Bargaining With a Rake (A Whisper of Scandal Novel) (6 page)

“Did you decide to explain everything
to Lionhurst?”

“She was just explaining,” Lord
Lionhurst declared.

Stunned at his blatant lie, Gillian
gaped at him, unsure how to correct his claim without actually calling him a
liar.

“Good, good.” Sally leaned toward
Lord Lionhurst. “So can you help her secure a marriage proposal from your
partner?”

“Sally, please.” Gillian glared at
Sally then turned to meet Lord Lionhurst’s gaze. She wished she hadn’t.

He assessed her in a most unfriendly
manner. “You surprise me, Lady Gillian.” His tone was low and hard.

She really didn’t want to know how
she surprised him, but what choice did she have? “How so, my lord?”

“I had allowed myself to consider for
a moment that you might be a genuine woman. Something I never do when it comes
to your ilk.”

His verbal flaying made her flinch.
She was nothing like the debutantes here. She did not want Mr. Sutherland for
his money, and though she did not love him yet, she believed in her heart she
could. That had to count for something.
It just had to
. She swallowed
back her emotions. Lord Lionhurst’s unfair judgment could not be the undoing of
her composure. “Lord Lionhurst, you don’t understand.”

Sally wagged a finger at him “You’re
being unfair. And it’s quite unlike you.”

If anything his expression grew
colder. Gillian could not resist rubbing at the goose flesh that popped up on
her arms. Silence stretched so that she wanted to bolt from his presence and
never see the man again. It was vastly unfair that he was partners with the man
she intended to marry. Maybe she could talk Mr. Sutherland into finding a new
partner in years to come. One who didn’t hate women.

Sally blew out a long sigh. “Darling,
you should apologize.”

His gaze locked on Gillian. “I’m
sorry you pulled the wool over my eyes.”

That was hardly an apology, but
Gillian forced a smile. “And I’m sorry you’re a cad.”

His faced darkened, but before he could
respond, Sally stamped her foot. “Play nice, children. You are both my friends,
and I’ll tolerate no quarrelling.”

Gillian locked gazes with him once
again. If he thought she would be the first to apologize, the man was mistaken.
She’d stand here all night, even if these slippers did pain her feet to
distraction.

“All right,” Sally said, irritation
lacing both words. “I see the two most stubborn people in the
ton
are
standing before me. “Come along, Gillian. The challenge of who will outlast the
other will have to wait. Your father sent me to find you.”

Gillian’s mouth went dry. She forced
herself to swallow. “Why?”

“Something about an important
announcement.”

Blast her father. The possibility of
what he might want to announce frightened her. Throwing decorum to the wind,
she whirled around to race down the stairs to stop her father’s madness. Two
steps into her charge, her slick shoe slid out from under her, and she hurtled
forward.

Warm hands slid around her waist,
jerking her back and locking under her rib cage, dangerously close to her
breasts. Hot breath tickled her neck. Lord Lionhurst pulled her close against
the hardness of his chest and powerful thighs. She shook, but it was not from
fear of her near fall. A bolt of desire streaked through her body, making her
weak in the knees.

This night was not going at all as
she had planned. She tried to wiggle out of his grasp, but he refused to
release her. Why wouldn’t he let go when he thought so little of her? Did he
want her profuse thanks? Did he expect her to faint or blubber on and on? She
straightened her shoulders and prayed she appeared composed and calm.

“Thank you for saving me.”

Heat radiated from the length of his
body to hers; his heartbeat tapped a fast rhythm against her back. He turned
her around on the step and tipped her chin up, until she looked into his eyes. He
did not look like he hated her. He looked like he might kiss her. Her pulse
leaped at the notion. She forced herself not to move.

He leaned toward her, and she closed
her eyes. His hand brushed her cheek and tucked an errant strand of her hair
behind her ear. “You need to slow down.”

Good God, but she really was a fool.
What must he think about her standing there and closing her eyes? She shivered
as his fingers traced a hot path down her jawbone. “There may not always be
someone there to catch you when you fall.”

It was not her fall she was afraid
of, and the reminder slammed her in the chest. She stepped back, aware of their
inappropriate closeness. “I’ll be careful,” she murmured.

“You’ve not
changed one whit since we were young,” Sally huffed beside her. “Disaster
follows your every footstep. Lionhurst is correct. You
do
need to slow down.” Sally gave her a
stern look. “Especially on slick steps. Not every man here is as quick on the
feet or as chivalrous as Lionhurst. It’s ghastly to admit, but some of these
fops wouldn’t risk wrinkling their fine coats in order to save a lady from
social disaster.”

Gillian peeked at Lord Lionhurst and
was surprised to find a blush tingeing the skin around the edges of his snowy
cravat. He pulled on his collar while bowing to them. “As I’ve performed my
chivalrous duty for the night, I’ll bid you farewell.”

He swept past Gillian and down the
stairs, disappearing after a moment into the thick crowd of the ballroom.

“I wouldn’t count on Lionhurst’s help
again.” Sally linked her arm through Gillian’s.

“Because he thinks I’m a despicable
fortune hunter?”

“Are you?”

Gillian shook her head. “I swear I’m
not.”

“I believe you.” Sally squeezed her hand.
“I really do. Lionhurst will see he’s misjudged you.”

“You don’t think he’ll say anything
to Mr. Sutherland, do you? Warn him against me, I mean.”

“Darling, I hate to tell you this,
but I’ve no doubt he’ll warn Mr. Sutherland against you. Lionhurst detests
treachery, and it appears he has decided you’re treacherous.”

“Then why are you smiling? We have to
stop him.” She grabbed Sally’s hand and flew down the stairs, not pausing until
she reached the bottom. “Do you see him?”

“All I see are stars. That descent
left my head spinning.”

Gillian wanted to shake Sally for her
flippant attitude. Everything rode on getting to Lord Lionhurst before he got
to Mr. Sutherland. She had to find a way to make him understand without telling
him too much.

“There he is.” Sally pointed.

Gillian craned her neck around a
group of men to see the best path to him. But before she could judge the
quickest way, her father materialized from the crowd.

“Finally,” he barked. “Come along, my
dear.” He took her arm, but she dug in her heels.

“Are we leaving already?” Things
could not get any worse.

“Certainly not,” he replied. “Mr.
Mallorian is waiting for you.”

“
For me
?” Gillian gulped back her fear. “I
feel ill, Father. I really can’t dance right now.”

“Good.” Her father pushed her through
the crowd. “He doesn’t want to dance.”

“What does he want?”

“Why, to announce your engagement, of
course. It’s all settled. The wedding is set for two months’ time.”

Alex made his way around the outer
edges of the crowded ballroom, intent on reaching the card room before another
woman waylaid him. He should have known better than to come into the den of
schemers, otherwise known as the marriage mart. Women loved to play games, and
he had decided long ago that he was no woman’s prize, so why the blazes was he
irritated with Lady Gillian? She’d admitted nothing shocking in her plan to
capture Sutherland. Indeed, she had proven herself to be like all other women.
He had expected it, hadn’t he?

He yanked on the edge of his dangling
cravat and wrapped the material around his fingers as he walked. It wasn’t her
bothering him.
Surely not
. He flexed and released his fingers against
the soft material.
But what if it was? What did that mean
? He paused,
unwound the cravat and stuffed it into his coat pocket. It would mean he was a
fool who still held a farthing of hope that women were not inherently
conniving. And he was no fool.

No, it was not Lady Gillian—it was
dressing like a dandy and coming to a place where women plotted to catch him or
some other unsuspecting sop for his title, money or land. He refused to spare
another thought for the lady. The company was expanding faster than he’d ever
dreamed when he concocted the scheme of going into a merchant trade to irritate
his father.

He pushed through the door to the
gaming room. Stopping inside the threshold, he allowed his eyes to adjust to
the dim lighting. A pungent haze hung over the heads of the players. He located
Sutherland at a small table by the window on the far side of the room. By the
way Sutherland’s opponent yanked his hands through his hair, Alex had no doubt
his partner was winning. No surprise given his ability at
Vingt-et-un
was legendary at the shipping yard. Alex strode across the room, nodding to
acquaintances but purposely not stopping.

His head buzzed with the roar of
conversations in the room. He needed to talk to Sally about her card room
set-up. It was too loud by half to think properly in here.
Bloody balls
.
He longed to leave and go to a nice dark corner at White’s.

Just as Alex reached Sutherland’s
table a chair scraped across the marble floor almost tripping him in his path.

“Watch it,” Alex clipped, letting his
dark mood slip through.

“Beg pardon,” the man said and
turned. Marcus Rutherford’s ruddy face broke into a wide smile. “If I’d known
it was you I’d not have apologized.”

Alex grinned in return and extended
his hand to Rutherford. “It’s been a long time.”

Thick fingers clamped around Alex’s
hand before he found his arm propelled up and down in an enthusiastic
handshake. Rutherford had always reminded him of a friendly pup, but now the
pup was grown.

“Come into Society more often and
you’d see me,” Rutherford said.

“I’ve better things to do than stand
around while ladies decide if I’m rich enough, titled enough and stupid enough
for them to snare me as their husband.”

Rutherford chuckled. “I feel certain
they don’t think they can snare you. Unless your opinion of marriage has
changed.”

 “Did something in my demeanor just
now lead you to think it might have?”

“Not really, but since you were here
I thought perhaps…”

“I’m here because my youngest sister
made her debut and my mother called in a favor from me.”

“Ah, the fair Allysia is now on the
market?”

Alex didn’t like the gleam in
Rutherford’s eye. “My sister is under my watchful gaze.”

“You don’t have any worries from me,”
Rutherford said. “She’s lovely but another lady has my attention at the
present.”

“Splendid.” He clapped Rutherford on
the back. He’d hate to have to meet his friend in the ring at Gentleman
Jackson’s. But he’d pummel any man who trod on his sister’s heart.

He glanced back the way he had come.
Maybe he should go back into the ballroom and watch his sister more closely.
Father was here, but he was easily distracted. Until now, Alex had not really
considered what it meant that Lissie was now counted among the grasping horde
of Society misses. He turned back to Rutherford and found the man studying him.

“I know how you feel.”

“Am I that obvious?”

“Only to a man in the same
predicament. My cousins are like sisters to me. Gillian and Whitney have both
been launched into the season by my uncle.”

Alex frowned. It was unusual for two
sisters to be launched at once, but who was he to comment about proper
behavior? He was far from a rule follower. “I’d forgotten she was your cousin.”

“Have you seen her tonight?”
Rutherford adjusted his waistcoat as he looked at Alex.

The feel of her soft skin still
warmed Alex’s fingers. He offered a curt nod. “You could say I caught her.”

Rutherford flushed a deep red. “Now,
see here, Lionhurst. My cousin is not to be toyed with, same as your sister.”

Alex clenched his jaw. Sometimes his
reputation pleased him and sometimes it was a damn nuisance. “I doubt you need
to worry about anyone toying with Lady Gillian. In fact, if I were you, I would
be more concerned about her plans for her future.”

“What the devil do you mean?”

At that moment, Sutherland glanced
over his shoulder and motioned for Alex to sit. “Never mind. I spoke out of
turn.” Let the fair Lady Gillian have her game. It was not his concern. “The
only thing I’ll say is you may want to keep an eye on your cousin. If you’ll
excuse me?”

“Of course. I had better go find
Gillian anyway.” Rutherford moved away but immediately turned back. “Trent’s
coming home tomorrow, and Mother has planned a week-long house party in his
honor.”

“What exactly was Sin doing in Paris
for the last year?”

“Who knows?” Rutherford shrugged. “He
left in a cloud of mystery, and he returns much the same way. Care to join the
hunt and welcome him back?”

“May I bring Sutherland?”

Rutherford flicked his gaze to the
card table. “The American? But of course. We’ll bet on the hunt and take his
money before the day is over.”

“Don’t count on it,” Sutherland
called without turning around. “I’ll take
your
money just as I did
tonight.”

“Nasty American,” Rutherford said
with a laugh. “I’ll see you both on Friday at Ravenhurst, no later than
sunrise.”

As Rutherford departed, Alex took off
his coat, sat down and motioned to be dealt into the game. He stared blindly at
his cards, irritated that he couldn’t focus. Guilt nagged at him for what he’d
said about Lady Gillian. He didn’t like to consider himself a snitch. To his
right, Sutherland drummed his fingers on the table. Alex pushed thoughts of the
lady away and glanced at Sutherland. “I do believe your patience is getting
shorter the longer I know you.”

Sutherland snorted. “And you, my
friend, are becoming ruder. You left me sitting here while you chatted with
Rutherford, and then you think to barge in on my game and not say a word to
me?”

“I thought conciliatory silence was
why we’ve remained partners and friends for as long as we have.”

Sutherland tapped his cards on the
table, his eyes narrowing. “It’s unlike you to be distracted. What’s on your
mind?”

“A lady.” Sutherland was the one
person Alex could be partially honest with.

“Does the lady have a name?”

“Lady Gillian.”

“Rutherford’s cousin?”

“Were you eavesdropping on my
conversation?”

“Of course. That’s why I’m such a
great partner. My ability to appear preoccupied while I soak in all the
details. It throws off our competition.”

“True. But you don’t have all the
details you need.”

Sutherland raised his eyebrows and
pushed a full glass of dark liquor toward Alex. “Let me guess. She intrigued
you, and it bothered you because she is a proper lady and you only pursue
improper women.”

The statement brushed too close to
the truth that he hadn’t really admitted to himself. He set down his cards and
shoved his chair away from the table.

“Are you leaving before you’ve even
started?”

Alex nodded. “I’ve lost the desire to
play.”

“You’ve lost the desire to play your
favorite game? This is a first. This Lady Gillian must be some woman.”

“She’s some sort of woman, all right.
She’s set her sights on you, so you better be careful.”

“Me?” Sutherland grinned. “Is she
beautiful?”

Her green eyes and olive skin flashed
in Alex’s mind. “She’s passably pretty.”

“Well, I suppose I could settle for
passably pretty,” Sutherland said. “What’s her temperament like?”

Alex thought of the way she’d glared
at him and refused to back down or be the first to apologize. “I don’t know her
very well, mind you. I’ve only seen her twice briefly in the last week. And the
last time before that she was eight.”

“Yes, fine, so temperament?”

“Tart-tongued, disagreeable and
argumentative.” He stood up and snapped, “Deal me out,” at the dealer. Alex ran
a hand over his face. What was wrong with him? He was normally such a calm
fellow. It had to be this blasted, bloody awful ball.

“You’re in a fine mood.” Sutherland
motioned for the dealer to deal him out as well. “Let’s forget the lady if my
meeting her is going to put you in such a disagreeable mood.”

Alex clenched his jaw. “Meet her.
Marry her. But don’t say I didn’t warn you.” He jerked on his coat. He refused
to argue over a woman he barely knew. “Unless you want to find your way back to
my town house alone, let’s drop this conversation. I have more important things
to worry about than whether Lady Gillian traps you into marriage. You’re a
grown man. My sister, however, is a young lady in need of protection, and I
can’t very well protect her in here.”

He turned on his heel and wound back
toward the ballroom door. He had to find Lisse. Sutherland nudged him as they
entered the ballroom.

Alex ignored his friend and scanned
the room, determined to secure his sister in his sights.

Another jab dug into his ribs. “Do
you know when you described Lady Gillian, you smiled? I’m wondering if you
don’t want her for yourself because your life is so pathetically lonely. You
could use a wife. If you want her, I’m gentleman enough to ignore her, even if
I am interested.”

“Try to remember you’re my business
partner, not my mother. And spare me your opinion of what my life needs.”

“I’m simply saying I’ve never seen you
smile when you’ve spoken of any woman.”

Had he smiled? He had felt as if he
was scowling. “It was a smile of relief―relief that I no longer was
listening to her chatter.”

Alex scanned the crowd again for his
sister. He didn’t see her anywhere, but that was no surprise given her short
stature and the press of bodies in the room. Sweat beaded on his forehead. He
should have never quit the ballroom for the card room. Impatient, he wove
through the people toward the front of the ballroom. If he could reach the
dais, he’d have a much better view over the crowd.

“Lionhurst!” Lord Kettering slapped
him on the back. “Good to see you.”

Alex pumped the man’s hand
vigorously. “Likewise, but I’m in a rush.” He shot around the portly fiend and
stopped. What in the world was Lady Gillian doing on the dais? She appeared
deuced uncomfortable, standing beside a man who was no doubt her father, by the
age and look of him. Beside the older gentleman, Harrison Mallorian glowered in
Alex’s direction. Alex grinned in return and nudged Sutherland nice and hard to
pay him back for earlier. “Do you see Mallorian?”

“Yes.” Sutherland rubbed at his ribs.
“No doubt he’s still fuming.”

“No doubt.” Alex didn’t like how the
blackguard moved close to Lady Gillian any more than he liked how the man had
tried to buy into their company. Both actions made Alex want to crush
Mallorian. Lady Gillian jerked away from Mallorian and turned to her father,
speaking rapidly.