His Wicked Lady (7 page)

“Danette, you should know by now you have
nothing to fear about being honest with me. I’m not like the others
you’ve had in your life.” Regan had hoped by now Danette would
understand that, but it seemed she needed reminding from time to
time. With a smile, Regan added, “There’s nothing you can do to
ruin our friendship.”

Danette relaxed and returned her smile. “I
wish you well.”

“I know you do.” She retrieved her reticule.
“I’ll come by afterwards and let you know how things with Lady
Toplyn went.”

On her way out of the townhouse, the footman
opened the door for Danette’s mother. “Regan, how nice it is to see
you.”

“I’ll be returning in a short while,” Regan
said. “I need to run a quick errand.”

“Splendid. I’d like your advice on a pattern
I’m thinking of making for Danette’s next dress when you
return.”

“I’ll be happy to look at it.” Saying a
good-bye, Regan stepped out of the house.

When the driver pulled her carriage up to
Melissa’s townhouse, she peered out the small window, relieved when
she saw Melissa’s profile in the large window. She couldn’t tell if
Melissa was entertaining guests or not, but at least she was there.
Regan had been hoping the matter with Malcolm would be settled
today.

She hurried out of the carriage and wasted no
time in knocking on the door. The footman brought her to the
drawing room, announcing her presence to Melissa who was reading a
book. The book had nothing written on the cover, thereby making it
discreet to the casual observer, but Regan wasn’t a casual
observer.

She happened to be the author of the book,
and with Frederick’s help, she’d been able to distribute it
throughout London, thanks to Lord Edon. But she hadn’t expected to
ever see a lady reading it, especially not in a place as public as
a drawing room. It was, after all, a book dedicated to instructing
a gentleman on how to best satisfy a lady in bed.

Without even a hint of embarrassment, Melissa
closed the book and set it on the table next to her tea. “Regan!
I’m so happy to see you.” She gestured to the spot next to her on
the settee. “Have a seat.”

“Thank you for seeing me,” she said and sat
in the chair.

“I’m very happy to,” Melissa replied. “Soon
we’ll be sisters. Well, sisters-in-law, but it’s practically the
same thing. I always wanted a sister. When I was little, I begged
my mother for a sister, but alas,” she shrugged, “it wasn’t meant
to be. Oh, have some tea!” She poured Regan a cup and held it out
to her. “I hope you like black tea.”

“Black tea is fine.” Though she took the cup,
she didn’t drink anything. She couldn’t with the way her stomach
was tied up into all sorts of knots. “I don’t know how to ask this,
so I’m just going to come out and say it.”

“Ask whatever you wish.”

Bracing herself for the answer, she blurted
out, “Why was I picked to marry your brother?”

“Because you were the one best suited for
him.”

“So you don’t think he’ll suffer?”

Melissa laughed. “Of course not. Whatever
gave you that idea?”

“I have a friend who overheard your husband
telling someone he couldn’t wait to see Mr. Jasper—your
brother—suffer after he married me.”

She gasped. “My husband said that?”

“I don’t know his exact words, but my friend
assured me that was the general comment.”

Melissa shook her head. “I don’t doubt my
husband would think such a thing, but honestly, you are not going
to make my brother suffer. You’ll be good for him. I could tell you
fancied him when we talked at Helena’s, and you seem like a good
lady.”

“I’m afraid he doesn’t agree. He thinks I’m
much too bold. I did take his hand and lead him to a dance at a
ball, right in front of everyone.”

“Which I’m sure is something he needed.” When
Regan frowned, Melissa added, “My brother has only one thought on
his mind: money. It’s all he ever talks about. It wasn’t until our
father insisted he get married that he even considered a wife. He
wants a child to pass on his legacy to. But you and I both know a
gentleman can’t be truly happy until he marries. It’s not natural.
Ladies do much more than have children. They offer companionship.
Why, my husband reminds me of this all the time. Don’t tell him I
told you this, but he was lonely before I came into his life. He
had no real friends. But now he does, and he’s better off for it.
Malcolm will be the same way. He might not realize it yet, but
money can’t fill the void a good wife can, and I just know you’ll
be good to him.”

“I do like him.”

Melissa gestured to her. “There you go!
That’s what he really needs. Someone who cares for him. I’m afraid
most people only talk to him because he can make them money. I
don’t know if he has any genuine friends or not, but then I’m not
allowed to go to the dinner parties where gentlemen talk about
investments.” Then, feigning a yawn, she added, “Nor would I want
to.”

Regan chuckled at her joke. “I wouldn’t want
to either. I don’t mind a gentleman who is wise with money, and one
who knows how to make more of it is always a good thing. But life
is more than money. My first husband left me with more than I’ll
ever need, but I would have rather had him.” In case Melissa
thought she was still mourning his loss, Regan quickly said, “I am
ready to marry again. I do miss the companionship.”

“I know, and that’s what I most want for my
brother, someone like you.”

Though Regan felt better, she said, “I don’t
think your brother will agree. I apologized to him for being so
bold at the ball, but I suspect he’ll be upset when he realizes
he’s marrying me. Maybe you should have us meet.”

“I offered that, but he’s much too busy to be
bothered with such formalities.”

“Much too busy?” To meet his future wife?
Regan had never heard of any gentleman saying such a thing.
“Wouldn’t he at least be interested in how I look? What if I was
ugly?”

Melissa giggled and picked up her cup of tea.
“You’re not ugly. In fact, I must confess I’m jealous. You’re much
more beautiful than I am.”

“You’re attractive.”

“I am, but not as much as you are. My brother
will have no trouble being attracted to you.”

“Yes, well, he doesn’t know that. He doesn’t
know I’m Lady Cantrell.”

“That’s what he gets for being too busy.
There’ll be no one to blame but himself on his wedding day.”

Melissa sipped her tea, and Regan followed
suit with her own. Was Malcolm really so busy he couldn’t spare
even a moment to meet her? Certainly, Melissa wasn’t right. She
couldn’t be. He had to be interested in the lady who’d been
arranged to marry him. Well, that settled it. When she got home,
she would extend an invitation for him to meet her. She wouldn’t
feel right doing otherwise.

“Let’s not spend all our time talking about
my brother,” Melissa said. “I’d like to find out more about you.
What is your son like? What was your first husband like?”

Regan hesitated to get friendly with Melissa.
After Malcolm found out he was to marry her, he’d change his mind
and she wouldn’t be Melissa’s sister-in-law after all. But there
was an enthusiastic sweetness about Melissa that compelled her to
give in and tell her everything she wanted to know.

Chapter Six

R
egan stared at the missive in disbelief. She read it again,
hoping she’d read it wrong the first two times, but once more, the
familiar words popped out at her.

It is with regret I have to delay meeting
you until the wedding. I have too many important things to do. I
would explain further, but with you being a lady, I don’t want to
overwhelm you with matters such as finances. All you need to know
is that what I’m doing will lead to some fruitful endeavors. I was
told you are aware of my reputation. This being the case, I’m
assured you understand why I can’t possibly meet with you. But you
need not fret. I have set aside a full week where we’ll have
nothing to distract us after we’re married. We’ll get to know each
other then.

Regan read the missive again, hoping it would
change. But it didn’t. It was the same thing as before. She folded
the parchment and set it on her desk. Melissa had been telling the
truth. Malcolm couldn’t be bothered to meet her until their wedding
day.

Well, he had met her. He just didn’t realize
it. She wondered if he’d be so reluctant to meet her if he knew who
she was. Probably not. He’d probably rush right on over to beg her
to let him out of the marriage.

She sat down and tapped her fingers on the
desk. What to do… What to do… She could cancel the arrangement. But
then, she would condemn some other lady to a marriage with a
gentleman who thought more of money—and himself—than he did of her.
She didn’t have it in her heart to do that to an unsuspecting
innocent.

But was it a good idea to marry him, knowing
this about him? Yes, he was good looking. She couldn’t deny her
attraction to him. She’d been looking forward to seeing him without
his clothes on ever since she found out she was to marry him.

But there was more to marriage than physical
attraction. There was compatibility, trust, and security. Most of
all, there was someone who would be a good father to Leonard.

She stopped tapping the desk and glanced at
the clock above the fireplace mantel. Leonard was due to wake up
from his nap soon. Perhaps it might do her good to visit Malcolm.
Not only would she see how he responded to Leonard, but she’d get a
better idea of who he would be as a husband.

Decision made, she rose to her feet and
headed out of the room.

***

Malcolm was just about done with his
investment plans when the butler announced he had two visitors.
Surprised, he glanced at his pocket watch. He wasn’t expecting
Robert and Patrick for another hour. He didn’t think they would be
early, even if they were eager to hear his proposal. Glancing at
the plans in front of him, he figured he had enough to show them
and told the butler to bring the visitors in.

He stood up and smiled, ready to greet the
gentlemen when, to his horror, the blonde lady from Lord Roderick’s
ball came into the room, and she brought her son with her.

“I hope I didn’t come at a bad time,” she
told him.

How did she find out where he lived? What did
she want? He tried to ask her all of this, but he could only manage
to squeak in protest. She really shouldn’t be here. It was very
improper. If the wrong person saw her come into his townhouse, who
knew what would happen to his reputation?

“This is my son, Leonard,” she said, not
seeming the least bit disturbed by her unexpected visit. Well, of
course she wouldn’t be. She had the advantage. She was the one who
surprised him, not the other way around. “Do you like children, Mr.
Jasper?”

When he didn’t answer, the boy turned his
wide blue eyes in his direction. She squeezed his hand and offered
him a nod. Turning his attention back to Malcolm, the lad said,
“How do you do?”

Malcolm glanced from him to her and back
again. This couldn’t be happening. There was no way this could
really be happening. “What are you doing here?” he finally
managed.

“My mother brought me,” the lad said as if
the answer was obvious.

Blinking, Malcolm redirected his gaze to the
lady. “I don’t understand. Are you following me?”

She chuckled. “No, but I have good reason to
be here. I want you to meet my son.”

“Didn’t I already meet him the other
day?”

“You saw him, but no, you didn’t talk to him.
Leonard, why don’t you tell him what you like?”

Leonard looked over at him. “I like
tarts.”

“Do you like tarts?” she asked Malcolm.

“Yes.” Then Malcolm shook his head. “What’s
the point of this?”

Instead of answering his question, she asked,
“Do you have any children in your life, Mr. Jasper?”

Surprised by her question, he said, “None
that are mine, but I have a nephew. He’s not as old as your son.
Mathias is only a month old. Well, about two by now.”

“You like your nephew?” she asked.

“Of course, I do. I like all children.”

At that, she smiled. “That’s good to hear.
Leonard, why don’t you tell Mr. Jasper what else you like?”

“I like clowns,” Leonard said.

“Specifically at the circus,” she added.

“Um…yes,” Malcolm slowly said, turning to the
lad. “The circus is entertaining. I enjoy it, too. Even when you’re
no longer a lad, you’ll probably enjoy it, though not as much.
There’s a certain magic to it when you’re young. When you get
older, you figure out how they do their tricks,” he explained.

“I don’t know,” the lady argued. “I still
find magic in the performance.”

“That probably depends on where you direct
your attention,” he said. “I like knowing how things work.”