A Ladys Pleasure (13 page)

“Oh, come on. That’s not the man I know. Giving up when things get a little rough.

You know if you don’t try, you’ll regret it for the rest of your life.”

Richard acknowledged his friend’s statement with a reluctant smile. “You know all the right chains to yank, don’t you?”

Stephen smiled back. “Only because you and I are so much alike. And I know if it were me and I was trying to win Caroline, I would not give up. Not yet. Maybe not ever.

And I would hope that you would not let me drown my sorrows in a whiskey bottle instead of trying everything I possibly could to get her back.”

He didn’t know if he still had any hope of winning Lily, but he knew Stephen was right. He couldn’t give up on the chance. The thought of spending the rest of his life without her was unbearable.

“All right. I’ll go.”

“Good man.”

* * * *

The next afternoon, Lily strolled with Caroline and Stephen across the grassy lawn towards the hot air balloon which towered above the gathered crowd. It was an amazing sight, but Lily’s mind was not really on the balloon. Instead, all she could think about was Richard. Would he come? Caroline had assured her that he would be there, but she couldn’t stop herself from worrying. She’d wanted him to understand that what he had done was unacceptable. To insure that he never did any such thing again. But perhaps she had pushed things too far.

“Come on,” her thoughts were interrupted by Stephen’s voice, “this way.”

Scattered around the area were spread blankets on which ladies and gentleman sat, eating their picnic lunches and avidly watching the preparations which were being made for the ascension. Stephen directed the ladies towards a blanket set beneath the spreading branches of a large oak, beside which stood one of Stephen’s friends, Sir Evan Spencer, whom Lily remembered from the house party. She darted a glance toward Caro who grinned.

“Well, I didn’t think it could hurt.”

Lily rolled her eyes, and Stephen cast them both a suspicious look. Caroline just linked arms with Lily and pulled her towards the blanket.

“Sir Evan! How good to see you. Thank you so much for saving our spot.” Caro held out her hand, and the baronet took it.

“It’s my pleasure, my lady.” He bent over Caroline’s hand with what Lily noticed was a very practiced move. Then he smiled at her. “And Lady Morely. I am so glad you were feeling up to joining us today.”

“It’s good to see you again, Sir Evan.” She couldn’t prevent the blush that crept into her cheeks as she recalled the rather intimate circumstances in which she had last seen the young baronet.

“Yes, Spencer. Glad you could make it.” Stephen moved forward to place the picnic basket he had been carrying in the center of the blanket.

Lily and Caroline settled themselves down, and the gentlemen joined them quickly.

It wasn’t long before they were all happily enjoying the delicious repast. They passed a pleasant half hour finishing their meal and discussing the forthcoming ascension. As the gentlemen bantered back and forth about the possibilities of balloon flight, Lily glanced around again as she had been doing surreptitiously since she’d arrived, trying to catch a glimpse of Richard.

She didn’t see him anywhere. Disappointed, she turned back around, and her eyes met Caroline’s who lifted her chin at a point over Lily’s left shoulder. She stole another quick look, and there he was standing amidst a small group of people, his eyes focused unblinkingly on her.

When she turned back around, Caro smiled. “Sir Evan? Why don’t you take Lily and show her the Queen’s Basin? I know she would adore seeing it. She just loves that sort of thing. Don’t you, Lily?”

“Indeed I do. Would you mind, sir?”

He grinned and stood, holding out his hand to help her rise. “I’d love to, my lady.”

Not daring to risk another look in Richard’s direction, she allowed the young baron to tuck her arm into the curve of his elbow and guide her along the path.

“So tell me, Lady Morely, am I taking my life in my own hands by escorting you to see the Basin?”

Startled, she looked over at him. His eyes twinkled down into hers.

“Now, now, my lady. No dissembling, please. I collect that I am here to make a point to His Grace, am I not?”

She flushed and looked down, ashamed at herself for attempting to use him in such a way. “I am so sorry, Sir Evan. ’Twas a foolish plan. Indeed, perhaps we should turn back.”

He chuckled softly. “No, indeed, my lady. I think it’s about time that Richard found himself leg-shackled. And I cannot think of anyone better equipped to fill the bill than yourself. I quite like the idea of being the…what shall we call it…ah, yes, the spur that sends the thoroughbred after his mare.”

Lily couldn’t prevent her lip from twitching at the baron’s phrasing, even as she widened her eyes and pretended outrage. “Sir, what a thing to suggest! As if I would ever…play such…games. And to compare me to a mare…”

He laughed out loud at that. “Oh, my lady. You are indeed going to lead His Grace on quite a merry chase. I must confess that I am somewhat envious.” She met his flirtatious grin with one of her own. “Now, I do hope there is to be no call for fisticuffs or pistols at dawn or any such thing.”

“Oh, no, Sir Evan,” she assured him. “Nothing like that. I’m sure there will be nothing harsher than some strong language from the duke.”

They halted next to the Queen’s Basin, and the baron’s eyes narrowed as he peered over her shoulder. “I sincerely hope you are correct, Lily, because the duke is coming up behind you, and he looks absolutely furious.”

He reached down and brushed a stray hair off Lily’s face, tucking it beneath her bonnet in what must have looked to the approaching duke like a very intimate exchange.

She gasped as his fingers stroked across her cheek. Her eyes widened, but the baronet murmured, “Shh. Just follow my lead.” He stepped closer, putting his hands on her shoulders.

“Get your slimy hands off her, you snivel-nosed muckworm.”

Lily’s eyes widened as they met the baronet’s and then looked over to her right where the duke stood, steam practically coming out of his ears.

Sir Evan’s grasp tightened. “You don’t own the lady, Richard. And I don’t hear her asking for me to remove my hands. Do you?”

Lily watched fascinated as a muscle in Richard’s cheek began to jump.

“I’m warning you one more time to let her go,” Richard growled, and Lily began to feel alarmed at the banked fury in his expression.

The baronet laughed. “Make me.” Lily couldn’t believe her ears at that challenge.

Hadn’t he said he didn’t want fisticuffs? What on earth was he thinking egging Richard on like that?

She heard Richard’s, “My pleasure,” only a second before she was pulled from Sir Evan’s arms and shoved aside. Then Richard loosed a punch that caught the baronet on the chin.

“Oh, my heavens.” She stood looking on, appalled as the two men continued to slug one another, circling and throwing punches. Vaguely she was aware that some ladies nearby were screaming and men were running in their direction, but she couldn’t tear her eyes away from the scene in front of her.

“What on earth?” Stephen stepped up beside her with Caroline close on his heels.

In a worried voice, Lily told her friends, “I promised Sir Evan there would be no fisticuffs.”

She felt Caroline’s hand wrap around hers for a quick squeeze. They stood watching as the fight gained momentum. While the men battled, they kept moving closer and closer to the edge of the Basin. What happened after that was inevitable. One moment they were dancing around, exchanging blows. The next instant one of them had tumbled over and fallen into the water.

“Richard!” Lily screamed, racing to the side to peer down and scan the surface. A moment later the duke’s head broke through, and Lily felt a wave of relief. Then he was swimming to a nearby embankment where he was summarily hauled out by a couple of the gentlemen who stood there.

An appalled silence fell over the crowd as Richard, His Grace the Duke of Carlisle, squished his way past them. Lily covered her mouth in dismay as a nervous giggle escaped. The duke shot a fulminating glare in her direction before moving on in dignified, though soggy, silence.

Lily turned to Caroline. “I have to go after him.”

Stephen shook his head. “I think you should give him a little time to calm down, Lily. He looked a bit…upset.”

She shot him a disbelieving look. “Upset? Yes, I suppose you could say he is upset.”

Caroline put her arm around Lily’s shoulders. “Come, we’ll go home. And once everything’s settled down—”

“No. I must go now.” She knew that it was vital that she speak to Richard as soon as possible. “If you won’t take me, I’ll find someone else.” She turned to search for anyone who might give her a ride.

Stephen touched her shoulder. “No. That’s not necessary. If you insist on going to Richard’s, we will take you.”

She turned to look at Stephen, her relief making her lightheaded. “Thank you. Thank you so much. Let’s go now.”

Sir Evan stepped in front of her, his hands reaching out to steady her as she swayed slightly. “I am so sorry things got so insane, my lady.”

She nodded and raised her hands to pat him comfortingly on the chest. “I know, Sir Evan. It’s not your fault. This kind of thing seems to be the norm where Richard and I are concerned.” She pulled away from his hold. “Now I must go.”

She followed Stephen across the park with Caroline right beside her chattering away nervously and offering advice that Lily barely even registered. All she could think about was getting to Richard and settling things between them once and for all.

In a few minutes they were in the carriage and headed to the duke’s townhouse. It didn’t take long before they pulled to a halt, and Lily reached for the door handle.

Stephen’s hand came out to stop her.

“Lily, are you sure—”

She met his gaze firmly. “I’m sure. Please, don’t worry.”

The footman helped her descend from the carriage, and she turned to her friends.

“Go home. I’ll be there later.”

She could tell that they wanted to protest her decision, but Stephen finally nodded and directed the footman to close the door. Caroline leaned out the window. “We’ll leave once you’re inside, Lily. And good luck, sweetheart.”

Lily smiled in acknowledgement to her friend and then climbed the steps to the front door. She waited impatiently on the duke’s doorstep for his butler to answer her knock.

She could feel her friends’ eyes burning into her back as they waited in the carriage to see if Lily would be allowed inside. The door opened, and the same stately butler she’d seen the night of the Rumsford’s ball stood staring down at her in disapproval. “Yes, madam?

May I help you?”

“I am here to see the duke. Please tell him that his fiancé has arrived.”

Without giving the butler a chance to deny her entrance, she turned to wave to Caro and Stephen and then slid past him and strode across the entryway towards the room that Richard had taken her to on her previous visit. She glanced over her shoulder at the butler, who stood staring at her in silence, his widened eyes and reddening cheeks the only indication that she had flustered him. Lily smothered a smile, sure that not many would dare to barge uninvited into the duke’s residence as she had just done.

She had no time to soothe the ruffled feelings of the duke’s servants, however.

Raising her eyebrow imperiously, she sniffed. “Well? Don’t just stand there with the front door open. Tell the duke that I am waiting for him in his study, if you please.”

With that, she entered the room and closed the door firmly behind her. She turned to press her ear to the door and finally heard the butler’s heavy steps as they moved across the entry and headed up the stairs. Letting out a relieved breath, she crossed the room to the duke’s liquor cabinet and poured herself a small measure of brandy. She needed some type of fortification for the coming confrontation. She’d just swallowed a large gulp when the door burst open and the duke, wearing only a dark blue robe, entered. His hair was in damp disarray as though he’d been toweling it dry when he was interrupted by his butler’s announcement. His eyes narrowed suspiciously as he spotted her across the room. He shut the door and then leaned back against it, arms crossed over his chest. Lily tried not to notice how attractive he looked standing there, the dusky hair of his chest peeking over the loosely wrapped collar of his robe.

“So. Did I understand my butler correctly? Did you say you were my…fiancé?”

She jerked her eyes off his chest and took another quick swallow of the brandy.

“Yes. I did.”

*

Richard had been stunned when his butler had told him that Lily was downstairs in his study claiming to be his fiancé. In disbelief, he had hurriedly finished drying off and then rushed down the stairs, sure that there had to have been some mistake. But there she was. Pretty as you please. Making herself at home and drinking his best brandy.

He’d never before in his life felt tongue-tied. He was a duke. A peer of the realm. He had been known to make grown men shake in their boots and charm beautiful women out of their knickers. Yet here he stood, clueless as to what to say to Lily.

When he’d seen her in the park with that fool Spencer, he had felt a rush of jealous rage that she would allow another man to touch her. He hadn’t thought before he had reacted. And after he’d fallen into the basin, he had been completely humiliated that he had let himself get so out of control over a woman. He had wanted nothing more than to rush home with what little dignity he had left and wallow in self-pity. He knew that he had probably lost any chance he might have had of winning Lily’s heart.

Lily stepped forward. “I think we should talk. Don’t you?”

He shook his head. “I don’t think this is a good time. In case you haven’t notice, I have just made a total and complete ass of myself in front of the
haute ton
.”

“Yes, I am somewhat familiar with the feeling, Your Grace.”

Richard knew immediately to what Lily referred, and he felt a guilty flush rising to his cheeks. Another first. “Is that what this was, Lily? A way to get back at me for what I did to you? To teach me a lesson?”