Intriguing Lady (14 page)

“Second,” he continued, “you will have to bear with Sir Nicholas’s attentions at all social functions you attend. He can pretend that he is smitten by your charm. He has all the right credentials to gain entry to the same affairs as you, and he can be on hand to protect you from the comte, should it become necessary.”

“If you insist, Uncle,” she said, “but I don’t think Sir Nicholas will agree so readily to such a scheme.”

“He will,” Lord Bromley averred. “He is as anxious as I to put an end to the comte’s game.”

“And, like you, dear Uncle, he will use anyone he can to gain this victory?”

The slight touch of bitterness that tinged her voice caused Lord Bromley to look at her sharply, but she smiled up at him sweetly, and he relaxed again. “Yes,” he said.

“We could begin this charade tomorrow,” she said, joining her uncle by the fireplace. “Lady Winthrop is holding a masked fancy-dress ball.”

“Did the comte say he would be present?”

“No, but I’m sure if he hears I intend to go, he will make the necessary arrangements to be there.”

“And how do you propose he find out?”

“Lady Jersey has invited me to tea this afternoon,” she returned nonchalantly. “Knowing her penchant for gossip, if I tell her I shall be attending, the whole of London will know by nightfall.”

“You seem very confident of yourself, my dear.”

“I am,” Roberta said, recalling with a shudder the intimate way the comte had caressed her hand that morning. “The comte will undoubtedly seize the opportunity that such an informal gathering presents to accost me. The only thing is, will Sir Nicholas agree to attend as well?”

“You can ask him yourself, my dear,” Lord Bromley responded, a sudden twinkle in his eyes. “He is due here any minute now.”

As if on cue, the butler entered and coughed discreetly. “Your late-afternoon appointment has arrived, my lord,” he said. “Shall I have him wait?”

“No, no. Ask him to join us.”

Roberta moved to a small writing desk set in an alcove and leaned against it for support. Her legs felt weak at the thought of seeing Sir Nicholas again so soon. She had only just positioned herself when the door swung open once more, and a portly, bowlegged, immaculately dressed old man teetered into the room on bright red shoes with overly high heels.

She glanced at him sharply and then looked to her uncle for an introduction. Her uncle, however, was smiling warmly at the newcomer and advancing toward him, a hand outstretched in greeting. Only then did she realize that she was looking at Sir Nicholas.

“A fine disguise, my boy,” Lord Bromley commented heartily. “Our little friend outside will have a difficult time identifying you for the comte.”

Sir Nicholas laughed, a deep, resonant sound that Roberta easily recognized. “I thought it a necessary precaution, John, but it’s damned uncomfortable and deuced hot. Davids insisted on all this padding, though why I ever let
him
persuade me to don these dreadful creepers and galligaskins is beyond my comprehension. I swear I would rather die a young man than to have to face the prospect of wearing such cumbersome things in my dotage.”

“Such a prospect seems unlikely, Sir Nicholas, given your line of work,” Roberta observed mildly. Her presence in the room obviously caught him unawares, for he wheeled around in surprise.

“Miss Rushforth!” he exclaimed, making as elegant a leg as he could manage. “I had no idea you were here. Please forgive my unwitting rudeness.”

His easy manner helped her overcome the embarrassment she felt at seeing him again, and she was thankful he made no reference to their earlier meeting.

“I asked her to stay a moment,” Lord Bromley interjected, “while I explain to you the slight modification of the plan we discussed over luncheon.”

Sir Nicholas was frowning his disapproval by the time Lord Bromley had finished his explanation.

“I like it no more than you, Nicholas,” Lord Bromley said. “But we are pressed for time, and this scheme of Roberta’s offers the most expedient way out of our dilemma. She’s not lacking for common sense, and I know we can rely on her discretion.”

“’Tis not that that bothers me,” Sir Nicholas replied slowly, ignoring Roberta’s presence, much to her annoyance. “I can’t like the fact that she will deliberately set out to win the comte’s affections. He doesn’t live by the same code of honor as you or I. He takes what he wants, when he wants, and discards it when he’s had his fill. If he really is an enamored of her as he would have her believe, then he will act ruthlessly until he has achieved his end.”

“If you are alluding to his possessing me, Sir Nicholas,” Roberta interposed, “let me allay your fears. I shall carry with me at all times the small pistol my uncle gave me. I will not hesitate to use it if the occasion arises.”

Sir Nicholas raised his eyebrows at this piece of bravado and looked to Lord Bromley for confirmation.

“Aye, it’s the truth; she is a remarkable shot. I taught her myself.”

“I hope your disapproval of my plan doesn’t mean that you will be reluctant to offer me your protection,” Roberta said in a deliberate attempt to goad Sir Nicholas. She found his high-handed manner of dispassionately discussing her extremely irksome. But he didn’t rise to her bait, and to her further annoyance, he shook his head and continued his conversation with Lord Bromley.

“You may rest assured, John, that I will do everything in my power to prevent Miss Rushforth having to resort to such an act.”

“Quite so, quite so,” Lord Bromley said hastily.

“At least you won’t have to rig yourself out in such a ridiculous garb each time you want to see my uncle in private,” Roberta said, stubbornly refusing to be excluded.

“I thank you for your consideration, Miss Rushforth,” he murmured. “That, indeed, will be a welcome relief.”

She nodded briefly and took her leave, satisfied that she had made her point. “If I am to visit Lady Jersey, I had best go now. You see, Sir Nicholas, I thought to go to the masked ball Lady Winthrop is holding tomorrow night,” she said airily as she crossed to the door. “That is, if I can persuade you to attend as well.”

“Is the comte to be there?” he asked.

“I’m sure he will be, once he hears of my intentions from Lady Jersey.”

Sir Nicholas looked annoyed but gave his reluctant agreement. “Although, in the future, Miss Rushforth, I would appreciate it if you would give me advance warning of the affairs you wish to attend, for, as is the case tomorrow, I may already have a prior engagement.”

“I have no desire to interfere with your personal life,” Roberta responded coldly. “There is no need for us to go to this masked romp.”

“I have agreed to escort you, Miss Rushforth,” Sir Nicholas replied with growing irritation. “I will present myself here at ten tomorrow night.”

Roberta curtsied and departed without another word. She felt much better now that she had finally managed to put him on the defensive. She would prove to him once and for all that she wasn’t a woman who accepted such treatment without fighting back.

Her smile broadened into a grin. “I do believe I’m going to enjoy myself enormously,” she murmured with a laugh. “And it will be entirely at your expense, Sir Nicholas.”

*

The small tea party to which Lady Jersey had invited Roberta and Mrs. Ashley was well underway by the time they arrived.

“I knew we would be the last to get here,” Mrs. Ashley said nervously as the butler announced them. “Perhaps it would have been better had we not come at all.”

There was no time for Roberta to reassure her companion, because Lady Jersey swooped down on them. “My dear Roberta, Mrs. Ashley,” she said, her face wreathed in smiles. “How perfectly wonderful that you could come. I had almost despaired of seeing you.”

“Then you forgive our tardiness?” Roberta said, patiently suffering Lady Jersey’s embrace. “I’m afraid I’m at fault. My uncle has just returned to London, and I spent more time than I should have, talking to him.”

“And how is dear Lord Bromley? No, don’t tell me. I’m certain he’s as well as he ever has been. Such a lovely man, and such a puzzlement to me that he has never married. Now, let me see, who can I introduce you to?”

Roberta glanced around and smiled at several people she recognized. “I think I know everyone,” she murmured. “If you don’t mind, I’ll go and say hello to Lady Jenny.” She moved away, leaving Mrs. Ashley to the mercy of their hostess.

Roberta kept a watchful eye on Lady Jersey all during tea. When it appeared that her hostess had tired of flitting between her guests, she approached her tentatively.

“Excuse me, Lady Jersey,” she said. “I was wondering if you could give me some advice.”

“Advice? Why, yes, my dear. That, as the whole of London knows, is the one thing I dispense with pleasure.”

Roberta smiled. “It’s about tomorrow night. I don’t quite know what to wear. You see, having been out of the country for so long, I’m no longer familiar with what’s considered proper attire.”

“Ah,” Lady Jersey replied, “but everyone I know is undecided what they should wear. As you have already enjoyed several Seasons, I think it would be quite appropriate if you wore something striking—a dress that will catch everyone’s attention. You should never be frightened of revealing your charms. I never was, and it didn’t harm my standing in society.”

“I shall let myself be guided by you, then, Lady Jersey, and go as a French courtesan. I bought a gown in France that would do very nicely.”

“Ah! the French. They certainly lead us in fashion, don’t they?” She eyed Roberta speculatively and then chuckled. “And Frenchmen are masters in the art of dalliance. They’re so romantic, don’t you think?”

“I…eh…my experience is limited,” Roberta replied. “The comte is the only Frenchman I know.”

“And it was he I was referring to. He’s so delightfully wicked. He speaks highly of you, Roberta, and will be pleased to know that you will be at Lady Winthrop’s. You should feel encouraged that you have two of London’s most eligible gentlemen dangling after you.”

“I think you exaggerate matters, Lady Jersey!” Roberta exclaimed with becoming modesty.

“But, my dear, everyone is talking about the way Sir Nicholas has singled you out. Why, Lady Ramsden was saying just before you arrived, that she believed his intentions must be serious. Mind you, her reason for suggesting such a thing is because she failed to persuade him to take an interest in that poor daughter of hers last year.”

“Cynthia?”

Lady Jersey nodded. “Although I do hasten to add that there is a vast difference between you and Cynthia. Why, the girl has managed to inherit the worst traits of both her parents. She’s inclined to plumpness, she stammers and she makes no pretense of the fact that she prefers to read rather than to dance. I sometimes feel I am being remiss in my duty by not advising Lady Ramsden she is wasting her time in pushing Cynthia, especially as she has three other daughters to settle.”

“I have always found Cynthia to be a most engaging young lady,” Roberta demurred. “She accepts her shortcomings with grace, and does her best to please her mama. It is perhaps unfortunate, don’t you think, that some females are more blessed than others in their looks?”

“Looks are everything,” Lady Jersey responded firmly. “No man wants to be shackled to a dowdy bluestocking.”

“Yet how many men enjoy being shackled to an empty mind when their lady’s bloom has faded?”

“No matter what your age, Roberta, you are still an innocent. Men can always find ways of enjoying themselves outside the home.”

Before Roberta could reply, somebody claimed Lady Jersey’s attention, and she breathed a sigh of relief, for she found Lady Jersey’s manner altogether too overbearing.

“In the unlikely event that I ever marry,” she murmured crossly, “I will make it perfectly clear to my spouse that I will not countenance his finding outside distractions.”

“You look positively annoyed about something,” Mrs. Ashley said as she joined Roberta. “You mustn’t let Lady Jersey’s tongue overset you.”

“Oh dear!” Roberta said guiltily. “I didn’t realize my face reflected my thoughts. Perhaps we should go before I disagree with anyone else.”

As they made their farewells, Lady Jersey whispered that she would endeavor to present a certain Frenchman to Roberta at the masked ball. The younger woman smiled in satisfaction.

C
hapter
12

“What do you think, Polly?” Roberta asked as she turned slowly in front of the mirror. “Will anyone recognize me?”

Polly shook her head and looked away in some confusion. Her mistress was behaving in a very strange manner, one she couldn’t understand at all. And the dress she was wearing was now almost indecent. Without the lace insert, the bodice revealed an ample portion of bosom.

“I don’t ’ardly think so, Miss Roberta,” she said at last. “I’ve never seen you look so…I mean, you don’t look like a lady at all.”

Roberta laughed. “I’m not supposed to, Polly,” she explained to the young girl. “I’ve dressed as I think a French courtesan would, for it is important that I attract a certain gentleman’s attention tonight.” She smoothed an imaginary crease from the close-fitting skirt, which caused the soft folds of silk chiffon to hug her legs closely. “I hope I have the courage to bear the ogling glances I’m bound to draw.”