Virtue and Vice

by Kimberly Brody

  “He was frustrated, Izzy. He would not have disowned you. He loves you far too much to ever do so.”

  “But he doesn’t respect my feelings for Paul.”

  “What if Paul doesn’t come back, Izzy?”

  An image of Julian conjured in Izzy’s mind. But that way lay lunacy; Julian was not for her. She’d lose her family for certain if she ran off and married a man like Julian. Besides, she’d known him all of two days and a strong attraction to a man didn’t mean love. Love was what she shared with Paul.

  “Paul isn’t the man for you, and your father knows it. I never wanted to have to tell you this, but Paul will only break your heart, Izzy. He’s a notorious libertine. Even if he does come for you he’ll never be true to you.”

  Anger sizzled through Izzy- Belinda had gone too far. Even though sometimes, in the middle of the night, Izzy despaired that Paul would ever come for her, she’d not allow anyone, not even Belinda, to spread malicious rumors about him.

  Her tears dried in an instant. “How dare you say something so cruel? Do you think you’ll convince me he’s unworthy so I’ll abandon my plans to evade this marriage? Because I warn you now, it won’t work! I’ll never believe such malicious gossip and can’t believe you would spread such an evil rumor!”

  Belinda removed her soothing touch and stood from the bed, whipping about to face her. “Nay, Izzy.” Her voice was ice. “We are the best of friends. I would never lie to you, not even about something that would hurt you so much.”

  “If you aren’t lying, then you’ve been misled.”

  “I never wanted to have to tell you this.” Bel took a deep breath “Paul made an advance toward me, not long before he left, and after he’d declared himself to you.”

  Pain knifed through Izzy at the words. “’Tis not true,” she cried. “He wouldn’t do such a thing.” Words tumbled from her lips without thought. “You get so little attention from gentlemen, Bel. Paul was clearly only being kind and surely you misconstrued his intentions.”

  Belinda gasped.

  Too late, Izzy regretted the harsh words as her cousin’s face paled.

  “I may not get as much attention as you from the gentlemen, Izzy, that’s true. But I know the difference between polite conversation and flirting that crosses a line.” Belinda’s voice was low, wavering. “You may choose to believe me or not, but I stand by my words. And I’ll try to remember you are hurting right now and speak out of pain, not a desire to be cruel.”

  When Izzy saw Belinda’s lips trembling, she launched herself from the bed and threw her arms around her cousin, holding her tight. “I’m so sorry Belinda,” she gasped, “please don’t hate me. I’m so confused about everything. I don’t know what to do!”

  For a moment Belinda made no response, and Izzy was terrified she’d pushed away the most important person in her life, her dearest friend and closest ally. But Belinda’s arms slowly embraced her back, the touch of her hands soft against Izzy’s hair. “It’s all right, Izzy. Everything will untangle itself, somehow. You’ll see.”

  Izzy pulled back to look into Belinda’s face, and almost collapsed in relief at the renewed affection in her cousin’s eyes.

  “I’ll not resign myself to this wedding, Bel. But I promise I will not lie to you again,” she exclaimed with vehemence.

  Belinda sighed. “I suppose that’s the most I can hope for.” Resignation was clear in her voice. “So tell me about the gentleman from the woods. What’s his name? Has he been gentle with you, at least?”

  “Oh Bel, he is so very kind and gentle. His name is Julian James. I met him on the way to Wadebridge. He rescued my cap from the river. It was all very chivalrous and romantic.”

  Belinda stiffened, her face clouding over. “Julian James?”

  Izzy frowned. “Aye. Do you know of him?”

  Belinda’s face cleared and she shook her head. “Nay, I’m not familiar with anyone who goes by that name.”

  “Well, we had the most wonderful time at the May Day festivities!”

  And she told Belinda everything, leaving nothing out. She’d learned her lesson and she wouldn’t lie to her cousin again!

  ***

  Frustration gnawed at Ram as he paced aimlessly across his father’s study. ‘Twas just his luck his sire chose this day to go to Bodmin, again. It would be hours ere he returned home, if he returned home that night at all.

  Ram’s humor had not improved since his discovery of Izzy’s identity. His body remained in a state of painful arousal, which infuriated him all the more, because he didn’t want to lust for the little hussy. A trip to the village and a visit with a tavern wench would release his frustration. Did Maura still service the men of the village after all these years? He instantly rejected the idea. A dirty, worn serving woman could never compare to the sweet and tempting delights promised him by Izzy’s kisses and her touch. He’d find only physical release with Maura or any other woman of her ilk, but he’d never be sated.

  Blast the wench! He was close to seeing to his own need in the privacy of his chamber, something he hadn’t been reduced to in ages.

  He did battle in his own mind as well, for he knew she’d be awaiting him by the riverbank tomorrow at noon, as she’d promised. If it was a fuck she was after, his body was willing and able to oblige.

  But he couldn’t forget, for even one moment, who and what she was. If he fell into that particular trap he’d be ensnared for the rest of his life. He’d keep his cock in his breeches where it belonged and to the devil with Izzy Beaumont.

  Just as he was tossing back his whisky, Hawthorne coughed discreetly from the open door to the study. Ram turned an evil glare on the man for disturbing his seething. Hawthorne ignored the look as only a servant who’d been with them since Ram was a lad could do. He never really was cowed by Ram’s aristocratic glares.

  Ram sighed. “Aye, Hawthorne?”

  “You have a caller, my lord.”

  “Well, send whoever it is away. I’m not fit company for my horse at the moment.”

  Hawthorne coughed again. “Sir? ‘Tis a woman, a lady, and she’s here alone.” The last word was whispered.

  Ram’s eyebrows rose into his hairline. It was inappropriate for any woman to visit a gentleman unaccompanied, let alone a lady. There was only one lady of his recent acquaintance he knew for sure didn’t care about the rules of propriety.

  Could it be Izzy? Did she know who he really was?

  His heart leapt, but he forced the rush of happiness down with ruthlessness. It didn’t matter if it was Izzy, he was done with her. He’d not be marrying her, nor carrying on with her in any other way.

  But curiosity got the better of him. “Show her in, Hawthorne.”

  As he waited he straightened his clothing and ran a hand through his hair. And hoped the whisky hadn’t made his eyes too red rimmed. When Hawthorne appeared at the door, it wasn’t Izzy he presented. Ram’s heart sank, much to his dismay.

  It was the woman who’d found him with Izzy in the woods earlier in the day. She was of medium height with dark blonde hair, but there was no mistaking the delicate tilt of her nose. She was without a doubt a relation of Izzy’s. Her cousin, wasn’t that what Izzy had hissed to him?

  “What can I do for you, Miss…?”

  “Spencer. Miss Belinda Spencer.”

  “Well, Miss Spencer, to what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?”

  She clasped her hands together in a gesture that bespoke nervousness. “I realize this is rather inappropriate, but I had to see you and find out if my suspicions were correct.” She met his gaze directly. “I see they were.”

  He folded his arms across his chest, waiting for her to continue.

  “Izzy is my cousin.” She seemed to wait for some reaction to her words, but Ram only stared. He was in a piss-poor mood and wouldn’t make this easy for her, especially since he’d already figured out who she was.

  With a deep sigh, she continued. “I spoke with Izzy this morning. And when
she told me your name was Julian James, I found it highly coincidental the name she called you by happened to be the middle names of Ramsay Maitland, her betrothed. It crossed my mind you might be keeping your identity from her, so I came to see for myself.”

  Ram started. He’d kept his identity secret from her? It was without a doubt the other way around. “Miss Spencer, I had no idea who Izzy was until you called her by her full name. Until that moment I never dreamed she was in fact my betrothed.”

  “Then, what were you doing with her?” Her brow furrowed.

  He stared, wondering how blunt to be. Unfolding his arms from his chest, he took a step forward. “I came upon her on my way to the May Day festivities. She was dressed as a peasant wench and quite comely. I sought only an afternoon of pleasant entertainment, nothing more.”

  He should have felt shame as he watched Miss Spencer’s cheeks turn pink, but instead took perverse pleasure in it. His fury with Izzy extended to all those associated with her. “Let me ask you, Miss Spencer. Does Izzy know who I really am?”

  He held his breath, hoping she would answer in the affirmative, for it might make everything different if Izzy had been playing a game, dabbling with a man she knew would be her husband in a matter of weeks. He didn’t care for women’s ruses, and it would rankle to know she’d played him for her amusement, but it would make what she’d done forgivable at least.

  Miss Spencer shook her head, dashing his hopes.

  He straightened himself to his full height. “Miss Spencer, I don’t mean to take my anger out on you. But the wedding will be called off as soon as my father returns. I cannot possibly marry a woman who carries on as your cousin has done these two days past.”

  He’d thought Izzy’s cousin a shy and mousy girl, but she puffed up in outrage at his comment. “I notice it hardly factors in that you were carrying on with a woman you didn’t know to be your betrothed either.”

  “Touché, Miss Spencer. But you and I know it’s a very different world for women and men. I don’t run the risk of quickening with a stranger’s child, do I?”

  Miss Spencer crossed her arms over her chest. “Izzy runs no risk of bringing another man’s child to your wedding bed. She’s a virgin.”

  Ram snorted. “The woman who rolled in the grass with me today is no virgin.”

  Her jaw dropped.

  He’d shocked her. Gentlemen didn’t speak to ladies in such a manner. It was almost amusing to watch prim Miss Spencer try to recover her composure. But recover it she did and she went on as if he hadn’t spoken.

  “Izzy is very much against this marriage. She feels trapped. And after reading the marriage contract she concluded the only way to avoid the marriage was to give her virtue away to the first man who would take it- which, by the greatest of coincidences, happened to be you.”

  He blinked. That was her brilliant idea?

  That a woman might go to such extremes to avoid marriage shocked Ram, nor was he quite convinced of it. It wasn’t that he had an overblown opinion of his own worth, but he knew what women wanted from marriage and he would be an earl someday, after all. A very rich earl.

  Miss Spencer paced back and forth, oblivious to the doubts she’d stirred up. “It is almost humorous. But unless you have taken it, her virginity is still very much intact.”

  He tried to ignore the hope creeping over him at her words. If ‘twas true and Izzy really was a virgin, the wedding could go forth as planned. Except…Miss Spencer’s words pricked his pride.

  “Why is she so set against marriage to me?”

  Miss Spencer stared at him for a few moments, obviously contemplating what to reveal. “Where should I begin?”

  He started, then laughed. “Am I so bad, then?”

  Miss Spencer grimaced. “What I tell you stays between the two of us?”

  Ram nodded.

  “First of all, Izzy is fiercely loyal to the King and the idea of marrying into a Parliamentarian family doesn’t appeal to her. Secondly, her father always made it clear the choice of husband would be hers alone to make. And the biggest obstacle to your marriage is that Izzy fancies herself in love with another man. She’s sworn to wait for him to come back for her as he promised.”

  He could understand the first two points Miss Spencer raised, though the idea of an aristocratic woman choosing her own husband was nearly unheard of. But as he absorbed the third point raised by Miss Spencer, a foreign emotion overcame him. Jealousy. The very thought of the woman he’d held in his arms that morning loving another man was enough to make him want to marry her and treat her so well, enslave her with passion and love, she’d forget any other man even existed but him.

  “Who is the man she thinks she loves?”

  “My lord, I don’t see how that matters.”

  “It matters.”

  Miss Spencer sighed. “Sir Paul Huntley.”

  “Huntley? Good God, you can’t be serious. The man is a peacock and a philandering libertine to boot!”

  “I know.” Miss Spencer’s voice was very soft, and Ram began to understand.

  “You are against this relationship with Huntley?”

  She nodded. “He’ll only hurt her.”

  “So you support her marriage to me?” He narrowed his eyes, awaiting her response.

  “My lord, I don’t know you. I only know I trust Izzy’s father, as he’s been like a father to me most of my life. He would never do anything to harm her, and if he has chosen you, then I support that decision. But even more importantly, I spoke of you with Izzy this morn and it was quite clear she genuinely likes you, despite her feelings for Paul, and that gives me tremendous hope.”

  Ram was dumfounded at both her trust in her uncle and loyalty to her cousin. In his experience, trust and loyalty were absent in most women. That she had both characteristics made the woman before him his closest ally, if he wanted one, for she was the person who knew Izzy best and could therefore be an incredible asset in bringing his errant betrothed to heel. His poor mood began slipping away.

  “You’ve come here to ask me to not beg off from the marriage?” Was he really considering going through with this? He had come to Cornwall to find a way to avoid a wedding at all costs, yet now the thought of marriage…wasn’t so dreadful.

  “Aye, I have.”

  “Have you any advice that might help me in my pursuit of your cousin?”

  Miss Spencer chewed her lip for a moment, much in the same way Izzy did.

  “There are two things I can think to tell you. First of all, Izzy knows she is beautiful-”

  Ram snorted. “Of course she knows that.”

  “You didn’t let me finish, my lord. Izzy knows she’s beautiful, but she accepts it just as she accepts her eyes are blue. So waxing poetic about her beauty is not likely to win her heart. She’d rather be loved for who she is, rather than for the way she looks.”

  Ram nodded. “And the second thing?”

  Miss Spencer’s lips pursed. “Izzy is very loyal. Once someone wins Izzy’s love and friendship, there is nothing she won’t do for that person. So do not disparage anyone Izzy loves; not the King, not her family, nor Huntley. Especially not Huntley. She’ll not forgive a slight against someone important to her.”

  Izzy’s regard for Huntley was irritating, yet if she was as loyal as her cousin claimed, that would be no bad thing. He only needed to show her why he’d be a better choice for marriage that Sir Paul Huntley.

  Miss Spencer’s hands clutched together again, as though there was something else she wanted to say that discomfited her. He respected the courage she’d displayed thus far, so he belatedly attempted civility. “Is there something else you would ask of me?”

  Once again, Miss Spencer blushed a becoming pink color. “I ask you to spare Izzy’s virginity until the wedding night. If she thinks she has any reason to call the wedding off, she’ll go to her father and tell him bluntly of what she’s done. And as there will be no blood on the sheets…well, you understand what I’m saying.�
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  He nodded, wanting to put her mind at ease now that she was a collaborator. “I’ll string her along until the wedding. I can’t say she’ll be happy when she discovers the deception, but as there will be no other reason to call the wedding off, she’ll be forced to go along with it.”

  Relief crossed Miss Spencer’s face and she smiled, a grin that lit up her entire face, turning her from plain into pretty.

  “You have my gratitude, my lord.”

  “And you have my thanks for bringing me these tidings.”

  She nodded. “I must go. It’s inappropriate for me to be here, and I wouldn’t want word to get back to Izzy.”

  He took her hand, placing a kiss on the back of it. “Return to your cousin. I’ll take care of everything else.”

  Chapter 7

  Stomach clenching with anxiety, Izzy waited at the riverbank, dressed in the same clothing as the day before. Would Julian show for their rendezvous? Not only did she need him to help escape the bonds of matrimony, she’d missed him.

  She couldn’t stop thinking of the things he’d done to her yesterday! Her breathing grew strained as she recalled the way her body shattered when he’d pleasured her so completely. She was ready for a repeat performance, and so much more.

  So it was with great relief when she heard the sound of a horse nickering and knew she would see Mercury and his master appear any moment. Her pulse raced faster. Horse and rider crested a hill and she smiled, waving.

  Instead of dismounting as she expected, Julian pulled the horse to her side and held out his hand. Without a second thought she put her hand in his and let him hoist her into the saddle before him. As in the first time they’d ridden together, it was a tight fit, but she felt no discomfiture this time pressed so intimately against his solid body.