Oh, that cad had fooled her, but damn it, she would not, would not be the laughingstock all over again. She crumpled the letter in her fist and threw it to the floor.
Lily clenched her fists. She had been right about Devon Morgan after all. And she’d never let another man hurt her again. If it was the very last thing she did, she’d find a way to ensure Colton never saw a farthing of that money and she’d make him hurt as much as he’d hurt her.
* * *
When Evans ushered Viscount Medford into the white salon the next morning, Lily sat with a ramrod-straight back and a pinched smile on her face. There was no more tea. Even the reused leaves had run out. She sipped a medley of hot water and a bit of lemon that Mary had been given by a neighbor’s cook. Leopold was curled in a ball in the corner. Bandit lay at her feet.
“Good morning, Medford,” she called in a jovial voice.
Medford hurried forward and bent over her hands before taking a seat in the chair next to her. “I came as soon as I could. Did you read my letter?”
“I read it,” she answered serenely, proud of herself for how calm she managed to remain. “And as you have guessed, I found it most distressing.”
“Tell me, what can I do?” He straightened his already-straight cravat.
Lily set her cup aside before pinning Medford with her most serious stare. “I would like you to tell me the details. When exactly is this bet supposed to be carried out? What are the time frames, et cetera?”
Medford’s brows furrowed. “Why? What does any of that matter, Lily? It’s a completely inappropriate bet. I should call the blackguard out. I am fully prepared to defend your honor.”
Lily slid her hand across the space between them and rested it on Medford’s sleeve. “You know you cannot do that without revealing my identity. Humor me, Medford, please. What of the details?”
Medford took a deep breath. “There was mention of the Atkinsons’ house party.”
Lily nodded. The affair was a grand tradition of the Season. “Yes,” she prodded. “Go on.”
“This is most inappropriate to be discussing with you, Lily.”
She refrained from reminding him that he had brought it up. “Come now. What’s inappropriate between the two conspirators who brought London Secrets of a Wedding Night?”
Medford smiled. “You have a point. Very well. The bet was for him to, ahem, seduce you by the end of the house party next weekend. One may only presume he expects both of you to be there.”
Lily nodded. “Yes, and what was the bet for exactly? How much money does Colton stand to win?” She plucked a piece of parchment and a quill from the table next to her and held the writing instrument poised to capture the figure.
“I hate to say.” Medford turned his head away.
“Please,” she cajoled. “I must know.”
Medford scrunched his forehead, clearly not immune to her pleading. “Very well.” He sighed heavily. “Two hundred pounds, once all of the bets have been totaled. Something close to it.”
Lily sat up straight and blinked, the quill and parchment forgotten in her hands. “Two hundred pounds! What are the odds?” She discarded the quill and paper.
“Five to four, at present.”
“In Colton’s favor?”
Medford looked appropriately chagrined. “I’m afraid so. Unfortunately, it seems the entire male population of the ton has got in on this particular bet. It’s quite out of control. Disgusting if you ask me.”
Lily thought for a moment, dragging her tapered fingernail across her chin.
“Medford,” she said slyly. “I have decided what I shall write the next pamphlet about.”
Medford shook his head. “What does your next pamphlet have to do with Colton’s bet?”
Lily smiled. “Ah, but that is the very best part. My next pamphlet shall be entitled Secrets of a Seduction: How to Deny a Rake. It shall be an unwitting woman’s guide to knowing how to spot a rake’s telltale signs and avoid falling for his lies. Yet another public service. And that’s why I shall be attending the Atkinsons’ house party.”
Medford opened his mouth as if he would argue with her, but quickly snapped it shut. A slow smile spread across his lips. “Lily, are you certain?”
Lily smiled. “Yes. I will make money and Colton will lose money. It’s perfect!”
Medford shouted with laughter. “You know, my lady, I think you just might be right.”
CHAPTER 18
The next morning, Lily sat perusing the mail at her little writing desk in the breakfast room. In addition to the usual bills, two pieces of mail had arrived in the post. The first was the invitation to the Atkinsons’ house party. The second was a letter addressed to her from the … Earl of Merrill.
Lily let her teacup full of hot water clatter to the saucer. She ripped open the letter, holding her breath. Her eyes hurriedly scanned the page. Her stomach dropped. Her late husband’s nephew, the current earl, was coming to London for the Season. He and his new wife intended to reclaim his town house and expected Lily to vacate the property within the sennight.
Lily squeezed her eyes shut. She’d known it was only a matter of time before she received this letter, but why did it have to come now of all times? She had nowhere else to go.
She shook her head and plucked her quill from its inkwell. First, she wrote back to Lady Atkinson. Yes, she and her younger sister, Annie, would not miss the event. They would both be honored to attend the house party. The second letter was to her cousin Althea in Northumberland. If her cousin wouldn’t take them in, they’d be on the streets in a matter of days. Lily shuddered at the thought.
She finished the letters, tossed a bit of sand over the ink, and dribbled wax on the parchment. She summoned Evans and asked him to be sure to get both letters into the very next post. Then, she relaxed back in her chair and took up her cup again.
Everything would work out. Wouldn’t it? If Cousin Althea agreed to take them in, Lily and Annie could leave for Northumberland straight from the house party. In the meantime, Lily would ask Medford if Evans and the two dogs could stay at one of his many properties temporarily. Once they were all safely ensconced in Northumberland, Lily would write her new pamphlet from her cousin’s house and send it to Medford via the post. Yes, it would all be fine.
Annie walked past the doorway just then, and Lily called to her. Her sister ducked her head into the room. “Yes?”
“Annie, ask Mary to help you pack your things. We’ll be attending the Atkinsons’ house party,” Lily informed her.
Annie rushed into the room, a huge smile on her face. “You’re not jesting, are you, Lily?”
Lily laughed. “No. No, of course not.”
Annie twirled around in a circle. “Mr. Eggleston intends to be at the Atkinsons’,” she relayed, a glowing smile on her face.
Lily nodded. “That’s fine and good, dear, but this is strictly business.”
Annie rolled her eyes. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She wandered back out of the room, humming to herself and surely daydreaming of Arthur Eggleston.
A twinge of guilt flashed through Lily. She would eventually need to tell Annie of her plans to go to Northumberland. Poor Annie wouldn’t like it. Not one bit.
* * *
The night before they were to leave for the house party, Medford insisted upon escorting Lily to the theater. She spent the entire ride mentally counting the money she would make with her new pamphlet. If she earned enough, perhaps, someday, she and Annie might rent a little house in the country, where the prices weren’t so exorbitant. Their little family might have a fine, if not extravagant, life.
“After the house party and this ridiculous bet have been taken care of, there is something you and I must discuss,” Medford told her as he handed her out of the coach on the steps of the theater.
Medford sounded serious. Lily bit her lip. She didn’t like it when Medford sounded serious. “There will be plenty of time for things like that, Medford
,” she replied with a laugh, attempting to lighten the mood.
His eyes met hers. “I’ve asked you several times to call me ‘James.’”
Lily nodded slowly. She couldn’t call him “James,” for the same reason she couldn’t call Annie, “Anne.” These people, these important people in her life, couldn’t change from who she needed them to be. She’d had enough change in her life. “Thank you again,” she said. “For allowing Evans and the pups to stay at your property. I feel so awful asking for such a favor, but—”
Medford tucked her hand into his arm. “Don’t mention it. You know I’d help you in any way I can.”
“You must take their room and board out of my earnings from the next pamphlet. I insist upon it.”
Medford shook his head. “That is completely unnecessary, I—”
Lily gave him a warning look. “Please, Medford. You must promise me.”
Medford sighed, still shaking his head. “Very well. I refuse to argue with you.”
Lily eyed him carefully. She suspected he would claim she’d made more than she really had. She knew she had only to ask and Medford would allow her to stay in London under his care as well. But it would be inappropriate to use him so poorly. He’d already done so much for her.
Medford led Lily to his private box near the front of the stage. Ah, if only she felt a tiny spark for Medford. One bit of love or even lust. Medford was the best sort of fellow. What was wrong with her that she wasn’t madly in love with him? Not that he was madly in love with her. But no matter, they would remain friends. And business partners. Yes. She would thank Medford prettily once she made the money from the second pamphlet. And she would relish watching Colton’s dreams sour, just as he had soured hers five years ago. The dreams she’d only begun to allow herself to dream again recently, he dashed those too. Which made it that much worse.
Before the performance began, Lily excused herself to visit the ladies’ retiring room. She hastily made her way to the little room off the foyer where she pinched the pink back into her cheeks and dabbed her forehead with her handkerchief. She waited there for several minutes, breathing evenly, hoping to calm the swirling worries in her head and prepare herself to enjoy a night of entertainment as best she could.
Soon, the music started, and Lily made her way back toward her seat. As she hurried through the lobby, she did not see the man in the shadows leaning casually against the wall with his ankles crossed until it was too late. She nearly tripped over his feet. “Pardon me,” she began. She looked up into the apologetic face of none other than Devon Morgan.
“The fault is entirely mine,” he said in his usual confident, deep voice and Lily longed to grind her slipper into his instep.
“Yes, it is.” She continued past him.
He gripped her shoulder and softly spun her around. “I’m surprised to see you here.”
“Don’t speak to me,” she snapped.
His brows furrowed. “I said I was sorry, Lily. Surely you didn’t think I meant to cause your fall.”
“Sorry is not good enough for what you’ve done.” She jerked away from his touch. “And do not call me ‘Lily.’”
A deep frown wrinkled his forehead. “The last time I saw you, Countess, you were thanking me for helping your sister at her debut. Now this?”
Lily scrunched her face into a scowl. She glanced over both shoulders to make sure they would not be overheard. Thankfully, the lobby was nearly empty.
She pushed Devon back into the corner, poking her finger against his chest the entire way. Her voice was an angry whisper. “Two days ago, I didn’t know you had a detestable bet about me at your club. Two days ago, I didn’t realize you were using me as a pawn in another one of your reprehensible games. Two days ago, I didn’t know you were planning to make money off me.”
Devon’s face went pale. He reached for her. “Lily, listen to me. You’ve got it all wrong—”
Lily backed away. “Do I? Then tell me. Do you or do you not have a bet regarding whether or not you can seduce me?” She hissed the last words, glancing over her shoulder again.
He swallowed. “There is a bet, yes … but it’s not as if—”
Lily’s voice simmered. Her words came through clenched teeth. “If I were a man, I would strike you right now. I would call you out.”
Devon put his hands up in a conciliatory gesture. “Lily, you must believe me. I was not the one who placed that bet and I did not—”
She turned on him, her eyes flashing. “But you’d surely profit from it if you won, wouldn’t you? I knew you were low, Colton, but if I had any idea that you would stoop to this, why I … I cannot even fathom how far you’ve fallen.” Her voice dropped to an angry whisper and she swallowed, unwelcome tears filling her eyes. “If I had had any idea when you showed up at my front door that afternoon and threatened to seduce me, that you were planning to make money from the prospect, I would have got my husband’s pistol and shot you with it, then and there.”
She turned on her heel and stalked away.
Devon reached her in two long strides. He swung her around to face him again. “Damn it, Lily. Will you listen to me? I never intended to profit from it. You must believe me.”
She clenched her hands into fists at her sides. “Believe you? A liar? A gambler? A man who prizes money above all else? What sort of fool do you take me for?” She narrowed her eyes at him. “I thought we were playing before, you and I, and I allowed myself to be lulled by you, but now I recognize what you really are. I will not make the same mistake twice.”
Devon reached for her, but she flung off his hands.
“You’ve made an enemy, my lord, a more powerful enemy than you can guess. And let this be a warning to you. The game is on, between you and me. I will see you at the house party. May the best person win.”
* * *
Devon watched her go, a sick feeling in his gut. Bloody hell. He’d really done it this time, hadn’t he? And the worst part was he had spent the last two days painfully aware he didn’t give a damn about that stupid threat to seduce her, revenge, the blasted bet, or anything else. He’d never wanted her to find out about it at all, let alone like this. In fact, he wanted nothing more than that idiotic bet to be forgotten. It sounded as if she’d never forgive him. He couldn’t blame her if she didn’t.
Damn it. Five years later, he was falling for the same quirky brunette again. The thought did not console him, but it was true, nonetheless. And now she hated him because of a bet he’d never placed to begin with. Devon clenched his fist until his knuckles cracked. By God, Jordan Holloway had better watch himself. The next time he saw his erstwhile friend, they’d be boxing again, but not for sport.
He watched Lily’s retreating form until she disappeared into the darkness. She was squaring off against him, as an opponent. Not something he relished in the least. Bloody hell. How could he convince her that regardless of the blasted bet, he had no intention of seducing her to profit from it?
He needed to think of something, quickly. A bet at the club was not something one could simply cancel.
Devon took a deep breath. He’d decided to travel to Colton House to visit Justin again on the way, but then he and Lily would both be at the house party over the weekend. He must find a way for them both to win.
CHAPTER 19
“Lord knows, I would claim to be the author of Secrets of a Wedding Night if it meant I’d end up in Colton’s bed.” Lady Eversly giggled to a group of friends who stood talking outside the Atkinsons’ library.
Lily kept walking. It was the first day of the house party and the entire guest list was abuzz with the rumor of Colton’s planned seduction of the author of the pamphlet.
She wanted to scream. It made it only mildly better that not everyone knew or suspected she was the lady in question. But what made her most angry was that the majority of the comments harkened to what Lady Eversly had just said. All the women were dreaming about it. Wanting to be her, if you could believe such nonsen
se!
Lily slipped up the staircase and back into her room. She shut the door behind her and leaned against it. How would she ever manage to survive this house party? She opened her eyes and spied her sister, reclining on the bed, reading a book.
Annie snapped the book shut and jumped up. “Oh, Lily, there you are. I spent the morning in a drawing room, sewing with the other young ladies, and you’ll never guess what I heard.”
Lily tried to manage a smile. “What was it?”
Annie arched her brows. “Seems the talk about the pamphlet has gained the attention of one Miss Amelia Templeton.”
Lily snapped open her eyes. “Miss Templeton? What did she have to say?”
“She said she wondered if the author wrote Secrets of a Wedding Night with the sole purpose of stealing her affianced from her.”
Lily paced back and forth across the floor, biting at her fingernail. “No one stole anyone’s fiancé. It’s ludicrous. Wasn’t she the one who cried off? Does this mean she wants Colton back?”
Annie shrugged. “I’m not sure what it means, but I must admit there were a great many in the company who agreed with Miss Templeton.”
Lily stopped pacing and faced her sister with her mouth open. “And what did you say? Did you defend me in any way?”
Annie smiled serenely. “How could I? I couldn’t very well reveal your identity. You’d never forgive me.”
Lily resumed her pacing. “No, but you might have defended the author,” she sniffed. “Instead, you just sat there, silently, while they maligned me?”
“No, of course not,” Annie replied, tracing her finger around the edge of her book. “I told them I thought the author was a frigid shrew who had nothing better to do than frighten poor unmarrieds, and Lord Colton shouldn’t waste his time or skill on her.”
“Annie, you did not!” Lily shrieked.
“No.” Annie giggled. “I merely said I’d never read Secrets of a Wedding Night and never intended to.” She nodded resolutely. “Which is every bit true.”
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