Kissing Cousins (27 page)

Lady Louise was beyond speech. She could only stare from this vision to Salverton
’
s unmarried cousin, who had certainly claimed to be married, and looking for her husband. She remembered it perfectly.

Ere long, she noticed that the female in peacock blue had every earmark of a lightskirt. She was the female who had been seen in Salverton
’
s carriage the night he chose to miss her dinner party!
“
Obviously of the muslin company
”
was the way Carnford had described her.
“
Pretty as can stare, but not quite the thing.
”
Salverton was trying to fool her that it was this Samantha Oakleigh, his cousin in distress, who had been with him, but she felt in her bones it had been no one else but Miss Claridge.

Wanda looked at the assembled group and said,
“
You wanted a word with me, Sam? Is it true Bow Street has got Fletch locked up?
”

“
Yes, it
’
s true,
”
Samantha said, cool as a cucumber. Lady Louise gasped and clutched at her throat. After one quick glance at her, Samantha decided against introducing Wanda to Lady Louise. Rude as it was not to, she feared it would be even ruder to do it, and might cause a heart attack besides.

“
Good! That
’
s the last time he
’
ll darken my daylights,
”
Wanda said.
“
So what did you want with me?
”
She strolled in and took a seat across from Lady Louise.

“
We hoped you might give Darren an alibi for last night,
”
Samantha replied.
“
As they already have evidence against Fletch, I daresay it won
’
t be necessary now. But thank you for coming.
”

“
I don
’
t mind. I
’
ve always wondered what these castles are like inside.
”
She gazed around the room.

“
Mighty fine. Is that champagne?
”
she asked as her wandering gaze fell on the wine.

“
Remiss of me. Won
’
t you join us, Miss Claridge?
”
Edward said, and poured her a glass.
“
I expect you and Darren would like to talk in private.
”
His intention was to shuffle Wanda off to another room before she became too loquacious.

“
I have plenty to say!
”
Darren said, jumping up.
“
How
’
s your
husband,
Wanda?
”

“
You tell me,
”
Wanda replied, and took a sip of the wine.
“
You
’
ve seen him. I haven
’
t, not since they locked him up some years ago. But I
’
ll attend his hanging
—
with pleasure.
”

‘‘
You never told me you were married!
”

“
You never asked.
”

“
You might have mentioned it when we was on our way to Gretna Green.
”
Wanda shrugged.
“
I have nothing more to say to you,
”
Darren said, and turned his head aside.

The audience had been listening attentively.

“
Well, that
’
s that,
”
Salverton said. His eyes were twinkling and his lips were unsteady.
“
May I accompany you to the door, Miss Claridge?
”
He put his hand in his pocket and rattled some coins enticingly. Wanda drank her wine and rose.

“
Ever so nice to meet you. See you around, Sam.
”
She was just picking up her beaded reticule, when the door knocker sounded once more.

Running over the dramatis personae of the drama, Salverton said,
“
I expect that will be Jonathon.
”

“
Oh, dear!
”
Samantha said with a glance at Lady Louise.

“
Mr. Sykes,
”
Luten announced, and Jonathon pounced into the room, smiling from ear to ear.

“
They let me out of jail,
”
he announced. Lady Louise took one look at him and wedged herself tightly against the back of her chair.
“
Townsend sprung me when you sent word I was with you and Sam when old Bayne was done in, melord. Hello, Sam. This would be your little brother, the cause of all the mischief. Stay away from the muslin company, lad. You
’
re too young for it yet. Take it from one who knows.
”
As he spoke, his eyes wandered to the choice piece in the peacock suit.
“
Nancy! I didn
’
t expect to see you here.
”

Lady Louise peered around for another light-skirt, but finally realized that Wanda also wore the name Nancy. Jonathon
’
s glance strayed often to Wanda while Salverton briefly outlined what had occurred since he and Jonathon had parted company in Tunbridge Wells.

“
You
’
ve kept yourself busy, I must say, melord,
”
Jonathon said.
“
And handled the affair as well as I could have myself.
”

“
I only followed your orders,
”
Salverton replied.
“
How did things go in the roundhouse?
”

Jonathon drew out a thick wad of bills.
“
A fair night
’
s work,
”
he said. Wanda examined the roll of money and smiled warmly at Jonathon.

Another bottle of champagne was called for and poured. Lady Louise, like one in a trance, held out her glass. She wanted to leave, but some strange fascination held her there. It was like a peek into some forbidden world. Hell, perhaps, or purgatory. And Salverton was quite at home with this motley crew. How had she been so mistaken about him?

“
I
’
ll hobble on down to Bow Street and see if they want a statement before I run along home,
”
Jonathon said sometime later.
“
Be sure you look me up when you
’
re in Brighton, melord. Always ready to serve
—
for a price. And you, Sammy. You know who to come to if your young man cuts up on you.
”
He tossed a roguish grin at Salverton.

When he rose to leave, he cast a long look in Wanda
’
s direction in a tacit invitation to join him. She didn
’
t hesitate a minute before rising.

“
I must be toddling along,
”
she said, making a showy curtsy around the room.
“
I don
’
t believe I caught your name, miss,
”
she said to Lady Louise, who just stared. Miss! She had never been called miss in her life.
“
Is she simple?
”
Wanda asked Salverton in a perfectly audible aside.

Salverton ignored the question. He took Wanda
’
s elbow, accompanied her and Jonathon out the door, and steered them into his study before leaving. He unlocked a metal box and drew out a considerable quantity of bills.
“
A little something for your trouble, Jonathon,
”
he said.

“
Generous to a fault, as always.
”
Jonathon smiled.

Salverton handed Wanda a few bills.
“
My butler will find you a hackney, Miss Claridge. Most kind of you to have come.
”

“
Any time, milord,
”
Wanda said with an inviting leer.

“
How did you get here, Jonathon?
”
Edward asked.

“
I hired a gig at Newman
’
s for the trip to Brighton, after Townsend sprung me. I
’
ll drive this charming lady home. Wanda?
”

“
Going to Brighton, did you say?
”
Wanda asked.

“
To check up on my business interests there. My inn
—”

“
Oh, my, you own an inn! I
’
d like to see it sometime.
”

“
No time like the present.
”

“
You don
’
t waste any time,
”
she said with a flirtatious smile.

“
Time
’
s not for wasting,
”
he said, and grabbed her arm.

Salverton shook his head as they left, already halfway into negotiations for Wanda
’
s favors. Jonathon was right as usual. Time wasn
’
t for wasting. He
’
d wasted too long already.

When Salverton returned to the saloon, Lady Louise had recovered sufficiently to demand an explanation of these irregular goings-on.
“
Who were those yahoos, Salverton?
”
she demanded.

“
Jonathon Sykes is a friend; Miss Claridge was involved in the arrest that occurred this morning. You need not concern yourself about her, Louise. I doubt we
’
ll see her again.
”

“
I certainly shan
’
t, nor that other creature, either. I fear Papa would not like my meeting such low people. There is just one thing I should like to know before I leave. Is this young lady
”—
she glanced at Samantha
—”
married, or is she not?
”

“
Not at the moment,
”
Salverton replied.
“
Wanda Claridge had designs on Samantha
’
s brother. To be rid of her, we let on Samantha was Darren
’
s wife. She is, in fact, his sister.
”

“
I see. And why did you feel it necessary to pretend to me? I was not likely to meet Miss Claridge.
”

“
One never knows. You just did meet her.
”

She gave him a long, searching look.
“
You
’
ve become very adept in juggling the truth, Salverton.
”
She rose and took her leave of the remaining company. Salverton accompanied her to the hallway.

“
You
’
ll make a better politician than I ever thought,
”
she said before leaving.
“
I take it you won
’
t be attending my ball this evening?
”

“
I fear not. I can hardly leave my cousins alone.
”

“
Of course,
”
she said with great feeling.

“
I
’
m sorry, Louise.
”

When he opened his lips to explain, she wafted her gloved hand in dismissal and nodded to Luten.
“
Good-bye, Salverton,
”
she said in the accents of one who has narrowly escaped the gallows. Luten held the door open and she sailed out.

“
Are you anticipating further callers, your lordship?
”
Luten inquired as he closed the door.
“
What I wish to ascertain is whom I should admit, and whom not?
”

“
I
’
m holding open house this morning, Luten. All comers are welcome.
”

Luten bowed, to conceal the movement of his lips. Lord Salty was back! This infernal tomb was livelier than it had been in a decade.

Samantha cast a sheepish look on Salverton when he returned.
“
I
’
m sorry about Wanda
’
s coming, Edward,
”
she said.
“
I had no idea Lady Louise would be here.
”

“
When folks come uninvited, they can
’
t complain of the company. I could hardly turn Jonathon from the door after all he
’
s done for us.
”

Darren demanded an explanation of this intriguing statement. They were still discussing it when luncheon was announced, and they hadn
’
t gotten around yet to mentioning that Wanda had a grown daughter. The explanations lasted through the whole meal.

When they were finished, Darren said,
“
Could I have a word with you in your study, Cousin? I find myself a trifle short
—
for the trip home, you know. Naturally, I
’
ll repay every penny.
”

“
Naturally, with interest,
”
Salverton said, for he wanted Darren to realize the importance of responsibility. Salverton accompanied him out.

Miss Donaldson said to Samantha,
“
We should be getting home, Sam.
”

“
To Oakbay, do you mean?
”

“
We
’
ll stay the night at Upper Grosvenor Square and get an early start in the morning. Did Edward say anything ...
”

“
About what?
”
Sam asked, but the flush that crept up her neck showed she realized very well what her chaperon meant.

“
Did he offer for you?
”

“
Of course not! He
’
s practically engaged to Lady Louise.
”

“
I wonder ...
”

She was not left long in doubt when Salverton returned to say he would have his carriage deliver Miss Donaldson and Darren to Upper Grosvenor Square. He wished to take Samantha for a drive in the park to discuss matters.
“
With your permission, ma
’
am?
”
he added.
“
You are
in loco parentis.
”