My Lady Scandal (9 page)

Nell frowned, suddenly exasperated with herself
and
Carlisle. What an addle pate she was. And what a fool
he
was, to ruin their perfectly good – if somewhat unconventional – new friendship. In fact, the more she thought about it, the crosser she became, because really, she had few enough people to talk to freely and she had come to look forward to their candid conversations.

For indeed, the French silk gown in evening primrose with its overlay of cream sarcenet became her very well. It was the last dress that her mother had ordered for her and so, as French fashions took a few months to filter across the channel, it was
extremely
fashionable.

As usual, Nell had avoided the elaborate hairstyles favored by some of the young ladies, instead dressing her hair in simple loose curls that tumbled about her – mostly bare – shoulders.

‘Why, thank-you. So I have been told.’

He raised an eyebrow at this. ‘To be expected, surely; naturally, I am not the first man to have complimented you tonight.’ He glanced at Viola, who had been listening to this interchange with interest. She, too, was looking delightful in worked French muslin in a soft sage, adorned with pearl rosettes around the neckline. ‘Viola, you are a picture.’

She gave him a smile, then a sly glance. ‘Grif, you are
just
in time to save poor Nell from Mr. Bartholomew. He has been threatening to dance with her all evening.’

As Bartholomew was a large, extremely portly man with hands like ham hocks and zero skills on the dance floor, Grif looked sympathetic. ‘Well that will never do! Miss. Marriott? Your hand?’

She eyed him thoughtfully for a moment. ‘I am unsure. Should I slight Mr. Bartholomew yet again?’

‘Nell!’ Viola exclaimed, ‘say what you will about Grif, but he absolutely
floats
around the floor. Like all rakes, the man numbers dancing as one of his most useful talents.’

That brought a smile to Nell’s lips. ‘Oh, well then; it does seem a pity not to put those talents into play.’ And she allowed Grif to take her hand and lead her amongst the assembling couples.

It was a waltz and by rights, Carlisle should have obtained either Lady Jersey or Princess Esterhazy’s permission to squire a debutante around the floor, but he stood on such good terms with both ladies that it was unlikely he would be scolded. For some moments, silence reigned and then his lordship spoke. ‘You are angry with me, Miss. Marriott?’

‘Pray, why should I be angry, Sir?’

‘Perhaps because I kissed you? And now you feel that I have damaged our friendship?’

It was exactly what she
had
been thinking that she looked up quickly, straight into those dark, fathomless eyes. ‘Something akin to that, perhaps.’

He nodded. ‘We could pretend it never happened. Would that help?’

Nell thought about it.
Would
it help? It was difficult to say. Something had changed between them and she was unsure what could set it to rights. ‘Could we? Forget it ever happened?’

There was a pause, a few beats of time that felt like forever and then his hand tightened briefly on her own. What she saw in his eyes made her heart skip, picking up a rhythm that was exotically unfamiliar.

Raw, unadulterated desire.

‘My dear Miss. Marriott,’ he said softly, ‘as devastated as I am to disappoint, I am very sure I will never be able to forget that kiss. Not only that, but I cannot promise it will not happen again. You see… your mouth is so very kissable.’

The words were flirtatious, but his tone was not and Nell had no trouble at all discerning the need beneath it. How could she not when she felt exactly the same need, pounding through her with every breath, with every heartbeat? ‘So I am warned?’ she asked, sounded a little breathless. ‘You intend to kiss me again?’

Who knew that a pair of dark eyes could burn so hot? ‘Oh, Miss. Marriott,’ he murmured, pulling her just a little closer, ‘kissing you again is just the beginning of what I intend to do.’

Nell finished the dance in a kind of daze after that, and the sensation lingered. She felt almost lightheaded, although whether it was from anticipation or shock, it was difficult to tell. Anticipation seemed the most likely answer as her body positively
hummed
with the prospect of what Carlisle wanted to do, which only confirmed what she had suspected all along; she was a most improper female, unfit for Polite Society.

So it did not seem in the least bit unseemly when, three hours later, she and Perry were to be found breaking into the Belmont residence. The Countess and her husband were attending a week long country house party, which left several days for the Marriotts to investigate the contents of their cupboards. This they did with great success, securing some truly delightful pieces. They retired in good order, well satisfied. At their current level of prosperity, it seemed likely their fortunes would be restored far more rapidly that they had anticipated.

Nell went to her bed that evening, head whirling with so many conflicting emotions; she did not know what to think. She
wanted
Carlisle to touch her. She wanted Carlisle to do all manner of things to her, things she had never even thought of before; not consciously.

But she was thinking about them now.

Unfortunately, it seemed to be
all
she could think about.

Chapter Five

News of another robbery was delayed, thanks to the owner of the missing pieces having been out of town. The furor exploded into life on Tuesday morning, however and had the immediate affect of making lords and their ladies demand: a/ immediate action to catch those responsible, b/ immediate hanging once the perpetrators
were
caught and, c/ immediate intervention, by the army if need be, to keep their valuables safe from said perpetrators.

Carlisle heard of it over breakfast. His friend, Percy Blakely bought the news, collecting a plate and sitting down at the table with the ease bourn of comfortable familiarity.

‘Bit of a hum,’ he had announced cheerfully. ‘The Belmont place got rolled. Old Belmont’s up in arms, all fire and brimstone.’

Grif had laid aside his newspaper to look at his friend. ‘Rolled over? As in…?’

‘Robbed, by Jove! All of Lady Belmont’s pretties are gone, probably never to be seen again, at least in their current format. Quite a to do at Waiters, I can tell you. I thought the fellow was going to have an apoplexy.’

Waiters was Belmont’s preferred club. Grif leaned back in his chair, thinking hard. ‘How very unfortunate. They have been out of town, have they not?’

‘Warwickshire,’ Percy had agreed. ‘So I suppose it could have happened at any time over the past five days. Word is that it’s the same beggars that stole Lady Abbington’s loot. Rum show, ay? Getting so London is as bad as Florence, thieving everywhere. Man’s not safe in his bed.’

‘Oh, really, Percy,’ Carlisle had drawled, ‘I am quite sure you a perfectly safe in your bed. But I suppose you can always get yourself a dog.’

It might have been supposed that this suggestion would be met with derision, but, just as he had thought it would, Lord Blakely was immediately taken with the idea and departed soon after to enquire after guard dogs. He left the Viscount in a very thoughtful mood.

While initially Grif had been amused by the Marriotts’ doings, he now thought they were beginning to fly a little too close to the wind. Count Belmont was every bit as powerful a figure as Lord Abbington and, if they were going to demand action (which they would, of course – very loudly indeed) then action would be taken to apprehend the thieves
.
; decisive action, disruptive action. Before long, the damned military would be swarming everywhere. There were many negatives to peacetime, or so Carlisle believed.

He did not deplore the behavior of the Marriotts, not at all. He understood their reasoning all too well and did not judge them. But the possibility that Nell might be putting herself in danger was a different matter entirely and he found that he could not countenance the possibility. Her throat was far too lovely to feel a rope around it.

Something would have to be done.

So it was that after breakfast he dressed for riding and had his big black hunter brought around. It was a nice day for such an outing; brisk and bracing and he enjoyed the five-mile ride to Holly Oak Hall.

There he found brother and sister still ensconced over their breakfast. They greeted him with varying degrees of pleasure: unrestrained on Perry’s part, somewhat muted on Nell’s. By now, Talbot was so familiar with Carlisle’s regular visits that he did not stand on ceremony, which was why he showed him into the breakfast parlor, a room at the back of the house with a pleasant view of the riotous gardens.

‘I am sorry to disturb you,’ he said easily, taking a chair, ‘do carry on.’

‘Oh, we are merely malingering,’ Perry said cheerfully, waving yesterday’s paper. ‘Unlike you, who is clearly full of industry, out and about at this hour.’

‘Yes, well… I come bearing the latest
on
dit
. It has caused quite a flutter among the ton.’ As he spoke, his eyes rested on Nell’s face. There was certainly a little more color than usual in her cheeks and he knew she was remembering their last meeting and quite possibly the meeting before that. It was reassuring that he was not the only one who was troubled by those recent memories. He wondered if they were keeping her awake at night, then thought about how nice it would be to be kept awake together.

But enough of that!

Raising her chin, she met his eyes squarely. ‘Indeed? Why, whatever has happened now?’

‘Another robbery,’ he observed softly. ‘The Countess Belmont. Do you know her? A large lady; looks a little like one of the pugs she is so fond of.’

Brother and sister did not exchange looks. They were too well versed in dissembling for that. Instead, Nell did a credible job of looking shocked. ‘Oh, dear! That is very disturbing. Have they any idea who is behind it?’

‘Not as yet. But I am sure it is just a matter of time. The thieves are stealing from those that have the ear of the authorities. They will do whatever they must to ensure that no more of the ton suffer a loss. It would not do to have people feeling that they are not safe in their beds.’

Perry frowned. ‘But surely nobody has been hurt?’

‘No,’ Carlisle shrugged, ‘but who can say when that might change? There is talk that they will employ the army and recruit extra men into the Watch. It is almost too exciting for a man of my delicate sensibilities.’

‘Why, the robberies have been occurring right in the city and you are a little way out, are you not? And besides, unlike Lady Abbington and Countess Belmont, you do not flaunt your valuables to the world.’ He met her look squarely, then smiled and rose to his feet. ‘I will see you both at the Wyndham ball tonight?’

Perry nodded, rising to his feet. ‘Indeed. Although Nell tells me that all the world is expected to attend; I imagine it will be quite a crush.’

Grif looked down at Nell. ‘Such occasions are very good for one’s social profile, however. Oh… Perry,’ he turned to the younger man, ‘may I trouble you for that volume of Voltaire you promised me the other night? Lady Jersey asked me about the man the other day and I confess; I failed to impress with my knowledge.’

‘But of course. Let me find it for you.’ And he hurried out the door, which was precisely what Grif had wanted him to do. Nell, he noted, with a certain amusement, was looking at him warily.

‘You like Voltaire, my Lord?’

‘I like sending your brother off to get it,’ He retorted. ‘Nell, you must stop this nonsense now. Count yourself lucky with what you have managed to take so far and leave it at that. God knows, you must have made a fortune from the first two robberies.’

Nell’s face had gone as white as the tablecloth under her hand. For a moment, she said nothing, but then regrouped. ‘I have no idea what you are talking about!’

Grif felt nothing but admiration for her. She had more spirit than any women he had ever encountered before. ‘Never the less; they will not take another incursion well. You and Perry must think of other ways to make money.’ When she would have spoken, he raised a hand, ‘
Legal
ways. No more robbing coaches in the middle of the night.’

Then she had it; where she had seen him before. He could see it on her face, the swift comprehension. He was the one who had shot her brother! At that moment, Perry came back into the room; book in hand. He gave it to Grif then, sensing that something had taken place and glanced at his sister inquiringly. ‘Nell?’

‘I am… all right. Lord Carlisle,’ she rose to her feet and managed a wooden smile, ‘until we meet again.’

‘I shall look forward to it.’

But he wondered, as he walked out the door, if she would heed his warning. For her own sake and the sake of her brother, surely she must!

‘He knows that we are responsible for the robberies! And worse than that,’ she added, voice dropping with horror, ‘he knows we committed highway robbery!
That
is why I knew his face. He is the one who shot you!’