A Ladys Pleasure (12 page)

“Gentlemen,” Caroline stepped forward and took Lily’s hand, “I hope you will excuse us for a few minutes?”

Dragging Lily by the hand, she pulled her down the hall to the lady’s retiring room.

Luckily it was empty. Caro took her by the shoulders and gave them a quick shake. “Get a hold of yourself, Lily. You’ve gone white as a ghost. You can’t let Richard see you like this.”

She just slumped down in a nearby chair. She knew her face must be pale with shock. “I don’t know if I can go through with this, Caro. Did you see him with that woman?”

“Oh, fudge. He’s not interested in Ann Fortesque. For heaven’s sake, he gave her the
congé
months ago. If he’d still wanted her, believe me, he wouldn’t have ended things.

And you look ten times more beautiful than she ever thought about. Did you see the look on Richard’s face when he saw you? Ha! He knows his days are numbered. Just ignore any of his former lady loves that he tries to dangle in front of your face. Richard has never been one for re-tilling ground he’s already planted, if you know what I mean. He’s doing exactly what I suspected. Running scared.”

“You’re sure?”

“Absolutely. Now pinch your cheeks and get some color in them. And go out there and fight for him, Lily. Remember the plan.”

Lily took a deep breath and stood up. Doing as her friend said, she pinched her cheeks and bit her lips to put some color in her face. Squaring her shoulders, she went out to rejoin the battle.

It took her a while before she spotted Richard again. This time he was with a voluptuous redhead that she didn’t recognize. She looked at Caroline who leaned over to whisper. “Lady Martha Edwards. She’s been trying to get her hooks into Richard for several months, but he’s managed to avoid her like the plague. He never did go for overblown doxies.”

Lily smiled at Caroline’s assessment, but when she glanced back over to where Richard and the lady had stood, she spotted them slipping out the door that led to the back verandah. Right before they disappeared from sight, she saw Richard look back for a moment as if seeking someone. Then the lady spoke, and he turned back around. Her eyes narrowed. She very much suspected that he had been looking for her. Now why would he do that? What on earth was he trying to pull? Her eyes hardened. She had had it. Enough was enough. If he wanted to break with her, he could have the good manners to say it to her face. To end it this way was rude and cowardly.

Really, if this was the way he ended all of his affairs, she was surprised any of his former lady loves would even speak to him. Then she realized that he hadn’t. It was obvious he had still been on good terms with Mrs.Fortesque. And she had never heard the first hint that he had been callous and unfeeling in any of his previous relationships. No, she was the only one he had treated so disgracefully. But why? Why would he treat her so differently? The light began to dawn. Caroline was right. She hadn’t been certain until this very moment, but now she was. The dimwitted clodpole. He was deliberately trying to make her angry. To keep her at a distance. Or to make her jealous. Could that be it?

But why would he want to make her jealous unless…the light was beginning to dawn.

“Will you please excuse me, Caro? There’s something I really must do.”

Before Caroline could say anything, Lily turned and headed towards the doors through which Richard and his ladyfriend had exited.

It took her several long minutes to locate them. When she finally spotted the couple, they were standing very close together in a dark corner, seemingly engrossed in one another. The lady’s hand was on Richard’s arm, and he was leaning close, as if they were about to kiss. When the woman leaned closer, pressing her breasts against Richard’s chest, Lily reached a breaking point.

“That does it.” Gathering her skirts, she quickly headed for the duo, ignoring the stares and comment she was exciting, no doubt at the expression on her face and her obvious destination. As if sensing the looming disaster, Richard looked up just as Lily reached out and grabbed hold of the woman’s arm. Yanking her away from the duke, she shoved her face right up against the startled one before her.

“Listen to me, you brazen hussy. Keep your hands off of Richard or you’ll be sorry.

The duke is mine. Do you hear me? And if I ever see you near him again, I’ll tear every hair out of your head.”

Shocked exclamations could be heard from those observing the confrontation, but Lily didn’t care that she was causing a scene. The woman’s face turned red, but then she drew herself up and shot her a withering glance. She sent Lily a pitying smile that infuriated her even more. “Obviously he’s not yours or he wouldn’t be out here with me.

It’s plain who he prefers. You really should take the hint, Lady Morely. It’s time to cut your losses. You’re not wanted here. Why don’t you just scurry on back to your little country cottage and find a gentleman more your sort? You’re out of your element here.”

Then she reached up and kissed Richard right on the mouth.

Lily saw red. It barely even penetrated her consciousness that Richard had not responded to the kiss. Had, in fact, backed away from the lady, a look of startled alarm in his expression. All sense of propriety or decorum was lost. Lily pulled the woman around to face her again. “I’ll show you who’s not wanted.” Drawing back her arm, she slapped the woman hard across the face, her palm stinging from the impact.

The furious lady let out a shriek. “You crazy bitch!” She dove forward, grabbing Lily’s dress and giving a sharp tug. Lily heard the rip of fabric, but was too busy grabbing her opponent’s hair and yanking it to pay any attention. Her own hair was pulled. Dimly she heard the distant screams and cries of dismay, but she paid them no mind. She was fighting for her man, and it felt damn good. She was going to rip this man-stealing slut to pieces.

Suddenly she was grabbed from behind and pulled, kicking and screaming off the lady. “Let me go. Let me go. I’m not finished.”

“Good God. I’ve created a mad woman.”

Lily recognized Richard’s voice. She stopped struggling and stared at the object of her fury.

Mrs.Fortesque looked like she’d been dragged through a briar patch. She too was being restrained by someone. Lily realized it was Stephen just as she heard Caroline’s voice saying weakly, “When I said you should fight for your man, Lily, I was speaking more metaphorically, you know.”

She heard Stephen say, “I’ve called for your carriage, Richard,” then she was being set down and quickly marched through the crowd, Richard’s hand on her arm in an inflexible hold. He ignored the stares and mutters of the partygoers, leading her straight to the exit and out the door without a single word. He stuffed her into the carriage that waited at the front steps before quickly following in after her. He signaled the driver to go before sitting back on the opposite seat and turning to stare out the window.

Lily was appalled at her own behavior. The silence stretched between the two of them as the carriage made its way through the streets. Oh, my heavens. What on earth had she just done? She closed her eyes in disbelief. She knew she would be the object of gossip tomorrow. Hell, for the rest of the season. And she had probably humiliated Richard beyond redemption. He would never forgive her. And poor Caro and Stephen.

She slumped in her seat, more dejected than she could ever remember being, even during the dark days of her marriage to her Edgar Laughton.

She chanced a peek at Richard and saw his shoulders shaking. Oh, no. He was crying. It must have been even worse than she had suspected. She reached out a hand of comfort. Haltingly she tried to apologize.

“Richard, I don’t know what to say. There is absolutely no excuse for my behavior.

I’m so sorry.” When he felt her touch on his leg, he finally turned to look at her. His face was covered in a huge smile. When he met her eyes with his, he burst into laughter.

“Oh, my God, Lily.” He spoke between guffaws. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like that before in my life.” More laughter. “The expression on Ann’s face when you slapped her.” He clutched his sides as another bout of laughter took him. “It was priceless.”

At first Lily was relieved that he wasn’t upset or angry. She even began to tentatively smile back at him. But the more he laughed, the more irritated she became. Then irritation turned to anger. “What is so funny, Your Grace? You find it amusing that you have driven me into acting like someone escaped from Bedlam? You think it humorous that I have humiliated myself in front of the most important ladies and gentlemen of the
ton
? That I will be the object of ridicule for the gossipmongers?”

He stopped laughing finally and just smiled at her. That made her even madder. “Oh, you inconsiderate oaf. And to think I thought I was in love with you. That I had changed my mind about marriage. I was insane. Thank goodness I have now come to my senses. I hope I never have to see you again as long as I live.”

She hadn’t noticed that the carriage had pulled to a stop. When the coachman opened the door, Richard didn’t say a word. He just exited and held his hand out for her. Ignoring his polite gesture, she got out of the carriage without assistance. Still blinded by her anger, she didn’t notice at first that they had arrived, not at Caroline and Stephen’s townhome, but at one she had never seen before.

She shot a suspicious glance at the duke. “Where have you brought me?”

“This is my home, Lily. Please, come inside. I think it’s past time you and I had a little talk. Don’t you?”

Again ignoring his outstretched hand, she stomped up the steps and through the door held open by a dignified butler. Richard quickly led the way to a nearby room, which appeared to be a study.

Richard shut the door behind him with a decided thud and then crossed to a tall cabinet where he poured two glasses of an amber-colored liquid. Lily watched him, her nerves frazzled and a dull feeling of nausea in the pit of her stomach. He approached her and offered her one of the glasses. He tossed back his own in a quick gulp. Lily did the same and gasped at the liquid fire that had burned down her throat and hit her churning stomach.

He took her glass and set it aside with his own. Then he enfolded her hands in his and gazed deeply into her eyes.

“I love you, Lily. Will you marry me?”

Lily said no, of course, and then threw up all over his shiny black shoes.

A week had passed and the duke still had not been able to talk to Lily. After that fiasco of a night at the Rumsford’s ball, he had taken her home at her request because she had been feeling poorly. His valet still hadn’t quite forgiven him for the mess his shoes had been in. The next day he had gone directly to Stephen and Caroline’s so that they could talk and he could press his suit with her, only to be told by Caroline that Lily still wasn’t feeling up to snuff and was not accepting callers. And so it had gone on every single day since. He had sent her letters, which she had returned unopened. Gifts of flowers and jewelry. All sent directly back. The duke had finally reached the horrendous conclusion that the lady might have been serious when she had refused his proposal.

Perhaps he had destroyed all hope of winning her with that ridiculous plan.

He wanted to blame Stephen for the situation in which he now found himself, but the truth was that he had been all for the idea. It had seemed so simple. Make Lily jealous, and she would see how much she cared for him. Then she would surely accept his offer of marriage, and they could live happily ever after. Bah! Now the whole thing left a taste of dust and ashes in his mouth. He reached out and poured himself another glass of whiskey, lifting the drink and studying the dark liquid as it refracted the light from a nearby fire before tossing it back with one quick swallow. How many glasses was it going to take to dull the feeling of hopelessness which had gradually been creeping upon him the last few days?

“There you are, Richard.”

He looked up and saw Stephen settling in the seat across from him. He supposed it had been inevitable that his friend would eventually show up here at White’s. He poured another drink and raised it in a toast.

“Where else would I be, old son? My lady love has denied my suit and refuses my presence. I have nowhere else to go. This…this has become my home.” He gestured widely.

He saw Stephen’s eyes widen. “You’re cup-shot.”

Richard shook his head. “I only wish.”

“Egads, Richard, is this what you have come to? Drowning your sorrows in a bottle of whiskey over a woman? Where’s your pride, man?”

“It seems I have no pride left. And Lily is not just some
woman
.”

“I know that. I know how you feel about her. Don’t give up, my friend. You can still win her.”

Richard laughed harshly. “She won’t even see me. Doesn’t read my letters. Hell, she’s not even attending any of the balls or soirees. She hasn’t gone to the opera or the ballet. It’s a bit difficult to press my suit when the lady is unavailable.”

Stephen leaned forward and grabbed the bottle as Richard reached for it again. He set it aside, just out of reach, and Richard glared at him.

Stephen capped the whiskey. “Is this really helping?”

Richard’s mouth tightened. What could he say? That nothing was helping? That he didn’t know if he’d ever be able to crawl out of the pit of wretched defeat that he had fallen into? That the most the alcohol did was blur the emptiness and pain for a short while?

“I didn’t think so.” Stephen gave him a sympathetic smile.

Richard grimaced, leaning back and crossing his arms before nodding. “Say whatever you feel like you need to say, Stephen,” he muttered, “and then go.”

“Just listen to me, man. I’m trying to help you. That’s the only reason why I am here.

Lily’s finally agreed to get out of the house and rejoin the social whirl. She will be attending the balloon ascension tomorrow at The Green Park with Caroline and myself. It will be the perfect opportunity for you to steal some time alone with her.”

“I don’t know, Stephen. She seems pretty adamant about not wanting to have anything to do with me.” Richard tried not to let his friend’s news raise his hopes. Just because she was going out didn’t mean she’d changed her mind about him.