Miss in a Man's World (20 page)

Even he spoke with less than his customary aplomb as he said, ‘I think it might be wise to return to our guests now before the temptation to enter quite a different bedchamber becomes too strong. Besides which, someone has arrived who particularly wishes to make your acquaintance, and as he has attained considerable influence in—er—certain quarters, it wouldn't do to offend him.'

Still somewhat bewildered by what had just taken place, and most definitely not in full possession of her faculties, Georgiana was once again content to be guided by him. Like some docile child, she accompanied the Viscount back into the drawing room, where he took her straight over to the celebrity whose attire was every bit as impressive as his own. He then left her with the young gentleman of renown, with the strong warning that he would be watching closely from the other side of the room.

Chuckling at his distinguished guest's witty response, the Viscount collected a glass of champagne before stationing himself in the doorway between the two reception rooms so that he might watch the dancing for a while. He was swiftly thwarted in this desire by a tap on his shoulder and he turned to discover his good friend Charles Gingham at his heels.

‘Where's that divine fiancée of yours? Entertaining some young sprig on the dance floor?'

‘No, she's over there,' his lordship responded, gesturing to a certain spot in the drawing room, ‘entertaining that particular sprig in conversation. And doing an excellent job of it, if the Beau's expression of rapt attention is anything to go by.'

‘Good gad! How on earth did you manage to get Brummell here?' Charles looked about in some alarm. ‘He hasn't brought Prinny with him, has he?'

‘Good God, no! Never having been a devotee of the Regent's, I avoid the Carlton House set as a rule, with one exception. Although we differ in our political affiliations, George Brummell and I do have certain things in common, young though he is.'

‘Well, he clearly appreciates your choice of future bride,' Charles responded, ‘and I don't suppose for a
moment it is simply because he has developed a penchant for that particular name.'

The Viscount was not slow to follow his friend's train of thought. ‘Ah, yes, his very good friend the divine Duchess of Devonshire! Undoubtedly a lady of great charm, but not one of outstanding beauty. At least I never considered her so, and that was long before her tragic disfigurement.'

‘But your own Georgiana is clearly very much to your taste,' Charles parried. ‘Though at one time I would never have supposed it could be so.' He gave a sudden bark of laughter as a distant memory returned. ‘If I recall correctly, your future bride was to be divinely fair and dutifully biddable—traits one could hardly attribute to Miss Grey, if you don't mind my saying.'

There was a suspicion of a twitch at the corner of his lordship's mouth. ‘As you are clearly fast falling into a rollicking mood, I shall refrain from trying to maintain a sensible conversation with you. But perhaps if you have recovered sufficiently for a rational discussion you might care to join me in the library before we retire. There are one or two matters I should like to share with you.'

‘D
amnably enjoyable evening, Finch!' Charles declared, when they had finally repaired to the library to enjoy a glass of brandy before retiring. ‘All the guests thought so. Georgie, bless her, has certainly silenced any critics who might have wrongly supposed she lacked the necessary social skills for her future position in life. The dinner menu couldn't have been bettered in my opinion, and the reception rooms, with those beautifully arranged flowers, looked an absolute picture! She did you proud, old fellow.'

There was a hint of smug satisfaction in the Viscount's expression. ‘Yes, she has worked hard this past week or so. I never doubted her ability to organise the event. And, of course, it was one way to keep her fully occupied and therefore less inclined to indulge in ill-judged behaviour.'

‘Eh?' Charles was clearly startled to be told this. ‘Is she likely to do so, then? Not been gadding about in boy's raiment again recently, surely?'

‘Afraid so, old fellow.' There was a distinct menacing
gleam in his lordship's dark eyes now. ‘But she won't again, if she knows what's good for her. That said, I'm forced to own there was perhaps some justification for her having done so. And that is why I wished to speak to you now.'

It was clear he held his friend's full attention, so the Viscount wasted no time in revealing almost everything he knew concerning the seventh Earl of Grenville's death. ‘So we are left with three possible suspects, and I am at present attempting to eliminate two of them.'

Charles shook his head. ‘Do you know, I was only talking to Louise and Mother about this recently, Finch, wondering if these robberies were in some way connected. But how the deuce are they disposing of the jewellery? No one in London would be stupid enough to purchase any of it, surely?'

‘No. It's going across the Channel. And that is where I would appreciate your assistance, my friend.' His lordship's gaze was unwavering. ‘I'm inclined to believe, you see, that your cousin Henri might well be involved in this business.'

Not even by the slight raising of one fair brow did Charles betray surprise at learning that. ‘I assume you have proof.'

‘Only what Georgie herself managed to discover. That said, I believe he's over in France as we speak, attempting to dispose of Lady Chalmondley's emeralds. There's plenty of smuggling going on, and many who'll risk taking a passenger across to France for a price. I'm having a particular Channel port watched for his return. His movements will then be closely monitored for the foreseeable future. And it is with regard to Henri that I believe you might be of some help.'

‘Of course, I'll do what I can. But I haven't had any
contact with him in…oh, must be five or six years,' Charles reminded his lordship. ‘I believe he still resides in the capital, but I couldn't tell you where, exactly.'

‘It shouldn't be too difficult to discover where he's lodging. I'll write to you in a week or so. Then you can make casual contact, and see what you can discover from him without arousing his suspicions. Seemingly, a relative of his is involved in disposing of the gems.'

‘He has a number of French cousins,' Charles pointed out. ‘I've never been acquainted with any of them.'

‘That's of no importance. Just make contact with Henri again on his return and see what you can discover. Any small detail he lets fall could turn out to be important and might ultimately lead to the brains behind it all.'

Charles shook his head, evidently having some difficulty believing everything he was hearing. ‘And you say Georgie herself discovered Henri's involvement. How the deuce did she accomplish that?'

‘Would you believe by visiting a—er—lowly tavern in the east of the city, where it was arranged that the booty would be handed over to your cousin?'

‘Good gad!'

‘Quite!' his lordship agreed, smiling faintly. ‘It just so happens it was on that particular night I persuaded her to become engaged.'

‘Eh…?' Again Charles didn't attempt to hide his astonishment. ‘Do you mean she didn't wish to become betrothed?'

His lordship considered for a moment. ‘I'm not altogether sure, old friend. What I can tell you is that she'd never considered a marriage between us.' His smile faded and he was suddenly serious. ‘You see, Charles, Georgie believes the engagement to be bogus and that
my only interest is to prove beyond doubt I had nothing whatsoever to do with her godfather's demise. You must remember I was one of the—er—so-called “favoured five”.'

Charles was clearly all at sea now, and it showed. ‘But surely she doesn't suspect you?'

‘No, she doesn't,' his lordship responded with absolute conviction.

‘Then why on earth don't you tell her the truth?'

‘What…? That I've been in love with her almost from the first?' The Viscount's smile had a decidedly bitter curl. ‘I'll tell you why, Charles… It's because I'm a damnable coward, that's why! Past experience has left me distinctly wary about revealing my feelings to a member of the fair sex.'

‘You're thinking of Charlotte, naturally,' Charles returned softly. ‘I did wonder why you had invited Lady Wenbury tonight. Surely you weren't comparing the two?'

‘Assuredly not! To me Georgie is far above in every respect the woman I now consider merely a youthful indiscretion. But I'm not so foolish as to suppose she hasn't at some point learned of my association with the baroness, and all the foolish conjecture that resulted after her rushed marriage to Wenbury. I believe Georgie now realises I'm not suffering any regrets about what happened. Quite the opposite, in fact! I consider I had an extremely lucky escape. I can never thank you enough for dragging me over to France all those years ago.'

His lordship was silent for a moment, staring thoughtfully down at the amber liquid in his glass. ‘I've experience enough and am arrogant enough to believe Georgie cares for me very deeply. None the less, she is
not certain of my feelings towards her or of my genuine motives for wishing the engagement to take place. Why, she must be asking herself, does a gentleman present a lady with a fortune in gems, only to insist they remain in his charge, if he intends her to keep them? And why too does he never bestow other tokens of his affection, except rarely, when natural inclination overcomes resolve?'

Again there was a hint of smug satisfaction in his smile. ‘Yes, I have succeeded in maintaining poor Georgie in a state of delicious confusion during these past couple of weeks, and I intend to do all in my power to keep her there, at least for the time being. While her mind is focused on attempting to comprehend my diverse behaviour, she will be less likely to concern herself with other matters.'

Undoubtedly the Viscount would have derived much satisfaction from the knowledge that his betrothed had spent much of that night pondering over his perplexing behaviour: one moment the gentle, persuasive lover, the next the dour elder brother determined to keep a younger sister under strict control.

 

Those hours of wakefulness had not been in vain, however. Although when she rose from her bed the following day she might not have been any clearer in her mind as to why his lordship's manner towards her could be so contrasting, she was very sure that he had done his utmost to keep her involvement in a very important matter to the absolute minimum.

During those days leading up to the engagement party, she had been too preoccupied with organising the celebration to concentrate more than fleetingly on those events surrounding her godfather's death. Even so, it
had occurred to her on several occasions that Digby had been spending a deal of time with his lordship. She didn't so much begrudge her servant liaising with the Viscount as resent her deliberate exclusion from those various meetings where information must undoubtedly have been exchanged.

Consequently, when she met the Viscount at the prearranged time in the park later in the day, she was determined to involve herself again in unmasking the mastermind behind the robberies, a fact that would undoubtedly have caused his lordship some disquiet had she been foolish enough to admit as much. However, if there was one thing she had learned in all her dealings with Lord Fincham it was that sometimes it was very wise to keep one's own counsel.

So she merely greeted him cordially by announcing her intention of purchasing a suitable mount so that she might enjoy her favourite form of exercise while she remained in the capital. ‘I'm assured Tattersall's is the place to go.'

‘But not for a lady,' he returned discouragingly. ‘The fair sex is not welcome there. Nor should any member of it attempt to cross the portals of that all-male preserve if she wishes to retain her good name.'

Much as she might resent the domination of the male in society, Georgiana had sense enough to accept that matters would not change overnight; if she wished to continue to be looked upon with approval in the polite world, then she must not flout those rules governing the behaviour of her sex.

That accepted, there were other ways to achieve one's objective, she mused, a solution to the dilemma having quickly occurred to her.

Unfortunately his lordship, silently considering how
utterly charming she looked in her fashionable bonnet trimmed with blue ribbon, just happened to detect that unmistakably speculative glint in her eyes and wasn't slow to interpret the meaning behind it. ‘Don't you dare contemplate involving Master Green, my girl!' he advised in a dangerously low undertone. ‘I'll acquire a suitable mount for you.'

Such blatant interference in her affairs ought to have annoyed her intensely. Perversely, it had the opposite effect. She felt more amused than anything else. Clearly the gentle lover of the night before had been replaced by the strict elder brother again. But maybe it was for the best, she reasoned. And a deal safer! After all, she'd experienced often enough his overbearing moods and had succeeded more often than not in managing him without too much trouble. The ardent fiancé, on the other hand, was an unknown quantity and, therefore, far more difficult to deal with.

‘Very well,' she agreed amicably, surprising him somewhat. ‘But on the strict understanding I reimburse you for the cost,' she added, proving at a stroke that she was not prepared to bend to his will over everything. ‘I mean it, Ben,' she continued, when he looked directly ahead, smiling a little smugly, as was his wont when he believed he had attained the upper hand. ‘The horse shall belong to me. I fully intend to take the animal back with me to Gloucestershire at the end of the Season.'

Although this determination clearly didn't please him, he merely said, ‘We'll discuss the matter more fully when the time comes. Instead, tell me what you made of society's latest darling?'

‘Brummell, you mean?' She took a moment to consider, while smiling at clear memories of the interlude with the famous beau. ‘Well, although he's still young,
a matter of a year or so older than me, he's undoubtedly made a name for himself. He's very ambitious. He's clever and extremely witty. He's attractive, despite his nose having been broken. A fall from a horse, I believe he said. He succeeded in keeping me in a high state of amusement with his wicked observations about some of those present.'

‘Yes, I saw you were enjoying his company hugely.' He didn't sound altogether pleased. ‘Dare I ask what he said about me?'

A teasing glint added an extra sparkle to her eyes. ‘Oh, I couldn't possibly reveal everything he said. But on the whole you fared better than most. I think he rather likes you, even though your political views are vastly contrasting. Naturally he approves your style of dress. Which is more than can be said for Lord Wenbury. He compared him to an oversized wasp, would you believe?'

‘Ah, yes, poor Eustace! Never had any taste in clothes, nor the figure to carry 'em, come to that.'

She looked up at him sharply. Although he'd been disparaging about the baron's style of dress, again there hadn't been so much as a hint of resentment in his voice towards the man who had married his old love, which only went to substantiate her belief that he did not wear the willow for the baroness.

‘I believe I overheard Lord Wenbury say that he and his wife were bound for Lady Kilerton's soirée this evening. The Dowager Countess has a fancy to attend. And I think I shall go, too, as Lady Eleanor said she would be among the guests. It will offer me the opportunity to say a final farewell. She intends to return to the country tomorrow, so I understand.'

He confirmed this with a nod. ‘But I shall not be
escorting her. My time will be better spent at my club, I think, or at another gaming establishment.'

 

Perhaps that was true. None the less, Georgiana had no intention of taking a back seat any longer and that night was bent on starting her own investigations anew. Firstly, though, she was determined to bestow her heartfelt thanks on the lady whom she had come to look upon as a true friend and who had been such a support during the past couple of weeks.

Slipping into the vacant chair beside Lady Eleanor, Georgiana didn't waste time in giving voice to her appreciation or declaring her sadness at losing her new-found friend's companionship so soon. ‘Heaven only knows when we'll see each other again.'

‘Oh, don't you worry on that score. I have every intention of visiting Fincham Park frequently once the new mistress is in residence!' The widow did not miss the forlorn expression that just for one unguarded moment passed over delicate features. ‘Why, Georgie! Whatever's amiss? You and Ben haven't quarrelled, have you? I know he can be tiresomely dictatorial on occasions, but his heart's in the right place.'

‘Oh, no, no, nothing like that,' Georgiana hurriedly assured her. ‘It's just…well… We have made no firm plans to marry. So it might be ages before you and I see each other again.'