, although in truth she didn’t exactly know what it was Alex anticipated doing with her when they were alone in bed that caused such a self-composed aristocrat to be agonised by frustration.

  ‘What can’t you wait for?’ he teased, feathering a kiss on her soft brow. ‘Tell me...’

  ‘Whatever it is you want,’ she said sweetly. ‘I’ll do my best to please you, I promise.’

  He backed her against the wall, lifting her till their faces were level and she was pinned in place by his long hard body. ‘And I’ll do my best to please you and cherish you and love you every day of your life. Don’t be scared about our wedding night, Elise, even a little bit. I’ll make it wonderful for you, I swear.’

  Spontaneously she thanked him with a kiss, then remembered and jerked away. ‘Sorry...’

  ‘Don’t be,’ he growled. ‘Don’t ever be sorry for kissing me or loving me—’

  A cough preceded Colin’s arrival in the hallway, Beatrice hovering just behind him.

  Alex allowed Elise’s feet to touch the floor, sliding her body against his despite the torment it aroused.

  ‘Shall I help you put up the hood on your curricle?’ Colin blurted in a jolly tone.

  ‘I hired a carriage this evening and left the curricle and my tiger behind at the Red Lion as it looked like rain.’

  ‘Ah...’ Colin mumbled. ‘Goodnight, then, to both you ladies and please thank your father for a most pleasant evening.’

  ‘Goodnight, Elise...Beatrice,’ Alex said with teasing formality. ‘I shall call on you tomorrow.’

  The sisters waved as the gentlemen went outside, closing the door quickly against a gust of wet wind that would have sent the panels crashing back against the wall.