“And unexpected,” Leverton said with a glimmer of humor. “I was convinced I’d be breaking my wife out of Bridewell before the evening was over.”
“I am capable of self-discipline when the occasion calls for it,” his wife said dryly. “Even if sometimes a little late.”
The assembled guests had been stunned into silence by Lady John’s resounding slap. They’d stood frozen in horror, waiting for the Duchess of Leverton, well known for her volatile temper, to respond to the insult. Jack’s mother had refused to back down one inch, meeting Gillian’s dagger-filled glare with one equally fierce.
Jack and Leverton had immediately started to move to intervene between the combatants, but Gillian had stopped them dead in their tracks by giving Lady John a rueful smile as she extended her hand.
“That was a nice, flush hit, my lady,” she’d said. “I commend you. Now, why don’t we shake on it and call it an evening, man to man.”
Lady John had stared at Gillian with utter consternation, but she’d clearly been so stunned by the gesture that she’d weakly extended a hand. Gillian gave it a brisk shake.
As if a spell had been broken, the ballroom had whirled back to life. Everyone started talking at once and the orchestra, by a miracle of timing, struck up a waltz. After Jack exchanged a glance with his sister, they’d taken their mother by the arm and led her swiftly away. Dominic and Aunt Chloe had done the same for Lia, removing her through a side door and taking her upstairs.
Lia gave her cousin’s hand a squeeze. “You were absolutely splendid, Gillian. I don’t know how you managed it.”
“I’m quite good in a crisis.” Gillian’s eyes twinkled as she glanced at her husband. “As Charles can tell you.”
Leverton snorted, but his smile was warm and approving. A man of great presence and authority, he obviously adored his exceedingly unconventional wife. While Lia was thrilled for Gillian, she couldn’t repress a twinge of envy. To be so completely accepted by the man you loved, warts and all, seemed like the stuff of dreams.
“Speaking of managing a crisis,” Gillian said, putting down her glass, “I suppose we’d best get back down there and assess the extent of the damage.”
“There’s no need to rush,” Leverton said. “My mother and your grandmother are keeping an eye on the situation. Between the two of them, I’m sure they have everything under control.”
Lia had met the dowager duchess and Lady Marbury, Gillian’s grandmother, before the party started. They were both impressively dignified women. But while the dowager had looked down her nose at Lia, Lady Marbury had been friendly and apparently willing to accept her into the family.
After tonight’s events, however, that was likely to change.
Gillian grinned at her husband. “You don’t want to go down because you’re afraid of facing your mother.”
“Can you blame me?” Leverton asked.
“I don’t,” said Lia. “She’s terrifying.”
Gillian wrinkled her nose. “She is rather, isn’t she?”
“I think we’d best remain up here until Lord Lendale returns,” Dominic said. “We need to discuss with him how we’re going to manage the reaction to our little incident—and manage his mother.”
Leverton started pacing again. “Little incident? Ha.”
Dominic looked the soul of patience. “As far as I can tell, no one was killed, blackmailed, kidnapped, robbed, or found in a compromising position. By our family’s standards, tonight’s events were decidedly mild.”
“That is certainly true.” Gillian pointed a warning finger at her husband. “And I absolutely forbid you to be rude to Jack. It’s not his fault his mother is so dreary.”
Leverton wasn’t the only one who didn’t want to see Jack. Lia was so mortified that she wished she could open a window and slide down the drainpipe before he arrived.
Of course, after tonight it would probably be a moot point. Jack would never wish to see her again after such a total humiliation. He’d been right about everything all along and they should have listened to him.
She should have listened to him.
“Lady John is not a bad person,” she said. “She’s had an unhappy and difficult life in many respects and I can’t fault her desire to protect her family.”
“She has a rather odd way of doing it,” Gillian said. “Causing a major scene at a ball is more likely to add to one’s troubles rather than diminish them. Trust me on that point.”
“She must be feeling desperate,” Lia said.
“Lady John sees you as a threat to her son,” Dominic said quietly.
She nodded. “Exactly. I believe she wanted to trigger a scandal to force Jack to make a choice. He is so loyal to his mother and sister, he would not want to subject them to more gossip and ugliness because of me.”
“That’s rich,” Gillian said. “She triggered the blasted scandal and yet you’re the one who has to face the consequences. I should have thrown her out on her ear before she got anywhere near you.”
Chloe grimaced. “There’s a horrible sort of logic to her actions. We’re trying to put the best face on it, but most people will see Lady John as the injured party. I fear the effect on Lia could be quite profound.”
Dominic reached over and took her hand. “We’ve faced worse odds, my dear.”
“Indeed we have,” Gillian said stoutly. “Just look at me.”
“Yes, but your family lineage is impeccable,” Lia said.
Dominic shook his head. “Nonetheless, I think—”
Chloe interrupted by placing a gently restraining hand on his arm. “Why don’t we allow Lia to tell us what she wants? We’ve not given her much chance to do so, have we?”
“Ugh, we’re an awful lot, aren’t we?” said Gillian. “Sorry, Cuz. My family used to order me about all the time and I hated it.”
“It turned out fairly well for you,” Leverton said with some exasperation.
“Yes, but not because I listened to all of you but because eventually you all listened to me,” she retorted.
He looked disgruntled but didn’t contradict her.
“You’ve all been lovely,” Lia said, giving her cousin a reassuring pat on the knee. “It’s just that . . .”
“It’s just that we’ve not been listening to you,” Dominic finished wryly. “Even worse, we’ve been ordering you about.”
“Not me,” Leverton said. “I never tell anyone what to do.”
“That’s a joke,” Gillian said with a hoot. “You’re an absolute dictator.”
Lia couldn’t help but smile at their affectionate banter, even though another ache wove itself into the one that seemed permanently attached to the center of her chest. She’d only just found her new family and they were all so wonderful. But too soon she’d have to bid them good-bye. Where she planned to go, they couldn’t possibly follow.
“Very well, cousin,” Leverton said, smiling down at Lia. “Please tell us how you wish us to deal with this regrettable situation.”
“There’s only one thing to do,” she said, bracing for their reaction. “I must leave.”
Chloe frowned. “London? Surely you don’t want to return to Stonefell, especially now.”
“No, that’s not possible,” Lia said. After she put her plan into effect, she could never go home either.
It’s not your home, remember?
“Do you wish to return to your mother’s house?” Dominic asked.
“Perhaps for a bit,” she hedged.
They stared at her, clearly puzzled. A moment later Dominic got it. “No,” he rapped out. “Absolutely not.”
“What other choice do I have?” Lia said. “You must see how impossible it is for me to recover from Lady John’s insults, not that there was much chance of the beau monde accepting me to begin with. After tonight, that chance is all but nonexistent.”
“Would you two care to explain what you’re talking about or must we guess?” Leverton asked.
Before Lia could ans
wer, there was a tap on the door and Jack brushed past the butler. He paused for a moment, taking everyone in. He looked utterly weary, with worry lines scored deep around his mouth. Jack had always been so lighthearted, with a ready wit and a kind, generous nature. Now he looked as if he’d aged ten years in only a few months.
She steeled herself, knowing she couldn’t let him go on like this, continually torn between conflicting loyalties. The Kincaids were part of his past and that was where they belonged. It was time for all vestiges of her family to be wiped from his life, once and for all.
Jack headed toward the chaise until Leverton intercepted him. They stared at each other for a long, tense moment, their faces set and stony. Then Jack grimaced and shook his head, letting out a sigh. Apparently, the duke was satisfied with that tersely masculine communication because he nodded and stepped aside. Everyone in the room seemed to breathe out relief and the tight feeling in Lia’s chest eased a bit. Leverton was Jack’s best friend and she’d been terrified that tonight’s events might have destroyed their relationship.
Jack stopped in front of Gillian and gave her a formal bow. “Your Grace, I cannot begin to apologize for my mother’s outrageous behavior. On behalf of my family, please know how deeply regretful I am, and also know that I will do everything in my power to ameliorate any ill effects of her actions.”
Gillian jumped to her feet with a funny little growl. She punched Jack in the shoulder, then threw her arms around him and gave him a fierce hug. After a moment’s hesitation, one of his hands stole up to awkwardly rest on her back.
“Don’t be such an idiot,” she said, her voice muffled against his coat. “No one in their right mind could have predicted that ridiculous scene.” She pulled back and cut him a grin. “And here I thought I was the only one who went around pummeling aristocrats in ballrooms. Now I might have to cede my title to your mother.”
He gave her a faltering smile. “It’s kind of you to make light of it, but I know how upsetting this was for all of you. And especially for Lia.”
When his gaze touched her, he couldn’t seem to hold it, and Lia’s heart sank even more. Not that it mattered, because she was going to free him from the anchor around his neck.
“And it is my fault,” he added. “I knew how upset my mother was. I should never have come to the ball in the first place.”
Everyone started talking at once, protesting his statement. But when Lia stood, they all fell silent.
“No, Jack,” she said. “The very last person at fault is you. In fact, you were the one most opposed to this scheme. We should have listened to you.”
He finally held her gaze and she saw how ashamed he was. She hated that. Jack was the finest man she knew and he didn’t deserve this.
“Lia, I am so sorry you had to be exposed to her . . . her madness on this.” He rolled his lips together, as if in pain. “My mother is not herself. She’s not thinking rationally just now.”
“Lady John has been forced to endure too many indignities in her life,” Lia said. “I’m sure your uncle never meant to humiliate her, but he did, as did your father. Tonight must have seemed like the final straw.”
He huffed out a bitter laugh. “That’s essentially what she said, believe it or not.”
“I believe it because it’s the truth.”
“None of which makes it your fault,” he said. “You are entirely blameless in this, Lia.”
“Not in your mother’s eyes,” she said quietly.
How strange to be defending the woman who had always treated her with contempt and believed her nothing but a whore. Unfortunately, Lady John’s view was now likely shared by most of the Ton.
“My mother is wrong,” he said firmly.
Now he was beginning to look annoyed, which was at least an improvement over grim and hollowed out. It also made it easier for her to say what needed to be said.
“Jack, for too long you’ve been pulled between Granny and me and your real family. Before you inherited the title, there was little you could do about it. But now there is. And you should do what’s best for you and for your good name.”
“I reject that as a false equivalency,” he said stubbornly. “I can be loyal to all of you.”
She pinched the edge of her nose for a second, praying for patience. “No, you cannot, because your family and society will not allow it. It’s tearing you apart and it’s tearing me apart, too. So it has to stop.”
He flinched but recovered quickly. “Sweetheart, don’t you think you’re being a bit melodramatic?”
Her patience finally unraveled. “Splendid, more insults. I may be overly dramatic, Jack Easton, but you are entirely pigheaded. Everything would have been fine if you hadn’t come racing down to London after me instead of attending to your business at Stonefell. You’ve probably left things back there in a complete mess, by the way.”
“Fine? Really?” he said, ignoring her gratuitous shot. “You think that debacle at the Pan was fine?”
“Perhaps we might resume our seats and chat about this less heatedly,” Dominic interjected. “I do not believe the situation is nearly as dire as it might first appear.”
“That is a capital idea,” Gillian said. She reached out a hand. “Come, Lia, sit back down with me.”
Lia was about to do so when Jack’s fingers wrapped around her wrist. He hauled her back to the chaise and then plunked down beside her, taking Gillian’s seat. He crowded Lia against the upholstered arm, as if protecting her from the others in the room.
“Well, aren’t you the masterful one?” the duchess said, regarding him with an amused air.
Jack simply shrugged and looked stubborn. Clearly, he was going to be difficult to reason with. She’d have to manage things very carefully because her tolerance for any more scenes had evaporated.
He blew out a long, calming breath and finally settled against the back of the chaise. He kept her hand in his lap, stroking it, as if to soothe her. But, in fact, it wound her up, making it harder to think.
“All right, pet?” he murmured.
She managed a nod. He was always trying to take care of her, but one of these days he needed to realize that she had to make her own decisions.
“Good.”
Jack then made a credible attempt at smiling at Dominic, who was regarding them with an expression that sent a frisson down her spine. The magistrate was plotting, moving the various pieces on the gameboard around in his head. Lia was obviously one of those pieces, as was Jack.
“Why don’t you catch me up on what you’ve been discussing?” Jack said. “I’m sure Sir Dominic has some sort of plan, and I have a few ideas I’d like to share, too.”
Gillian had remained standing, calmly regarding Lia and Jack sitting side by side. She didn’t trust the glint in her cousin’s eyes.
“We’ve been talking about Lia’s plan to address her situation,” Gillian said. “Or we were about to before you came in.”
Confound it.
Jack gave Lia a wary look. “And what plan is that?”
Her tongue seemed to freeze to the top of her mouth. “Um, well, I’m still working on the details . . . oh, maybe we should hear what Sir Dominic has to say first.” For some horrible reason, she simply couldn’t bring herself to say the words.
“What is your plan, Lia?” Jack said through clenched teeth.
“She’s going to become a courtesan,” Gillian said brightly. “And I’d wager she’ll become the most popular one in London.”
The stunned silence that followed her unfortunate announcement lasted several long seconds. When the yelling commenced—courtesy of the men, naturally—Lia covered her eyes, wishing she were miles away.
Too bad she hadn’t slipped out the window and down that blasted drainpipe when still she’d had the chance.
Chapter Fourteen
“Isn’t everything just lovely?” Amy Baxter enthused. “I don’t know when I’ve ever been to such a bang-up party or a more elegant house.”
&n
bsp; Lia was wedged against a huge marble column ostentatiously painted with a great deal of gilt. It matched the rest of the Great Russell Street mansion, which was dripping with gold molding, painted friezes, gigantic chandeliers, and what seemed like endless gilt-covered columns. To her mind, the décor was more overpowering than elegant or lovely.
She’d never thought purple a particularly felicitous color, but Mr. Welby, a wealthy merchant and the host of the party, clearly liked it a lot. All the draperies and furniture fabrics were in various shades of that unfortunate color, as were many of the floral arrangements that graced the various tabletops. Even the marble under her feet had veins of purple running through it. She guessed Welby’s aim was to impart a sense of royal elegance. Instead, it seemed rather like a gigantic vat of grape juice had exploded all over the ballroom.
Barbara Carson, a pretty young actress from the Pan troupe, snorted in response to Amy’s comment. “This is the first mansion you’ve ever been in, so I guess it would be the most elegant one you’ve seen.”
“How do you know where I’ve been and haven’t?” Amy said. “I’ll have you know that my lord takes me out and about to many a fine party. And it’s not as if your beau ever takes you any place special.”
“You needn’t get in a twist over it,” Barbara said defensively. “Anyway, you’re wrong. Why, just last week my Anthony took me to a ball at Vauxhall that was just as splendid as this. And a great deal cooler, mind you, because it was outside. I’m about to expire from the bloody heat in here.”
“If you don’t like it, you can just leave,” Amy said tartly. “We only took both of you along tonight as a favor.”
“It was very kind of you and Sir Nathan,” Lia said hastily. “Barbara and I are very grateful, are we not?”
Barbara dug a friendly elbow into Amy’s side. “Lord, of course I am. I was just teasing you a bit. But you have to admit it’s roasting in here.”
Lia peered around the ballroom. “I don’t know how anyone can move, much less dance.” Apparently, balls held by the demi-monde were just as uncomfortable as those of the Ton. She began to wonder if it was possible to have fun at a London party.
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