Rescued by the Viscount
Anne Herries
CHARLOTTE STEVENS HAS ONE SEASON TO FIND A HUSBANDHer father’s fortune squandered, it’s up to Charlotte to secure a match and save her family from ruin. But nobody could be more surprised than her when Captain Viscount Delsey – whose reputation for breaking hearts is only exceeded by his wealth – proposes marriage.Recognising Charlotte as the urchin he rescued late one night, Jack finds his interest piqued by this captivating adventuress. He makes an impulsive offer: he’ll clear her father’s debts if she’ll give him heirs!Regency Brides of Convenience: Deals made at the altar!
‘As well a girl with spirit as one with only milk and water in her veins,’ Jack murmured softly.
‘I shall be honest with you, Charlotte. Left to myself, I would not bother with marriage at all, for I have no great opinion of it, but my grandfather needs me to provide him with an heir. I am very fond of him and minded to oblige him. You need a fortune to clear your father’s debts and give your brother a good start in life—why not mine as well as any other’s?’
Charlotte digested this in silence for a moment, then looked at him hard. He had brought the curricle to a halt and was looking at her expectantly. He knew the truth, for she had hidden nothing, yet she still felt that he could not have considered fully.
Honesty made her speak out. ‘But surely … there must be a girl more suited to the honour of being your wife and the future Marchioness. Why me?’
‘Since I am being honest, I have no idea—but I think it is because you amuse me.’
AUTHOR NOTE (#ulink_0926f36e-23fd-505b-a406-7dfe389f0b62)
This is an adventurous story of a brave girl and an out-wardly cool and aloof hero. Jack Delsey can be charming, but can any woman really touch his heart or is it too thickly encased in ice? Charlotte is reckless, but brave, and determined to save her brother from shame. Her escapade leads her straight into the arms of a man whom she knows to be a rake. No sensible girl would give her heart to such a man, but Jack is looking for a lady to be the mother of his heirs, and Charlotte is in danger of being exposed to scandal and ruin …
My readers will know that I like to combine adventure with passionate love stories, and this book has one or two other characters begging for books of their own. I hope to oblige them and my readers by giving them exciting stories. I very much enjoy writing these tales of a bygone time when ladies ought to be fragile creatures but never are, and gentlemen are both heroes and rascals. My hope is that my readers will find these stories well worth reading.
You may contact me at: www.lindasole.co.uk
Rescued
by the Viscount
Anne Herries
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
DEDICATION (#ulink_e596833d-7ba4-59c6-bc3b-1c3a209bac6b)
I dedicate this book to my husband, without whose love and understanding none of my books could ever have been written.
ANNE HERRIES lives in Cambridgeshire, where she is fond of watching wildlife and spoils the birds and squirrels that are frequent visitors to her garden. Anne loves to write about the beauty of nature, and sometimes puts a little into her books, although they are mostly about love and romance. She writes for her own enjoyment, and to give pleasure to her readers. Anne is a winner of the Romantic Novelists’ Association Romance Prize. She invites readers to contact her on her website: www.lindasole.co.uk (http://www.lindasole.co.uk)
Contents
Cover (#u94286ed4-9bd1-5107-b892-df35c1c38f08)
Introduction (#uaf75d650-820d-5bf7-95a9-ed88cddeba3c)
AUTHOR NOTE (#uab2c8674-8548-530f-a5cb-5aeabad56170)
Title Page (#ub0fab928-7baa-5016-8358-9c9da5adf4bf)
DEDICATION (#ua240fe1a-0a57-554b-86a9-5890bbb07111)
About the Author (#u7d4adbb0-f41c-5629-8d89-6edb1dca2df5)
Prologue (#u31f0f629-7977-5631-b15c-1aa88c6cf716)
Chapter One (#u237c0796-4ed4-5dc2-81c4-2e7cb60dad9c)
Chapter Two (#ubfaee75d-6be6-52af-beb9-74d844e6892f)
Chapter Three (#u7a10336a-ad67-509f-963e-ae27579f6d90)
Chapter Four (#ua085581a-8b7a-5181-ba2d-3bbf17180467)
Chapter Five (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Six (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Seven (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Eight (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Nine (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Ten (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Eleven (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Twelve (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Thirteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Fourteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Fifteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Sixteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Extract (#litres_trial_promo)
Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)
Prologue (#ulink_260aafb6-61b6-5f75-b784-9053ec504581)
‘No, Mama,’ Charlotte Stevens cried in dismay. ‘Please do not expect such a thing of me—to marry without love for the sake of a fortune...’ She stared at her mother, tears welling, but too proud to let them fall. Charlotte was a pretty girl, diminutive, being no more than five feet and three inches, but her large expressive eyes and her unquenchable spirit made up for her lack of height. ‘How could you ask it of me?’
‘Because there is little choice left to me,’ Lady Stevens said. ‘Your father is close to ruin and if you do not oblige us by making a splendid marriage, we shall lose everything.’
‘Yes, I see...’ Charlotte banished her desire to scream and shout, because she loved Papa dearly and could not bear to think he was in so much trouble. ‘Who have you selected for me to marry?’ She lifted her head, determined to be brave and face whatever terrible fate awaited her.
‘It is not that desperate just yet,’ Mama told her with a determined smile. ‘Fortunately, I have some money put by for you to have a Season in town. You are very lovely, Charlotte. I am convinced that more than one gentleman will be prompted to offer for you—and you may choose for yourself, provided that your choice is in a position to assist your family.’
‘Yes, I see,’ Charlotte said, her spirits lifting a little. At least she was to be given a little freedom before she was thrown to the lions! ‘Well, Mama, I see that there is no choice and I promise that I shall do my best to oblige you.’
‘If only your aunt had not sold her best jewels and replaced them with fakes,’ Mama said wistfully. ‘Your uncle was so kind as to leave them to you, but I’m sure he had no idea that the best diamonds and the rubies, to say nothing of the emeralds and sapphires...all fakes, and only a few paltry trinkets left that are worth little more than a few pounds...’
‘I would gladly sell them if they would help Papa.’
‘Unfortunately, his debts run to at least twenty thousand pounds,’ Mama said, a note of distress in her voice. ‘Even if you sold everything, you could raise no more than a thousand or so. I see nothing else for it, my love—you must marry a fortune.’
Charlotte turned away to look out of the parlour window at the gardens behind her father’s house. Mama loved her home and it would break her heart to be forced to leave it—and Matt would have little chance of marrying well if they were ruined. Her love for her father, brother and Mama was too strong for Charlotte to think of rebelling. She knew that she must do her duty. All she could hope was that she would find a rich man who was not too fat or too old, whom she could respect, even if she could not love him.
Sighing, she turned to Mama with a smile. ‘I shall do my best to oblige you and Papa, but I cannot promise that anyone will fall in love with me enough to ask for my hand.’
‘Some gentlemen do not look for love in marriage,’ Mama said. ‘They wish for a comfortable arrangement with a girl of good family that will provide children—and, once the heir is secure, they take their pleasures elsewhere. After you have given your husband at least one son, but preferably two—it is always wise to have a spare, you know—he will no doubt leave you to do much as you please.’
‘Do all men behave in that manner, Mama?’ Charlotte asked innocently. ‘Are they never faithful? I thought perhaps if one loved one’s husband...’
‘Perhaps there are some that remain faithful,’ Mama allowed. ‘Indeed, I hope that you will find such a man—but you must not look for it, Charlotte. The most you can expect is a comfortable home and a life spent enjoying your children and entertaining your friends.’
‘Oh, I see.’ Charlotte turned back to gazing out of the window. It seemed that all her dreams of love and romance were a girl’s foolishness and nothing more.
‘Well, I can only hope you will be sensible,’ Mama said. ‘I have been honest with you, Charlotte. Papa has taken a house in Berkeley Square. It is very expensive, even for just a few weeks, my love, so you must make the most of your chances—because if you fail...’ A little shudder ran through Lady Stevens. ‘Well, we shall not consider that eventuality. I have always thought you a remarkable girl and I am certain you will not let us down.’
Charlotte crossed her fingers behind her back. She could only hope that her mother’s faith in her was not misplaced. Somehow she must forget her dreams of the tall dark stranger, who would sweep her off her feet and fall desperately in love with her, and make up her mind to accept someone with whom she might make a comfortable life.
Chapter One (#ulink_4336ca6a-7304-5d91-b14e-78c931fd081d)
‘Well, sir, what have you to say for yourself?’ The Marquis of Ellington’s thick grey brows met in a ferocious scowl that would throw fear into the hearts of most men, but merely brought a smile to his grandson’s mouth. ‘Damn it, Jack, can you never be serious? This is important. You know you will have to step into my shoes one day, boy. You should consider setting up your nursery.’
‘Certainly, sir.’ Captain Viscount Delsey’s smile flashed out at him. A handsome man, tall, strongly built with good shoulders and legs, dark hair and deep-grey eyes, he had been more or less master of his own fortune since his father died when he was but seventeen, leaving him to the care of his mother, Lady Daisy, and his grandfather. ‘I am willing to consider whatever you wish—but you know my opinion on marriage...’
‘How many times must I tell you that marriage is a duty that need not interfere with your pleasures? A girl properly brought up and from a decent family will give you the heirs you require without any fuss and bother about love or fidelity. She will understand that a man has his own concerns and confine herself to caring for her children and her home.’
‘How perfectly awful for the young woman in question,’ Jack murmured softly, but his grandfather’s hearing was as acute as ever.
‘A lady understands these things,’ the marquis growled. ‘If your sense of what is right is so nice, then you must find a young lady who will fulfill all your needs.’
‘Ah, but where is such a lady to be found?’ Jack teased. ‘Where is the beauty that can tame the rake’s heart and make it hers? I will make you a promise, Grandfather. If I ever find such a young woman, I will marry her whatever walk of life she comes from—and then I shall settle down and be the family man you all want me to be.’
The marquis sighed and shook his head, a scowl settling on his noble brow. ‘You will be the death of me, sir. I forbid you to bring a woman of ill repute into this family.’
‘How can you think that I would do such a thing?’ Jack pulled a mocking face of dismay. ‘Do you imagine I spend all my time with such barques of frailty?’
‘From what the gossips say you have been through a string of opera dancers and the like in the past year or so! It is time you thought about your family—about me. I have done my best for you, in all conscience—could you not give some thought to the idea of finding a wife?’
‘You should not listen to Mama, sir,’ Jack said. ‘She spends too much time with Aunt Seraphina, and she has the gossip from my cousin Reginald. Now honestly—would you wish me to be like your nephew Reginald?’
‘No, I should not. The man is a prosy fool.’ The marquis exploded with wrath. ‘Jack, why will you tease me so? You know I think the world of you, boy. I am proud of you—of what you achieved in the army, even though I did not wish you to go to war—but I cannot live for ever and it means a great deal to me to see your first son: my heir. God forbid that Reginald should have a son to inherit the estate.’
‘Yes, that would be very bad,’ Jack said thoughtfully. ‘I should not like to think of Reginald stepping into your shoes—though I must say I have no intention of dying for many years yet.’
‘Your father’s accident was sudden and unexpected.’ A look of sudden deep and hurtful sadness flashed into the old man’s eyes.
Jack’s mirth was sobered instantly. ‘Yes, sir, forgive me. I do not mean to upset you.’
‘Then...to please me?’
‘You want me to visit Mama’s cousin Lord Sopworth and inspect his daughter Celia?’ Jack’s brows met in a frown and at that moment the likeness between the two men was very marked. ‘Very well, sir. I shall accept Uncle Gerald’s invitation, but I make no promises. I dare say the young lady is all that you promise—but marriage without love, or at least a deep affection and respect, leads only to unhappiness. You have only to remember what it was like for my father and mother.’
‘That was unfortunate,’ his grandfather admitted. ‘Your father was a selfish man—he inherited that trait from his mother—and I fear he made your dear mama suffer. I am very fond of Lady Daisy. I thank God that you have her sweet nature, though you also get your stubbornness from me.’
‘I shall pay my uncle a visit,’ Jack acquiesced, ‘but I do not promise to make Celia an offer, unless she suits me. Now, if there is nothing more, sir, I am committed to some friends for this evening. I must go home and change.’
‘I had hoped you might dine with us?’
‘Not this evening, sir. Perhaps tomorrow, before you return to the country.’
‘Very well. And when will you leave for Cambridgeshire?’
‘At the end of next week. I have engagements until then—and I must give my uncle time to prepare.’
‘I shall see you tomorrow, then, Jack.’
‘I shall look forward to it.’
* * *
Leaving his grandfather’s study, Jack walked in leisurely fashion from the house, stopping in the magnificent hall to exchange a few words first with the marquis’s valet and then with Pearson, the butler who had served at Ellington House for as long as he could recall. His grandfather’s servants had been eager to tell him that the marquis had called the doctor on two separate occasions recently. Indeed, it was the reason he had come to London for a few weeks’ stay, preferring his home deep in the Sussex countryside to the bustle of town.
‘I know the master would never dream of troubling you,’ Pearson told him, ‘but he is not as well as I should like, Captain Delsey, and that is the truth.’
‘Do you know what the trouble was?’ he asked of the valet.
‘It’s his heart, sir. Nothing too serious yet, I understand, but he’s been warned to cut down on his port and cigars—and to take things more easily.’
Jack thanked them both for confiding in him. His grandfather had said nothing of the doctor’s visits, but it explained why he had been summoned and lectured on the subject of marriage once more. However, the valet and butler had alarmed him with their tales, for Jack was sincerely fond of his grandfather and did not wish to distress him more than need be.
The marquis had never interfered unnecessarily in Jack’s life. When he’d left college, Ellington had introduced him into society, put him up for his clubs and given him the name of his tailor. After that, he’d pretty much left him to his own devices, merely asking him to consider carefully when he announced that he was taking up a commission in the army. War had been looming at that time and Jack spent some years away fighting under Wellington’s command. The friendships he’d made then formed the basis of his circle now, and consisted of some six gentlemen he felt bound to as brothers, though he had countless acquaintances for he was a popular man—both with the gentlemen and the ladies, which accounted for the gossip concerning his affairs.
The viscount was a catch and more than one pretty young woman had tried to enchant him, but although he was happy to indulge them with a dance or a light flirtation, none could say that he gave them reason to hope. He spent more time flirting with the matrons than their daughters, and more than one thought of Jack Delsey as she lay next to a snoring husband and wished that the young viscount was in her bed rather than the man lying next to her.
Jack had been home from the war for more than a year now, spending his time much as every other wealthy young man of fashion, visiting his clubs, placing bets at Tattersall’s or Newmarket and taking pride in his stables. His pistols came from Manton’s; he wore coats made by Scott or Weston, and his boots shone like silk. Jack’s cravats were always neat and freshly starched, but he wore them in a simple fashion rather than in the complicated folds and frills of the dandy set. He was happiest when exercising his horses or fencing with friends, or popping a hit over the guard of Gentleman George, a pugilist whose salon he visited now and then to keep in shape. In short, he was what society was pleased to call a Corinthian and idolised by most of the young bloods. To call him a rake was unfair, though if all the fluttering one direct glance from those compelling eyes aroused in a myriad of female breasts was taken into account, his reputation was deserved to a point. Without meaning to, his careless dalliance had sent more than one lady into a swoon, leaving a trail of wounded hearts when his casual flirting came to naught.
His grandfather had, though, exaggerated the number of mistresses Jack had kept over the past few years. During his service in the army, he had found some of the beautiful Spanish girls much to his taste. Like his friends, he had taken his pleasure where he could, knowing that each day might be his last, but the camp followers had been girls of a lower class and none of them had ever touched Jack’s heart.
There had been three ladies with whom he had shared intimate relations since then, one of them a married lady whose husband was thirty years her senior and more interested in his port than his wife, the other two opera dancers. Jack’s current light o’ love was very beautiful, but also very greedy, and he suspected unfaithful. He believed she had other lovers despite their arrangement, and it was in his mind that he would tell Lucy it was over before he went down to the country.
Jack supposed that he ought to think seriously of marriage. He was seven and twenty and he’d been his own master for ten years, for though his fortune had been in trust for four years the allowance was so generous that he had never been in danger of finding himself in debt. Since coming into his capital, he’d made several improvements to his estate and to the investment of his funds. His fortune was sufficient to support a family with no alteration to his way of life, other than on a personal level. Indeed, some jealous folk had been known to complain that he had far more money than was good for him.
The trouble was that he enjoyed his life and saw no reason to change it. As a single man he need consider no one else’s feelings very much. The obligatory visit to his mama and his grandfather in the country every few weeks or so cost him little and he was free to take off to stay with a friend, visit Newmarket or Bath, or attend a mill at the drop of a hat. Some would say that marriage need change very little in his life, but Jack could recall seeing his mama in tears when she was left alone in the country with a small son and her husband was off enjoying himself in town. He imagined that his dislike of the idea of marriage had grown in him over the years, triggered by an incident when he was seventeen, and as yet he had not met a lady who was beautiful or generous enough to overcome that dislike.
His father had indeed been a selfish man. Jack wondered if he had inherited the trait, for he was rather inclined to go off without informing his family that he would be out of town and unreachable for a few days. He knew that Mama sometimes worried about him, though the marquis said she was a fusspot, and perhaps she was. It would have been much better had Jack not been an only child, but for some reason there had been no more babies in that unfortunate marriage.
Sighing, Jack put his troubled thoughts to rest. He was engaged with friends for the evening and it would not do to be caught up by a problem he was not sure he could solve.
Marriage to a woman he could not like or admire would be worse than a living death. Perhaps it was not strictly necessary to fall in love, but as yet he had not met a young lady that made him want to see her every day, let alone protect her and cherish her for the rest of his life.
* * *
‘Have you seen the latest heiress?’ Lieutenant Peter Phipps asked of Jack when they met at the club, where they were engaged to dine with three of their friends. ‘Cynthia Langton has everything—beauty, wit and money.’
‘Really? A veritable goddess,’ Jack quizzed, one brow arched in mockery. ‘Going to have a tilt at her, Phipps old fellow? Run aground again?’
Phipps shook his head, a wry smile on his mouth. ‘Not yet, Jack. I had a run of luck last month and I’m just managing to hold my head above water. Not that she would look at me even if I had hopes in that direction. She may be beautiful and rich, but she’s like an iceberg—so proud and cold. I imagine she’s after a marquis or an earl at least...’
‘A bit above your touch, then, and mine,’ Jack quipped. ‘Never mind, there’s always the Dumpling. If you really fall into the suds, she would have you like a shot.’
‘Cruel, and unworthy of you,’ Phipps said. ‘I rather like Miss Amanda, she’s got a warm heart, even if she is a little on the dumpy side.’
‘Well, then, your problem is solved,’ Jack murmured wickedly. ‘You have only to crook your little finger and she will fall into your arms—if they are strong enough to catch her.’
‘Really Jack, that’s a bit strong,’ his friend said and frowned. ‘She cannot help being short and she likes sweet things...which I do myself, but I never seem to put on weight.’
‘You are a regular lanky boy. You should wed her because you’re all bones while she is an armful of delicious flesh... Oh, I’m merely jesting,’ Jack replied as he saw that Phipps was annoyed. ‘I think Amanda Hamilton is a pleasant young woman and will no doubt make a loving wife. Just the sort of young lady my grandfather thinks would suit me if his hints this afternoon are anything to go by.’
‘So that’s why you’re in a bad mood this evening.’ Phipps smiled, clapping him on the shoulder. ‘I know how you feel, old chap. Pater had a go at me last time I went down to the estate—told me that he had bailed me out for the final time and it was up to me to find an heiress.’
‘Duty calls us both, it seems, but do not let it spoil our evening. Here come the others.’
Jack turned to greet the three young men with a smile and a handshake. They had all five of them served on Wellington’s staff and, though two of them had recently become engaged, they were all still single and could enjoy a night at the club drinking and playing cards.
‘How are you, Jack?’ Malcolm Seers asked, shaking his hand with a firm grip. ‘This is my last evening in town before I go down to the country. Please congratulate me, I have just become engaged to Miss Willow.’
‘Jane Willow?’ Jack asked and grinned, only half-mocking, because Miss Willow was one of the few young ladies in society that he actually liked. ‘So she accepted you at last? I thought it would not be long...’
‘She couldn’t make up her mind, but in the end I wore her down.’ Malcolm looked pleased with himself. ‘I’m the happiest man alive.’
‘Then I do congratulate you. I shall miss you when you disappear into the mists of matrimony, but I’m pleased for you.’
‘Oh, Jane wants to spend as much time as possible in town and you’re a favourite with her, Jack. We shall expect you to visit often when we are in the country.’
Jack murmured something appropriate, but knew it would not be the same once his friend married. Malcolm was a serious man and had been a dedicated soldier—and he would be as dedicated to his wife and family. They would still be friends, but things would be different...
Jack had a hunted feeling, as if he were being driven in a direction he did not wish to go. His grandfather had pushed him towards marriage and his friends were succumbing one by one to its lure—how long could Jack resist?
* * *
It was barely three in the morning when the friends parted at the club, three of them going to their homes and leaving only Jack and Phipps to consider where to go next.
‘The night is young,’ Jack murmured. ‘We should find a gambling hell and indulge ourselves for an hour or so.’
‘Not for me, old fellow,’ Phipps declined. ‘I’ve sworn off gambling for the next month at least, otherwise I shall be in hot water with my father. I’ll come home with you for a drink if you like, otherwise I think I’ll call a cab and go home.’
‘I think I’ll pay Lucy a visit,’ Jack decided and laughed. ‘I’ll see you at Markham’s affair tomorrow?’
‘Yes, certainly,’ his friend agreed. ‘You will be certain to meet Miss Langton there.’
‘Oh, I’ll leave her for you, my friend,’ Jack said and gave him a friendly punch in the arm.
They parted on the best of terms, Jack sauntering through the streets as if he had not a care in the world, while Phipps summoned a cab to take him home. A smile touched Jack’s sensuous mouth, for if he were not mistaken Phipps was a little the worse for wear, while he had drunk only enough to feel mildly pleased with the world. A visit to his mistress would round the evening off nicely and stop him falling into the melancholy that more serious thoughts of marriage looked likely to bring about.
* * *
He had been walking for perhaps five minutes when he heard the screams. Someone—a girl, he thought—was screaming for help. Jack’s chivalrous instincts were instantly aroused and he looked for the source of the sound, which seemed to come from the park across the street. Even as he hesitated, he saw a small figure run from that direction followed by two very drunken gentlemen, who lurched unsteadily in the youth’s wake.
‘Hounds, hounds to me,’ one of them called and made a loud noise that was supposed to sound like a hunting cry. ‘We’ll catch the little vixen yet!’
The second gentleman lurched after his comrade even as the diminutive figure bolted across the road. Jack moved like lightning, grabbing the figure and noting it was a young gentleman with delicate, rather female features, before pushing him behind him against the wall and turning to confront the pursuing gentlemen.
‘That’s the spirit, old fellow,’ the first cried gleefully. ‘Hand the vixen over and we’ll finish our business with her.’
‘And what might that be?’ Jack asked in a pleasant but cool voice. ‘I believe you are a little the worse for wear, sir. Pray let me recommend you to the comfort of your bed.’
‘Damn you, sir! What business is it of yours what I choose to do? Pray stand aside and let us at the—’
‘I asked you to take yourselves off nicely.’ Jack’s voice carried a hint of steel. ‘Now I’m telling you. Get off where you belong before I teach you some manners.’
‘Think you’ll have the bitch for yourself, do you?’ the man snarled. ‘I’ll show you!’ He threw a wild swing at Jack and found himself on the receiving end of a heavy punch. It floored him and he lay moaning on the ground. ‘She’s a whore and a thief,’ he muttered.
‘Come on, Patterson.’ His friend, in slightly steadier condition, bent down to help him rise. ‘You don’t know she’s a thief, even if we did see her climb out of that window.’
Patterson muttered something vile, but accepted his friend’s help. He glared at Jack, holding his friend’s arm as they reeled away.
‘Good riddance to her,’ he muttered and then laughed and pointed a finger. ‘Look at her go. She’s got away from us all.’
Glancing over his shoulder, Jack saw the diminutive figure disappearing round the corner. He was conscious of regret for he would have liked to discover whether the young person was a youth or the girl in disguise that the drunken gentlemen seemed to imagine. He had not even had a chance to discover if she—or he—was harmed, but at least he had prevented further harm.
He stood his ground, watching as the two men lurched off down the street in the opposite direction to the one the fugitive was heading. Only when he was certain that the young escapee must be out of sight did he resume his journey. He was vaguely aware that the knuckles of his right hand were bruised, but he dismissed that as a worthwhile consequence of his interference in what might have been a very unfortunate outcome for the young person.
Jack found that his mood had changed. He was amused by what he’d seen of the fugitive’s behaviour, catching the merest glimpse of an elfin face in the streetlights. If the inebriated men were to be believed, the young person was a thief and a whore—but the clothes the fugitive had been wearing were good quality, the property of a young gentleman of perhaps thirteen or so. That did not bring the words thief or whore to Jack’s mind, but something more innocent like a very young gentleman escaping from his home for a lark. Unless it had been a girl in borrowed clothing, which was an intriguing idea.
Jack arrived outside the small but exclusive house he had purchased for his mistress’s use. The windows were in darkness, as he might have supposed, had he given a thought to the hour. He considered climbing over the gate and going round to the back of the house; he could throw stones at the window and get Lucy to come down and let him in without waking the servants.
Suddenly, he realised that the desire to see his mistress had left him. He laughed ruefully and turned away just as a light came on in the hall upstairs. Hesitating, Jack was still wondering whether to call on Lucy just for a drink and a chat when the door opened and a gentleman came out.
He recognised the man as Lord Harding—a man he particularly disliked as a hardened gambler, and, if Jack were right, a particularly nasty cheat. He was the kind of man who fastened on young men just out on the town, introducing them to sleazy gambling hells and all kinds of dissolute activities.
There could be only one reason why he would be leaving Lucy’s house at this hour of night and the realisation turned Jack’s stomach. Any desire he’d had to see his mistress was banished. He would finish the affair tomorrow by sending a farewell gift and a letter that would leave her in no doubt of his disgust at her behaviour. He had no desire to follow Harding in her bed!
Had it been almost any other gentleman, Jack would have taken the discovery with a laugh, for he’d guessed she was not the sort to be faithful for long—but Harding was a man he really disliked.
Jack walked the length of the street before hailing a cab to take him home. He had a bad taste in his mouth and was angry that he’d allowed himself to be duped so long. Well, he would make sure that when he next took a lover she was at least honest enough to entertain only one protector at a time. Why was it that so many women thought it necessary to lie to get their own way? If there was one thing Jack could not stand, it was a liar or a cheat.
Having arrived in the pleasant square where he lived, he was just paying the cab driver his fare when he looked across the pleasant gardens to his left and saw a diminutive figure clamber over a wrought-iron railing and disappear down the steps leading to the servants’ quarters.
Jack hesitated, because although he was friendly with Lord Bathurst, the owner of the house, he knew that it had recently been let to a family, with whom he was not yet acquainted. He did not feel able to knock on the door at this hour in the morning and tell them they might have an intruder—especially as he could not be sure the youth he’d seen earlier and the figure climbing the gate were one and the same.
Indeed, he was not sure of anything. However, he could not allow a neighbour to be robbed—if the girl was a thief, if she was even a girl...
Cursing, Jack sprinted across the square himself and tried the gate, which was locked, as he might have known. He climbed the railing easily, feeling guilty though his intention was quite innocent. Peering down the narrow stone steps, he was just in time to see the flicker of a candle as a door opened and his quarry disappeared inside.
It shut before he could reach it, but not before he’d seen a taller young man come and look about, as if to make sure that no one was there.
Jack stood uncertainly. The taller youth was also wearing the clothes of a gentleman. Whoever he was, Jack did not think that he was in collusion with his quarry to rob an unsuspecting family. No, his first impression was probably correct and the diminutive youth was just kicking up a lark, aided and abetted, it seemed, by an older brother.
Laughing softly to himself, Jack climbed back over the railing and stood on the pavement, glancing about before re-crossing the square and knocking on his own front door. His man answered almost immediately and Jack nodded as he was admitted.
‘A good evening, sir?’
‘Yes, I think so,’ Jack said. ‘Go to bed now, Cummings. I’ll see to myself this evening.’
‘I’ll just lock up, my lord,’ his valet answered with quiet dignity. ‘Mr Jenkins has only just retired. I took it upon myself to sit up this evening—and I should be failing in my duty if I didn’t attend you, sir.’
‘I do not imagine the world will end if I remove my own boots for once, Cummings.’
Jack sauntered past him and up the stairs, lost in thoughts that were mildly intriguing. Just who was the young imp who had got himself into trouble that evening?
Well, he had been remiss in making the acquaintance of his new neighbours, so he would give himself the pleasure of remedying that later in the day.
Chapter Two (#ulink_0cb8ac9e-23b3-5687-b682-51d04810ea6c)
‘Charlie!’ Mr Matthew Stevens cried and grabbed his sister’s shoulders, giving her a little shake. ‘Thank goodness you’re back. You’ve been so long and I was terrified that you’d been caught!’
‘Oh, do stop fussing, Matt.’ Charlotte dimpled mischievously up at her brother. ‘I told you I could do it. It was a simple climb up the wisteria into his bedchamber. He’d left the window open, as we knew he always does, and the stupid thing was lying on his dressing chest. I grabbed it and climbed down again, in no more than a few minutes. He will never guess it was I—no one could possibly know. I shall just have to make sure never to wear the necklace in town, because if he saw it he might recognise it.’
‘I was sick with worry the whole time. You were so long. If it was as simple as that, why were you so long?’
‘Getting the necklace back was easy enough,’ Charlotte said and bit her bottom lip. ‘It was when I climbed out of the window and then over the railings into the street that I got into a bit of bother...’
‘What happened? Damn it, Charlie. Mother will kill me if I’ve ruined your chances. I should never have let you talk me into letting you risk yourself.’
‘You didn’t, you just stood there and lectured me about my morals—which is more than rich when it was you who stole the damned thing in the first place.’
‘I didn’t intend to steal from you, Charlie,’ Matt said, torn between remorse and reproach. ‘He is just such a brute...to be honest, I’m scared of him. He said if I didn’t pay the gambling debt he would approach Father and I couldn’t let that happen.’
‘No, it would have been dreadful,’ his fond sister said and smiled her forgiveness. ‘I don’t care about the wretched necklace, but if you’d asked I would have given you what is left of my allowance, and I could have told you that those diamonds were fakes.’
‘How was I to know? They’re damned good, Charlie. I thought they were real.’
‘Uncle Ben left me all his wife’s jewellery in good faith. I’m sure he didn’t know that Aunt Isobel had replaced most of it with fakes.’
‘Why do you think she did it?’ Matt asked, puzzled. ‘Surely her allowance was enough without doing such a thing to family heirlooms?’
‘I think she was a secret gambler,’ Charlotte said, wrinkling her smooth brow. She sighed and shook out her long dark hair, which had been jammed under one of her brother’s old school caps with the badge removed. They were in her private sitting room, which led into her bedchamber, and she was tired, the shock of having narrowly escaped being roughly abused coming home to her now that she was safe. ‘Mama said something about it when we had the jewels valued and realised some were fake.’
‘I feel awful about having Uncle Ben’s money now. He might have left some of it to you if he’d guessed about the jewels.’
‘That money is to buy you a commission in the army and to keep you as a gentleman should be able to live. Besides, you won’t come into it for another year and it isn’t so very much after all.’
‘No.’ He looked rueful. ‘Harding thought I was the heir to a large fortune, which is why he fastened his claws into me—but ten thousand and a small country estate is hardly a huge fortune, Charlie, and I can’t touch a penny for ages. If I’d had my own money I wouldn’t have taken your necklace. I was going to pay you back when I could afford it, and I knew you didn’t like that necklace anyway.’
‘It is old-fashioned,’ Charlotte replied. ‘Had it been real I should have had it remodelled for me, but Mama says it isn’t worth it. She says I can wear her diamonds if I have occasion.’
‘Why did you go to all that trouble to get it back then?’
‘Because if Lord Harding realised you’d given him a fake necklace to settle your debt to him, he would have labelled you a cheat and a thief—can you imagine what the gossips would make of that? My chances of making a good marriage would be lost, as would yours of joining a decent regiment.’
‘Yes...’ Matt looked gloomy. ‘I’ve been such a damned fool, Charlie. If it hadn’t been for you...’
‘It’s over and no one ever needs to know anything about it,’ Charlotte said. She thought about the man who had grabbed at her as she was passing through the park. His hands had soon discovered her secret and the thought of him touching her breasts made her feel sick, but it had been dark there in the park and she was fairly certain that he would not recognise her if they met in society. Both he and his companion had been drunk—but the man who had saved her was another matter. Charlotte knew him by sight, for she’d seen him leaving his house across the square earlier that evening, and a couple of times he’d driven by her as she was returning to their house, but they had never met in a formal way. She knew that for a moment he’d had the opportunity to look at her face in the streetlight—but had he seen enough to know her when she was dressed as a young lady of fashion? She could only hope that he had not taken much notice.
‘I hope no one will find out, for both our sakes,’ Matt said. ‘If Harding guessed it was my sister that took the necklace...he might kill me. Yet, you’re right, Charlie. He can’t know. No one can if we keep it to ourselves.’
‘I’m not about to tell anyone.’ She dimpled wickedly up at him, her eyes wide and innocent, but filled with mischief. ‘It’s over now, Matt. Go to bed and let me get some sleep. It’s that big ball tomorrow and I want to look my best. Unless I can find a husband poor Papa is going to lose everything.’
‘Why did he have to invest his money unwisely?’ Matt bemoaned the situation. ‘We were happy enough with what we had—but he thought that venture in the East would bring in a fortune for silks and spices, only the ship sank and all its cargo with it.’
‘And he didn’t think to insure it,’ Charlotte said. ‘Thankfully, Mama had some funds put by for my come out—and if I can find a rich husband he will settle Papa’s debts and all will be well.’
‘What about you?’ her brother asked, looking at her with dark brown eyes that were very like her own, except that hers were flecked with gold and his were simply dark. ‘Will you be happy taking a man just for his money? He may be years older and not at all handsome.’
‘Beggars cannot always choose,’ Charlotte said, sighing despite herself, because she had once dreamed of being swept off her feet by a tall dark prince who would carry her off to his castle and lavish her with love and gifts. ‘I shall hope for the best. And not all rich men are old and fat.’
‘No, I suppose there are a few eligible young men around, if you can find one. A man would be a fool not to marry you if he were rich and single.’
‘You are my brother and prejudiced in my favour.’ She gave a gurgle of laughter and then darted at him, giving him a peck on the cheek before pushing him towards the door. ‘Go, before we wake everyone and they come to see what’s going on. I want to get out of these things before anyone but you has the chance to see me.’
Locking the door behind him, Charlotte went into her bedroom and glanced at herself in the long cheval mirror. A mischievous grin curved her mouth as she saw that she made a fetching youth. No one would know she was a girl unless they happened to touch her in the wrong places, which one of those horrid men had done. They hadn’t seemed to care whether she was a girl or a youth, but were intent on having their way with her in the park either way. And would have done had she not kneed one of them in his privates, leaving him yelling in anger and pain as she made it as far as the gates. However, they would probably have caught her again had it not been for the viscount—Captain Jack Delsey.
Charlotte had known the name of the gentleman who came to her rescue almost from the first day they took up residence in the pleasant garden square. Her mama had been given a list of the residents of the square so that she might leave calling cards, however, she could not do so until they called on her for she was the newcomer. Papa might call if he so wished on the single gentlemen, of which there were two in residence at the moment. One was a widower with three children on a rare visit to town, the children left in the country with their maternal grandmother, and the other was the viscount. Papa had not yet called on either, though the widower had left his card and therefore Mama was preparing to invite him to a small card party she was arranging with her acquaintance in town. The viscount, meanwhile, was the grandson of the Marquis of Ellington and one of the best prizes on the matrimonial market. However, Mama had warned Charlotte not to set her hopes too high.
‘Captain Viscount Delsey is rather too far above us, dearest,’ she’d told Charlotte when they’d seen him drive up in a spanking rig of the first order. ‘Quite charming I understand—but elusive. Some of the most beautiful girls in society have cast their lures at him, but he ignores them all. He is a rake, my love, and flirts with all the pretty girls, but never forms an attachment—or only clandestine ones. He would merely break your heart. Now Mr Harold Cavendish is another matter. He is in his early forties, still attractive and wealthy—and Mrs Featherstone told me that he is looking for a wife to care for his poor motherless children.’
‘A widower with three children, Mama?’ Charlotte pulled a face. ‘I think I would prefer someone who had not been previously married—we are not desperate just yet, are we?’
‘No, dearest, of course not. I do not wish to push you into anything that distresses you. Indeed, I wish this had not been necessary at all—but poor Papa is at his wits’ end, and if you do not marry to oblige us...’
‘But I shall, Mama,’ Charlotte assured her. ‘Please do not worry. There will be someone who is both rich and agreeable to me. I promise you, it will all come right in the end.’
‘My poor dear child,’ her mama said. ‘Had your aunt not sold those jewels we might have avoided this. You could have sold them to pay a part of Papa’s debt.’
‘I would gladly have done so,’ Charlotte assured her. ‘But they are worth very little. I must marry to advantage. I have made up my mind to it—and I shall not let you down.’
Undressing and hiding the youth’s clothing at the bottom of one of her drawers, Charlotte reflected on that evening’s episode. Had she been caught and abused...it did not bear thinking about! If she’d been unmasked and her wicked act had been revealed, she would have been ruined and her family with her. It was no wonder that Matt had been terrified. He’d begged her not to consider such a mad escapade, but she’d overruled him, as she always had in the past. Her brother might be three years older, but she had the stronger will. It was she who ought to have been a boy for very little frightened her. Even the near-escape she’d had had not truly bothered her, only the fear of what might have happened.
But it hadn’t and she refused to worry about what might have been. She’d recovered the fake necklace. Lord Harding could only blame himself for leaving the necklace on his dressing table before going off for the evening. Besides, he deserved no sympathy. Matt was certain he’d been cheated and was determined never to play cards with the man again.
Charlotte was just going to forget all about it.
* * *
Mama had decided to leave cards at the homes of her acquaintances in town and wanted Charlotte to accompany her.
‘We shall not stay anywhere, but merely leave cards,’ Mama had told her. ‘On the way home we will visit the mantua maker and collect some rather lovely shawls I ordered from Madame Rousseau.’
However, Mama’s plans did not go entirely as she anticipated, for at the first house they called, they encountered Lady Rushmore just as she was leaving and she begged them to come in and take some refreshment with her.
‘It is such an age since we met and I was going to call on you this afternoon,’ the lady said, insisting on sending for coffee and little almond cakes in the front parlour.
They were soon joined by the lady’s son and daughter, who had come down to see why their mama had not gone shopping as she planned. Miss Amelia was a pretty, fair girl with a lisp and pouting lips, her hair hanging in ringlets about a heart-shaped face. Her brother Robert was tall, well built and dressed in the height of fashion, with shirt points so high he could scarcely turn his head. He seemed to spend most of his time preening before one of the gilt-framed mirrors, and when he did speak his conversation was of horses and his new phaeton.
Miss Amelia laughed a lot and talked endlessly of her new clothes, which she was purchasing for her trousseau. She had recently become engaged and was interested in little but her wedding and clothes. Accustomed to talking of poetry and music with her brother, and of listening to Papa speaking in an entertaining way of the gentlemen he met and dined with at his clubs, Charlotte found herself longing to go home after just half an hour.
However, just as she thought they might be ready to leave, a gentleman was announced as Sir Percival Redding. He was a man of perhaps five and thirty, brother to Lady Rushmore and of a florid complexion. His dark hair curled in a manner intended to be casual and his clothes were as elegant as his nephew’s, though slightly more wearable for his shirt points were not above average, and his coats were cut to allow for ease of movement. However, he had a pleasant manner and regaled the ladies with his tales of society.
Somehow he ousted Amelia from her seat beside Charlotte and sat down to tell her the story of how he had recently dined with the Prince Regent at Brighton in the Pavilion.
‘’Pon my word, Miss Stevens, it must have been nigh on a hundred degrees. I felt I was melting and poor dear Lady Melrose fainted twice.’
Charlotte had heard that the Regent liked his rooms over-warm, but was interested in all the details of the Pavilion, with its Chinese decoration and the towers that gave it the look of an Eastern Palace.
* * *
It was as Mama stood up to pull on her gloves some twenty minutes later, clearly intending to leave, that Sir Percival stood and bowed to Charlotte, as she too rose from the small sofa. His neck was a little pink as he bent over her hand and asked if she was going to Markham’s ball that evening.
‘Yes, we have been invited. It is my first ball in town, though I have been to the assemblies in Bath several times.’
‘I too shall be there,’ he said, smiling down at her. ‘May I hope that you will save me two dances, Miss Stevens? I prefer the country dances for I am not enamoured of the waltz—though I see no harm in it for others.’
‘Thank you, sir,’ Charlotte replied easily. She quite liked the gentleman, for he was friendly and more entertaining than his relatives and she was grateful to know that she would not sit out at least two of the dances that evening. ‘I shall be very happy to reserve the first of the evening and the last country dance before supper.’
‘I shall now look forward to the evening,’ he promised, looking a little like the cat that had stolen the cream. ‘And if I may I shall claim you for supper.’
Charlotte inclined her head and followed her mama from the house. It was only when they were inside the carriage that Mama turned to her with an approving look.
‘I am proud of you, Charlotte. Sir Percival was very taken with you. I saw it at once. I do not say it will lead to an offer immediately, but he would be a good choice. He was in the army for many years, my love, and never married, but Lady Rushmore told me she believes he is at last thinking of settling down. Would it not be a fine thing if you were married to the brother of one of my oldest friends? He is comfortable, you know. Perhaps not as rich as...’
Charlotte’s mind drifted away as she glanced out of the window, watching the fashionable ladies and gentlemen promenading in the busy streets. The morning had flown and they would have time only to collect their shawls before returning home for nuncheon.
Mama was still droning on about how fortunate it was that they should meet her friend, as she was driving away, and Charlotte managed to stifle her sigh. She supposed that Mama must review every gentleman they encountered as a possible husband for her daughter, but she wished she would not jump to the idea of marriage so swiftly. It was not that she disliked Sir Percival. Indeed, she would prefer him to the father of three motherless children, but Charlotte was still hoping for more. Surely she was entitled to a little romance before she settled for marriage?
* * *
When they were set down outside their lodgings in the fashionable square, she shook out the folds of her gown and walked into the house a little ahead of her mother. She stopped abruptly as she saw her father; he was bidding farewell to a gentleman, who had clearly been visiting while they were out.
Charlotte’s heart caught with a mixture of shock and pleasure, for it was the viscount, and mixed with the relief that he had at last called on them was the fear that he might recognise her from the previous night.
‘Ah, Charlotte my dear.’ Her father’s warm deep voice reached out to her. ‘You have returned just in time to meet Captain Viscount Delsey—he lives in the house opposite, just across the square, and kindly called on me this morning to invite us all to a dinner and cards one evening next week. Sir, this is my daughter, Charlotte.’
Charlotte took off her bonnet and shook out her long dark ringlets, extending her hand towards their visitor as she dipped gracefully. ‘I am delighted to meet you, sir, and sorry we were out all morning.’
‘No matter,’ he murmured, lifting her hand to drop an air kiss just fractionally above the soft leather glove. ‘I was happy to meet your father—and your charming brother. Matthew is to attend a card party with me another evening, but I believe we are all promised to Lord Markham this evening.’
‘Yes, we are looking forward to it,’ she said, her heart fluttering as he gave her an intent look before releasing her hand. She glanced down, her long lashes hiding the fluttering emotions inside her. Could he possibly have recognised her from that brief glance the previous night—or was it just her guilt that made her think his gaze narrowed in speculation?
‘As am I,’ he replied gallantly. ‘Will you grant me the privilege of a dance for this evening—preferably a waltz? I trust you do waltz, Miss Stevens?’
‘Yes, Captain Delsey, I do and I shall,’ she replied, demurely. ‘I have waltzed in Bath several times, and in town, with the approval of Lady Jersey, who is a great friend of Mama’s and granted me vouchers for Almack’s. I am older than I look, you see.’
She saw an answering gleam of humour in his eyes, his brows rising to tease her. ‘I would hazard a guess at eighteen?’
‘I am more than nineteen,’ she murmured in a soft voice. ‘It is my size, you understand. People think because I am petite I must be younger.’
‘Ah, such a great age,’ he murmured. ‘One would think you hardly above fourteen if one saw you briefly from a distance...’ His eyes held a look of mocking amusement that made her heart thud rapidly.
Was he hinting that he had recognised the urchin of the previous evening? Her gaze fell away in confusion for she was unsure how to reply.
Fortunately, her mama had entered the house, and, after taking off her shawls, bonnet and gloves, looked expectantly towards the viscount. The introductions were made and Charlotte was able to move on towards the stairs. She was about to climb them, when she heard herself addressed and turned once more to see that the viscount had spoken directly to her.
‘I was wondering if you and Lady Stevens would like to drive to Richmond with me on Friday, Miss Stevens? My sister, Lady Sally Harrison, has got up a picnic to watch a balloon ascension and she asked me to bring some friends with me. I have invited two gentlemen, who will ride—but there is room in my curricle for both of you.’
‘We should enjoy that very much,’ Mama answered for her. ‘It is kind of you, sir—and your cousin. We are not yet acquainted with Lady Harrison.’
‘Then I shall remedy that this evening,’ he promised, bowed deeply to her and sent Charlotte a knowing smile before leaving.
‘Well, what a charming young man,’ Lady Stevens said as she followed her daughter to the landing above. ‘I hardly dared to hope that he would call on us. I expected we might meet in company, but to call on your father shows true consideration, my dear.’
‘So you approve of him now, Mama,’ Charlotte said, struggling not to laugh. ‘Why, only the other day you called him a hardened rake—I’m sure you did.’
‘I did not think then that he would pay you the least attention,’ her mother said sharply. ‘You are a pretty girl, Charlotte. No one could deny that, but you have little fortune to recommend you and I do not expect every gentleman we meet to fall at your feet. That is why you must make the most of your chances...not that I am suggesting the viscount is a chance for you. Charming as he may be, I do not expect an offer from him.’
Charlotte turned away without answering. She suspected that Captain Viscount Delsey had called this morning to discover whether his suspicions concerning her were correct. Had he seen her prior to that escapade last night? Or had he somehow seen her return to her home in the early hours of the morning?
She had not dared to hire a cab, walking swiftly through the streets and keeping to the shadows as much as possible. However, if he had done so, he might have arrived at the same time as she did, if perhaps he’d delayed his return for some minutes before taking the cab. Charlotte was almost sure he knew the young urchin he’d rescued had been her in disguise, but she would deny it if he asked. It would be too risky to admit where she’d been and what she’d done that evening.
He had seemed to be amused. She could only hope that he would not betray her secret, as it could ruin her family.
Alone in her room, Charlotte glanced in the mirror. There was a sparkle in her eyes that she did not think had been there earlier. She sensed a challenge ahead and a hint of danger, for the viscount was a flirt and a rake and she had done something that might make him think she was careless of her reputation.
Supposing he tried to take advantage of his knowledge? Her stomach clenched with nerves, because she knew that one hint of what she’d done the previous night would ruin her.
Surely, Captain Delsey was too much the man of honour to tell anyone else what he knew?
Perhaps if she had a chance that evening, she could appeal to his sense of chivalry. But what excuse could she give? To tell him that she’d stolen back a necklace given by her brother in payment of a debt was shameful and would destroy any lingering good opinion he had of her and her dearest Matt. Yet what else could she tell him?
Try as she might, Charlotte could not think of an excuse that would not make her seem either wanton or dishonest. All she could do was to hope that he would keep her secret without being asked.
* * *
It was a long afternoon for Charlotte. Mama insisted that she spend most of it resting, and, though she had taken a book to her room, for some reason her mind would not follow the story of romance and adventure in pages of Fanny Burney’s novel. Instead, she found herself reliving the moment when Captain Delsey had saved her from the drunken gentlemen. His quick action had been decisive and she would have liked to thank him at once, but had felt the best course for her to follow was to disappear as swiftly as she could. Thankfully, the remainder of her journey home had been uneventful. She’d hoped it could all be forgotten, but now the hideous thought that one careless word from Delsey could destroy her chances of a good marriage lay heavy on her conscience.
Mama was relying on Charlotte to ease her father’s burden of debt. For that she must marry a man of consequence and wealth, but most of the aristocracy were rather starchy as regards reputation and behaviour; the merest hint of scandal attached to a young lady’s name would ruin her chances of a good marriage. What Charlotte had done was so outrageous that, if it were discovered, she would be an outcast from society.
Matt had warned her against her mad escapade, but nothing would have persuaded her. It was not her brother’s fault, though if he had not confessed to her she might not have discovered the necklace had gone for weeks. He had not been able to live with the guilt of stealing from his own sister, and, when told that the necklace was fake, confessed the whole. Charlotte had been determined to save her family from the scandal that would have resulted from such a fraud and her headstrong courage had led her to act without truly thinking of the consequences.
As a tiny child she’d followed wherever her brother led, climbing trees, swimming in the shallows of the river near their home wearing only her drawers and petticoat, and being beaten for her wickedness more than once. She’d ridden well from the age of three, joining the hunt when she was thirteen, and successfully ridden any horse her brother could master, throwing her heart over as she cleared fences three times her height. Matt told everyone she was fearless and their wild pranks were often at her instigation as they grew into their teenage years. Mama had taken her in hand when she was sixteen, insisting that she must behave like a lady if she wanted a Season in town, and so she had given up her tomboy behaviour—until the previous night when she’d climbed into a man’s bedchamber and retrieved the fake necklace.
Only now did Charlotte understand that this was not one of the childish pranks she’d shared with her brother. She was a thief. Even though the necklace was her own, Matt had pledged it in settlement of a debt. A gambling debt, and one that might have been incurred as a result of her brother being cheated, was not like a proper debt to a tradesman, Charlotte told herself, to ease her guilt. Lord Harding was known to be a hard gambler; some whispered he fleeced young gentlemen who were not up to all the tricks played on them by card sharps who treated them as plump pigeons, ripe for the plucking.
If Matt was right and he’d been cheated the night he fell so deeply in debt that he’d been driven to take her necklace, then Lord Harding deserved to be robbed of his ill-gotten gains. And yet she could not help feeling that she had done something shameful.
There was no point in thinking about it, she could not give the necklace back, but must be careful never to wear it anywhere it might be seen by a man who might recognise it as his property.
Charlotte pushed the worrying thoughts out of her mind. She’d been seen climbing from the window after retrieving that necklace, but only by a couple of very inebriated gentlemen—and one possibly sober one who had looked into her face for the merest second. She could only hope that Delsey would not put two and two together and make five.
Chapter Three (#ulink_7ab9f7ab-6164-52ac-8391-e6cc78b97a6e)
So what had Miss Charlotte Stevens been up to the previous night? Had she been trying to pull the wool over his eyes by telling him she was more than nineteen years of age? Her manner had been demure enough, but something in the lift of her head told him that she was full of spirit and very likely to have been out late at night on some mad prank dressed in her brother’s outgrown clothes. If indeed it had been she, he was inclined to be amused and to like her for it. Jack was wary of the kind of female that swooned at every convenient moment and tried to trap a man into marriage, as he had reason enough to be. He had been relentlessly pursued since his first appearance on the town.
Jack pondered the puzzle as he dressed for the evening in a coat of blue superfine made by Weston that fitted his shoulders like a second skin. For riding Jack liked a little more room in his coats, but for evening it was imperative that the cut should be superb and his valet must naturally help him into it. His pantaloons of cream fitted perfectly, his cravat was expertly tied by his own hand, though it would not rival the intricacy of those who had mastered Mr Brummell’s excellence in the art, but the pin was a diamond of the first water. On the little finger of his right hand he wore a magnificent diamond set in heavy gold.
Satisfied with his appearance, Jack thanked his valet, advised him not to sit up, knowing full well that Cummings would ignore the order if he gave it. He walked down the stairs just as the door opened to admit his Aunt Seraphina and her daughter Julia.
‘Ah, we are in time,’ Aunt Seraphina said, looking pleased with herself. ‘Jack, I must beg a favour of you. You will escort your cousin to the ball this evening, will you not? I must return home at once for your uncle is down with a chill and no one but I can handle him when he is ill.’
‘Aunt...’ Jack protested, thrown off balance by the unexpected change to his plans. ‘My uncle could surely spare you for a few hours—and Julia really should not go without her mama.’
‘Please credit me with a little intelligence.’ His aunt fixed him with a beady eye. ‘If you promise to look after your cousin and make sure she doesn’t dance too often with any particular gentleman—or with an undesirable acquaintance—I can look after your poor Uncle David. If this chill goes to his chest...’
‘If my uncle is truly ill, then you must stay with him, but surely Julia would be best at home with you and her father.’
‘Don’t be so mean,’ Julia wailed, her pretty face screwing into an awful pout. ‘What trouble can it be to you to escort me this evening? Mama’s best friend, Lady Meadows, will be there and I may join her party once we are there, but I cannot turn up without an escort.’
Jack sighed inwardly, knowing that his own plans for the evening must be shelved. Julia would do well enough with Lady Meadows and her bevy of three rather plump daughters, but she would need an escort home, which meant his plans to leave early with friends and go on to a gambling club would be ended.
‘Very well,’ he said. ‘I suppose I must take you, brat, but do not expect me to dance with you all evening.’
‘You must dance with me once,’ Julia said, but she was smiling now, having gained her way. ‘Thank you, dearest Jack.’ She took his arm and hugged him, bringing a frown from her mama.
‘Remember your decorum, Julia,’ she warned. ‘Jack, I rely on you to look after this child for me.’
‘Yes, Aunt,’ Jack said. ‘I suppose Cousin Reginald was unable to oblige?’
‘Your cousin has his duties in the House, which he takes very seriously—and he may be late for they are sitting over an important bill this evening.’
‘Of course.’ Jack smothered his desire to retort that his cousin took both himself and his duties too seriously. Reginald was the personal secretary to the Prime Minister and one would think from his weighty manner and the way he gave his opinions on matters of State that he was himself meant for high office. ‘Go home and take care of my uncle, Seraphina. Julia will come to no harm with me.’
‘Thank you, dear Jack,’ Julia said and hugged his arm once more as her mama disappeared in a whirl of satin skirts and lace petticoats. ‘You are a darling.’
Seraphina was his Uncle David’s second wife, at least twenty years his junior and still an attractive woman. Her daughter, Julia, was their only child, for she had lost two other babies, and since there was already an heir to Lord Handley’s estate in Reginald, they had given up trying for more. Jack knew that his uncle’s constitution was far from robust and could therefore understand why his wife fussed over a mere chill.
‘Behave yourself this evening,’ Jack said, but the smile in his eyes denied the brusque tone of his voice as he added, ‘And stop ruining the sleeve of my coat. I’ll have you know it took ten minutes to get me into it and I’m not going to change because of your childish behaviour.’
Julia’s eyes took fire and she sparked with wrath as she removed her hand from his arm. ‘I’ll have you know I’m eighteen next week—and I’ve had three proposals of marriage this month.’
‘Only three?’ He quirked an eyebrow at her. ‘Does my aunt know?’
‘Of course not. You are not to tell her, Jack!’
‘What do you take me for?’ he drawled. ‘If I were your brother I would put you over my knee and spank you...’
‘But you’re only my cousin and it wouldn’t be proper, so you can’t,’ she crowed and laughed, realising that he was teasing her. Her eyes sparked with laughter. ‘It’s such fun, Jack. At least two of them were fortune hunters. Not that my fortune is so very large, but I suppose twenty thousand pounds and the estate Aunt Tilly left me is a great deal if you are in the suds...anything to keep them out of debtors’ gaol, I imagine.’
‘Where did you get such ideas?’ Jack asked. ‘Your tongue will lead you astray if you’re not careful.’
Julia gave a trill of laughter. ‘Only with you, Jack dearest. I can say what I like to you. Naturally, I would not say such a thing in society—but it’s fun leading them on, knowing that they only want my money.’
‘You are a cruel minx,’ he retorted. ‘Just make sure you don’t go too far. Some gentlemen are not really very nice if you scratch the surface. Be careful, Julia. Lead some of them on and you might end up getting hurt. Besides, you will get yourself a reputation as a flirt and then the right sort of gentleman—the kind you truly want—will not look at you as the proper material for marriage.’
Julia pouted at him as the footman opened the door of his carriage and Jack handed her in and then climbed in beside her. She waited until he had settled before turning to look at him.
‘I only let them go so far, Jack. I wouldn’t do anything foolish—but when they try to take advantage of a young girl, well, I think they deserve to look foolish. I would never hurt anyone I liked.’
‘You are an innocent.’ Jack looked at her seriously. ‘But just be careful. I would not want to see you hurt.’
‘Yes, I know what you mean. I am careful...but if a gentleman tries to persuade me to meet him in the gardens later at night and will not take no for an answer, it seems good to me to leave him waiting.’
Jack laughed shortly. ‘In that case, I would agree, but take care whom you tease, cousin. There are some that might try to take a nasty revenge.’
‘I shall,’ she said. ‘You mustn’t worry about me, Jack. If ever I think someone is really threatening me, I shall come and tell my big strong cousin all about it.’
* * *
Charlotte looked at her dance card and felt a tiny thrill of excitement. They had arrived twenty minutes earlier and already more than half of the spaces on her dance card were taken and the music had just started for the first set of country dances. She moved towards the ballroom itself and was greeted on the threshold by Sir Percival, who had come in search of her.
‘I saw you earlier,’ he greeted her with a smile, ‘but you were surrounded by eager young men. I trust you have not forgotten our dances, Miss Stevens?’
‘Certainly not,’ Charlotte said, laughing up at him. ‘I never forget a promise, sir. You also have the last country dance before supper.’
‘I think I was fortunate to secure them this morning,’ he said and took her hand, leading her towards a group of young people making up the sets for the first dance. ‘I believe you will be much in demand this evening, Miss Stevens.’
Charlotte accepted her place in the line just as the music began and they all joined hands for the first few steps, before forming into two lines, the gentleman on one side, his partner on the other and another lady beside him. The lines came together in the middle, then broke apart, the promised couples taking each other’s hands to promenade down the line and rejoin it. A similar movement was performed and this time a gentleman crossed to the next lady on the line and the promenade was resumed. It meant that everyone eventually had a chance to dance with everyone else and was the first of a lively set of three dances before the music stopped and the lady’s original partner escorted her from the floor.
Charlotte returned to her mama and a group of young ladies and matrons. Some people refreshed themselves with a drink or a cooling ice before dancing again, but the next was a waltz and Charlotte’s partner was prompt in claiming her.
‘Our dance, I believe, Miss Stevens?’
‘Yes, thank you.’ She glanced up at the handsome face of a young officer wearing his dress uniform. He’d told her his name was Christopher Young, and he was a captain of the Royal Dragoons. ‘Where are you stationed just now, Captain?’
‘In London for a few weeks,’ he replied, bowed and placed his hand correctly just above her waist before sweeping her into the magical dance. ‘My regiment is home after some service overseas.’
It was as she was swept away across the floor that she chanced to see Captain Viscount Delsey enter the ballroom with a beautiful young woman on his arm. She was dressed in a gown of white lace and tulle embroidered with what looked like diamonds, her long fair hair piled on her head in curls that fell into one artistic ringlet over her right shoulder—and she was laughing up at her escort in a manner that spoke of intimacy.
Feeling a sharp pang of what Charlotte honestly named envy, she lifted her head and smiled up at her partner. Captain Young was a wonderful dancer and she had no reason to be jealous of the lovely woman who was now dancing with Captain Delsey. She banished the unworthy feelings and gave herself up to the enjoyment of a waltz with a truly talented partner.
‘Thank you, sir, you dance divinely,’ she murmured when their waltz came to an end, much too soon for Charlotte’s liking. ‘I do not think I have ever enjoyed a dance more.’
He clicked his heels, eyes dancing with mischief as he said, ‘I was lucky enough to be one of Wellington’s staff for a few months before the war ended. It is a requirement that we should waltz divinely.’
‘And you certainly do, sir. I could wish a few more gentlemen had learned in your school.’
‘What a very honest young lady you are, Miss Stevens,’ he said. ‘If you would like, I shall send some of my friends to beg for a waltz, for you also dance it divinely—and not everyone does.’
‘I should be delighted to waltz with any of your friends.’
He bowed his head and left her to the company of her companions.
Charlotte was soon claimed for another dance and it was not until she had pledged all but two of her waltzes that she discovered herself looking up into the unsmiling face of Captain Delsey.
‘I saw you had a queue of eager partners, most of them old comrades of mine,’ Jack said, one eyebrow arched. ‘May I hope that you have saved a waltz for me?’
‘Yes, sir. I pencilled in the one before supper and the one after, you may choose which you prefer.’
‘I am committed to Miss Julia Handley for much of the evening,’ Jack replied, ‘but I shall be greedy and ask for both those waltzes, if I may?’
‘Yes, if you truly wish it.’ Charlotte looked at him a little uncertainly.
‘Miss Handley is my cousin,’ Jack said, a gleam of devilry in his eyes. ‘May I bring her to you, Miss Stevens? Her mama was unable to accompany us this evening and I am duty bound to see that she is in good company—and to look after her.’
‘Ah, I see,’ Charlotte said, lifting her hand as her next partner arrived. ‘Excuse me, sir. I am engaged for this next...’ She turned to offer her hand to the good looking but rather pompous young man who had introduced himself as Lord Johnston and secured a set of country dances with her.
‘Johnston.’ Jack inclined his head. ‘Glad to see you up and about again, sir.’
‘Ah, Delsey.’ Charlotte’s partner looked slightly red about his neck. ‘Nice to see you. Yes, I am quite recovered from the, ah...accident now.’
Charlotte threw a puzzled glanced at Delsey as she allowed her new partner to draw her into the group of people forming the sets. Something was a little odd in the way the two gentlemen had greeted each other, but she could not quite fathom it, and her partner had no intention of enlightening her. He proceeded to talk about his estate in Norfolk, where he had a very special herd of Jersey cows, and his hopes of breeding from them in the future.
‘It is the quality of the milk, you see,’ he explained kindly, as Charlotte struggled to follow his flow. ‘They give so much more cream—and that’s where the money is. I have every intention of owning the biggest and best herd in the country.’
Charlotte murmured something that seemed to please him, though since his conversation, though turned from cows, was all of a rather bucolic nature, she was relieved when their dances ended and she rejoined her mama.
‘Ah, here you are, my love,’ Lady Stevens said. ‘You must be very warm. Will you not take a moment to eat one of these ices your brother has just procured for us?’
‘Oh, that would be nice, Mama,’ Charlotte said but even as she reached for a lemon ice, Viscount Delsey brought his companion to her and bowed before them.
‘Lady Stevens, Miss Stevens—may I present you to my cousin Julia Handley. I have explained that her mama entrusted Julia to my care this evening. She has friends here, but I thought she might keep company with you for a while? I was about to procure some champagne...if I could tempt you, Lady Stevens?’
‘Thank you, but we have these ices for the moment and more than enough for all. Will you not partake, Miss Handley? It is rather warm and they have already started to melt a little.’
‘I could fetch some fresh ices, if Miss Handley would care for it,’ Matt said, his expression, his sister thought, one of a man struck by lightning.
‘Oh, no, one of these would be delightful,’ Julia said and accepted a strawberry-flavoured ice from his hand.
Jack moved closer to Charlotte, murmuring in her ear, ‘You seemed puzzled just now by my reference to Lord Johnston’s health?’
‘I thought he looked quite fit and well.’
‘The matter of a little disagreement that ended with a duel,’ Jack said. ‘I stood his second since he could find no other willing to undertake it—and I fear he came off worse. The other fellow’s ball grazed his arm, but his own ball was way off the mark. He should never have been such a fool as to challenge Lord Harding over the matter of a dropped card.’
‘Lord Harding?’ Charlotte was chilled, a trickle of alarm sliding down her spine. ‘What makes you say Lord Johnston should not have challenged him?’
‘The card dropped to the floor from Lord Harding’s hand. Johnston swore it had come from his sleeve and Harding denied it—since it could not be proved, Johnston should have apologised, but he is rather stiff-necked and would not. Therefore, it was impossible to prevent the duel. I asked both if they would withdraw but...’ He shook his head and his eyes held an unfathomable gleam. ‘I have told you a secret no gentleman would disclose to a lady. Have I sunk beyond reproach in your eyes?’
‘Not at all,’ Charlotte replied seriously. ‘I hate it when gentlemen tell me that something I want to know is not suitable for a lady’s ears—as if we were children or too delicate to know the truth.’
‘Precisely,’ Jack said and smiled at her. ‘I believe I see a rather determined young man approaching. Your next partner, I imagine. I shall come to claim you later.’
Charlotte was duly claimed and once again found herself being whisked around the floor by a polished performer, another of Wellington’s former staff, she was reliably informed, though she thought him not quite as perfect a partner as Captain Young.
Glancing across the room, she saw Matt dancing with Julia Handley. They seemed to like each other well and were enjoying the dance, Julia looking very lovely as her eyes sparkled up at her partner.
Charlotte suspected that Delsey’s cousin might be a bit of a flirt and hoped that her brother would not fall too deeply in love with her too swiftly. However, next time she herself was dancing, she saw that Julia was once again dancing with her cousin and seemed to be enjoying herself just as much. Matt, too, had another partner, a quietly pretty young girl whom Charlotte only knew slightly. She saw Sir Percival dancing with Amelia Rushmore and Mr Rushmore was standing with a group of other young men watching the dancing with a brooding expression that might have been boredom.
As soon as Charlotte returned to her friends she was, once again, claimed by Sir Percival for the last set of country dances before supper. She found him good company and they parted with a smile and promises of meeting again quite soon.
‘I shall pay an afternoon call and perhaps you will drive out with me in the park one morning, Miss Stevens?’
Charlotte agreed to it, then turned as Captain Viscount Delsey approached her. She took his hand and was led to the dance floor just as the music struck up once more. He placed his hand firmly just above her waist and took her hand, drawing her into the swirl of dancing. A tingling sensation pervaded Charlotte’s body and she felt as if she were dancing on air, seeming light as a feather as he whirled her across the floor, appearing to carve a swathe through the other dancers as if he had some divine right. She had thought that Captain Young danced beautifully, but this feeling was exquisite, like nothing she’d ever experienced before. In that moment Charlotte wished that she might stay in the viscount’s arms for ever.
There were no words to describe the wonderful sensations that flooded through her, no way that she could understand why she seemed unable to breathe and yet could dance and dance for ever. Something inside her seemed to join with him, to become a part of her partner and lift her beyond the room and everyone in it. She felt as if she floated on a cloud in an otherwise clear blue sky...drifting away to a world where there was always sun and pleasant warmth.
When the music stopped and he released her hand it was such a shock that she almost fell. For a moment her mind refused to come back from wherever it had been and she could neither speak nor move.
‘Are you faint?’ he asked, looking at her anxiously. ‘Perhaps some air?’
‘No, no thank you, I shall be fine in a moment. I must find Mama and go into supper.’
‘I have reserved a table. Let me take you there and your mama and my cousin will join us. I mentioned it earlier.’
‘Did you?’ Charlotte could not trust herself to say more. She felt the touch of his hand on her arm as he guided her through the press of people to a table near an open window. She could feel the coolness of the air calming her heated skin and with the coolness some semblance of normality returned. ‘Oh, that is pleasant. I think I must have become a little heated.’
‘It is very warm in here,’ Jack murmured close to her ear, his breath warm on her exposed skin. ‘I felt it, too.’
Charlotte shivered with what she could only think was sensual delight, though she had never experienced anything like it before. There was something in his tone and his look that made her feel special, as if she were the focus of his attention, of his world. The thought made her feel quite giddy with pleasure and she wished that she might be alone with him somewhere private, somewhere they might make love.
What was she thinking? Charlotte came to herself with a shock. She was allowing herself to be seduced by a man’s smile, by the caress in his voice and the stroking of those compelling eyes... She was reacting like a foolish girl of twelve, instead of a young woman of more than nineteen. Viscount Captain Delsey was a practised flirt and a rake; he thought nothing of breaking hearts and she had no intention of offering hers up as a sacrifice.
His eyes met hers with a quizzical look, as if he sensed her thoughts. ‘Please, make yourself comfortable, Miss Stevens. I see your mama making her way here with the others and I must speak to the waiter.’
Charlotte inclined her head, not quite trusting herself to speak. The viscount was undoubtedly a charming man, but also a heartless flirt, if the gossips were to be believed. She knew that he was regarded as one of the best catches on the matrimonial market, but he was unlikely to cast his hat in her direction. Indeed, most of the matchmaking mamas had given up hope of him. So if he seemed bent on capturing her interest it probably meant that he thought there might be a chance of seducing her into a clandestine flirtation...as he might well think if he’d seen her wearing her brother’s cast-off clothing.
It seemed likely that he’d recognised her as the urchin that he’d helped escape from unwelcome attention in the street—and a girl who would brave the streets at night dressed as a youth might be capable of anything. Indeed, she might so far forget herself as to be willing to indulge in something more than flirtation, might allow herself to be seduced. The thought sent waves of heat rushing through her once more and she struggled to compose herself. She must think of something else...a cool stream trickling through a sunset meadow...
Still feeling a little uncomfortable as her mama joined her, Charlotte decided that she must be careful in future. It would not do to become too intimate with the handsome viscount. Not only could he break her heart, he could ruin her reputation.
Yet when he returned with a trio of waiters, bringing a selection of all the choicest treats and two bottles of chilled champagne, Captain Delsey devoted himself to her mama and engaged her brother for a game of cards, before engaging his cousin for a drive to the park the next day. Since he paid Charlotte no more than polite attention, she was able to school her wayward thoughts, and, by the time he claimed his next dance, she had recovered her composure.
Try as she might, Charlotte could not hold back once he swept her away across the floor, her whole being given over to the joy of the music and the feeling of floating as she immersed herself in the dance. However, she did not let her thoughts drift to the desires that had formed during the first dance and was able to breathe easily and to thank her partner when the dance ended.
‘You dance like an angel,’ Delsey murmured in her ear. ‘I shall wait impatiently for the next time, Miss Charlotte.’
The sound of her name on his lips was like a caress. Such tactics were calculated to make foolish girls fall at his feet, but Charlotte was made of sterner stuff. She must and would resist the spells he wove—she had to for her family’s sake.
‘Thank you, sir. I must always be pleased to dance with such a delightful partner.’
She made him a deep curtsy and then walked away to join her mother, her back very straight, her head high, though every nerve in her body felt as if it were being torn apart by the loss of him. This was ridiculous! She hardly knew the man and she would be foolish beyond anything to let herself be drawn into his net, simply because when she was in his arms she was ready to cast aside the world for his sake. No, no, she would keep a guard between her and the charming viscount in future. She must remember who she was and what Mama expected of her rather than allowing herself to dream of passionate love in the arms of a man who fulfilled all her girlish hopes.
* * *
Three dances later the room began to thin of company and Lady Stevens told her daughter that they should be thinking of leaving.
‘I have promised that we shall take Miss Handley home for it is on our way, Charlotte. Julia is a very pleasant young lady and I have invited her and her mama to dine with us as soon as it may be arranged. She says she would like it if you would walk with her in the park tomorrow afternoon, and I thought you would so she will call for you at two.’
‘Oh...yes, of course, Mama,’ Charlotte agreed, though she seemed to recall that Delsey had made some sort of arrangement with his cousin for the following day. Yet she had not been paying attention and perhaps that had been for another day.
Because both young ladies had danced all evening they had had little time to become acquainted, but sitting in Mama’s comfortable carriage on the way home, Julia told Charlotte that she was looking forward to becoming better acquainted.
‘Mama has many friends in town,’ Julia confided, ‘but some of their daughters are so...well, to be kind, they are silly and have not a sensible thought in their heads. I think you are different, Charlotte. I should like it if we could be friends—and I know Jack likes you.’
Charlotte’s cheeks felt warm and she was glad that it was too dark in the carriage for Mama to notice. ‘What makes you say that?’
‘He seldom dances with very young ladies, but he danced twice with you—and he stood talking with you on every occasion you were not dancing.’
‘I dare say that was so that you might be comfortable with us,’ Charlotte murmured softly. ‘I think your cousin is an accomplished flirt, Miss Handley.’
‘Please, call me Julia. I hope I may call you Charlotte?’ Julia lowered her voice. ‘Jack has a terrible reputation, but he isn’t very wicked. I am sure he would never seduce an innocent young girl as some unscrupulous gentlemen do, but he cannot help it if the foolish ones break their hearts over him. If he takes a mistress now and then...well, all men do it, you know, at least until they marry.’
‘Who told you that?’ Charlotte asked in a whisper with a quick glance at her mother to make sure she was not listening.
‘Mama.’ Julia’s eyes sparkled. ‘She said it was quite the thing for young men and better than picking up...ladies of the night from the street. But of course, it should stop when the man gets married, though she confessed that it doesn’t always do so. My father has been faithful to her for ever, but she says she is lucky—and told me to make sure that I choose a man who will love only me.’
‘What are you two girls whispering about?’ Mama asked. ‘I believe we have arrived, Miss Handley. Pray tell your mama I should be happy if she will call and then we may all be comfortable together.’
‘Mama will be grateful to you for taking care of me this evening,’ Julia said. ‘She was worried for my papa or she would not have let me go alone with Jack—and he did not truly wish for it, but he’s such a dear that he could not refuse her.’
‘In future your mama may send you with us, should she be unable to attend a function to which we are invited.’
‘You are so kind,’ Julia said, thanking her again as the carriage stopped and a groom came to open the door for her, after first knocking at her house so that her footman had the front door open and waiting for her. ‘Goodnight, Charlotte. I shall see you tomorrow.’
‘Yes. I shall look forward to it.’
Charlotte sat back against the squabs after Julia had gone and closed her eyes, thinking of the evening she had enjoyed—and the partners who had given her the most pleasure. Captain Young and Captain Viscount Delsey—both of them were excellent dancers, but very different in other respects. Of the two, only Jack Delsey had made her lose control of her senses for a short time, though Christopher Young had come to her between dances and asked if he might take her driving one day.
‘I know we are not much acquainted,’ he’d said, ‘but I feel as if I have known you all my life—and I should like to know you better, if you would like it?’
‘Thank you. Yes, I should be happy to drive out with you one day,’ Charlotte had said, smiling up into his blue eyes. ‘You must call on Papa, sir. I am sure he would invite you to dine with us one evening.’
‘You did very well this evening.’ Mama’s voice interrupted her train of thought and Charlotte opened her eyes. ‘Sir Percival seemed quite taken with you—and I believe you danced every dance, my dear.’
‘Yes, Mama, I did,’ she agreed. ‘It was the most enjoyable evening.’
‘Did you know that Captain Young is the heir of Lord Sampson?’
‘No, Mama, I did not realise that,’ Charlotte said. Lord Sampson was a neighbour of Papa’s in the country, but the estates were some fifteen miles distant and Charlotte saw little of the elderly gentleman, who was something of a recluse.
‘Neither did I until Papa told me,’ her mama said with a look of satisfaction. ‘Lord Sampson is quite comfortably off, Charlotte—wealthy, in fact. His heir will be in possession of a large fortune in the future...but I do not imagine that he personally has the funds to settle Papa’s debts. Sir Percival is not as wealthy as one might like, but at least his fortune is his own. Not every gentleman is as fortunate, my love.’
‘No, I imagine not.’ Charlotte realised what her mother was telling her. The charming officer had prospects, but if her marriage was to ease her father’s burden of debt, she needed someone already in possession of a fortune: such as Sir Percival.
Turning her face aside, Charlotte swallowed the little lump that had formed in her throat. She had liked Captain Young very much...almost as much as Captain Delsey, but while the one might perhaps offer her marriage she was fairly certain that it was far from the mind of the other. Sir Percival was a pleasant gentleman, but he had not made her flesh tingle when he held her as they danced.
Tears stung her eyes for a moment as she wished that her father had not wasted his fortune and obliged her to think of such things. She longed to be free to follow her heart, but knew that in the end she might have to settle for less than she wanted.
Chapter Four (#ulink_272120bc-334c-5a0d-9acb-c676a3deff43)
Jack yawned over his brandy as he relaxed in his boldly patterned silk dressing gown, his feet stretched out before him, his head back against the soft leather of the comfortable wing chair in his private sitting room. What he had expected to be a tedious evening in the company of his cousin, of whom he was fond but not in the least enamoured, had turned out to be more promising than he’d imagined.
He had no idea what had made him flirt so outrageously with a certain young lady. Jack’s aversion to becoming emotionally involved with a beautiful girl ran deep and was of some years’ duration. Normally, he reserved his flirting for older—married, or widowed—ladies, who understood that nothing serious was meant or offered. After all, even if he was considering a marriage of convenience, he had no intention of ever allowing a woman to take over his heart and mind, to inflict the kind of pain that he knew could result from loving too much. He knew from experience how disastrous that could be, for he had learned it when very young and seen two people dear to him nearly destroyed by a love that was too powerful.
However, Miss Charlotte Stevens was a revelation. He’d known from the first that she was a bold minx, because of that escapade when she had narrowly escaped being abused by a pair of rogues. Though, in fairness, what was a man to think when a young woman went about dressed as a youth—and, according to one of the men, had been seen climbing out of a window?
Whose window might that be? Jack pondered the mystery, a half-smile on his mouth. Had she been visiting her lover—or was there more behind her reckless behaviour?
Having spent some time in her brother’s company, Jack was inclined to think that her mission might have been in some way related to him, simply because he was not the kind of young man to acquiesce to his sister behaving loosely. Indeed, Jack had seen him frown when Charlotte danced with a man who was known to have questionable morals. He’d been waiting to let her into the servants’ quarters that night, so he must have known where she’d been—but surely he could not condone his sister going out alone in the guise of a youth? It was far too dangerous!
Jack had seen enough of the girl at their first meeting to be intrigued, for she had a mischievous twinkle in her eyes and a way of laughing that caught one’s interest. There had been nothing in her behaviour then, or that evening, to suggest that she was wayward or indeed wanton. Yet in his arms she had seemed to become a different girl. Light and nimble, she moved with him instinctively and he did not recall having felt so swept away by passion while dancing ever before. When their waltz ended and she seemed a little dazed, he’d known an overwhelming urge to sweep her up in his arms and run away to somewhere quiet where they would not be disturbed. His arousal had been almost painful and he’d wanted to shower her with hot kisses and feel the satin softness of her skin as they lay together...but he’d known that he could not treat her in such a fashion. She was the daughter of a gentleman...but was she a lady?
Jack frowned, because the need to question made him angry. He did not wish to think ill of her—but what lady would act as she had? What could possibly have driven her to such reckless behaviour?
He could not bring anything to mind. Surely Matthew Stevens was not so careless of his sister’s safety that he would allow her to go wandering about alone at night...and why had she climbed out of a window? Had she also climbed into the window of a house across the park?
Jack frowned over it as he tried to remember who lived in the houses at the other side of St James’s Park. But of course, he couldn’t be sure how far those rogues had chased her before she ran from the park gates.
Shaking his head, he finished his brandy and thought about pouring another, but decided against it.
He was no nearer to solving the puzzle of Miss Charlotte Stevens, but he had no intention of letting the matter drop. Jack would make it his business to discover more about the family and their circumstances. They were newcomers to the social scene in London. Though they had presumably come to give their daughter a Season, their background might bear more investigation. The best way to discover what he needed to know was to cultivate Matt Stevens’s acquaintance; a few card evenings and a drinking session at the club should prove enlightening, for he believed that the young man would be easy enough to pump for information.
Jack did not consider what his interest in the girl might be when he discovered what he needed to know; it was merely a mystery to be unravelled, which amused him, and a mild flirtation with a pretty girl was never a waste of time, though where it might lead was another matter.
* * *
Next day, Jack saw the two girls walking arm-in-arm through the park and smiled inwardly, as he noted that Julia’s maid was walking some distance behind, as no doubt she’d been warned to do by her mistress. He’d wondered why she’d insisted that she would not drive with him, but would meet him if he chose to walk through Hyde Park that afternoon. Now what mischief was she up to?
He doffed his beaver hat to the ladies, one eyebrow quirked as he saw Julia’s wicked smile. ‘How pleasant to meet you, cousin...Miss Stevens.’
‘Yes, what a surprise,’ Julia said, a challenging smile in her eyes. ‘We are getting to know one another, Jack dearest. You must know that Charlotte is to be my best friend. I love her already and you must be nice to her or I shall never speak to you again.’
‘I am almost tempted to do her some mischief,’ Jack murmured so softly that only the ladies closest to him might hear. ‘Yet I fear she does not deserve it and, worse, you would not keep your word.’
‘You wretch!’ Julia cried and gave him a little punch on his arm. ‘Did you hear him, Charlie? I declare he is not worthy of our notice. We shall walk on alone.’
‘I believe your cousin merely means to tease you,’ Charlotte said and laughed.
‘He is clearly in an odd humour,’ Julia accused. ‘We shall ignore him. Oh, look, here comes your brother. It seems everyone is walking in the park today.’
‘More of my cousin’s plotting, I dare say,’ Jack murmured as he matched his pace to Charlotte’s and his cousin walked a few steps ahead to take Matt’s arm. ‘Somehow I do not think these chance meetings—do you?’
‘It would seem unlikely,’ Charlotte admitted. Her head lifted as she met his eyes. ‘Is your cousin a flirt, my lord?’
‘Oh, most definitely. You should warn your brother not to lose his heart to her. I shall certainly put him on his guard.’
‘I believe Matt can take care of himself,’ Charlotte replied. ‘Julia is a delightful companion, but I imagine her parents intend her to marry well?’
‘Naturally, she is the heir to a sizeable, though not huge, fortune, left to her by her godmother.’
‘As I thought,’ Charlotte said, meeting his enquiring gaze honestly. ‘Matt has a small estate and some capital, though by no means a fortune.’
‘He is surely your father’s heir?’
‘Yes, of course, but Papa...Papa has some unfortunate debts,’ Charlotte said honestly. ‘Whether he will have an estate to leave to my brother is not certain. I have a little money of my own, but we are neither of us a good prospect—unless money is no object. In matters of the heart it does not always matter what one has, does it?’
‘You are very straight, Miss Stevens. Is that wise, do you think?’
‘I see no reason to lie, sir. My mother hopes that I shall make a good match and perhaps be able to help Papa a little, but I would not deceive anyone in the matter of our circumstances.’
‘Some would say you would do better to keep the information to yourself, at least until a proposal is made.’
‘Yes, indeed. I do not shout it from the rooftops, but I have confided in Julia and she is bound to mention it to you, I think.’
‘Julia has few secrets from me. We’ve always been almost as brother and sister.’
‘Yes, she told me as much, which is why I thought it safe to confide in you. Obviously, we do not wish it generally known, for it might spoil my chances, but I do not accuse you of being a gossip, sir.’
Jack looked at her intently, trying to discover why she had been so open with him and his cousin. Was she telling him that she did not consider him a likely suitor, therefore felt it did not matter what he thought of her? Or was she putting him on his mettle, challenging him?
She intrigued him more each time they met and he felt his hunting instincts rise, as if scenting exciting prey. It might be that Miss Charlotte would be interested in becoming the mistress of a man who was prepared to free her father of debt and advance her brother’s prospects...or was he misjudging her? After all, he could not know what had led her to the mad escapade that had so nearly been her undoing.
Hearing a little sound of alarm from Charlotte, he glanced at her face and saw the colour had left her cheeks. She was staring at a couple of men walking towards them and he noticed that her hand trembled on his arm.
One of the gentlemen was Lord Harding and he halted as he saw Matt, lifting his hat. The other man was one of the two rogues who had been pursuing the young woman at his side the other evening, though Jack did not know his name.
‘Stevens, well met,’ Lord Harding said. ‘Patterson and I were arranging a little trip to a new gambling hell of which I am a member—for this evening. I think you would enjoy it, we dine at my house at seven.’
‘No! I can’t,’ Matt blurted out, his eyes staring like a hunted rabbit and a hot tide of colour sweeping his neck. ‘I am engaged to...’
‘Matt is engaged to me this evening for cards and dinner,’ Jack supplied easily. ‘Forgive us, Harding, but we have somewhere to be. Mr Patterson...’
He tipped his hat slightly, but did not remove it. ‘Excuse us, please, I do not care to keep the ladies standing. The air here, you understand, is not fitting.’
His tone was cutting and he saw the anger rush into Harding’s face, turning it puce. The man had a choleric temper and would end by having a fit if he were not careful. Jack’s insult had been deliberate and yet veiled so that although Harding knew perfectly well what was intended, he could not make anything of it, but would no doubt find a way to retaliate another time.
Once they were safely past, Jack looked at his companion. She was still a little pale, but had recovered her composure.
‘You do not like that gentleman?’
‘He...he led Matt into bad ways and my brother lost money he could not afford. What capital he has is in trust, you see, and he has only an allowance from Papa.’
‘Yes, I understand. Do not fear, I shall not allow your brother to gamble for large stakes at my house. We play for amusement only.’ Jack spoke the lie easily. As a rule there was no limit set, but he would make certain that the young man stayed within his means; there were innocuous games of chance that could be played for a few guineas. Some of Jack’s friends might think he’d run mad, but since they were content to drink his fine wine, eat the excellent food his chef prepared and simply talk, they would be happy enough to indulge themselves while he played for shilling points with his protégé.
‘Oh, I dare say he can afford to lose a few guineas, but not thousands,’ Charlotte said ruefully. ‘That was how he came to lose—’ She broke off suddenly, a flush in her cheeks. ‘I am looking forward to the drive to Richmond and the balloon ascension, sir. It was so kind of your cousin to extend the invitation to me.’
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