London Temptations: Historical Regency Romance Collection

by Joyce Alec

  “Lord Morton was an excellent gentleman,” he said with a sad smile. “When he left this world, he left a wife, a son, and a daughter. Lady Morton is my daughter.” His expression grew all the more sorrowful. “To try and be alongside her in her grief and her trouble has been very painful indeed.”

  On instinct, Josephine reached out and settled one hand on Lord Warrington’s arm. It was for only a brief moment but the gesture seemed to reach Lord Warrington’s heart, for he smiled at her and nodded gently, perhaps aware that she was fully able to understand the pain that lingered on within his own heart.

  “You are very kind, Lady Rutherford,” he said as she dropped her hand back to her side. “Thank you. I must hope that, in time, my daughter shall find another husband, if that is what she wishes.” His smile tipped to one side. “And if she does not, then I have made certain that she shall have all she needs. Her son, the newly titled Lord Morton, requires guidance, education, and training in all the aspects of being a gentleman. I feel it my duty and responsibility to make certain of it.”

  “Then she is blessed to have you as her father,” Josephine replied fervently. “For not all gentlemen would behave as you have.” With a quick smile, she curtsied toward him. “Thank you for speaking to me, Lord Warrington. Good evening.”

  “Good evening,” he replied, just as Lady Fortescue took her leave also and walked alongside Josephine to another part of the room. Josephine’s mind was racing with all that she had learned from Lord Warrington. It was the first time in her search that she had discovered something of note and that was rather breathtaking indeed.

  “If it is not too bold to say, Josephine, I have noticed that you have spoken of this house party to a few gentlemen this last sennight,” Lady Fortescue began, looking at Josephine out of the corner of her eye as they meandered toward the music room, which had now been opened to the guests for the evening. “That was some five years ago, was it not?”

  Josephine nodded, fully aware that she had not spoken at length to Lady Fortescue about her intentions but wondering silently if she ought to do so.

  “My husband returned from that house party in a very ill state,” she told Lady Fortescue, choosing her words carefully. “He said very little to me, other than to express the great deal of pain that ravaged him. He passed away very soon afterwards.”

  Lady Fortescue nodded in understanding, an expression of sympathy on her face that was not yet verbally expressed.

  “The doctor suggested that there were one of two possibilities as regarded my husband’s death,” Josephine continued, glancing all around her to make certain that no one could hear her speak. “One was that it was an illness of sorts—one with great strength that stole his life from him.”

  Coming around to face Josephine, Lady Fortescue looked up at her with wide eyes. “And the other?” she asked, her expression one that stated she knew already what Josephine was about to say.

  “And the other was that something might have been given to him that brought about his death,” Josephine replied, as practically as she could. “Given that it could not have been given to him anywhere other than the house party, my conclusion is that my late husband was poisoned.” Neglecting to mention that the doctor himself had not thought that such a thing was truly possible, Josephine lifted one shoulder. “Thus, I have determined to discover which of my husband’s acquaintances could have done such a thing.”

  Lady Fortescue’s eyes were huge, her skin pale, and her mouth a little ajar as she stared up at Josephine, making Josephine wonder whether or not she had done the right thing in speaking so.

  “But—but it is five years since,” Lady Fortescue whispered, as though she might be overheard by those nearby. “Surely there is very little chance that—”

  “There may be very little chance indeed, yes,” Josephine agreed, interrupting her friend. “But I neglected my cause in order to raise my son. He is my first consideration, but I am determined to discover the truth.” A small sigh escaped her as she studied Lady Fortescue’s shocked expression, wondering if her friend would understand. “I may not have loved Lord Rutherford, but he was still my husband, and the father of my son. In being taken from us in such a manner means now that my son shall have to live his life without ever knowing the man who fathered him. I am quite determined to find out the truth and, in doing so, to seek justice for Lord Rutherford.”

  Shaking her head, Lady Fortescue let out a long breath, clearly trying to take in all that she had heard. Josephine wanted to say more, to explain herself further as though that might make Lady Fortescue willing to support Josephine in this matter, but instead chose to remain silent. She had taken something of a risk in telling Lady Fortescue all of this but, the truth was, she considered the lady a close acquaintance and even over the last sennight had felt their friendship grow. Besides which, she reasoned practically, there was something of a burden on her soul in keeping all of her plans and considerations entirely to herself. In speaking to Lady Fortescue, there had come a little relief to her own heart which was, she supposed, a good thing. She could only pray now that Lady Fortescue would not push their friendship apart given what Josephine had just told her.

  “I confess that I would not have had any such intention if my own husband passed away suddenly,” Lady Fortescue said after a few minutes, a tiny smile tipping up the corner of her mouth. “You show great devotion, Josephine.”

  Relief stole through Josephine’s heart. “You do not think me ridiculous, then?” she asked, and Lady Fortescue shook her head. “I confess to you that I have not spoken to another living soul about my intentions these last few years, although it has been continually on my mind.”

  Lady Fortescue’s smile grew. “I think I would have had greater difficulty in believing you had it not been for what Lord Warrington had just expressed,” she replied with a small glint in her eye. “Do you know what he was speaking of? This ‘difficulty’ that he mentioned? It sounded very serious.”

  “It did indeed,” Josephine mused, tilting her head just a little. “Very grave. I shall have to write down all that I have heard from Lord Warrington, for some of it seems very strange.”

  “And you shall have to speak to Lord Kingston and to Lord Farrington,” Lady Fortescue added fervently. “To know that Lord Kingston was irate with both your late husband and Lord Farrington suggests that there was something between them that was very serious indeed.”

  “If Lord Farrington will speak to me,” Josephine replied, a little ruefully, recalling just how she had spoken to Lord Farrington when she had been first introduced and wondering now if it had been a mistake to do so.

  Lady Fortescue smiled wryly. “We shall have to try,” she said as Josephine looked at her in surprise. “You do not think, surely, that I shall permit you to continue on this venture alone now, do you? I would be very glad to be of assistance, Josephine, since you have clearly struggled with this matter for some time.”

  Josephine considered this for a long moment, looking at Lady Fortescue and wondering whether or not she ought to accept her friend’s offer. “Only if you are sure you wish to, Edith,” she said as Lady Fortescue nodded firmly. “I would be very grateful for your help.”

  “It will distract me from my own troubles at present,” Lady Fortescue replied with a sad smile. “I am quite determined, Josephine. You shall have my assistance whether you wish for it or not.”

  Josephine laughed, seeing the brightness in her friend’s eyes and feeling herself rather glad that she was so determined. “Then it seems I cannot do anything but accept,” she replied, reaching out to press her friend’s hand. “Thank you, Edith. I am truly appreciative.”

  4

  The last thing Thomas wanted was to meet Lady Rutherford again and, for that matter, Lady Fortescue. He had not been able to remove the lady from his mind these last few days, for Lady Rutherford had seemed to almost follow him through society. Whatever social occasion he attended, she was present also—and his eyes found h
er with such a swiftness that he found himself considering whether or not he actually wanted to attend such events at all.

  Every time he saw her, he would see that condescending gleam in her eye, noting how she turned her face away from him as though she did not even want to so much as glance at him again. For the rest of the evening, Thomas found himself on edge, forever looking about him for fear that he might come too close to Lady Rutherford and be forced into an awkward conversation with her again. There was a distinct lack of enjoyment now in being a part of society, which brought a good deal of displeasure to his heart and mind. There was no longer the same freedom and the delight that had been a part of his time in London thus far. Wherever he went, he felt a little worried that Lady Rutherford might be observing him and would, of course, then make certain that he knew of her disinclination toward him and his behavior. It was not as though Thomas felt any sort of shame in what he chose to do, of course, but there was, for whatever reason, a niggling frustration that he had not been able to charm Lady Rutherford in the way he had been able to do with every other lady of his acquaintance.

  “She is rather beautiful,” he murmured to himself, climbing the steps that led into Lord Egerton’s magnificent townhouse. Perhaps that was all that was troubling him. Lady Rutherford was an exceptionally beautiful woman, even with the indifference in her eyes and the sharpness of her words. Normally, Thomas was well able to make his way into the affections of every beautiful woman he chose, but with Lady Rutherford, he was unable to do so. It was perhaps all the more irritating given that she was a widow and would have been someone that, usually, Thomas would have been rather interested in. But the way she had brushed him aside and spoken to him with such coldness had turned him away from her entirely. His main concern at present was why he simply could not remove the lady from his thoughts, why he continued to be aware of her even though he did not wish to be.

  “Good evening, Lord Farrington.”

  Thomas bowed quickly, smiling warmly at Lady Egerton and then greeting Lord Egerton.

  “Good evening,” he said as his host gestured for him to make his way toward the ballroom. “Thank you for your kind invitation.”

  “I hope you have a very pleasant evening,” came the reply, allowing Thomas to step away and make his way into the ballroom—but not before he had seen Lord Warwick standing to one side of the hallway, clearly waiting for him to reach him.

  “Good evening, Warwick,” Thomas grinned as Lord Warwick inclined his head. “An excellent evening awaits us, I believe.”

  Lord Warwick shrugged and, saying nothing, walked with Thomas into the ballroom.

  “I am sure that Lady Newton will be present,” Thomas continued, lifting one eyebrow in Lord Warwick’s direction. “She is one of your particular interests, is she not?”

  Lord Warwick did not rise to Thomas’ ribbing. “I think Lady Rutherford has arrived, however,” he said, shattering the smile on Thomas’ face. “Yes, despite how much you have attempted to hide your interest in Lady Rutherford, I am well aware that you are seeking her out.”

  Frowning, Thomas shot a hard glance toward his friend. “I am not at all interested in Lady Rutherford,” he said firmly. “She is truly one of the most impolite and discourteous ladies I think I have ever met, and whilst you might consider me to be eager to seek her out, I can assure you it is quite the opposite.”

  This made Lord Warwick chuckle aloud, much to Thomas’ frustration. “You mean to say that you are doing all you can to avoid her?” He shook his head, looking all around the ballroom. “That is not at all the impression I have been receiving. You are continually looking for her, and whenever you catch sight of her, you appear to be greatly irritated that she does not instantly come toward you.” His laugh grated on Thomas all the more. “Have you, at last, found a lady who will not succumb to your particular advances?”

  “I have no interest in securing Lady Rutherford’s affections,” Thomas replied, quickly taking a glass of brandy for himself and entirely ignoring the fact that Lord Warwick would, most likely, like one also. “I have found her most dislikeable. The only reason I am looking for her is because I am in desperate hope that she is not present.”

  This did not appear to be a satisfactory answer, for Lord Warwick simply chuckled and shook his head, gesturing for a footman to bring him a glass. Thomas, feeling the need to defend himself, bit his lip and looked away, a knot forming in the pit of his stomach. Having tried to explain the truth to Lord Warwick, Thomas decided quite firmly that he would make certain not to look for Lady Rutherford this evening. In fact, he would refuse to so much as glance toward the lady should she come into view.

  “Now, which of the ladies are you to seek out first, so as to prove to me that you have no desire to seek out Lady Rutherford?” Lord Warwick asked, gesturing to the many ladies that now surrounded them. “Near to us is Miss Augusta with her mother, or Lady Hartford, who has only just returned to society after her year of mourning.”

  Fully aware that Lord Warwick was simply doing all he could to irritate him, Thomas gave a half-shrug. “Neither,” he said, turning his head away from both ladies. “In fact, I think I shall approach Miss Lucinda Williams, given that she is already looking at me with that welcoming smile of hers.” He smiled back at the young lady and was pleased when she blushed.

  Lord Warwick’s frown was immediate. “Be careful there,” he said with a shake of his head. “Miss Williams’ father is very careful as to the company his daughter keeps. I should hate to see you thrown from the ballroom by an irate father.”

  Waving a hand, Thomas ignored his friend and, turning, began to make his way toward Miss Williams. Lord Warwick sighed heavily and came to join him, clearly unwilling to allow his friend to be in any way foolish. Or, Thomas considered, mayhap he wanted only to observe when things went very badly for him instead.

  “Lord Farrington. Good evening.”

  Thomas came to a stumbling stop as, seemingly out of nowhere, Lady Rutherford suddenly appeared. He had been so intent on keeping his gaze fixed to Miss Williams that he had not even noticed Lady Rutherford approaching and, as such, did not manage to greet her in a warm, easy manner. Instead, he began to stammer, looking toward Miss Williams and seeing the disappointment in her expression but knowing very well that he could not simply ignore Lady Rutherford—despite his eagerness to do just that.

  “Good—good evening, Lady Rutherford,” he managed to say as Lord Warwick bowed respectfully, reminding him to do the same. “You are acquainted with Lord Warwick, I presume?”

  Lady Rutherford’s expression warmed. She smiled and her eyes lit up, making Thomas catch his breath despite himself. Lady Rutherford truly was an exquisite creature and he could not help but think well of her.

  “We are acquainted, of course,” Lady Rutherford replied, curtsying toward Lord Warwick. “And you are both acquainted with Lady Fortescue, of course.”

  “Of course.” Thinking that this could not have been a worse start to his evening, Thomas bowed toward Lady Fortescue, who, he noted, was wearing something of a teasing smile, as though she knew just how difficult he found this situation at present.

  “I wonder, Lord Warwick,” Lady Rutherford said with a smile, “if you would mind very much if I took a turn about the room with Lord Farrington? I know it would be depriving you of your friend’s company for a time, but I can assure you that it would not be for long.”

  Lord Warwick chuckled and clapped a hand on Thomas’ back, making him wince. He knew very well that Lord Warwick was taking great pleasure in this moment and wished desperately that he could tell him outright that he was truly astonished by this request—although he did not think that Lord Warwick would believe him regardless.

  “I would not be at all upset,” Lord Warwick replied as Lady Rutherford smiled up at him, not even engaging with Thomas yet at all. “And I might, perhaps, engage Lady Fortescue in conversation for a time?” Enquiring eyes turned to Lady Fortescue, who, Thomas noted in sur
prise, blushed at Lord Warwick’s remark.

  Thomas frowned. He would have to inform Lord Warwick that Lord Fortescue was not a gentleman who would permit anyone to trifle with his wife. Lord Warwick would have to be very careful indeed.

  “I should be very glad of your company, Lord Warwick,” Lady Fortescue replied as, finally, Lady Rutherford looked directly at Thomas, the smile fading from her face as she did so.

  “Lord Farrington?”

  Lady Rutherford was looking at him expectantly now, one eyebrow lifted and a small gleam in her eye. Thomas frowned. He was not at all accustomed to having demands made of him and particularly not by ladies of the ton. Besides which, Lady Rutherford had not so much as enquired as to whether or not he wished to be in her company, for it seemed as though she merely expected it of him.

  “Lady Rutherford,” Thomas replied, inclining his head just a little. “As yet, I believe you have not even asked me to walk with you. No, instead you have simply expected that I shall do so, when I do not even wish to—”

  “Do not be difficult, Lord Farrington,” Lady Rutherford interrupted, astonishing him all the more as she stepped forward and put her hand on his arm, before pulling him away from Lord Warwick and Lady Fortescue, both of whom were grinning with delight. “The sooner we begin, the sooner you shall be able to return to Lord Warwick and whoever else it was you wished to speak with.”

  Stunned into silence, Thomas found himself being pulled along beside Lady Rutherford, stumbling in his steps before he finally took a hold of himself and began to walk beside her. Thankfully, after a few steps, she finally released him. They did not say anything for some minutes but rather weaved their way in and out of the crowd, Lady Rutherford leading the way rather than Thomas himself doing so. Questions began to rise in his mind as to why she was doing such a thing. Were they to walk in silence until they returned to their friends? Or did she have some other purpose in mind?