Eloisa James - Duchess by Night (4 page)

The problem is more complicated than you present it, Isidore, Jemma replied. If a man flirts with a duchess, he flirts with her rank. When they feign affection, if you dont see the foot-licking behind it, you are a fool. No man ever forgets your rank at the moment he kisses youif your rank is the highest in the land.

I dont believe that!

You wil never truly be able to forget your rank either, Jemma said remorselessly, unless you are in a room like this one, in which we share the title. The scandal caused by your flirtation wil undoubtedly be greater due to Lord Stranges low birth, but it wil temper your pleasure. At any rate, I cannot accompany you. I am done with scandal-broths.

And why is that? Isidore demanded.

My husband requested it of me. Beaumont has many responsibilities in the House of Lords, and it is not helpful when his wife makes herself a byword on the street. And believe me, Isidore, anyone who visits Fonthil wil be a byword.

Fine! Isidore said. A byword is precisely what I wish to be. I shal write my mother-in-law immediately and tel her of my plans, and then Il write Cosways solicitor, and tel him to send me funds at Stranges house.

In my experience, when a woman has decided to lose her virginity, one cant stop the impulse, Vil iers said, grinning. It would be like trying to dam

Dont finish that sentence, Jemma said.

Ive been invited to Stranges and was planning to travel there after this party, Vil iers said, but I cant take you with me. That is, not unless I put together a party. Or you find a chaperone.

I gave up my chaperone two years ago, Isidore snapped. When I turned twenty-one and there was no husband in sight, I let my aunt return to Wales. I shal travel alone.

Vil iers looked at Jemma. Please tel your fiery friend that she cannot arrive at Stranges house unaccompanied andI might adduninvited.

I am a duchess, even if I dont use the title, Isidore said instantly. Show me the house that wil deny entrance to the Duchess of Cosway!

Strange doesnt like titles, Vil iers said. Youre more likely to be admitted as Lady DelFino.

Jemma shook her head. I cannot accompany you, Isidore. I real y cant.

Il take her, Harriet said.

She heard the words in her own ears with that queer double sense one gets when one hasnt thought out a comment. It just sprang from her lips.

There was a moment of dead silence. Al three turned to look at her.

You? Isidore said.

And: You mustnt take Isidores starts so seriously, Jemma said. Shel forget about this scheme of hers by tomorrow morning.

No, I wont, Isidore stated.

Why shouldnt I go? Harriet said. If the Duke of Vil liers accompanies the two of us we wont be turned away.

Vil iers gave a short laugh. You must be as feverish as I.

You cant go, darling, because you are not a wastrel like myself, Jemma said, nor yet a wastrel-in-training like Isidore.

I may not be a wastrel, Harriet said, but Im not real y anything else, either. No one recognizes me, because Ive lived in the country for so long. Like Isidore, I am a duchess without a duke. But unlike you, no ones career would be diminished by the tarnishing of my reputation.

Everyone knows you! Jemma said, horrified. You are our own, darling Harriet.

I am a dumpy widow who lived in the country during my marriage and thereafter, Harriet said flatly. My husband committed suicide, and those of the ton who dont blame me for his death are morbidly sorry for me. No one wil pay the faintest attention to whether I go to Stranges house or not.

They dont blame you for Benjamins suicide, Vil iers said. They blame me. And God knows, theyre right to do it.

She gave him a little half-smile. It was his lifeand his decision. Theres no one to blame.

To her shock, he reached out his hand. And she took it. There was no need to say anything else. His hand was surprisingly comforting for someone as sharp-tongued and uncomfortable as she considered Vil iers to be.

How long ago did your husband take his life? Isidore asked. And please forgive me for not knowing the answer; I have only been in this country for a few months.

Two and a half years ago, Harriet said. I am wel out of mourning and can attend whatever party I wish.

Then I would welcome your company, Isidore said.

I just cant imagine either of you at Fonthil , Jemma exclaimed. From what Ive heard, Lord Stranges household is one long bacchanalian orgy.

Splendid! Isidore said immediately. To Harriets mind, she looked ready to throw herself straight into the fray.

Jemma shook her head. Harriet isnt

She certainly isnt dressed for an orgy, Vil iers interjected.

Harriet looked down at herself. Shed forgotten she was dressed as Mother Goose. But why shouldnt she be part of an orgy? I want to go. I am dressed in a nightgown; Im half way to the bedchamber already.

There was a wry smile in Vil ierss eyes.

We can both wear our costumes. Il announce myself as an actress. Isidore had a wicked grin.

Vil iers was shaking his head. Everyone dresses like that at Lord Stranges house and they dont bother with explanations. He owns the Drury Lane theater, so his house is haunted by actors. I do think its a good idea to go in costume, he said to Harriet.

And under a false name.

Something like Isidores dress? I couldnt. She couldnt wear a scrap of fabric that barely covered her breasts.

No, Vil iers said. More of a disguise than that. As I said, Strange is not fond of titles and he wouldnt welcome a duchessor twoon his doorstep.

Harriet felt a stab of humiliation. Natural y Vil iers didnt want to see her in a scanty costume like Isidores. What are you suggesting? I go as a man?

It was a joke. The word flew from her lips but

You couldnt be so brave, Isidore said laughing.

Lady Cosway need offer no proof of her courage, Vil iers said. Please recal that she just carried a goose into the bal room while wearing a nightgown. One doubts Saint George exhibited such steel while setting out to fight the dragon. Yet I am not certain His eyes rested thoughtful y on her chest.

Raising her chin, Harriet reached inside her voluminous sleeves and pul ed out a rol ed woolen stocking. And another. A third and fourth.

Then she flattened the fabric against her chest. I think, she said cool y, that I shal look very wel as a man.

Indeed, Vil iers said. The idea has possibilities.

In Which Sin & Silver Boxes are Itemized and Explained

January 7, 1784

Fonthil

Lord Stranges Country Estate

I dont like his blue hair powder, Eugenia Strange observed. Papa, are you listening to me? Today his hair is al covered with red powder, and yesterday it was blue. I think he looks better in red. Do you agree, Papa?

Absolutely. Justinian Strange, known to his closest friends as Jem, let his eight-year-old daughters words flow by him as he frowned down at the architectural drawing on his desk.

Do you know what Augusta did to him, Papa? She locked him in the closet. She said that she was tormented by being surrounded by foolish men and she only al owed him out of the closet when he promised to have her coach relined in yel ow silk.

Its going to cost two hundred pounds. But she says that her diamond earrings cost three hundred pounds, and those were given to her by Mr. Cornelys. I asked if she locked him in the closet as wel , but she didnt.

I expect not, Jem said, looking up from the drawing he had spent the afternoon creating. Eugenia, what do you think of the idea of putting this false floor in the bal room? Its quite ingenious, you see.

His daughter came around the table and stood at his shoulder. This mechanism would cause the platform to rise, Papa? she said, putting her finger in precisely the place.

Exactly.

Why?

Why? Because it would be striking, he said, rather lamely. The table would rise suddenly in the air when it was time for supper.

But his daughter shook her head. Striking is not a good reason, Papa. Striking is why Mr. Hodes is wearing blue hair powder, and I assure you that is not a good decision.

He drew her little figure against him. Youre my Sensibility, he said into her curls. Did you spend time with your governess today?

Eugenia didnt answer, but said, Papa, did you know that Mrs. Mahon brought fourteen silver filigreed boxes with her? She carries them everywhere.

Shes the new lead from The Beggars Opera, isnt she? I havent met her yet. Whatever does Mrs. Mahon keep inside her fourteen boxes?

Love notes. I believe that she has had fourteen protectors, which is a great many. Miss Linnet told me that when she was playing at the Hyde Park Theater a prince gave her ten pairs of diamond earrings, one a night for ten nights. I should very much prefer diamonds to silver boxes.

A prudent observation, Jem said, pushing back in his chair. A box is worth a few pounds, Eugenia, but a diamond might be very expensive. Though I trust you shal never have a protector. Il give you any earrings you wish.

Eugenia had her mothers turned-up little nose and sweet brown eyes, but other than that she looked just like him, which meant that she had an awkward face for a child. He glanced at himself in the mirror. He looked the same as always: pale, too gaunt.

Clever, he supposed. The kind of hawkish cheekbones he had looked acceptable on a man in his thirties, but rather odd on a young girl. One had to hope that she would grow into them. Or out of them.

In fact, she looked rather odd today in other respects as wel . What are you wearing? he asked, peering at her.

My riding costume. But I put a silk petticoat underneath it, because I like the way the dark serge looks against this pink. Look, Papa. She twirled, and sure enough, there was a light flutter at the bottom of her somber habit. It makes me feel more festive to be in pink. And I pinned these roses here and the scarf breaks the color, you see?

What did your governess think of that?

We havent seen each other today. Shes in love, you know.

I didnt know. Who is she in love with?

Wel , for a long period of time she was in love with you, Papa.

Jem blinked. With me?

I think she has seen too many plays. She was convinced that you would discover her and I would stop being a motherless child.

Shes always saying that Im a motherless child, and no matter how many times I point out that not having known a mother, I feel no lack of one, she doesnt understand.

Jem could sympathize with the governess. Eugenias practical nature had deflated many a dream, including that of a spectacular false floor.

But she final y realized that you werent going to notice her.

I do notice her, Jem protested. Dont I?

Wel , you didnt notice when she left for ten days, Papa. What color is her hair?

Miss Warrens hair? He paused.

I dont think youve ever real y seen her, Papa.

Of course I have, Eugenia! She was making him feel guilty now. I hired her, didnt I? And weve had several conversations about your progress in French and mathematics.

She hates mathematics. She has to learn it with me, you know. And shes not very good at it.

Why didnt you tel me that she left for ten days?

I thought I could use a rest from schooling, Eugenia said serenely. I would have told you eventual y, Papa, but she came back again. And now she is in love with a footman.

A much more suitable choice than myself, Jem said. Which footman?

The one with beetling back brows, Eugenia said, leaning against his shoulder.

Jem pul ed her onto his lap and she sat there, long legs dangling almost to the floor, but stil as light as a feather. When she was a baby, she seemed so frail that he had been afraid her bones were like a birds, with air in the middle.

Wil you ever fal in love, Papa? Eugenia asked, resting her head back against his shoulder so she could look up at him.

Im in love with you, poppet, he said. Thats enough for one man.

The house is ful of beautiful women, she observed.

I suppose so.

Many of them would like it if you fel in love with them.

Unfortunately, these kinds of things cant be arranged on demand.

Mama would have liked it if you fel in love.

He snorted. How could you possibly know, given that your mother died before you knew her?

She and I are very similar, Eugenia said without hesitation. She would like precisely what I like. And I think you would be happier if you had someone of your own, Papa.

Fal ing in love is merely a way of getting something you desire, Jem told her. Like a silver box. If I want an ornament, Il buy it.

Mrs. Mahon probably cant afford to buy silver boxes, Eugenia observed. She has a beautiful muff, but her shoes are quite shabby.

A perfect case in point. She fal s in love in order to get herself silver boxes. Luckily, I can afford al the silver boxes I want.

Theres more to love than that, Eugenia said, wiggling happily. There was nothing that Eugenia Strange loved more than a lively discussion in which she bent her wits and argumentative skil s against those of her papa. You are focusing on finances, which is a weakness of yours.

What should I focus on? Jem asked cautiously. While he had early on established his child-rearing practices as promoting a clear-headed sensibility in his daughter, he wasnt sure that he wanted her clarity to include bedroom matters. Not at this age.

And certainly not if he had to explain them.

Love is a matter of the heart, Eugenia said. Shake speare says that nothing should stand between true lovers.

We agreed that you wouldnt quote Shakespeare to me for at least a month, Jem pointed out.

I didnt quote. I merely condensed.

Im not certain that Mrs. Mahon is talking about that kind of love, he said, more cautiously stil .

Wel , of course, Mrs. Mahon is a concubine. Or perhaps it is more accurate to say that she occasional y plays the concubine, Eugenia said promptly.

Waa

I see her as a character in a play. Theres an old play cal ed Cupids Revenge in the library, and a very naughty woman named Bacha says in Act One that she means to embrace sin as it were a friend, and run to meet it.