A Ladys Pleasure (11 page)

Lily started to become alarmed. Good lord. The last thing she needed was two peers of the realm fighting a duel over her honor. Especially when it was partially her fault. “It wasn’t just him, you know. I didn’t think I could get pregnant. And I may not be. You don’t know if that’s true. Besides, think what a horrid scandal it would cause. Dueling is illegal, after all, Caroline. Surely you don’t want Stephen to have to leave the country, do you? Or to be shot? Possibly killed.”

Caroline calmed down at that reminder. “Well, if you are pregnant with his child, he will just have to take responsibility and marry you. He knew better than to be so reckless even if you did not. No matter what you say to the contrary, I still hold him to blame. He knew you were not very experienced in matters of the bedchamber. Besides I’m still not completely convinced that he’s ending things with you. I think you’ve just let your imagination run away with you. We should wait and make sure exactly what is what before we do anything rash.”

Lily just nodded in agreement, not caring to remind Caroline that she was the one, not Lily, who was planning on the rash deed. She was just glad she had staved off what could have become a major incident with Caro at the reins.

Just then Stephen’s head peeped round the door. He smiled at the two of them and took a few steps into the room. “Good afternoon, ladies. I’m off to White’s for a bit. I’m meeting Richard there for a couple of drinks. I’ll be back in a couple of hours, Caro.

Don’t forget we’re going to the Billingham’s for their musical evening tonight. I can’t believe you couldn’t get us out of that, by the way. You know how much I abhor musicales.”

“Richard?” Caroline’s voice rose to a squeak, and she tossed a dismayed glance toward Lily. “You’re meeting Richard at White’s? But he’s in the country, isn’t he?

Surely he’s not back yet? I thought he was going to be gone several more days.”

“Nope. He got back a couple of days ago. Finished up his business early and came back up.” He crossed over to kiss his wife goodbye. “Now you two ladies stay out of trouble while I’m away. I’ll be home by five, sweetheart.” Then he was gone.

The room was so silent you could have heard a pin drop. Lily had heard that expression all her life, but now she finally understood it. She didn’t think she was even breathing.

“Oh, my lord.” Caroline whispered.

“Well, I guess that settles that question,” Lily finally spoke, feeling as though her whole world had just crumbled.

“Oh, Lily. I’m so sorry.” She reached out to clasp Lily’s hand.

“Yes. Me, too.”

“What mistake did you mean?”

“What?”

“Earlier, you said you’d made a mistake. If it wasn’t pregnancy, what was it?”

“I’m rather afraid that I’ve fallen in love with Richard.”

Caroline paled even more. “Oh, dear.”

The two women sat for a while in complete silence. Lily’s thoughts were so disarranged she couldn’t even make sense of them. It was over. Richard no longer wanted her. He had been in town for two days and had made no effort to see her at all. He’d probably been out searching for a bride, she thought waspishly. Some blue-blooded simpering miss who hadn’t two thoughts in her head. She wondered idly if he’d made his choice yet. Perhaps she’d open the newspaper tomorrow and read the announcement of his engagement. Wouldn’t that just be wonderful? She didn’t think she’d be able to stand seeing him around town, dancing with his affianced bride, making her laugh and desire him. Would he even invite her to the wedding? Probably so considering her close friendship with Caroline and Stephen. Her stomach knotted at the painful thought.

She had to leave town. She would return to Melksham. Yes, that was it. She would go home and, if by some amazing chance she was with child, she would consider it a blessing.
Richard need never even know
, she thought. She could swear Caro and Stephen to secrecy as to who the father was. She could pretend that she’d had an affair with another man if Richard ever asked. She would raise the child, and love it more than any child had ever been loved. Oh, she knew it would make her an outcast from society, but truthfully, she had never been much interested in the social set. Only a few close friends like Caroline and Stephen mattered to her at all. And they would support her. For the rest, she didn’t care one whit. It would cause a scandal, of course. But she could weather the storm. Yes, that is exactly what she would do.

“I know exactly what you must do, Lily.” Caroline’s words echoed her own thoughts so closely that for a moment she didn’t even realize her friend had spoken. Then she smiled. They thought a lot alike.

“Yes, me too. I’ve made up my mind.”

“You must fight for him.”

“Yes, I’ll leave…what?” She could hear the astonishment in her own voice as she finally comprehended what Caro had just said.

Her friend turned to face her, a determined light in her eyes and a stubborn tilt to her chin. “You must fight for the man you love, Lily. For your child’s father. For the life that you can have together.”

Lily laughed, though the sound was singularly lacking in humor. “Don’t be ridiculous, Caroline. He doesn’t want me. That’s obvious. I refuse to humiliate myself by throwing myself at a man who doesn’t want me.”

“I don’t believe it. Not for one second. I’ve seen the way he’s been when he’s around you, the way he looks at you. He cares. Deeply. I think he’s running scared, is all. He has probably realized that his feelings are getting all tangled up in your relationship. He’s frightened. It’s a typical male reaction, Lily.” Caroline nodded as if emphasizing the accuracy of her statement. “Believe me, Stephen was much the same way. It’s an instinctive reaction in men to run when they know they’re about to be captured.”

“That has got to be the most asinine thing you have ever said to me, Caro. And you have said some pretty insane things before. But that one takes the cake. Richard is not afraid, for goodness sakes.” She shook her head. “You’re not going to change my mind.

I’m going home, Caro. The sooner the better. I won’t hang around and be the duke’s pathetic former lover. An object of pity for the
ton
.”

Caroline frowned. “I never would have believed it if I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes.”

Lily shook her head. “What are you going on about now?”

“You’re a coward, Lilith Elaine Morely. A yellow-bellied coward.”

“What?” Lily drew herself up. “I am no such thing.”

“You’re afraid to fight for your man. That’s pretty cowardly if you ask me. I always thought you were brave, Lily. But I’m beginning to see another side of you, and I have to say I am not impressed.”

“I…I…I…” Lily was speechless. Was Caroline right? Was she giving up without a fight? Was Richard and what they had worth fighting for? What a question. Of course he was. And when had Caro become so damn smart? Maybe she was right. Lily was acting like a coward. What was it Wollstonecraft said? Ah yes…
How can a rational being be
ennobled by anything that is not obtained by its own exertions?
Well, perhaps it was time to exert herself.

“You must try, Lily. You will be so sorry if you don’t.”

Still she hesitated. “I don’t know if I can. What if I try and he rejects me? I would die.”

“Pshaw. A little embarrassment. What’s that to you? But wouldn’t you rather go down fighting than skulk off to Melksham like some beaten dog, too pathetic to even try?

Wouldn’t you rather know for sure? If there’s even the slightest possibility…”

Maybe…
Lily thought. Maybe she should. But…“I…I wouldn’t even know how to begin to fight, Caroline. I’ve never fought for a man before. Or where to start.”

“Luckily I do. And we’ll start where women of courage always start.” Caro’s eyes had a wicked glint. “With your wardrobe.”

Lily started to grin.

* * * *

Richard waited anxiously at White’s for Stephen to join him. So far their plan was working perfectly. He’d cooled things off a bit with Lily, hoping that she would begin to miss him and realize how much she had begun to care for him. Stephen was supposed to launch the latest salvo this afternoon, and Richard couldn’t wait to find out what had happened. At last he saw his friend making his way across the room toward him. He took in Stephen’s wide grin and felt a rush of relief. Good news, then.

After Stephen had sat down and ordered a drink from a passing waiter, Richard asked, “So, tell me. How did it go?”

His friend chuckled. “I wish you could have seen their faces when I said you’d been in town for several days. It was priceless. They were both completely speechless, and I can tell you that is
not
Caroline’s usual state. I’m surprised your ears aren’t burning. I’d be willing to wager my entire estate that you are the only topic of conversation between those two right now.”

Richard took a sip of his drink and sat back. “I just hope we haven’t gone too far with this, Stephen. Are you sure this is going to work?”

“Absolutely. You’ve got to be willing to fight for the woman you love, Richard. You said you’d be willing to try anything.”

He shook his head. “I know, but…I don’t want to hurt her. Or to send her haring off back to Melksham with her tail tucked between her legs thinking I’ve rejected her.”

“Are you kidding me? Lily? Running away? Not on your life. She’s a fighter, that one. So you’d better be prepared to brace yourself. There’s no telling what she and Caro are plotting right now. Neither of those two women is likely to let this go by without any return volleys. You can bet that they’ve got something in the works.”

“You’re sure she wasn’t hurt or anything?”

“Positive. Although…”

“Although what?”

“ Well, now that I think on it, she did look a bit as if she’d been crying.”

“Crying?” Richard rose halfway out of his seat. “I need to go and talk to her right away. I should have known this was a bad idea.”

“No. No. Wait. I know what it must have been. I bet Caroline told her our news.

They were probably tears of joy.”

“News?” He sat back down. “What news?”

The waiter chose that moment to set Stephen’s drink in front of him, and he reached out to pick it up and raise it high.

“Congratulate me, my friend. Caro and I are expecting a happy event.”

Richard broke into a huge grin. “Good lord. Congratulations indeed. That is excellent news.” He raised his glass and clinked his glass to Stephen’s. “Here’s to the next little Brentwood. May he or she look like their mother.”

They both drank, and then Stephen smiled. “That’s another reason why you two need to get this settled as soon as possible. My son or daughter is going to need a playmate or two.”

Richard laughed and shook his head. “I’ll do my damndest to accommodate you, Stephen.”

Chapter Seven

Lily entered the ballroom of the Marquis and Marchioness of Rumsford, her stomach in knots but determination stiffening her spine. She paused on the top step, aware that she was the focus of several sets of eyes. Her gown was, in her own personal opinion, utterly gorgeous and outrageously shocking. A pale green and silver confection, it hugged her bodice and set off her gentle curves in a way no debutante would dare risk for fear of being considered fast. The neckline was low, lower than anything Lily had ever dared wear before, and she feared with each breath that a nipple might pop right out over the tulle that lined the top edge of the gown. It was also tight, pushing her already generous breasts to a wanton display. Her hair was a glorious cloud of dark curls, and her lips held a knowing smile she’d practiced for an hour before the mirror that afternoon. Caroline had been right. This was a battle, and she was wearing full armor for the fight she was about to wage.

She, Stephen, and Caro proceeded on down the steps and into the crowded ballroom.

Trying to appear inconspicuous, she surreptitiously searched the room for any sign of Richard. He had to attend tonight. She and Caroline had discussed it. This was one of the premiere balls of the season, and everyone who was anyone would be here. As they made their way through the crowd and came to a fairly empty spot, Stephen was hailed by an acquaintance. They halted to speak to the gentleman and his wife, and it wasn’t long before they were surrounded by a large group of people, several of whom were gentlemen who wished to step into the breach left by the absence of the Duke of Carlisle.

Lily forced herself to false gaiety, laughing and conversing with her importuning suitors as though she were enjoying herself utterly. If anyone were watching, they would never guess her inner uncertainty or nervousness. She accepted their offers to dance and to fetch her champagne until she thought that her face would freeze into a permanent smile.

Where was Richard? If he didn’t show up tonight, this whole act would have been for naught. She exchanged a worried glance with Caroline.

Acquiescing to yet another request for a dance, this time from a handsome cavalry officer, she and her partner joined the couples circling the dance floor. Thankfully it was a quadrille, so she didn’t have to worry about keeping up with the conversation. She was just exiting the dance floor with the officer when she turned around and met the dark eyes of the duke. She watched as his gaze traveled the length of her body in a slow, measured stare. When his eyes reached hers, they were blazing with a familiar fire. She was about to step forward and speak to him, when a woman’s arm slid through his.

“Darling, you promised me this next dance. It’s a waltz, and you know how I love to waltz.” Lily’s gaze flew to the woman clinging so tightly to Richard’s arm. The striking blonde looked familiar, but Lily couldn’t quite place her for a moment. Then it struck her.

Caroline had pointed her out to Lily one night at the theater. It was Ann Fortesque. One of Richard’s former mistresses. She felt as if she’d been punched in the stomach. She wanted to turn and run but forced herself to lift her chin and turn away before she had to watch Richard pull the woman into his arms and waltz her around the dance floor. The officer escorted her back to where Caroline stood, a distressed look on her face. She’d obviously seen the whole thing.