Vivian dared not look away, the anticipatory heat rushing through her, setting her senses on edge as she tilted her chin towards his.
“May I?” His voice was breathless and Vivian nodded, as if it was the most natural thing in the world for him to kiss her in the middle of an empty sitting room.
His lips found hers and she sucked in a breath through her nose, his spicy cinnamon smell flooding her senses, sending her head into a spin. She arched towards him, her arms wrapping around the back of his neck, as he did the same to her.
A knock from downstairs startled them and Luke broke away, as breathless as she felt.
Passion, and attraction would never be an issue. She was annoyingly as attracted to him as he seemed to be to her, though it did not suffice. It simply meant their sham of a marriage would not be miserable in that arena.
Vivian smoothed her hair back into place, tucking in a few pins that had come a shade loose. She would not allow his kisses to fool her into thinking he cared for her past any base level of spousal commitment. She did not want him to care, and she certainly did not like him in any way that might be troubling.
Mr. Sutton appeared in the doorway with a thick cream envelope.
“Thank you, Sutton,” Luke murmured as he accepted the delivery. Mr. Sutton bowed and left the room. Luke opened and read through it quickly, his brows furrowing together.
“Bad news?” Vivian asked.
“It is an invitation to a ball this evening.”
Vivian inwardly blanched, careful to not let him see the terror she felt at the thought of showing her face in society again. It was unavoidable, she knew, as she was now a countess married to a seemingly quite social earl, but she’d wanted to postpone the inevitable.
“It’s addressed to us both by title.” Vivian took the folded paper from him. “Who could know we are married?”
“It doesn’t state either of us by name,” he pointed out as he read over her shoulder. “The—” he squinted, reading the hosts’ names listed on the invitation, “Viscountess Holland would appear to have a spy in the Archbishop’s office. Only way she would have such quick knowledge of a private nuptial.”
“A spy?” Vivian snickered. “I doubt spies actually exist.”
“Vivian, I am a spy,” Luke said in complete seriousness.
Vivian’s turned her head quickly to level him a disbelieving glance.
“Goodness, Luke, you really are good for a laugh.”
A wide grin broke across his lips and he winked. “Just checking if you’re still paying attention.”
Vivian looked back at the invitation for the ball. “Would you like to attend?”
“I think it would be smart to show our faces as quickly as possible.”
“I fear I might have nothing appropriate to wear. None of my new gowns have arrived.” She hadn’t expected him to force her to buy new dresses the first available moment. And she certainly hadn’t wanted to attend a ball her third night in London.
A bell rang downstairs, and Luke’s brow popped up in question. Vivian shrugged her shoulders, no more aware of the caller’s identity than he was.
They both stilled and strained to hear who might be at the door. They could hear Mr. Sutton converse with the new caller, but not the details of the conversation. And then the front door closed with a thud that echoed up through the halls and moments later, Mr. Sutton came striding into the room bearing a long white box.
Luke was not as surprised by this as Vivian was. “Ah! You might be in luck.” Setting the box down, he removed the lid to reveal four new gowns inside. One morning dress, two-day dresses and one newly-fashioned evening gown.
Perfect.
* * *
Vivian hoped this ball would be a small intimate soiree. She hoped it would not be a crush, or Luke would change his mind and they could stay hidden from the world for just a moment longer.
She was wrong on all counts.
The Holland Spring Ball was as filled to the brim with the haute ton, people packed in as tightly as at the balls she’d attended the year before. The week she and Luke had arrived in London, Vivian soon discovered, was the first week of the social season. And, as the first couple to be married this Season, Luke and Vivian were in high demand.
First, a hush fell onto the crowded ballroom as they descended the stairs into the room. Vivian felt all five hundred plus sets of eyes on her as her skin began to crawl, but she held her pleasant smile in position. She would not be embarrassed this time.
Second, Luke knew everyone. Literally, every single person they met, Luke addressed by name.
Had he studied the guest list sometime in the past few hours? Vivian wondered.
The arrival of Norah and Trevor could not have been timelier, and for a moment the focus shifted to the new earl, who was rumored to be mad, and the Macalister who had tamed him.
“It’s lucky my entire family has not yet come to town,” Norah told her. “They would be most put out should they learn of my brother’s marriage when it was debuted at a ball.”
Luke, who appeared to be in conversation with the lord beside him, winced and shot a glance at Vivian. She hadn’t realized he was listening.
“Come, we need to pay respects to our hosts,” Norah said.
“Lady Sandton!” the viscountess said cheerfully as their quartet approached. “How lovely to see you again.”
“I apologize for our tardiness,” Norah said smoothly. “Since we missed seeing you before entering, I knew I must take a moment to thank you in person for your invitation. Sandton and I are happy to have such lovely friends.”
Vivian wanted to laugh at the sweetness dripping from Norah’s voice, but the viscountess ate it up, like a child with her first toffee.
“Friends truly do make the season bearable, do they not?” Lady Holland said. “I see you have one brother with you, but how fare the others?”
“They are all well. It is too kind of you to ask. Everyone is convening in Kent for a weekend family house party. Sandton and I were waylaid by some affairs in London and hope to catch up with them soon.”
“Lord and Lady Kenswick.” Lady Holland’s gaze turned to Vivian. “We were excited to hear your happy news! Congratulations on your nuptials.”
“You really must divulge your secret,” Luke said with a wink. “We’d meant to keep our nuptials under wraps, until we could share the happy news with our families. How did you find us out?”
Lady Holland’s pert lips pulled into a smirk. “A lady needs her secrets, Lord Kenswick.”
“Indeed.” His eyes glittered with something Vivian did not enjoy, and she looked quickly away.
Lady Holland tore her gaze from Luke and it fell to Vivian. “Lady Kenswick, you seem awfully familiar.”
“I was in London last Season, though I was not in the most fashionable circles. My cousins are the Barfield sisters.”
Lady Holland’s eyes lit with excitement. “You are Miss Burke! Vivian Burke!”
“I say, wasn’t there some awful name they called you?” Lord Holland interjected but before he could continue, Norah cut him off.
“Oh, I think I see my grandmother trying to gain our attention.” Norah looked across the room, straining to see over Lady’s Holland’s shoulder. Her gaze returned to Lady Holland and Norah smiled charmingly. “It was lovely to see you again. Such a splendid crush. I do not know how you do it!”
Lady Holland preened under Norah’s praise. “I am happy to share all my secrets.” She sent Luke a suggestive look, her eyes twinkling in the candlelight.
“Holland, I have been thinking about this land bill you mentioned before Christmas,” Trevor stated, and he and Holland launched into a political discussion, the sounds of which made no sense to Vivian.
“Lady Sandton, come with me to see Grandmother.” Norah’s head tilted in a way that meant there was little choice in the matter.
“Yes, of course,” Vivian replied politely. “Lovely to see you again, Lady Holland.”
As Norah led her away, Vivian heard Luke say to their hostess, “As both our spouses have abandoned us, what say you to a dance, Lady Holland?”
Vivian turned away from her husband, an uncomfortable and unfamiliar emotion rushing through her.
“Calm down,” Norah said to her quietly. “Luke’s not about to do anything stupid.”
Vivian swallowed down the rush of emotion. It was almost panic, or fear, but it was painful. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Jealousy. Dear lord she was jealous her husband was paying attention to someone else. She was jealous of Luke.
“His demeanor comes off as flirtatious, but it’s simply how his charm works,” Norah said as they reached the opposite side the ballroom, nearer the wallflowers, which had been Vivian’s natural home the year before. She thought it might be nice to escape there now.
“I don’t—”
“Yes, you don’t care, except you do. Watch—” She nodded her head towards Luke and Lady Holland moving about the dance floor in a quadrille. “He is dancing a perfectly proper distance from her and smiling much too brightly to be considering a dalliance with the viscountess.”
Vivian watched her new husband dance across the floor, his smile so broad it was almost comical as he used his full charm on the unsuspecting viscountess.
“He’s trying awfully hard to gain her affection,” Vivian realized. “He’s trying to charm something out of her.” She looked at Norah. “You and Trevor knew that was his plan. Trevor occupied Lord Holland and you had me out of the way at nearly the same time. How could you know?”
“There was really only one reason for him to flirt so blatantly in front of his wife. And as he is unlikely to take a mistress, he certainly wouldn’t do so a few hours into his marriage and with his wife on his arm.”
The words settled the raging green beast inside her, but Vivian still didn’t like it. The jealousy, that is. It wasn’t her favorite thing to watch another woman dance in her husband’s arms, but she knew him well enough to realize his intentions were superficial. “He wants to know how she learned of our nuptials so quickly.”
“Precisely.”
What did it matter how she learned of their nuptials? The intention was for people to know, and for the information to reach the Prince Regent, to whom it really mattered. Had he wanted to give the impression he was taking this marriage seriously, he probably shouldn’t dance with some other woman, on his wedding night no less, before he’d bothered to dance with his new wife. His frivolous behavior only demonstrated that he was as pompous and farcical as she’d thought from the beginning. He was incapable of being earnest.
Tearing her gaze from Luke, she decided it didn’t matter. At least her time in London would be entertaining. She could enjoy their time together and they could part as friends. If he truly was as shallow as he appeared to be, remaining indifferent would be easy.
The dance ended and the pair stepped away from each other, bowing and curtsying before moving into the next dance, a waltz.
Norah linked her arm through Vivian’s. “Give Luke time to work his magic. He could charm Princess Charlotte of her crown if the Prince Regent ever let him close enough.”
“Is this not all overwhelming?” Vivian asked as they made their way through the crowd. “The people, remembering everyone’s names and connections.”
“At times,” Norah replied, smiling sweetly at groups of people as they moved past. “But it’s all a game. The better competitor you are, the more successful you can be.”
“Last year I was a dreadful contestant.”
“This year you have an advantage, as you’re starting off at a higher level. Countesses have an easier time than country misses from Wales.”
“Herefordshire.”
“What happened last year? If you don’t mind me asking. I was a bit… preoccupied through most of the season and don’t remember much of the gossip.”
Vivian suppressed the deep bone-weary sigh that always accompanied thoughts of her previous Season. “A familiar story. Girl from the country, brought in to make a splendid match, gets taken in by an unsavory fellow.”
Glancing at her out of the side of her eye, Norah didn’t comment, but her frown was indicator enough.
“Nothing happened that would warrant anything important, like a marriage proposal,” Vivian explained. “It started with something I saw in the newspapers— do you remember last year what Lady Ruin wrote? About men not being in control and how the day was when they would get what they deserved?”
“I remember.”
“Well, reading that, I was inspired by Lady Ruin’s bravery, and, well…” Vivian paused and glanced at Norah. “When I knew something dreadful had happened, it gave me courage to speak up about something I felt was not right.”
Tears glistened in Norah’s eyes but she looked away. Her bright smile returned so quickly, Vivian thought she might have misread the look in Norah’s eyes. “So, you sent this fellow on his way?”
“In a fashion.”
It was a dreadful memory. The entire Season had been one misfortune after another. The beau monde had not been as welcoming as she’d hoped, especially after her terrible encounter with Lord Catfish.
And now there he was. On the other side of the ballroom, just as the crowd moved a certain way. He was there with his cronies. His laughter rang across the room, or possibly Vivian was the only one who heard it. It was a sound that had tortured her during her weeks in London and for months after her return to the Abbey.
Of course, he was here. Of course, on her first night in society, he would ruin the tiny bit of happiness she’d found.
Norah noticed her change in posture and followed her horrified gaze to the other side of the room. With another glance at Vivian she asked, “Is that him?”
Vivian nodded slowly. “Lord Catfish.”
“Heavens, I hope that is his Christian name.”
“His name is Lord Catford. And that’s his given name, not his title.”
“Oh goodness.”
“Catfish seemed like the logical progression when he turned out to be as slippery as a fish,” Vivian added. “Come, let us be away before he takes notice.”
But as they turned away, his voice cackled out above the rest. “Revolting Vivian?”
Vivian froze, her eyes clenching shut.
With a few long strides, he crossed the room to where she stood with Norah, his lackeys flanking him. Malice and glee danced across their faces, glistening evilly in their hungry gazes.
Norah, it seemed, was not willing to take his vile nature without comment. “I beg your pardon?” she snapped, her nose tilting in the air.
“And Norah Macalister,” Catford sneered. “What a lovely surprise.”
“You shall not be so informal, sir,” Norah retorted. “I am the Countess of Sandton, and this is the Countess of Kenswick, and you will address us as our titles deserve.”
“Norah, please.” Vivian tugged on her arm, but her new friend ignored her.
“Apologies, countess.” His voice was laced with sarcasm as he dipped into a bow, his cronies having a good laugh. “What a delicious sprite you’ve turned out to be. Done with that Mad Major yet? When you are, I’d be happy to show you how a sane man treats a lady.”
Norah moved forward, but Vivian’s grip on her arm was desperately strong; she would not let Norah budge. Catford was not worth it.
“And you, Lady Kenswick.” Catford’s mouth broke into a wicked grin as he looked her up and down. “Married yourself an earl, did you? A fake one at that. No one really knows what he did to deserve such a treat, but you scooped him up before anyone else had a chance. Bet he paid the Prince Regent a good price for his title. Luckily he got you for free.”
Vivian’s fists clenched at her side, her knuckles aching from the strain, but she didn’t move.
“Come, Lady Sandton. I need something sweet to wash this vile taste from my mouth.”
Vivian turn
ed away from Catford, and thankfully Norah did as well.
“Won’t be long before he’s found to be a fraud,” Catford called after her. “Maybe then everyone will see you for the monster you hide under those gloves. You’re not as genuinely innocent as he thinks you to be.”
“Leave it,” Vivian bit out as Norah went to turn back to the lord and tell him off. “Please.”
With a glance at Vivian’s face, Norah nodded, and the crowd swallowed them whole again, though Vivian doubted the exchange had gone unnoticed.
* * *
Revolting Vivian.
The words had caught Luke’s attention from across the ballroom, and it had taken but a moment to locate Vivian in the crowded room. He was discreet as he watched her exchange with a gentleman whom she was clearly not pleased to see.
Luke returned his attention to Lady Holland, holding her lightly in his arms as they moved across the room, rising and flowing with the music. He needed to focus on charming Lady Holland out of her information.
“I am honored you would join us this evening, with your marriage this morning.”
“Your invitation was the first to offer coagulations on our nuptials. It only seemed proper to attend and thank you in person.” Luke smiled, the lids of his eyes drooping in false interest as his gaze moved to her lips and back to her eyes. “One can never have too many friends to celebrate with.”
Lady Holland blushed. “I agree. I imagine we could become great friends.”
The innuendo sickened him, but Luke kept up the act. “I’d love to know who made such a thing possible. I can’t image our friendship wouldn’t be so intimate had you not reached out when you did.”
Her eyes were clouded with something he recognized, and he knew it was wrong of him, but he needed to know who she had in the Archbishop’s office. “It could be our secret, just something between us.” Luke forced some intensity into his gaze and flexed his hand along her back.
Lady Holland swallowed. “I’ve a childhood friend who is a clergyman working for the Archbishop of Canterbury,” she admitted. “He provides me information as it comes across his desk.”
The Spy’s Convenient Bride: The Macalisters, Book Five Page 11