A Secret Affair (2 page)

Lady Lenora Harcourt. He’d met her a few times at various social events. She was a widow. A wealthy one. Rumor had it she’d just broken off with her last lover. Apparently she was in search of another. Her deceased husband, Lord Geoffrey Harcourt, was known for his prowess at investing large sums of money, some of which he’d invested for the King. He’d been awarded a viscountcy for his efforts. Aside from being a viscountess, Lady Lenora was quite beautiful and sought after. Why on earth was she bidding on
him
?

“I bid fifty pounds,” Lady Lenora repeated, a slow smile on her face.

So much blunt. Charlie doubted even Jordan would risk losing that much for a joke. Charlie glanced back over at Annie. She appeared to be in an excited conversation with whoever was behind the wall. There was much gesticulating and raised voices.

“Well, Miss Andrews?” the auctioneer’s voice rose. “Do you intend to best the current bid of
fifty
pounds?”

After a bit more excited chatter, Annie faced the auctioneer. “Yes, sir. I do. Sixty pounds!”

Charlie groaned and fought the urge to bury his face in his hands. Honestly? Annie was going to continue this farce? Perhaps she was merely trying to drive up Lady Harcourt’s bid so that she might gain more money for the Society. If that was her game, she was also driving him mad with it. He’d give the charity fifty pounds right now if he could just get the hell off this dais.

“Sixty-five,” came Lady Harcourt’s answer.

Charlie glanced at her, raising his brow, allowing the hint of a smile to play along his lips. Flattering, that. To be the subject of such a beautiful woman’s interest. Even he didn’t think his company was worth sixty-five pounds.

Lady Harcourt inclined her head toward him in the barest acknowledgement that she’d seen his smile. The lady wanted to win this auction. Intriguing, really.

The discussion between Annie and the wall became even more animated before Annie disappeared behind it. What was she doing? The auctioneer’s voice came again. “Miss Andrews, do you care to bid?”

Charlie raised his gaze to the frescoed ceiling.
Please, Annie, stop.

Annie popped her head out from behind the wainscoting and took a deep breath. “I bid seventy pounds.”

“Seventy-five!” Lady Harcourt didn’t miss a beat.

This time, there was much ruffling and shuffling behind the wall before a lady’s form emerged beside Annie. The lovely silhouette marched straight toward the dais, her light green skirts rustling.

“Oh for heaven’s sake,” Annie’s conspirator called as she practically stomped forward. “I bid one-hundred-fifty pounds even!”

The air was sucked from the room. The lady came to stand just before Charlie, her arms folded serenely across her chest, a look of extreme antagonism on her face as she glared at Lady Lenora.

Charlie’s eyes widened. The bidder was no stranger. That blond hair. Those light blue eyes. Those silver spectacles. He’d met this particular lady a handful of times, and now it made sense why she’d been consorting with Annie. For Annie herself had introduced the two of them. She was Annie’s closest friend.

“I said I bid one-hundred-fifty pounds,” Miss Frances Birmingham repeated to the auctioneer. “And I expect an end to this.”

CHAPTER 3

“Oh, Frances, you were absolutely marvelous!” Annie declared the next afternoon over tea. She reached across the delicate rosewood table that adorned Frances’s mother’s drawing room and squeezed her friend’s pale hand.

Frances pressed her other hand to her chest to quiet the thumping of her heart. “I’m glad you think so, Annie, but I’m quite afraid you’re the only one.”

“Nonsense,” Annie replied. “You were magnificent. Why, when I think of how Lady Harcourt turned on her heel and left…” Annie giggled. “Well, it was just perfect, that’s all. She wasn’t about to match your one-hundred-fifty pounds.”

Frances lifted her teacup with a shaking hand. “Do you think … Do you think Mr. Holloway was … surprised?”

Annie’s bright brown eyes flashed. “Charlie? Oh, why of course he was. He wasn’t expecting it, naturally, but I heard Jordan say last night that Charlie was already taunting Tim and Michael over getting the highest bid.”

Frances smiled at that. She let out her breath. “Oh, I’m so glad. I was worried he’d be disappointed that Lady Lenora didn’t win.”

Annie slapped at her hand. “Don’t be ridiculous. How could anyone prefer Lady Lenora to you?”

Frances pushed up her spectacles on her nose. “You’re lovely and loyal, Annie. For that I am truly grateful.”

Annie clapped her hands. “Yes, well, I’m just glad the animals will receive much-needed money, of course.” She winked at Frances. “And if the bachelor auction also happens to have the benefit of bringing you and Mr. Holloway together in a timely fashion, well, so much the better.”

It was not as if the two friends hadn’t planned for this. They’d spent the last fortnight alternately preparing for Annie’s impending nuptials to the Earl of Ashbourne and plotting how exactly they would bring Mr. Holloway up to scratch for Frances.

“I still have no idea in the world how you were able to convince the ladies of the
ton
to agree to participate in a scandalous bachelor auction,” Frances said.

Annie laughed. “Oh, I’ve learned when a charity is involved, many things are forgiven,” she responded. “And it didn’t hurt to have the backing of the Marquis of Colton and the Earl of Ashbourne.”

“Of course not.” Frances laughed.

“Now, the Wilmingtons’ ball is tomorrow night, and you and Charlie will attend together,” Annie said. “We must discuss your gown. I expect he’ll call on you the day after. You’ll see each other a handful of times, and oh, Frances, wouldn’t it be wonderful if you two were married before Christmastide as well?”

Frances’s eyes nearly popped from her skull. She choked on her sip of tea. Placing the delicate china cup on the table next to her, she gave her head a hard shake. “Pardon? Did you just say that we might be married before Christmastide?”

“Yes, of course. If everything goes according to plan, that is,” Annie continued.

Frances pressed her hands to her knees. “You sound as if it’s all a foregone conclusion. Who is to say whether Mr. Holloway and I will even get on?”

Annie blinked rapidly. “Whatever do you mean? I thought you fancied him.”

Frances allowed the hint of a smile to touch her lips. “Oh, but I do. Very much so. He’s ever so handsome and charming and has been nothing but polite to me. But Annie, I barely know him.”

The look of complete surprise on Annie’s face made Frances’s smile widen. “Frances, don’t you believe in love at first sight?”

Frances shook her head. “I’m afraid I don’t. I’m quite keen on Mr. Holloway. That much is true, but for all I know, we have nothing in common. That’s why I wanted to win the auction, Annie. To spend time with him. To get to know him a bit better. See if we suit. I’m not about to declare myself in love with him just because of his oh-so-handsome face.”

A vision of that oh-so-handsome face flashed through Frances’s memory. Charlie Holloway had the same rugged good looks as his older brother, but instead of Lord Ashbourne’s grey eyes, Charlie’s were deep dark brown. He was tall and broad-shouldered with slightly curly dark brown hair, dark slashes for brows, high cheekbones, and lovely long eyelashes. Finish that off with an ever-so-intriguing cleft in his strong chin and the man was an absolute statue come to life.

“Well, I know him, and Charlie is just perfect, besides being oh-so-handsome, I assure you,” Annie added.

Frances’s thoughts snapped back to the conversation. “While you are a bit biased because he is soon to be your brother-in-law, I am certain he is a good man. I just need to know if he’s the right man for
me
.”

Annie took a sip of tea. “Oh, Frances, you’re so practical. That’s what I adore about you. Smart, honest, and practical to a fault.”

Frances snorted. “Practical, perhaps. But the fact is I don’t have a drop of coyness in me. That’s why I ended up coming forward and bidding one-hundred-fifty pounds. I was tired of hiding behind that blasted wall. Instead, I ended up looking like a complete madwoman.”

“No. Not at all. There’s something to be said for forthrightness,” Annie offered.

“No, there’s not, not as far as the ladies of the
ton
are concerned. I’m a complete mess. I cannot help myself. I don’t like to pretend. I like to get things out in the open, say what I mean. I’ve just never seen the point in wasting time not being clear.” She sighed. “Much to my mother’s eternal regret.”

“Nonsense, your Mama is quite proud of you, Frances.”

Frances wrinkled her nose. “You didn’t hear her telling Papa this morning that she’d never live down the shame of me stomping up to the dais like that.”

“She’s just concerned for your reputation. But nearly every young, unmarried female in town was there. There will be no harm. She’ll love Charlie too when she chaperones you to the ball tomorrow night. You’ll see.”

Frances pressed her palm against her cheek. “Yes, well, as to that. You’ll have to coach me on what to say.”

Annie’s brow furrowed. “Whatever do you mean?”

“I’m not charming like you, Annie. I say the first thing that rushes from my mouth. I’ll make a complete cake of myself, I’m certain of it.”

“No, of course you won’t. You’ll be your usual lovely self, and Charlie will fall head over heels.”

“I’m hardly charming. Half of the time at balls and other Society events, I’m listening in to see how other ladies comport themselves. Mama hates it when I eavesdrop, but I cannot help myself. Everyone else seems to know how to act. I have no idea how to flirt, for instance.”

Annie laughed softly. “Why, it’s simple. There’s nothing to it, really.”

“Show me,” Frances pleaded, moving forward in her seat. “Teach me how to flirt.”

Annie tapped her finger against her cheek, then she turned to face her friend. “Very well. You pretend to be Charlie, and I’ll pretend to be you.”

Frances nodded eagerly. “Excellent.” She cleared her throat and lowered her voice. “Good evening, Miss Birmingham, a pleasure to see you.”

Annie’s eyelashes fluttered. “Why, Mr. Holloway, the pleasure is mine.”

“I, er, you look lovely this evening.” Frances’s voice remained low.

Annie turned her head and pressed her chin to her shoulder, looking over at Frances with a coquettish smile. “And you, Mr. Holloway, look ever so handsome in your evening coat. I daresay I’ve never been so envious of fabric.”

Frances nearly shot out of her chair. “I cannot say
that
!”

Annie laughed and shrugged. “Whyever not? You just said you don’t like to be coy, and there’s no reason to be as far as I’m concerned. Be yourself, Frances. He’s sure to love you. Besides you want to stand out from your competition, do you not? I’ve no doubt Lady Harcourt has said worse.”

Frances rolled her eyes. “Ugh. Lady Lenora. Now there’s a woman who is gorgeous and perfectly adept at flirting. I haven’t a prayer of competing with that.”

Annie plunked her fist against her hip. “Nonsense. Lady Harcourt is beautiful, but she’s got none of your pluck, nor your intelligence or wit. Besides,” Annie added with a smile, “you could always challenge her to a duel if the need arose.”

Frances threw back her head and laughed. “Oh, Annie. You do make me laugh. And you’re right. I’ve no doubt I could best Lady Lenora in a duel. It’s a shame we’re not allowed to handle such matters the way the men do.”

Annie laughed too. “I agree. As I’m certain had I challenged Jordan’s former mistress to a duel, I would have handily defeated her.” She clapped her hands. “Now, let’s try another round of pretending you’re Charlie and I’m you. We’ll get it right yet.”

Frances nodded. “Very well. But remember, I’m only spending the evening with him to see how we two get on. It all may be for naught.”

Annie patted her friend’s shoulder. “Yes, well, absolutely. Remember, you’ll know when you feel butterflies winging through your stomach. That’s how I knew with Jordan.”

Frances raised both brows. “Butterflies?”

Annie sighed. “Yes. Butterflies. Now, let’s get to work. And after tomorrow night, when you clearly adore each other, we shall plan your wedding.”

Frances gave Annie an exasperated look. Oh, she had a plan all right, but she didn’t wish to discuss it yet. Not even with Annie.

CHAPTER 4

Charlie put the finishing touches on his cravat and spared one last glance at himself in the looking glass. Ah, he’d do. He was presentable. But he needed to be more than presentable after being won in an auction for a bloody fortune. Come to think of it, he’d best be charming too. Exceedingly so. One-hundred-fifty pounds worth of charming, in fact.

He shook his head. He still couldn’t believe it. Frances Birmingham had certainly surprised him with her deep pockets and her determination. If he were being honest, the few times Annie had introduced him to the girl, he’d barely noticed her. Oh, Jordan had mentioned something a time or two about Miss Birmingham, and Annie had put the young woman in his path on more than one occasion, but he hadn’t considered it much.

He met a great many people at parties, and now that Jordan had come to his senses and become engaged, Charlie was feeling much more free these days. Free to take his time looking for a bride if he ever indeed took one. There was much less pressure. He’d soon have to move out of Jordan’s London town house. It would no longer be a bachelor residence, but it was high time Charlie purchased his own property. Yes, Charlie had only just begun to enjoy his freedom. He had plans. Plans that would no doubt shock his brothers. But he’d deal with that later.

No, Miss Birmingham hadn’t been in his thoughts before, but tonight she was indeed. Just what did the girl expect of him in return for her one-hundred-fifty pounds? Charming conversation and a dance or two? Well, he was a gentleman, and he would see to it that she enjoyed herself. He’d already ordered the horses put to, and he’d be off in his coach to escort her and her mother to the ball.