The Debutante Is Mine (17 page)

T
hat evening, Lilah attended a soiree hosted by Baron Tillmanshire. The estate was a sprawling structure of fawn-colored stone, Palladian windows, and a grand centered portico, complete with tall, tapered columns. There were also colorful banners waving from the top of the pediments above each of the main floor windows. Knowing that the baron was Miss Ashbury’s father, Lilah wouldn’t have been surprised to see tassels on the end of each banner as well.

Inside, the same odd touches appeared on the statues that lined the marble entry hall. The nymphs were each adored with a swathe of brightly colored silk, as if they had been
dressed
for the party. Neither Juliet nor Lilah made a comment. Aunt Zinnia, however, offered a sniff of reproof. There was nothing she hated more than a lack of form and subtlety.

“New money,” she said under her breath, casting a scathing glance at the line of footmen dressed in pink satin livery. “Tillmanshire certainly has been busy since he purchased his title last year. It is a shame he did not purchase a little decorum. Otherwise, he might have greeted us by now.”

Before the baron bought the estate, it had been empty for three years after Viscount Howe had died penniless and without an heir. Much would have been the same for Lilah’s home in Surrey, if not for the estate having been entailed. Then again, with Winthrop left in charge, a dire fate might still befall her home, as well as Lilah. Unless she was named the
Original
.

Fortunately, the matrimonial rumors tying her to Winthrop had died down. Yet she was still worried they would rise once more. If more people learned of the codicil in her father’s will, she would have no chance of marrying anyone else. Breaking a betrothal would cause a scandal for anyone involved. What she needed to do was to either find a man who wasn’t afraid of a scandal or one who was fond enough of her to risk it.

As if her heart were in perfect synchronization with her wishes, she suddenly conjured a vision of Jack, standing near the doors leading out to Tillmanshire’s terrace. In her vivid imagination, he wore a pewter brushed coat that matched the fading light from the sky behind him, and his gaze held the warm glow of the wall sconces.

“I had not heard that Mr. Marlowe was invited this evening,” Juliet said, her tone clipped with censure. “One must wonder why he has made so many recent appearances when it was obvious at the earl’s dinner that he was not bred for our society.”

Lilah’s heart quickened in a rapid pizzicato of
he
is
here, he
is
here.
Realizing that he was not simply the yearning of her imagination, she blinked, staring at him with fresh, eager eyes. The last time she’d seen him, he was slipping out of a window and down to the ground. She was glad that he did not appear hurt in any way. In fact, he looked quite dashing.

“Perhaps he means to reconcile with his father,” Lilah said in his defense.

“I do not believe the earl is here this evening,” Aunt Zinnia commented absently as she led their small party toward a gathering of servants pouring tea and wine. “However, Thayne, Wolford, and Vale are all present. So it seems likely that he would have come for them. Does his presence bother you, Juliet?”

“Of course not.” Juliet smiled politely, but her jaw clenched. “I’m merely concerned for Lilah’s sake. The
ton
is still brimming with eagerness to see where he will turn up next. As you know, I would prefer that all the eagerness were reserved for my cousin.”

Lilah did not miss the way Juliet said
turn up
, as if Jack’s appearance was akin to something buried rising from the earth after a heavy rain. “I’m certain Aunt Zinnia is right, and he is here with his friends. I, for one, am more disturbed by Wolford’s appearance and what that could mean for next week’s announcement in the
Standard
.”

Just past Jack’s shoulder, Wolford stood within a crowd of fawning debutantes and matrons, the cluster of them giggling at whatever he might have said. In this gathering, his was likely one of the oldest titles. That alone earned respectability, despite his reputation.

Juliet’s attention abruptly shifted, as Lilah hoped it would. Unfortunately, Thayne chose that moment to step into their line of sight.

He bowed to Aunt Zinnia. “Lady Cosgrove, you are lovely this evening, as always. My mother is near the fountain, talking with the Dowager Duchess of Vale and asked if I would escort you to them.”

“I am immune to flattery, young man, but I accept your offer.” She tsked at him but with a grin. Then she took his proffered elbow and walked gracefully toward the open doors and stairs leading out on to the terrace, leaving her tea behind.

During the exchange, Thayne had acknowledged neither Juliet nor Lilah.

Knowing the reason, Lilah looked down into her cup. “I am sorry about last night.”

“I don’t blame you,” Juliet began. “And I don’t suppose that I truly blame Mr. Marlowe either. It was clear he was in his cups and not thinking of the ramifications. After mulling it over, the sincerity that I witnessed in his expression was enough to persuade me. And the fact that he is here today shows that he is not one to cower or allow you to endure any criticisms alone. Though, thankfully, only four of us are aware of what transpired.” She paused to take a breath. “However, as irrational as it may sound, I wish I
could
blame Max.”

“I’m sure he didn’t mean to slight us just now.” Lilah believed ignoring them was likely his way of displaying disapproval toward her and not Juliet.

“Oh yes, he did. Hateful man,” she hissed, turning around so that Thayne’s retreating figure was to her back. “I firmly believe that—
oh, no
.”

The horror in Juliet’s tone startled Lilah enough that she looked up and quickly spotted the source of it. Walking through the front door at the far end of the entry hall was none other than Cousin Winthrop. Even from the distance of thirty feet away, Lilah could see his smarmy, superior grin and glistening, greasy pate. “I hadn’t thought he was acquainted with Tillmanshire.”

Otherwise, she would not have risked an encounter with him by attending.

“They are too new to society and likely do not realize that not
everyone
deserves an invitation,” Juliet said. “And I had just wondered to myself if this night could get any worse.”

Lilah shook her head, a dark frisson of fear cascading down her at Juliet’s words.

“Worry does not like to be tempted,” she whispered. Already, she hadn’t wanted to attend this party because of Miss Ashbury’s presence here. Unfortunately, Aunt Zinnia had already made arrangements with the Dowager Duchess of Vale and Mrs. Harwick to view the fireworks that Tillmanshire had promised for the evening. Lilah, on the other hand, was not overly fond of loud, booming noises. For good reason.

Together, they deposited their teacups and turned to follow Aunt Zinnia out of doors, a few paces behind. Jack was still near the archway. His hard gaze settled on a figure walking down the hall behind them.

When they neared, he bowed. “Lady Granworth. Miss Appleton. I was wondering if you would permit me the pleasure of escorting you both to the terrace.”

“Yes,” Lilah said without hesitation and linked her arm with his. Juliet, however, hesitated and eyed her shrewdly until Lilah added, “I was only thinking to avoid Winthrop.”

“In that case . . . Mr. Marlowe, we would appreciate your escort.” Juliet took Jack’s other arm. Once they were a distance away, halfway to the fountain, they stopped. “Are we mending fences, Mr. Marlowe?”

He grinned at her. “
We
are making an attempt.”

“Very well, then,” Juliet said, reluctance lacing her tone. “However, I would prefer if we did not tempt the gossips. I fear that I will not be the only one to notice how you have chosen a limited number of young women to favor with your attention at your few society appearances.”

When Lilah saw Winthrop step onto the terrace and look in her direction, her hand tightened on Jack’s arm. “Juliet, I would feel easier if Mr. Marlowe were near.”

Beneath the sleeve of his superfine coat, his muscles hardened. And beside her, he was a solid source of comfort. “I would prefer to linger as well. After all, I have spoken with Haggerty at length, and I would not want to leave either of you unguarded in his presence.”

If Lilah had not loved him before this moment, she would have fallen in love with him now. No matter how brave she might have been, she felt better knowing that she didn’t have to be. Her poor heart, however, lay irrevocably in the hands of a man she could not marry.

Juliet looked from Jack to Lilah, her gaze sharper, knowing. Then she closed her eyes briefly before looking away. “The only way to avoid an inappropriate association would be if we were in the company of Thayne, Wolford, Vale, and Ivy as well.”

For Lilah’s sake, she approved of having all those dearest to her gathered close. There was no telling what horrors that Winthrop’s vicious tongue might unleash. Coupling that with Miss Ashbury, who clearly did not like her, Lilah wondered what disaster might unfold.

J
ack couldn’t shake the overall sense that something dire was about to happen. Several times over the course of the evening, he’d tried to shrug it off. But then, he would catch a glimpse of Haggerty across the way, cozied up to Tillmanshire and his daughter and appearing snug as a worm beneath a rock.

Jack was never far from Lilah’s side. However, since she conversed a great deal with Vale’s bride, Jack could not remain too close. Otherwise, it would appear as if the four of them had paired off. He understood Juliet’s initial reluctance to have him anywhere near Lilah for that reason. His sudden immersion into society had become a matter of curiosity for many, and they would be quick to link his name with Lilah’s if he remained exclusively in her company.

Wolford, who had been making the rounds and—surprisingly—gaining admiration, now sidled up to him. “Do you know that Tillmanshire claims to have a collection of gold inlaid etchings from the Orient but refuses to show them? In fact, he even mentioned having sealed off most of his rooms for the party.”

“From what I’ve heard, the baron only recently acquired his fortune. He must be afraid of someone wanting to take what is his.”

Wolford grumbled. “Locking doors during a party is bad form. It shows ill breeding. Hell, even you keep your house open, and you haven’t always had a fortune.”

“No man would dare attempt to take what is mine.” Jack’s gaze veered to Lilah. When he saw her glance in his direction and smile, that sense of primitive possessiveness tore through him. It was more than the result of jealousy, he realized. This went deeper. The intensity of what he felt for her nearly frightened him. And he didn’t see how he was going to let her go when the time came. The eventuality made him irritable.

“True enough,” Wolford agreed. “And with those daggers in your countenance, it is no wonder. Even if you had any treasures to your name, only those who know you would dare stand in your circle, let alone step foot on your doorstep.”

“I do possess treasures. However, I see no value in bric-a-brac.”

“Or furniture.” Wolford chuckled. “It is a good thing you purchased your country estate furnished, or it would likely be as barren as your townhouse. You do realize, I hope, that when you marry, you will have to spend some of your money on baubles and trinkets to satisfy your bride.”

Normally, Jack would have issued a jesting retort about never marrying, but the notion struck him more pleasantly than expected. Warmly, even. He could easily imagine Lilah choosing the furnishings for their home. He would give her anything she could ever desire. These thoughts should have startled him, but they did not. Instead, he felt overwhelmed by a sense of impatience.

She wandered over just then, with the duke and duchess in tow.

“What has put that peculiar expression on your face, Marlowe?” Vale asked. “You look as if suffering another moment at this party is more than you can bear. For my sake, I would rather view the fireworks and be gone.”

“My husband is rather cross. Tillmanshire did not permit him to examine the explosives beforehand,” the duchess said, leaning upon her husband’s arm. Vale was forever tinkering with things for a better understanding. “Now, he is determined to make that his next experiment.”

“The pyrotechnics were the only reason we attended.” Vale nodded, a calculating gleam in his gaze as he was, no doubt, forming a list of ingredients in his head.

Beside Jack, Lilah exhaled a shaky breath. He looked down, noting faint horizontal lines above her dark brows. “Are you not fond of fireworks, Miss Appleton?”

“Only the quiet ones,” she said, attempting a laugh.

Yet when her eyes met his, he saw a trace of fear in their depths. He’d witnessed this same expression in the garden when she’d told him about the abuse her brother had suffered. And suddenly, he understood.

In that moment, he would have promised to keep every firework quiet for her. Together with Vale, they could find a way to ensure that each one only issued the faintest crackle, while flaring with colorful, sparkling light.

Before he could make such a vow, however, Juliet came up to Lilah and Ivy and drew them both away for a quiet conversation.

“Marlowe,” Vale said, remaining with Jack and Wolford, “I have been wondering all evening why you are here.”

“He has become quite the curiosity of late,” Wolford remarked.

Jack was confused. Surely Vale noticed Miss Appleton in their midst. Since the duke had always been brilliant, his cluelessness struck Jack as odd. To Vale, he said, “I am honoring the bargain we struck on Christmas Eve.”

Yet even as the words left his lips, he knew it was far more than that. From the beginning, it had been more than that.

“Our bargain? Oh, do you mean the flowers I asked you to send Miss Appleton?”

“Of course,” Jack said, wondering if his friend had doubted his word. “You wanted my assistance in seeing that she found an alternative to what awaited her in her father’s will. I am making certain that she has that.”