London Temptations: Historical Regency Romance Collection

by Joyce Alec

  Lord Stoneleigh smiled. “I had my purpose in doing so,” he said, his eyes holding a confidence that Prudence did not feel. “You need not worry.”

  Still rather astonished to hear what Lord Brunswick had done, Prudence kept her own counsel and did not say anything more, turning to speak to Lady Cheltenham who sat on her other side. The first course was served and Prudence made certain to behave just as would be expected. She joined in conversation upon occasion and noticed that Lord Brunswick was watching both herself and Lord Stoneleigh with a good deal of interest. In fact, whenever her eyes lifted to Lord Brunswick, she had to pull them away again almost immediately, given that he was looking directly back at her.

  “You are aware of his scrutiny, then?”

  She glanced up toward Lord Stoneleigh. “I am,” she murmured as the conversation and laughter flowed around them. “I do not understand it.”

  Lord Stoneleigh’s lips quirked. “He thinks that I might be able to discover something from you as regards the box,” he said very quietly, explaining the conversation that had taken place at White’s. Prudence listened with quiet astonishment, keeping her gaze fixed to her plate and continuing to eat as she tried to take in what Lord Stoneleigh told her.

  “So, then, he is still considering me,” Prudence murmured. “It is as you said.” The key in her pocket suddenly felt a good deal heavier and heat spread across her chest as she wondered whether or not she ought to tell Lord Stoneleigh about it.

  “You must do nothing other than continue to be as you are at present,” Lord Stoneleigh said after a few moments. “I will attempt to continue garnering a closer acquaintance with Lord Brunswick in the hope that—”

  He was cut off by a loud guffaw by Lord Brunswick, which then was added to by yet another and then another gentleman. Taking a breath, Prudence looked up into Lord Stoneleigh’s face.

  “I have brought the key.”

  Lord Stoneleigh froze, his face a little slack as he stared back at her.

  “I should not have done so, perhaps, but there is an opportunity here that I do not think we can simply ignore.”

  “Good gracious,” Lord Stoneleigh murmured, turning his head away and looking at the other guests around the table, so that no one would notice how he stared. Prudence said nothing more, continuing to eat as though everything was just as normal. In fact, she even joined in another conversation on her left rather than speak again with Lord Stoneleigh. Her stomach began to twist uncomfortably, suddenly afraid that Lord Stoneleigh would be greatly displeased with her actions.

  “An excellent meal,” a gentleman cried as the dishes were cleared away. “And now we look forward to the rest of the evening.”

  Lord Brunswick grinned. “And I have the most excellent of entertainments prepared for you all,” he said with a gleam in his eye. “But first, port.”

  The ladies rose as one and Prudence had no other choice but to remove herself from the table. Lord Stoneleigh caught her gaze as she did so and, much to her relief, gave her a quick smile. She returned this but then made her way away from the table, leaving the gentlemen to converse together.

  Could you arrange for some commotion, as Lord Brunswick had? she thought to herself, remembering what had supposedly happened to Lord Nethergate and then to Lord Brunswick. Would that give you an opportunity to search Lord Brunswick’s study?

  The thought sent a chill straight through her. The house was large and she had no particular idea as to where she ought to look first. And if she was caught, then that would bring with it the greatest of scandals. But could she simply return home without even having tried?

  “And now for the entertainment I have promised you.”

  Prudence sat quietly in her chair as Lord Brunswick—clearly a little worse for wear after the port he had shared with the other gentlemen—swayed slightly as he threw his arms out wide. “I have for you this evening both a group of wonderful musicians, who shall play for us and for your listening ears, and thereafter, a man who shall do all sorts of tricks to amuse and delight you all.”

  This, Prudence considered, was in fact a very excellent entertainment and certainly one that she would normally have enjoyed, had she not been feeling rather anxious about the key and whether or not there would be any opportunity to make use of it.

  The door opened and, with a footman leading the way, the musicians came into the room. There were four of them, each carrying a different instrument. It was only then that Prudence noticed the four chairs left empty next to the pianoforte, realizing that they had been left solely for the musicians.

  “Lady Prudence.”

  Lord Stoneleigh had moved carefully toward her, standing now just behind her chair with a glass of brandy in his hand.

  “I might excuse myself for a short time,” he murmured as the ladies next to Prudence began to speak loudly to each other. “If I return and look directly at you, it may be that I require a particular item.”

  Prudence swallowed hard, her hands curling tightly into fists as she attempted to keep a hold of her nerves. “I quite understand,” she said, not looking at him but rather bringing a swift end to their conversation. She did not know when Lord Stoneleigh moved away but when the musicians were ready to play, one quick glance behind her told her that he was already gone.

  She dared not search the room with her eyes for fear of drawing Lord Brunswick’s notice. Instead, she forced herself to watch the musicians, to listen carefully as they played, and to let the notes soothe her fractious thoughts. They were excellent, of course, and the music rose in a great swell of sound, a crescendo that seemed to fill the entire room. And then it grew quieter and softer, the notes holding a hint of sadness as a sigh escaped her. The music seemed to echo the sentiments of her heart, making her think of one thing and one thing only—the truth of what she felt for Lord Stoneleigh.

  The first piece over, Prudence looked around the room and smiled at her mother, who was clearly enjoying the evening given the broad smile on her face and the brightness of her eyes. There was no sign of Lord Stoneleigh, however. When the music began again, Prudence made certain to focus upon it, so that she would not be seen to be distracted in any way. And thus, the music held her attention for close to an hour before, finally, it came to an end.

  Lord Brunswick let out a loud exclamation of delight as he practically sprang to his feet, coming to stand in the center of the room.

  “And now,” he declared, clearly delighted with the performances he had chosen, “we shall have the most astonishing of all fellows, the most wonderful of…”

  Something suddenly seemed to catch Prudence’s eye and she turned her head away from Lord Brunswick as he continued to throw out accolades about their next entertainment. Lord Stoneleigh had slipped back into the room and was now leaning back against the wall. Had she not been aware that he might return, Prudence might have missed him entirely, such had been his stealth. He looked back at her with a fixed gaze, before giving her a tiny nod. Prudence caught her breath and turned back to Lord Brunswick, who had only just finished his introduction.

  Prudence rose just before Lord Brunswick sat down, making her way toward her mother, who also got to her feet, a frown dotting her brow.

  “I must make my way to the retiring room, Mama,” Prudence murmured quietly. “Should you wish to attend with me?”

  Lady Devonshire glanced over Prudence’s shoulder toward the lithe young fellow who had stepped forward and was now greeting the guests in a most animated fashion. The atmosphere in the room had changed somewhat, from relaxed and calm to now holding both anticipation and excitement and it was this that Prudence hoped would keep her mother present in the room.

  “I am contented to go alone, Mama,” Prudence added as her mother still hesitated. “I shall not be long.”

  Lady Devonshire waited for a moment or two longer before, finally, she nodded.

  “If you would, Prudence,” she said with a nod. “But do not be tardy.”

  With the enterta
iner now beginning his first trick, Prudence was easily able to slip from the room. Her face heated somewhat as she stepped out into the hallway, knowing that she could not take a great deal of time.

  “Lady Prudence!”

  Lord Stoneleigh’s voice whispered toward her and she turned quickly to see him striding out of the shadows, having clearly slipped from the room before her.

  “Lord Stoneleigh,” she answered, keeping her voice low. “I presume you have found something?”

  Lord Stoneleigh nodded, his hand held out toward her, and, without any sort of hesitation, Prudence took it.

  “It has taken me the best part of an hour, but I have discovered something that I believe might be opened by the key,” he said quietly, hurrying her along the passageway. “If it does not, then I cannot continue to search any longer. Lord Brunswick will, I am certain, notice my absence even if he is already a little in his cups.”

  “And I am sure he will notice mine, given that I am the one he is currently watching very closely,” Prudence murmured, her hand tight in his. “I cannot be too long. My mother will be waiting for my return.”

  Lord Stoneleigh nodded and then, much to her surprise, opened the door to the library and stepped inside. Prudence followed him at once, looking up into his face in astonishment.

  “You mean to say it is not in Lord Brunswick’s study? Or his rooms?”

  A wry smile tipped Lord Stoneleigh’s lips, his eyes gleaming with good humor. “I searched both rooms first,” he told her, leading her toward the left-hand side of the room. “I could not think where else to look and then I wondered about the library. This is a very large room indeed and had I not been somewhat blessed in discovering it, I do not think I should have had enough time to look through every little nook and cranny, for it is very large indeed.”

  Prudence glanced around the room, taking in the high shelves filled with books, the tables, chests, and drawers that seemed to be fitted into every corner of the room. There were a good many chairs and a large, unlit fire, although, for whatever reason, the room itself was well lit with candlesticks.

  “Perhaps Lord Brunswick intends to make this room open to his guests later in the evening,” she murmured as Lord Stoneleigh climbed up a small ladder and pulled out what appeared to be a book. “Why else should it be so well lit?”

  Lord Stoneleigh climbed down carefully and held it out to her. “I must presume so,” he said quietly. “I was very lucky in my search, and had it not been for the strangeness of the cover—so plain and dull in comparison to the others with their gold print and decoration—I might have missed it entirely.”

  Prudence looked doubtfully down at the book in Lord Stoneleigh’s hand, then caught her breath as she realized it was not a book after all. In fact, it was a small wooden box with a tiny lock on one side. It was the very same size and shape as a book and had Lord Stoneleigh not held it out to her for her scrutiny, her eyes would simply have passed over it without consideration.

  “We must make haste,” Lord Stoneleigh said, the urgency in his tone reminding her that they had no time to linger. “If Lord Brunswick should come in search of you, then…”

  He did not need to finish his sentence, for Prudence knew precisely what would occur should that happen. A sudden trembling took a hold of her and she pulled the neatly wrapped package from her pocket, her fingers struggling to take it all apart, such was her anxiety.

  And then, the key was in her hand. With a deep breath, Prudence pressed it into the lock, marveling that such a delicate key should fit such a small lock. Turning it carefully, it moved willingly and, upon hearing a small ‘click’, she let it go.

  Lord Stoneleigh wasted no time. Opening the box carefully, he held it out toward her, leaving Prudence to be the first to notice what was within.

  Her heart sank with disappointment.

  “There is nothing more than a few papers here,” she said, picking up the folded pieces and looking up blankly at Lord Stoneleigh. “What if—”

  A sudden sound caught her ears and instantly, fright took a hold of Prudence’s heart.

  “Put them in your pocket,” Lord Stoneleigh urged, closing the box and removing the key, which he handed back to her quickly. “We must depart this room at once, Lady Prudence. You will have time to peruse them later.” Climbing back up the ladder, he placed the box back where had found it, whilst Prudence hastily wrapped the key back up and placed both it and the papers deep into the pocket of her gown. Lord Stoneleigh moved the ladder away from where he had been searching, whilst Prudence hastily made her way to the door.

  Her heart was pounding furiously and she struggled to catch her breath, terrified that at any moment, Lord Brunswick would throw open the door and demand to know what she and Lord Stoneleigh were doing within. What would she say? Would he know, somehow, that they had found the box and had been able to open it?

  “Have no fear.” Lord Stoneleigh came up behind her and turned the handle carefully. “I will go first, to ensure there is no difficulty. Should Lord Brunswick appear, I shall make certain to turn him back from this room, so that you can escape without being seen.”

  Prudence nodded, her anxiety rising steadily within her as she looked up into Lord Stoneleigh’s eyes.

  “We have done very well this evening,” he said, suddenly catching her hand and pressing it gently. “I must confess to being rather intrigued to know what is contained within those papers.

  Without another word, he slipped from the room and she heard his footsteps making their way carefully back toward the drawing room. Hearing no exclamation of surprise or shout of astonishment, Prudence carefully stepped out into the hallway and closed the door behind her. The papers in her pocket seemed to burn through her skirts but she ignored them completely, lifting her chin and walking with great deliberation, as though she was meant to have been in the library and had every permission to be there.

  Suddenly, she heard a door opening and the sound of Lord Brunswick’s loud voice echoing up toward her. Her heart began to pound furiously in her chest, her hands clammy as she hesitated. Should she simply continue on her way, with the excuse that she had been in the retiring room? But what of Lord Stoneleigh? Surely Lord Brunswick would see him first and would know at once that there was something rather odd about both Lord Stoneleigh and her being found together away from the drawing room?

  Before she could think of what to do, Lord Stoneleigh was back by her side. His hands pulled her gently into the shadows in the hallway before slipping about her waist. Her back was pressed against the wall, her head tipping up toward his, and as footsteps suddenly drew closer, she found her lips captured in the most wonderful and most astonishing of kisses.

  Her heart began to slow, only to then fling itself into a frantic rhythm as she became aware of what was happening to her. Lord Stoneleigh was kissing her gently and she was responding to him—albeit rather slowly. Her hands were pressed against his chest whilst his arms were wrapped about her waist, pulling her closer to him. And then, his lips were gone from hers, his breath dancing across her cheek.

  “You have made me the happiest of gentlemen,” he said, his words loud enough for Lord Brunswick to hear. “I shall have to speak to your father first, of course. It was quite foolish of me not to have done so already, but when I saw you quit the drawing room, I knew I could not waste my opportunity.”

  Prudence could barely find the words to answer him for she was still so overcome with what he had done and what she herself felt that it was a struggle just to form any sort of response.

  “I—I am sure he will give you his consent,” she whispered as Lord Stoneleigh brushed his lips across her forehead. “I am honored that you should ask me, my lord.”

  Lord Stoneleigh sighed heavily and let go of her with obvious reluctance. “I should let you return to the drawing room,” he said quietly, “before your absence is noticed. I shall make my way back into the room a few minutes later, so that none shall take notice.”

&n
bsp; Prudence nodded, aware that she was trembling all over. Her fingers were caught in Lord Stoneleigh’s for a moment and he pressed them lightly, his strength flowing into her and giving her the courage she needed to do as he suggested.

  “I look forward to speaking with you again tomorrow,” she said, her voice no longer a mere whisper. “This night has been quite wonderful.”

  “Indeed it has,” he replied, his words heavy with meaning. “Now hurry, Lady Prudence. Before anything is said.”

  She nodded and began to make her way toward the drawing room. Without hesitating, she turned the handle and stepped inside, catching her mother’s sharp look toward her, which faded almost at once as Prudence entered alone. The entertainer was drawing gasps of astonishment and cries of delight from the assembled guests, leaving Prudence to sit down again in her seat, barely noticed by the others. Her heart was still burning in her chest, her body hot all over as she tried to compose herself. Lord Stoneleigh had just kissed her and, from what she understood, it now seemed as though they were engaged. Although whether or not he intended to truly speak to her father she could not be sure. Mayhap it had been nothing more than an act, put on solely for Lord Brunswick.

  When the door opened again, Prudence could not help but look toward it. Lord Brunswick came in first, a broad grin on his face, and soon after followed Lord Stoneleigh. He, too, was smiling broadly, as though he and Lord Brunswick had shared a moment of good humor that he could not keep to himself. When his eyes met hers, Prudence felt a flood of relief crash all through her. When he smiled, she let out a long breath she had not known she had been holding. It seemed that, for the moment at least, everything was going to be all right.

  10

  Reflecting on the evening that had only just passed, Felix let out a long sigh as he studied himself in the mirror. The morning had brought with it both relief and expectation as well as a hint of gladness, which, he had to admit, he had not expected to feel at all. Last evening, he had been close to exultant with what they had discovered, even though he had not had a chance to look at the papers themselves. The mere fact that the key had not only fit but also turned in the lock had made his heart leap with hope and expectation, but there had not been time to scrutinize what was within.