Lorena gave her a knowing smile. She’d obviously not shared Julius’s presence in the room with the others and for that, Maura was grateful enough to not scream her displeasure at the moment.
“Yes. I slept well.”
“Excellent,” Lorena said. “Now, come and sit. Sophia has thought of a plan to see that you are not sent back to Bedlam when your father arrives.”
Maura smiled. Those were the exact words she’d needed to hear. She moved over to a chair that sat across from Lorena and Sophia.
She didn’t have to wait long. Sophia seemed excited. “Last night, all I could think about was what was said about you the previous evening. You’re beautiful, your father’s new title places you in the perfect position for a good match, and when your ghost is proven to be a man, you’ll be free from gossip.”
“But what if he’s not a man?” Maura asked.
Sophia turned to Lorena, who sighed and gave Maura a bold look. “If he’s not real, we’ll make him real, but truly, darling, that’s a last resort. You don’t need to worry about it now.”
But Maura was worried about it. Greatly. “What do you mean you’d make him real?”
“We’d hire a man,” Genie said with a grin. “And have him pretend to be your ghost. Then the soldiers will chase him, but he’ll disappear. Then the story will get around that you were tricked, and all will be well again.”
Maura blinked and her mind recalled Julius’s words about her cousin’s plans getting everyone into trouble. “And what happens if the man who’s pretending to be my ghost is caught?”
Genie turned to Lorena.
Her cousin shrugged. “We’ll evaluate the situation again if it comes to it.”
Maura stood. “This won’t work.” She’d have to marry Julius if she wished to remain out of Bedlam, and she already knew she didn’t want her freedom at the price of his incarceration to her for the rest of his life.
Sophia raised her hands. “Wait, we’ve not told you the first plan.”
Maura sat again and crossed her ankles before she leaned her hands onto her knees. “What is the first plan?” She had little hope that it would be good.
“You marry,” Sophia said.
Maura shook her head and her heart fell. “I can’t marry Julius.”
“Then don’t marry Julius,” Lorena said. “Marry someone else.”
Maura lifted a brow. “My father could be here any day now. Who else do you think would offer a proposal to me in that amount of time?”
Lorena smiled. “Lorena, there are four other unwed gentleman present. You could choose one of them.”
“Five, if you count Lorenzo,” Natalia added. “And you don’t have to get anyone to fall in love with you, only interested enough to wed you before your father puts you away. The papers from London arrived today. Your father is mentioned, and Lorenzo told me this morning that the men already know about Frank’s hunt for the ghost. It’s truly the perfect opportunity. They’re here. You’re here.”
“And the courtesans are gone,” Sophia added. “I sent them all to Bath for a private holiday and they accepted, leaving them no choice but to entertain the only other unattached woman at the party.”
“The party’s numbers are off now,” Maura said with astonishment. The women had known from the first day they’d met the five ‘ladies’ that they were courtesans. They’d been sweet and hadn’t bothered to appear astonished when Lorena had made some bawdy comment. It had been a telling sign.
Sophia’s face became a vision of exasperation. “You’re vastly more important than an imbalance of guests at a meal.”
“And we’ll help,” Lorena said. “We’ll make sure each man becomes quite interested in you.” She grinned.
Maura stared at all her friends, one by one, before looking down at her hands. These were her friends. They’d do anything for her, even hire a man to pretend to be a ghost. She couldn’t love them more if she tried and admitted that had any of them been in the same situation, she’d have taken the same actions, doing whatever was in her power to see to her friend’s happiness.
So, instead of refusing, she lifted her chin, smiled, and said, “Where do we start?”
* * *
chapter 26
* * *
Something was wrong.
Julius didn’t know what it was, but he could feel the difference in the air that morning. At first, he thought it to have been the disappearance of the courtesans that made the party seem unbalanced, but then he realized that someone had decided to make the meal formal.
As a rule, the Brothers and Spinsters never ate formally unless they were entertaining a guest who would likely expect such a thing, a stuffy old duke or even someone from the government, but since that wasn’t the case, he was confused.
“Julius,” his cousin Natalia called. “Did you hear the news? Maura is the daughter of a baron now.” She held out the paper for him.
Julius walked over to her and took it, though he didn’t need to read the page since he’d already read Maura’s letter, but he pretended to let his eyes skim the page as he thought. If the placement had been done partly in jest and partly in celebration, so be it. It still seemed a little strange but no matter.
He walked down toward the head of the table and took the seat directly next to the host. Prince Garrett sat opposite him since he was the most powerful title in the room. Francis, another duke, would have been next, but since he was missing, Julius took the chair beside Hugh, the other marquess in the room. Everyone had been placed where they ranked and for the first time ever, Maura was in the middle as opposed to the end.
She was seated between Julius’s cousin Natalia, who was the wife of William, a knight, and Lord Allen Blackfall, the second son of a marquess. He and Maura’s eyes caught, but she quickly looked away before she said something to Natalia.
But not before Julius saw the color rise in her cheeks. Was she still thinking about the morning they’d spent together? He was. Her expression was serene at the moment, but he knew what she looked like when in the throes of ecstasy, how she’d abandoned herself to the feeling of his hands and mouth on her body. He knew her scent, could still recall the heady fragrance if he allowed his mind to do it.
He had to reel back from his thoughts to gain any form of clarity.
His decision to wait until their wedding night had everything to do with how much he longed for her. He needed self-control where she was concerned and the only way he saw himself gaining it was by restraining himself in some way.
But the wait didn’t mean he planned to keep his hands or tongue to himself. There were so many things he could do to her body for the time being.
“Will you be joining us?” Hugh asked from across the table.
Julius looked at him and then turned to Morris. “What’s the plan for the day?”
Morris held a cup of coffee in his hand “We’re taking a break from the games. Adair and his trick show will be performing in the town not far from here. The women wish to attend.” Adair was an equestrian with skills that both children and adults all found impressive. “We’ll spend the day there and return some time…”
A laugh caught his attention, forcing him to look down the table. It belonged to Allen. The sound wasn’t necessarily louder than anyone else’s conversation in the room, yet still, Julius’s mind honed in on it and he watched as Allen’s head bent toward Maura. She was speaking and whatever she said caused Allen to chuckle.
She was likely saying something silly. She tended to do it often just as she’d done that morning with him, telling him she’d been dancing with ghosts. He didn’t believe her. He’d known she’d been teasing him even if he didn’t understand why. Did she want him to think she’d completely lost her sanity?
He rose and moved to the sideboard to gather food, a place that took him right next to Maura and Allen.
He turned his back on them as he blindly began to pile food on his plate. His mind rested on the conversation behind him.
/>
Allen was laughing again. “Maura, that’s a terrible story.” Though his expression belied the words. “Tell me it’s not true.”
“But it is.” She voice was warm and light as a dance. “He was struck right through the groin, declared it nothing more than a scratch, and then promptly died.”
Allen laughed again, his usual cold irises seeming heated from within.
Julius spun around and glared at Maura. “That’s a horrible story.”
She turned to him, resting a delicate hand on the back of the chair. “But you didn’t hear the entire story, so how would you know?”
Julius stared at her and tried to ignore just how beautiful she appeared at the moment. “Tell me the story.”
She glanced over him and then shook her head. “Perhaps another time. You should eat. We’ll be leaving soon.” Then she turned away and lowered her voice as she continued to entertain Allen.
Julius, not willing to look the fool simply standing there glaring at her, grabbed his plate and turned toward his end of the table.
He ignored everyone as he quickly finished his meal. When the party started to rise, he waited until everyone was assembled in the foyer before cutting a path toward Maura, who was now standing with both Allen and Anthony.
He was blocked by Sophia. “You will ride in a carriage with your cousins and William.”
“Very well.” He tried to step around her, but she blocked him again. “Your group is over there.” She pointed to the other side of the room. “Please make your way quickly so that we may leave.”
Julius frowned at her.
Patient green eyes met his.
He narrowed his gaze. “Who is Maura riding with? I’ve been partnered with her for the party.”
Sophia sighed and clasped her hands together “Yes, but since the other ladies are no longer with us, we’ve dispensed with the original arrangement.”
He crossed his arms. “What’s the new arrangement?”
“We’re not sure, but we’re seeing what works best.” She placed a hand on his shoulder and applied pressure, steering him away from Maura.
Julius thought to fight it, but in the end, he walked toward his cousins and William.
Sophia went away then, directing other pairs around the room to stand in order.
* * *
chapter 27
* * *
When Maura had been told by the Spinsters that they would help her catch the eyes of one of the unmarried men presently at the party, she never thought to find herself surrounded by four men as they set off toward the town.
She sat in the middle with Lorena’s lady’s maid Jane as the only other female in the transport. On her other side was Lord Allen, who’d given her an appreciative smile whenever their eyes met. Across from her were Prince Garrett, Lord Anthony, and Lord Raymond. None of them seemed to pay her any attention as they discussed politics.
Maura turned to speak to Jane. “Are you excited about the circus?”
Jane frowned and hissed in a low voice, “You’re not supposed to be speaking to me but to the men.”
Maura’s cheeks heated as she turned away. Of course, Lorena’s lady’s maid was in on the plan. Jane was likely only there to keep Maura’s reputation intact. Otherwise, Maura was nearly sure that Lorena would have arranged for Maura to be alone with the men. Her cousin was far too scandalous at times.
“Have you ever seen Adair’s show before?” Allen asked her a few minutes later.
The carriage went quiet at the other men decided to listen for her reply.
She smiled and said, “Yes, two years ago when he came to London.”
“It was with the Spinsters and Brothers, was it not?” Jane asked in a dull voice.
Maura nodded. “Yes, we all went together.”
The lady’s maid glanced out the window. “The Spinsters and the Brothers do everything together.”
Maura sighed and wondered where the conversation was going. “I suppose they do.”
“And you’re the only Spinster unwed.” Jane turned and smiled, and Maura could tell it was forced. Jane never smiled. The expression was actually eerie enough that Maura was glad the woman didn’t grin often. “So, since the Spinsters and Brothers are always together, it would seem that whomever you married would become like one of the Brothers, wouldn’t they?”
Maura thought on this. “Well, I would think it would take more than marrying me to become one of the Men of Nashwood.”
“But perhaps not,” Jane said. “Why, you’re part of the fold. You may be the only way inside.”
Maura was struck mute for a moment and then shook her head. “Actually, I don’t think that’s how it works…”
“Ten today, eleven tomorrow. They’d have to keep the party numbers even, wouldn’t they?” Jane made an ‘mm’ sound before turning back to the window and nothing more was said.
Maura stared at her for the time and then sighed before turning back to the men.
She froze as he realized the men were staring at her, every eye except for Jane’s was glued to her and she could tell their minds worked behind those intent gazes. She squirmed in her seat and asked, “Have any of you seen Adair’s show before?”
“Yes,” Prince Garrett said. “In fact, I know Adair himself. He attended Cambridge. We both rode for the equestrian team. I could introduce you after the show.” The horse races against the Oxford and Cambridge was how Prince Garrett had first been introduced to the Men of Nashwood.
Maura brightened. “Truly? That sounds wonderful.”
Garrett grinned, and Maura’s heart seized in admiration at the expression. Prince Garrett was very handsome and was one of the most agreeable people she knew, though his gaze could be quite mocking at times. At the moment, however, there was no mockery to be seen. Instead, there was something else. A gentle knowing that was coated in a dangerous challenge. She’d never seen that look on him before and definitely not directed at her.
Anthony chuckled and ran a hand through his hair before murmuring something under his breath. Aloud he said, “I’ve seen the show before, my lady, but I have a feeling this one will be most entertaining.”
Maura hoped so as well. Then she glanced at Raymond.
Ray watched her with open puzzlement.
She spoke for him. “You attended the show when we went to London.”
“You remember me there?” Ray asked.
She laughed. “Of course. Ray. You’re not that easily forgotten.”
He lifted a brow and smirked but said nothing further.
Finally, she looked at Allen.
His gaze was soft, which was good, since his eyes could be as sharp as steel at times. “I’m afraid I’ve never seen a show or done any of the other pleasurable things London or other parts of England have to offer. In fact, this is my first holiday in quite some time. I’m locked away in my office for most of the year.”
Maura placed a hand on her chest at his words. “Don’t lock yourself away, my lord. You must enjoy life while you can. Have you never been to a pleasure garden at least?”
“Never.”
“You must go.” She didn’t know why she was so adamant about it, but she felt pain for him. Perhaps it was because she could relate to being cut off from the world. “Promise me you’ll go.”
“Only if you accompany me.” He grinned.
She smiled but made no promises. She had no idea what awaited her tomorrow or the day after that. Her future was all a mystery.
* * *
chapter 28
* * *
Julius grabbed Maura the moment she stepped out of the carriage and pulled her away from the crowd. Cort’s city center was quite active with the people who’d gathered to come and witness Adair’s show. Children ran around his feet, slashing in the puddles of the rain that had started and ceased just as quickly only half an hour ago. He had to work to make sure he avoided stepping on them.
“Julius, what are you doing? You’re supposed to stay wit
h your group.”
He stood in line to the door and turned to her. “You are my group, or at least you were before this morning. You’ll sit with me.”
Maura frowned up at him. “But I already agreed to sit with His Grace. He plans to introduce me to Mr. Adair after the show. They went to school together, do you know?” She smiled then, her face bright even in the graying day.
“But you’re engaged to me, so there’s no need to sit with anyone else.”
The smile fell away, and she glanced around at the rest of their party to see if he’d been heard. The city was much too loud for anyone to hear them unless one concentrated.
Adair’s performance took place at the Amphitheatre, a grand white building styled like a Roman theatre with thick pillars around it. Already there was a show happening just outside the door. Two men juggled lawn pins between them. A circle had formed around them. On the side, a man dressed in colorful garb announced the price of tickets for Adair’s show.
A woman behind him complained about the price of admittance and began to warn her two children that they may not have enough for the show, to the children’s disappointment, of course. Julius thought the price fairly steep as well, though money had never been an issue for him.
Maura looked at the poor family and turned back to him. “Julius, you and I are not engaged. I’ve already told you.”
He found her pointless refusals irritating. “I’ve already written the vicar.”
Her pale eyes widened. “When?”
His hand settled on her back as he moved them closer to the front. “This morning before I came down to breakfast.”
“What was his response?”
He looked down at her fearful expression and leaned closer before he whispered, “What response would please you most? Never forget, I do this for you.”
She groaned and replied, “And never forget that I refuse for you.”
“What do you mean?” He waited what seemed like forever for her to speak.
Maura’s Special Spinster’s Society (The Spinster’s Society) (A Regency Romance Book) Page 10