Nina Coombs Pykare (11 page)

“Nonsense,” said Mama. “You shall do as I say.”

Dezzie’s lower lip trembled, but she went bravely on. “No, Mama, I shall not. I love Lockwood. He is the only man I shall ever marry.”

Mama leapt to her feet, pushing back her chair with such force that a footman had to rush forward to catch it. “Ingrates!” Mama screamed. “Ungrateful ingrates!” And off she stormed, almost bowling over the footman as she went.

Penelope smothered a laugh in her napkin. “Sorry, Cousin. It’s just. . . sometimes your mama . . .”

“I know.” Licia managed a smile. Mama’s tantrums could be amusing to onlookers. And she had long known that Mama thought Dezzie beautiful and herself plain. But she had never heard it said aloud before.

She turned to her aunt. “Thank you for defending me.”

Aunt Hortense smiled warmly. “Your mama has no call to treat you so unfairly. And I meant what I said to her. In your own way you’re every bit as pretty as Dezzie. It’s easy to see why Ravenworth is taken with you. But, my dear .
.
.
” Aunt Hortense hesitated. “He has prided himself so long on staying free. Are you sure he means to play this out to the end?”

Licia swallowed a sigh. “As sure as I can be.”

Aunt Hortense seemed satisfied with that, and she finished her tea and went off, leaving the young women alone.

“Do you really love the duke?” Dezzie asked the minute her aunt was gone.

Penelope cast a glance at the footmen. “Let’s take a turn in the garden.”

“Do you really love the duke?” Dezzie repeated the instant they were outside.

“Of course not,” replied Licia. “You know it is all part of the arrangement. So that you can wed Lockwood. Then Ravenworth and I
.
.
.
” The words did not want to come. She could hardly bear to think of that time. Why must Dezzie talk about it?

But Dezzie went rambling on, stopping here and there to examine a flower. “It’s so kind of you to do this for me. And you do it so well. You look very in love. And the duke .
.
. he is excellent in the part. No doubt he has loved many ladies and so has had much practice.”

Licia had just begun to feel the pain of this possibility when Penelope said, “No, he has not loved many ladies. Come now, stop badgering your sister.”

Dezzie straightened from smelling a rose. “Oh, dear. Was I doing that? I’m sorry, Licia.”

And Licia knew she was. Dezzie was flighty, but she was never deliberately unkind. “I know, dear. Run along now. I shall be fine.”

When they were alone, Penelope said, “You may be able to fool the others. But not me. You do love Ravenworth.”

Licia, looking out over the flowers, said dully, “Of course I don’t. It’s all part of—”

“Licia!” Penelope grabbed her by the shoulders and looked her directly in the eye. “I know you love him.”

“No. I .
.
.
” Suddenly Licia could keep the secret no longer. “Please, don’t let him know.” She wiped at her eyes. “He has done so much for us. And I .
.
. I should be embarrassed if he found out. Please, Penelope.”

“Of course I’ll keep your secret, my dear.” Penelope sighed. “As you are keeping mine. But, Cousin—”

“I know! I know he doesn’t believe in the institution of marriage. And he certainly doesn’t love me. That hurts. But I can’t end the arrangement now. At least Dezzie should have the man she loves.”

By that afternoon a relative calm had settled upon the household. Aunt Hortense seemed bemused, and occasionally she gave Licia a sidelong glance or a reassuring smile. Mama, whose moods of ire seldom lasted long, once more took up her nearly unrecognizable needlepoint. And the young women sat, occupying themselves with aimless chatter.

Dezzie’s eyes went so often toward the street that finally Aunt Hortense remarked on it. “Dezzie, you seem uncommonly eager for visitors.”

Dezzie smiled. “I spoke to the duke about vouchers to Almack’s. I was hoping he’d bring them today.”

Mama nodded happily. “I’m sure if he said he would, he will. When you are duchess .
.
.
”

Licia’s heart sank. All the to-do that morning might as well have never happened. Mama was still making the same ridiculous plans.

Dezzie opened her mouth to say something, but Licia warned her off with a glance. It did not seem proper to teach her sister how to circumvent their parent, but if she was going to marry Lockwood, Dezzie would have to learn. She would have to learn to do what must be done and then let Mama’s wrathful words flow past without regarding them. If she just
.
. .

“Listen!” Dezzie sprang to her feet. “I hear a carriage.” She ran to the window and peeked between the curtains. “It’s him. It’s the duke!”

Seeing Dezzie’s expression turn to disappointment, Licia realized her sister had hoped to see Lockwood. But evidently Ravenworth had come alone. She tried to prepare herself to greet him calmly. But her heart was pounding so that she feared even Mama could hear it across the room.

Dezzie waited for no conventional greeting. Definitely Mama’s daughter, she pounced on Ravenworth the moment he entered. “Did you get them? When are we going?”

The duke sent Licia an amused smile. “Get what. Miss Desiree?”

“Oh, you know. The vouchers for Almack’s. I do so want to go.”

“Why, Miss Desiree, it was only last night that you mentioned them.”

“Yes, yes, but you are a duke. You can do anything.”

“I am not so sure of that,” he said with a sidelong glance at the other two. “But I’ve no doubt I can procure vouchers for Almack’s.”

“Oh, you are the dearest man!” And Dezzie so far forgot decorum as to throw herself into his arms. For the barest moment he appeared startled. Then he put her gently from him. “Your thanks are accepted. Miss Desiree. But I do not have the vouchers yet.”

Aunt Hortense smiled. “Dezzie, do sit down and stop acting such a green girl. The duke will think you’ve lost your senses.”

“Yes, Aunt.” Dezzie sank into a chair, favoring the duke with a welcoming smile.

“Well,” said Penelope. “I suppose we shall have to suffer also.”

“Of course.” Ravenworth crossed the room to take a chair by Licia. “I shall certainly get vouchers for you all.” He gave Penelope a searching look. “So, Pen, have your calls dropped off because of last week’s fiasco, that wager with Lockwood?”

“Au contraire,”
Penelope replied. “We have callers every day. The Duchess of Oldenburgh has been here several times. Everywhere we go, people have been delighted to receive us. Your escapade was a mere bagatelle. All the talk now is about the Russians.”

Mama looked up. “Oh, yes, the dear duchess . . . she said the other night that she’s going to bring her brother to call.”

Aunt Hortense frowned. “I should not count on that, Dorothea. The Czar of Russia cannot be calling on—”

Mama moved fretfully. “His sister said they would come. And I believe her. She was telling me about this marvelous new dance. They call it the waltz.”

“Dorothea!” Aunt Hortense raised an expressive eyebrow. “People of breeding do not indulge in that vulgar dance.”

“I’m sure I don’t know why,” Mama insisted. “The duchess said it’s wonderful fun. You go whirling around the floor at great speed. And the men hold on to the women by the waist.”

“My gracious!” said Aunt Hortense. “They will never dance that at Almack’s. It sounds almost
.
.
.
”

“Indecent?” suggested Ravenworth with a wink that only Licia could see.

“Yes,” agreed Aunt Hortense, giving him a reluctant smile. “Indecent. And you needn’t be so gleeful about it, you naughty boy. I’m sure the patronesses will never allow it.”

Mama pursed her lips. “Then they will be behaving very rudely. The duchess said the waltz is the czar’s most favorite dance.”

Aunt Hortense shook her head. “I cannot think Lady Jersey will permit it. They are very strict about such things.”

“So they are,” agreed the duke. “And that reminds me .
.
.
” He turned an eye on Dezzie, now apparently sunk in dreams of the coming event. “Miss Desiree?”

Dezzie sat up straighter. “Yes, your grace?”

“I must have your solemn promise that you will not dance more than twice with any man.”

“Yes, your grace
.
”

“And you will remember?”

“Oh, yes, your grace
.
”

“Good.” He returned his attention to Licia. “And now that that is settled, may I ask how you are this afternoon?”

She discovered within herself a terrible longing to tell him everything she was thinking and feeling. Instead she said, “I am well.”

He frowned. “I find you’re looking rather pale. Come, let us take a turn in the courtyard. With your permission
,
Lady Chester.”

Aunt Hortense actually looked pleased. “Of course, my boy. Run along.”

“Dezzie,” said Mama, “don’t be getting too much sun.”

Dezzie got to her feet. “Yes, Mama.”

At a look from Ravenworth, Penelope rose to follow. “I shall go too.”

In the courtyard Penelope took Dezzie off to admire the blossoms, leaving Licia and Ravenworth alone. “Come sit on this bench.” He fussed over her until she was seated, then settled beside her. “Now,” he said, “you are looking pale. Has something happened to upset you?”

“No. I
.
.
. this morning Mama tried again to .
.
. she just does not listen! And it is so exasperating.” She sighed. “To have to do everything by deception when one is really a straightforward person. I .
.
. I was forced to tell her outright that . . .” She raised her eyes. She felt compelled to look into his face. “That
.
.
. I have formed an attachment for you.”

Something happened in his eyes, something she did not understand. They grew even blacker, and quite unfathomable.

“And how did she respond to this information?” he asked finally, his tone noncommittal.

“She said . . .” Now she felt the pain of Mama’s words. “She said you could not possibly have any feeling for me. Because”—she hated hearing the break in her voice—”because I am not beautiful like Dezzie.”

His handsome features grew grim. “That woman has so little sense. I should like to—” He recollected himself. “You must not let such observations wound you, my dear. You are, in truth, a most attractive woman.”

Her laughter was so harsh that across the garden the others turned and looked at them. “Of course,” she cried. “That is why the suitors have all flocked round my door.”

“Sarcasm does not become you,” he said, his voice tender. “Besides, you cannot expect anyone to compete with
me.”
His disarming grin took the edge off her bleak spirits. “Your mama was right in one thing. I
am
a good catch. Ask anyone in London. They will tell you that.”

She managed a smile. “I’m sure they will. And they will also laugh and shake their heads over me when Dezzie is safely wed and our arrangement is over.”

He took her hand in his. “That needn’t be true. After all, I am a gentleman.
You
may be the one to turn
me
off. Be assured I shall act properly wounded. That will give the dragons something to wag their tongues at. But that will not be for some time yet. We do not seem to be making much progress with your mama.”

“We are making
none,”
she said. “And I don’t believe we ever shall.”

“Come, come.” He drew her arm through his. “I thought you were more light-spirited than this. Let us not succumb to a fit of the dismals. Napoleon is safely stowed away on Elba. The sun is warm, the breeze invigorating. Let us enjoy the beauty of the day.”

And Licia, remembering her resolve to savor every precious moment with him, matched her smile to his and sauntered by his side through the sweet-smelling flowers to where the others waited.

Chapter Ten

The intervening days passed in a whirlwind of activity, and the next Wednesday night found them fighting the crush at Almack’s. Licia was still battling an uncharacteristic sadness. Normally she was a bright-spirited person, even though she had so often to deal with Mama in various difficult moods.

But now, wearing a new gown only because Aunt Hortense had insisted that if Dezzie had one, she must, too, Licia felt sadly dispirited. Hanging on the duke’s every word was not that difficult for her. But every second in his company she was reminded of the illusionary character of their courtship. And to be the recipient of his present favors only made the future loss of them more painful. But she had determined to do her best for Dezzie.

And besides, she hadn’t the courage to end their arrangement before the necessary time. So she stood by his side with a smile as false as the paste diamonds some impecunious ladies were reputed to wear, nodding and chatting, while Mama kept giving her dark looks and pushing Dezzie toward the duke.

Finally, to Licia’s great relief, the Duchess of Oldenburgh and Czar Alexander arrived. Mama left off pushing Dezzie, and scurried away to meet the emperor.

Dezzie came over to her sister. “Isn’t the czar a marvelous-looking man? So straight and tall. Now that’s how a ruler ought to look. You can tell
he
doesn’t wear stays.” She shot Ravenworth a speaking glance but he remained silent. “Look at that bright green uniform, so military, with the gold epaulets and all.”

Ravenworth squeezed Licia’s hand. “Why, Miss Desiree. To hear you run on so, one would think you were developing a
tendre
for the emperor.”

Dezzie grinned at the man she had once feared. “You won’t catch me like that, your grace. My heart belongs to Lockwood. And you know it.”

Ravenworth smiled. “He’s a lucky pup. Why, if it weren’t for Licia here, I might .
.
.
”

Dezzie’s eyes widened, and for a moment she looked almost frightened. Then she laughed. “Oh, your grace. You caught me that time. I admit it. You shouldn’t be bamming a poor girl like me. It isn’t fair.” Impulsively she touched his arm. “I do thank you for the vouchers. And for all you’re doing to help us.”