His Wicked Wish (20 page)

“This is the first grand event of the season,” Emily said, her face aglow with excitement. “I can scarcely wait to see who's here. Oh, I do hope I'm asked to dance.”

A fond smile eased the earl's taut features. “You are looking exceptionally lovely tonight, my dear. I'm sure the gentlemen will be clamoring for introductions.”

Maddy allowed herself a secret smile of satisfaction. No one seemed to have noticed exactly
why
Emily appeared so radiant, or looked closely enough to see that it was due to a clever application of cosmetics. Earlier, Maddy had brought the girl into her dressing room and used a minuscule amount of putty to fill her pockmarks. The pits were still there, but they were far less evident, especially with a dusting of powder and a touch of rouge on Emily's cheekbones to enhance her youthful luminosity.

Lady Gilmore had expressly forbidden the use of face paint. But luckily, the dowager's poor eyesight had prevented her from detecting the subterfuge. Maddy had no intention of enlightening her.

The coach crept forward and came to a halt in front of the brick town house. A footman opened the door and stood stiffly at attention. He extended his gloved hand to help the ladies exit, first Lady Gilmore, and then Maddy.

As she stepped out, the petticoats beneath her evening gown rustled. The peacock-blue dress had been sewn from one of the lengths of silk that Nathan had given her, and she'd had to cajole the dowager for the right to wear such a vibrant hue. But the effort had been well worth the trouble. She knew from the mirror in her dressing chamber that the off-the-shoulder gown complemented her upswept blond curls. Lady Gilmore had even grudgingly allowed Maddy to borrow a delicate sapphire teardrop necklace from the collection of family jewels.

In the glow of the torches, a red carpet runner had been laid to protect the ladies' hems. She had a swift view of the many admiring onlookers; then Nathan took hold of her arm and they followed the Earl of Gilmore and his mother past a line of liveried servants and into the house.

Throngs of richly garbed aristocrats crowded the spacious foyer with its high ceiling, and the air buzzed with conversation. The crystals of a huge chandelier glittered with the light of a hundred candles. A nervous excitement flowed through her veins. This had been her mother's world—and Maddy had long been curious to view it.

She handed her wrap to a waiting footman. Clutching a small reticule, she took a position with Nathan behind the earl and dowager in the receiving line. Lady Milford stood at the base of the marble staircase and welcomed each of her guests. Resplendent in lilac satin, a diamond tiara on her coal-black hair, she was clearly the doyenne of high society.

Maddy drew a shaky breath. She hadn't seen Lady Milford since the woman had come to the dressing room at the theater and requested that Nathan be included in the auction. Would her ladyship acknowledge their prior meeting? How would Maddy explain that acquaintance to the others—especially Nathan's grandmother?

Nathan lowered his lips close to her ear and whispered, “Don't look so frightened, darling. My godmother won't bite.”

“Perhaps not her, but someone else, then.”

He laughed softly. “Stay close and I'll guard against the wolves.”

He turned to speak to Emily and Sophia, who stood behind them in line. All the while he kept his hand at the small of Maddy's back in a possessive gesture. Even in the midst of so many people, a pulse of attraction heated her. The carnal delight she had found with him these past few weeks had far surpassed her tame, virginal fantasies.

Since their marriage was one of mutual convenience, she had diligently ignored the darkness in him, the part of himself that he kept closed off to the world. It wouldn't do to wonder at the source of his hatred for his father. Nor to yearn for any more than physical pleasure with Nathan. After all, he would only be in her life for a few months.

The line moved forward. After greeting their hostess, the dowager hobbled several steps away and then stopped to wait with Lord Gilmore. Her wrinkled face alert, she held the quizzing glass to her eye and closely watched Maddy to see that no mistakes were committed.

Nathan made the introductions. “Lady Milford, may I present my wife, Madelyn, Lady Rowley. Madelyn, this is my godmother.”

Maddy sank into the curtsy that she'd spent hours practicing. As she arose, Lady Milford gave her a warm smile and clasped Maddy's gloved hand. “It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Lady Rowley. I'm intrigued to finally meet the woman who caught my dashing godson.”

The shrewd light in those violet eyes told Maddy that the secret of their earlier meeting was safe. With great relief, she returned the smile. “The pleasure is all mine, my lady.”

“You appear to have made Nathan very happy,” Lady Milford added. “Perhaps you and I might have a chance to chat more later.”

“Thank you, I would enjoy that very much.”

Then the little exchange was over and Maddy could breathe again. As Nathan drew her away, the dowager gave her a terse nod of approval. The Earl of Gilmore merely compressed his lips and averted his gaze to the milling throng. He was likely checking to see who might have noted her identity, Maddy thought in vexation.

She realized there were indeed many people looking her way, ladies whispering in small groups and gentlemen boldly eyeing her. They were all strangers to her. She saw no one familiar among them.

Was the Duke of Houghton present? He might be in the company of his grandson, her cousin. But Lord Dunham was nowhere in sight.

She held Nathan's arm as they started up the grand staircase with the rest of their party. “You're in,” he murmured for her ears alone. “You've officially breached the walls of society. Everyone will have to accept you now that you have my godmother's stamp of approval.”

Maddy allowed herself a moment of triumph, although another concern weighed on her mind. She glanced around to make certain no one could overhear. “Nathan, I have to ask. Do you know if any of the gentlemen from the auction were invited here?”

His mouth tilted in a grin. “Worried?”

“Of course I am. It could prove awkward. Should I pretend not to know them?”

“Do as you wish. So long as it displeases Gilmore.”

His careless manner irked her. As happy as he'd made her in the bedchamber, he could be exasperating in his quest to use her to shame his father. “Don't tease. If anyone openly denounces me over that auction, it could cause a horrid scandal and reflect badly on your sister.”

As they reached a reception area at the top of the staircase, he brought her gloved hand to his and kissed the back. “Set your mind at ease, darling,” he murmured. “I very much doubt any of those men would wish their peccadilloes revealed in public. They'll pretend not to know you for fear of landing in hot water with the ladies in their life.”

The reassurance eased her qualms. The last thing she needed was for one of the gentlemen to reproach her in front of everyone for spurning him. Or worse, to catch her alone and attempt to grope her as Lord Dunham had done at the theater.

“Why are you two whispering?” Lady Gilmore grumbled, huffing and puffing from the climb up the steps. “What are you saying?”

“I was merely asking Nathan to tell me who is here,” Maddy improvised. “But I fear he's been away from society for so long, many are unknown to him.”

“You will sit by me with the matrons,” the dowager declared. “I will provide any necessary names. Come along now. You will hold my arm while Gilmore and Sophia introduce Emily to the right people.”

Maddy had envisioned herself strolling through the crowd with Nathan, admiring the gowns of the other ladies, viewing the opulent surroundings, and most of all, searching for the Duke of Houghton. Was she really doomed to be stuck in a corner with the grumpy dowager?

She frowned up at her husband in attempt to convey her displeasure, but he merely gave her that maddeningly handsome smile and handed her over to his grandmother. “Take good care of her, Grandmamma, while I go in search of a card game.” He leaned close and gave Maddy a kiss on the cheek, whispering, “You'll be bored, but I'll make up for it later when we're alone.”

The warmth of his breath tickled her ear and sent a feathery tingle over her skin. Leaving her frustrated in more ways than one, he sauntered off into the multitude. He looked tall and attractive in his dark coat, his shoulder-length black hair drawn back at his nape with a leather ribbon, setting him apart from all the other gentlemen. He drew quite a few glances, she noticed, especially from the women, and just as he stopped to turn his dimpled smile on a brunette beauty, Maddy heard the dreaded thud of the cane on the floor.

“Don't stand there gawking,” Lady Gilmore hissed. “Help me into the drawing room.”

Maddy dutifully grasped the old woman's arm. The dowager had stringy muscles beneath her olive-green sleeve, and she seemed sturdier than her appearance, tottering along with the aid of her cane. They went through an arched doorway and entered a long chamber, apparently two large drawing rooms that had been opened up for the purpose of this party. The rich décor of gold and blue formed a fitting backdrop for the many elegant guests.

At one end of the room, occupying several rows of chairs, a gaggle of middle-aged and elderly matrons sat with their fans waving and their tongues wagging.

“This is the true test,” Lady Gilmore muttered. “You are to sit quietly and speak only when addressed. And no babbling whatsoever!”

It had to be the hundredth time Maddy had heard that particular directive. She swallowed her exasperation and said meekly, “Yes, Grandmamma.”

As they neared the women, the whispers intensified. Many pairs of sharp eyes dissected her dress, her posture, her manners. It was obvious that every one of these pretentious snobs knew Lord Rowley had had the audacity to wed an upstart actress and then thrust her into their exalted midst.

Lady Gilmore stopped in front of them and presented Maddy. As each lady was introduced to her, she smiled politely and sketched a graceful curtsy. When the ordeal was over, she and Lady Gilmore found seats at the edge of the gathering, and the dowager bade Maddy sit near a large fern on a pedestal by the wall.

Maddy had to tilt her head to see past the leafy vegetation. She had been placed far enough away from the other ladies so that no one spoke to her, though they continued to stare disapprovingly in her direction while murmuring behind their fans. The veil of greenery also effectively separated her from the other guests in the drawing room.

Clearly, the dowager's plan was to hide Maddy in plain sight.

Perhaps it wouldn't be so bad, she told herself. At least she had a partial view of the party. A footman brought around a tray of drinks, and she sipped on champagne, the bubbles bursting on her tongue. For a time, she entertained herself by studying the array of gorgeous gowns on the other ladies, noting the cut of the sleeves and bodices, the accessories like gloves and reticules. When she opened her shop, she would have to be well versed in the latest fashions.

She also kept a watch for elderly gentlemen. But if the Duke of Houghton was present, she had no idea which one he might be. The barrel-chested man with the gray muttonchop whiskers? The stoop-shouldered octogenarian with a cane? The craggy old lecher who gawked openly at the ladies?

When a small ensemble began to play, Maddy surreptitiously tapped her feet in time to the music. She was wearing the fancy slippers given to her by Lady Milford, and every so often, the sparkly toe kicked up the hem of her peacock-blue skirt. From her vantage point behind the fern, there appeared to be dancing at the far end of the chamber. With all her heart, she longed to be in the thick of the other guests, whirling around the floor in Nathan's arms.

Impatience sizzled in her veins. Where
was
her husband? He'd mentioned something about cards, but that had been well over an hour ago. Had he joined a foursome? Or was he squiring that pretty brunette in a dance? It grated on Maddy to think of him aiming his heart-melting smile at another woman. He surely would be renewing acquaintances with members of the ton tonight. Ten years ago, he'd had a wild reputation, and if he were to meet an old flame …

At that moment, the crowd shifted and she spied a familiar gentleman in the doorway. All other thought fled her mind. That narrow aristocratic face beneath the neatly combed flaxen hair belonged to her cousin Alfred Langley, Lord Dunham.

She sat up straight, her gloved fingers digging into the reticule in her lap. Lord Dunham stood in conversation with someone. Who? Straining to see past the foliage, she spotted another gentleman with similar bone structure and sandy-brown hair, though he wore gold-rimmed spectacles and his face looked younger, his features lacking the sharpness of Lord Dunham's.

Were the two men related? More importantly, did Lord Dunham's presence mean that the Duke of Houghton was also in attendance?

Her heart thumped. This could be her big chance. While deciding on a scheme to escape Lady Gilmore's watchful protection, she noticed Emily standing a short distance away with Lady Sophia, exchanging pleasantries with a middle-aged couple.

The younger gentleman with Lord Dunham cast several furtive glances at Emily. A hint of yearning played on his face. The girl did indeed look like a vision, her slim figure garbed in cream silk, pearls at her throat, the candlelight shining on her russet-brown hair.

Lady Gilmore was gossiping with a matron, and Maddy waited until there was a break in conversation. She leaned closer and asked, “Grandmamma, pardon me. Might I ask if you know those two gentlemen standing over there by the doorway? They look enough alike to be twins.” Not really, but Maddy needed an excuse to single them out.

Lady Gilmore picked up the quizzing glass and squinted through it. “Twins? Hardly, they are eight years apart in age. The fair-haired one is Lord Dunham, heir to the Duke of Houghton. The other is his younger brother, Lord Theodore Langley.”