His Shadowed Heart ((Books We Love Regency Romance)) (9 page)

“You don’t understan
d—” began Caroline, but her sentence was interrupted as the curtain to the box was flung open admitting Gerald Dent and Lord Massey, both bowing low upon their entrance.

“I see you are unattended
, dear cousins,” smiled Dent ingratiatingly. “Whatever can your husbands be thinking to leave you without escorts.” Turning to Caroline, his smile widened. “Allow me to introduce Lord Massey to you, Lady Waverly. He espied you from an adjoining box and has begged an introduction. I swear you break hearts, my dear.”

Courtesy forbade Caroline from giving the reply she desired and instead she was obliged to greet Massey with something like cordiality, allowing him to capture her hand and take it to his lips in salute.

“Your ladyship,” smiled Massey as if overcome. “You must know you are hailed as the season’s latest beauty. I would be most remiss if I failed to pay you homage.”

“
Fustation,” was Caroline’s reply as she snatched her hand from his clasp. “There is absolutely no need to flatter me, my lord. I am in no need of your approval.”

“So, you have claws, my dear,” mocked Massey. “You are not quite the kitten you appear. I was lead to believe you are a milksop. Obviously I was misinformed.”

Flushing with indignation, Caroline was about to give her reply when her husband chose that moment to enter the box, the smile freezing on his countenance as he saw her companions. An unpleasant look of aversion took its place as he held out his hand to his wife.

“Come, Caroline. The air becomes unpleasant and this is no fit company for you.”

Obediently she rose and placing her hand on his arm, they left the box together.

Seeing the angry flush that mounted her cousin’s cheeks, Lady Victoria made no effort to contain her amusement and laughing said, “Waverly certainly has your measure. I do so enjoy your encounters, they are most entertaining.”

Casting her a look of complete dislike, Dent and Massey made their exit from the box, the sound of my lady’s laughter echoing annoyingly in their wake.

*****

“An excellent idea,” cried Lady Christina, “but do you think it will serve?”

“It cannot fail,” assured Lord Massey refilling his glass from the decanter at his side. “The marriage is too new, too fragile to withstand such revelations.”

“He may turn to me yet,” she mused, pacing the confines of her boudoir, a cat-like expression marring her classical features. “His new wife’s naivety will soon lose its appeal and he will seek the pleasures of our previous arrangement.”

“You still hold hopes then of his returning to you? What of our arrangement?”

“That need not suffer,” she assured. “As before, I will need a diversion, and you, my dear Anthony, are the very one to supply it.”

Catching her hand as she passed his chair
, Lord Massey pulled her deftly onto his lap. “We are very much alike you and I, my dear,” he said, smiling. “Neither have a sentimental turn of mind or the capacity for love, no wonder we deal so well. I will arrange for your introduction to Lady Waverly.”

*****

However, the fates took a hand before formal introductions could be made. Accepting an invitation from Lady Diana to accompany her for a walk in the park, Caroline paced the pathways of Hyde Park arm in arm with her cousin, their maids following at a discreet distance. So engrossed were they in their conversation that they failed to notice the chocolate colored barouche with its matching grays that pulled alongside of them.

“My dear Lady Waverly,” beamed Christina from the pale blue velvet squabs, “how extremely fortunate to meet you, quite delightful,” and she extended her hand over the carriage door.

Thoroughly confused, Caroline looked to Diana who extremely reluctantly affected the introduction, fully aware of what would be the earl’s reaction should he know of the meeting.

Paying no heed whatsoever to the expression on Diana’s annoyed countenance, Christina retained her clasp on Caroline’s hand and patted it reassuringly. “What a propitious meeting, my dear. Could I not persuade you to drive a little way with me?” She smiled defiantly at Diana, relishing her discomfiture at the meeting and firming her hold on Caroline’s hand, drew her closer to the carriage. “I’m sure Diana would be only too happy to relinquish you to my company, would you not, dear Diana? I see you have your maid to accompany you so you need not fear censure if I rob you of Lady Waverly’s company. Ordering her groom to step down
, she bade him to open the door for her guest. “I am, after all, a close friend of your husband,” she assured, watching with satisfied amusement the effects her words had on Lady Diana.

Finding it difficult to resist Christina’s insistence, in some confusion, Caroline reluctantly allowed herself to be handed into the barouche. As they drove away at a brisk trot, she caught only the briefest glimpse of her cousin’s anxious countenance.

*****

“You must allow me to congratulate you on the event of your marriage, my dear,” smiled Lady Christina, patting Caroline’s hand as it rested in her lap. “Though I must admit it came as somewhat of a surprise. I had not expected Waverly to marry again. Quite a turnabout.”

Unable to find a reply, Caroline smiled abstractedly at her companion. Having no desire to prolong the acquaintance, she wondered how soon she could politely affect her leave-taking without causing offence.

“You are very quiet?” queried Christina.

“I am somewhat at a loss,
my lady,” replied Caroline. “I was wondering how you came to know my husband. Are you a close family friend?”

“We are certainly close, but I am no family friend,” mocked Christina. “Rather, shall we say that we enjoy each other’s company? There is an understanding between us and I am sure even you must be aware of its nature.”

Uncertain of her meaning Caroline frowned and asked with some perplexity, “Are you saying that you are…?”

“Exactly, my dear—you have guessed it—I am his mistress. What a little simpleton you are, Lady Waverly, one wonders at his motives in marrying you. One would suspect he finds you exceedingly dull,” and Christina laughed cruelly at the look of horror that crossed her companion’s pale countenance. “You were not aware that he had a mistress, were you?” she continued, amusement heavy in her voice. “My existence, and his avowed affection for me, must come as quite a shock to you.”

“Yes, quite a shock,” replied Caroline rallying. “Though I am obliged to you for pointing it out to me. I shall now know whom to avoid in the future. It is not my wish to be seen in such company. My husband is mindful of my reputation and would not approve. If you would be so good as to ask your man to stop, I will ensure that I do not create a scandal. That, he would not like.”

*****

Instead of returning home, Lady Diana had gone directly to Waverly House. Requesting an immediate interview with His Lordship, she was informed that he was in the library to whence she repaired without awaiting an introduction.

“Damnation,” swore the earl forcibly, rounding his desk to stand before her. The news of the encounter proved far more disturbing than he thought possible and the violence of his feelings took him completely off guard. Thoughts of what surely must be Caroline’s state of mind when faced with his former mistress were unbearable. “You say Christina took her up? What the deuce is she at now, you must know I broke with her some time ago.” The thought that his former mistress should dare accost his wife enraged him beyond belief and he was forced to temper his response.

“I couldn’t prevent it, Richard,” stated Diana. “Not without causing a scene and drawing attention to the situation. I am sure that you would wish me to avoid.”

Calming slightly, the earl briefly caught Diana’s hand. “I am grateful to you for coming to me so promptly, though what I will tell the child, I know not. ’Tis not something I would willingly have subjected her to. To be brought face to face with Christina is insupportable and I have no doubt that she will be willing enough to apprise her of our association. What mischief is she about?”

“Perhaps you could deny all knowledge of her?”

“No, Caroline deserves better than that I should treat her in such a cavalier fashion. She must be told the truth. It would only serve to put a barrier between us should I offer her a lie.”

Preparing to leave, Lady Diana drew on her gloves saying, “I must return home now. It would not do that she should find me here. Tell her whatever you think best, but beware that it could cause an irreparable rift between you.”

“That is a chance I must take. Now if you will allow, I will order my carriage to convey you home. I will need to speak to my wife as soon as she returns. I thank you Diana for coming to me, at least now I will know what to expect,”

*****

Hearing his wife enter the hall a short while later, the earl quickly crossed the library floor and flung the door wide just as she reached the foot of the impressive staircase.

Turning at the sound of the latch, Caroline halted and with hand resting on the banister, raised an inquiring brow, her countenance, with supreme effort, remaining impassive.

“My dear, there is a matter I would discuss with you,” said the earl in level tones, attempting at the ordinary.

“I do not have time for discussions, Richard,” she replied, with more asperity than she intended. “I am on my way to change for Lady Paxton’s soiree.” At this precise moment, she had no wish to face him, desiring only to be allowed to retreat to her own apartments and give way to the tears that she felt so near the surface.

“It is not a request, Caro,” he said quietly, watching her reaction from beneath lowered brows as he seemingly removed a speck of imaginary dust from his cuff.

“Rather a command?” she asked, standing defiantly erect.

He raised his head, his countenance closed. “If you choose to see it as such. However, should you deny me your company, I will be compelled to fetch you.” He had seen the tears standing in her eyes when she had first arrived and could only guess as to what was going through her mind; he could not let the matter rest.

“You mean you would actually carry me into the library?” she asked in some surprise.

“If needs be. I cannot believe that you would doubt it,” he replied taking a step into the hallway.

She turned to mount the stairs in rebellion to his threat, feeling an anger rise at his words, but of a sudden, thinking better of her actions turned, and crossing the hall, pushed past him into the library.

She removed her bonnet and stood swinging it by the ribbons, wishing to appear nonchalant and not allow him to see the emotions that raged below the surface. “I take it now, Richard, is when you feel it n
ecessary to act the heavy husband with me,” she said in what she hoped was a careless manner. “What have I done to incur your displeasure?”

The earl closed the door softly behind him standing momentarily with his back to the panels before coming into the room. “I have no wish wh
atsoever to act the heavy husband,” he said, standing before her and taking the bonnet from her agitated hands to throw it onto a chair. He knew not how to broach the subject and stood for a moment looking down at her. “Diana came….” he began, but she cut across his words, making explanations unnecessary.

“So Diana has told you that Lady Christina found it imperative to make herself known to me?” she asked shortly, unable to keep the hurt and anger from her voice. “I’m vastly obliged to her. It will save me the necessity of explaining all to you. I know it is an indelicate subject and one that should not be discussed between husband and wife, but I would so much have preferred to have been informed of your light-o-love by some other method.” The angry tears came and he turned away unable to face her distress.

“I would have spared you this,” he said passionately, once more turning to face her. “Whatever lies Christina has told you, you must know I severed the connection before I came to know you. She has had no part in my life for some while now.” Gripping her shoulders, he forced her to face him. “I know not Christina’s motives in accosting you, but surely she must know it would only serve to alienate me still further from her.”

She stood motionless beneath his fingers but she met his gaze fully, saying, “Whatever her motives might be, they have been quite thorough. I am fully aware that you don’t love me, you have made the matter plain from the outset of the marriage, but surely I should not be subjected to this?”

His hands tightened involuntarily in his effort to seek her understanding. “The situation was not of my making and not one that I could have envisaged—I had put all thoughts of her from my mind. She has no claim whatsoever on me now.”

“That is not how she presents it, sir,” replied Caroline defiantly. “She assured me of your continued devotion.”

“Devotion?”
he scoffed. “She never had my
devotion
. It was merely a convenient arrangement.”

“As is our marriage, Richard!”

His hands fell away from her shoulders. “How can you draw such comparisons?”