A Good Rake is Hard to Find (20 page)

Knowing it would take some time to boost Hermione's spirits after such a setback, Leonora linked arms with her and they purchased the book of sonnets for Ophelia—though she did question the wisdom of buying any of Shakespeare's works for a girl named Ophelia, her friend was genuinely fond of the bard—and they stepped out into the spring air and let the waiting footmen hand them into Hermione's landau.

She'd been driving on her own for ages—ever since the Upperton coachman at their country estate had taught her to handle the reins of the gig. Now, of course, she was better than most men, and Leonora had no hesitation to be driven about by her friend. “I wish I had your spirit, Hermione,” she said as they neared the edge of Hyde Park. “You are so sure of yourself in the carriage. And I have no doubt that you would not stand to let Sir Gerard Fincher lie to your face as he did to me last evening. When I think of it—how he smiled as he did it, like a particularly odious snake—I cannot help but think that I am a poor sort of opponent for someone like him.”

Flicking the ear of the leader, Hermione skillfully drove them through the gates of the park. “But you spoke to him, Nora. That's more than most ladies would have the gumption to do. And I'll bet he was smiling to cover up how frightened your questions were making him. You must recall that men are quite good at pretending to emotions they don't actually feel.”

Unbidden, Leonora's thoughts turned to Freddy's open protectiveness of her the night before. Had he been pretending to a possessiveness he didn't feel? she wondered. After all, she'd pushed him away quite effectively earlier that afternoon in her sitting room. The idea that he had been pretending last evening for the sake of his family made her fists clench.

He hadn't even tried to kiss her before walking her to the door of her house. She'd thought it was because he was still angry at her earlier rebuff, but perhaps it was simply that there was no audience to see them.

She knew she had to protect him from falling in love with her, for his own sake. Especially if he wanted the same sort of marriage, with children, that his brother Archer was enjoying.

But some corner of her heart wept at the thought of severing herself from him forever. She was almost sure now that there would never be another man she would love as much as Freddy.

Love.

The word echoed in her mind. She had fallen in love with Freddy.

How utterly foolish of her.

Hermione cursed under her breath, and Leonora shook off her thoughts.

They had reached the promenade by now, and to her dismay, the first carriage they encountered was an open barouche driven by Sir Gerard.

Lifting his hat, Frederick's cousin, whose wife, Melisande, was seated beside him, spoke first. “Miss Craven, it seems that you are everywhere I look these days.” Turning his gaze to Hermione, he said, “You've a pretty hand with the whip, Lady Hermione. I am quite impressed.”

“I am rather like the proverbial bad penny, aren't I?” Leonora said with raised brows.

Noting that Lady Melisande had not greeted them, she turned to Hermione. “Have you been introduced to Sir Gerard's wife, Lady Melisande?”

Gesturing to the other woman, Leonora said, “Lady Hermione Upperton, meet Lady Melisande Fincher.”

Sir Gerard's wife looked imperious, but polite. “I am pleased to meet you, Lady Hermione. I've heard quite a lot about your driving skills. I believe Miss Craven's brother was quite impressed with you.”

“He was indeed, Lady Melisande,” said Leonora, wondering what Jonathan had said about her friend. She'd once suspected the two had shared a mutual
tendre
but that had been before he became so wrapped up in the Lords of Anarchy. She'd hoped that he would settle down and thought perhaps he might consider doing so with her friend once his infatuation with the club passed, but that hadn't happened. “As are we all.”

“I regret that the rules do not allow for the club to invite a noted whip like yourself into the club, Lady Hermione,” said Sir Gerard, though Leonora doubted very much that he felt any real chagrin over the technicality.

“We can always use another steady hand with the whip,” he continued apologetically. “And I would have considered a recommendation from Jonathan Craven to be quite as good as one from myself. He was as skilled a driver as I've ever known.”

“That's just as well, Sir Gerard,” Hermione said before Leonora could speak up. “I think Jonathan's untimely death has put me off the idea of joining a club like yours. One with so much competition, I mean.”

She smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes, Leonora noted.

“I rather think being a member of your club might be dangerous to a driver's health.” Hermione's gaze was as cold as ice. And Leonora realized that her friend felt more strongly about what had happened to Jonathan than she'd realized.

A flash of something cold and implacable flashed in Gerard's eyes before he schooled his features into something closer to pleasant. “I think you might be right when it comes to a certain sort of driver, Lady Hermione. There is no room at all in the club for drivers who take risks unnecessarily. I regret to say that Miss Craven's brother was one of them.”

Before either Leonora or Hermione could respond to Gerard's taunt, the driver of the carriage behind them indicated that he wished to pass, so Hermione steered them back into the line of traffic, and for the next forty minutes they waved and chatted with various members of the haute
ton
.

All the while, the memory of Sir Gerard's words lodged in Leonora's mind like a thorn stuck in the pad of a thumb.

It was the hour to see and be seen, and Leonora tried to focus on the attention her friend received. Both for her driving, and if Leonora weren't mistaken, for her pretty face as well.

The way Hermione had defended Jonathan to Sir Gerard just now made her think that the
tendre
she'd suspected had indeed been a reality. But thus far, Hermione had never revealed anything but sadness for the death of a friend.

Perhaps Hermione would find happiness with someone else. Someone who might share her love of driving as Jonny had.

Yet another life that had been touched by the evil that was Sir Gerard Fincher.

They had reached the gate on the other side of the park now, and as Hermione expertly used the ribbons, Leonora watched with interest. They'd just passed into the street beyond the gate, where a crowd had gathered to watch the swells on their promenade through the park, when Hermione slowed the carriage to avoid the bystanders.

Just then, a white bundle flew through the air, just to the right of the leaders. The horses spooked and reared, and then when the loud pop of an explosion sounded they bolted altogether.

“Hold on!” shouted Hermione as Leonora clung for dear life to the sides of the carriage.

*   *   *

“A package?” Mainwaring's brow furrowed as he put his substantial brainbox to work on the problem. Freddy had always appreciated that his friend's mind worked in mysterious ways. His skill at cards was only the half of it. While the rest of the world labored over their account books—well, while Freddy's man did, at any rate—Mainwaring had already calculated the whole in his head and was on to the next task. “It must have been some kind of code. I can hardly think the members of the Lords of Anarchy are doing something as menial as moving boxes about. Unless Sir Gerard is making them do so as some kind of punishment, which I wouldn't put past him.”

The two men had met at Brooks's to discuss the matter of Sir Gerard and the various mysteries of his club.

Fortunately Freddy's ribs no longer felt as if they were being stabbed with a hot knife on a regular basis. And applying ice again as soon as he'd gotten home last evening from taking Leonora home had reduced the swelling in his jaw and his shoulder.

He'd not kissed her as he wanted to. He might be a rascal, but she'd been quite clear that afternoon when she said she wanted their betrothal to remain a false one. He'd shown himself to be possessive of her at his parents' house, but that had been in keeping with the ruse. And he'd have found it impossible not to warn his brothers off when they were all watching her like a starving dog watches a bone.

“Are you even listening to me?” Mainwaring asked, leaning back to get a better look at his friend.

Freddy rolled his eyes. “Of course I'm listening. I simply have a great deal on my mind at the moment. I'm perfectly capable of holding more than one thought in my head at a time.”

“I'm glad to hear it,” said the earl with a grin. “Because you're going to need that ability if you're to outwit your cousin.”

Freddy thrust a hand through his hair in frustration. “I know that, damn it all. He's just so slippery. Every time I think we've figured out a way to get the truth out of him, he twists out of the trap.”

“Not unlike most criminals,” Mainwaring said, crossing his arms over his chest. “You're going to have to get him to lower his guard somehow. Or trap him into revealing himself without realizing it.”

The earl rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “I don't suppose you'd consider using his obvious wish to harm Leonora against him, would you? He might not be able to resist if you dangle her before him.”

“Leonora is not some minnow we can use to lure a larger fish, Mainwaring,” Freddy growled. “I am unhappy with the degree of risk she's exposed herself to already. I most certainly won't put her in a position where my cousin might be able to grab her before I have a chance to act.”

He glared at Mainwaring, daring him to argue.

“Just an idea, old fellow,” his friend said with a staying hand. “I simply thought it might be a way to break past Sir Gerard's defenses. But if Miss Craven is to be kept away from him then we'll think of something else.”

“Perhaps we should talk to her,” Freddy said, rubbing a weary hand over his face. “She is stubborn as a mule, but she's dashed clever.” Truth be told, she was a better strategist than he was. He'd grown accustomed to having his way paved for him thanks to his charm and good looks, while as a lady, she had been forced to work out sometimes complicated paths to get what she wanted. It was a skill he found impressive when he wasn't the obstacle she was trying to get around.

“Lead on,” Mainwaring said, drinking the remainder of his brandy and rising from the table. “I'm curious to see what she'll come up with.”

Retrieving their greatcoats the two men left the club and headed for the Craven town house.

Unfortunately when they arrived, it was to discover that Miss Craven had gone out driving with her friend Lady Hermione Upperton.

“Upperton?” asked Mainwaring with a frown. “She's not the one who's tried and failed to get into all of the driving clubs in London, I hope. Your lady would be keeping some very unsuitable company if so.”

Freddy sighed. Of course Mainwaring, the worst driver in London, would find fault with a lady who drove better than the sum total of every driving club in London.

“Yes, it's that Lady Hermione,” he said with a roll of his eyes. “Let's go see if we can find them. It's time for grand promenade anyway. At least that will mean they won't be moving very fast.”

Back in Freddy's curricle he steered them in the direction of Hyde Park.

“How can you countenance Miss Craven riding in the carriage with a lady driver?” Mainwaring asked as they sped through Mayfair.

“They've been friends for years, Mainwaring,” Freddy said with a shrug. “I can hardly forbid Leonora to have contact with one of her dearest friends. What if she tried the same with me and forbade me to keep company with you?”

“That would be different,” Mainwaring replied readily. “You are the man in the relationship and your word is final.”

“Spoken like a man who has never been engaged,” said Freddy wryly. He feared that his friend had much to learn about relationships with women who were not mistresses. Especially one like Leonora who had opinions and wasn't afraid to speak them aloud.

“I've had relationships with ladies, if that's what you mean,” Mainwaring retorted. “And besides that, I thought your betrothal was all a hum anyway. You are naturally concerned about her because she's a lady under your protection. But it's hardly the same thing as a love match.

“And,” the earl added, as if he'd just discovered the point that would win him the game. “It's your reputation on the line if she aligns herself with someone like Lady Hermione without your permission.”

“First of all, it might be a false betrothal now,” Freddy responded with frustration, “but I intend for it to become real by the time this investigation into Jonathan's death is concluded. She might not wish that to happen just yet, but I plan to do my best to persuade her.

“Secondly,” he said before Mainwaring could respond, “if I wished to forbid Leonora from seeing her friends I would do it. There is no question of who is the leader in this match. But I simply don't find Lady Hermione's friendship with Leonora to be as threatening as you seem to.”

Mainwaring shrugged. “It's up to you, I suppose. But women like Lady Hermione Upperton are dangerous to all men. They go about demanding to be included in activities that are not within the realm of a lady's knowledge and they upset the natural balance of things. Let them join driving clubs and soon they'll be demanding membership at White's and will start wearing trousers. It's absurd. Ladies are not meant to go about behaving like us.”

It wasn't far off what most men felt about ladies who stepped outside their proper sphere, Freddy thought wryly. Unfortunately, Mainwaring's acquaintance with actual ladies had been limited, he was quite certain. At least, those who were not afraid to speak their own minds like Leonora and her friends.