The Infamous Bride (4 page)

Could it be that the gossips were right? Had Pendrake meant to offer for her but for his family's pressure? Would it mean that she did have his heart, then?

"I thank you for your concern, Miss Fenster." He bowed slightly, and she had the distinct impression he was mocking her in some way. "I assure you I do know better than to trust too much what I hear in such a way."

"From whom did you hear such gossip?" The question was forward, but he was an American and most likely would not realize it. Besides, he was being unpleasantly blunt himself. "Perhaps I can steer you away from those who would play unkind games with a visitor to our country." She wanted to know if the gossip had any roots in the truth. Finding out who had spread it would certainly lead her closer to the truth of the matter.

He leaned forward slightly, as if to whisper to her in confidence. To her frustration, however, all he said was "Even as a backward American, I have the discretion not to reveal my sources and cause them embarrassment."

"That is certainly commendable, Mr. Hopkins." She studied his closed expression, wondering if there was a key that might open it to her. Only when he smiled at his sister had he seemed in the least approachable. She thought of her own brother. Perhaps she might find a key to him through his sister: A quick glance at the room led only to disappointment. Miss Hopkins was happily dancing in the arms of a handsome young man.

"Your approval of my discretion is all I desire." Again, she sensed the mockery, although the sentiment was not apparent in the controlled set of his features.

"I cannot give my approval if I do not know who has been whispering in your ear, Mr. Hopkins." She pressed him, presenting him her most charming and persuasive face, although she felt flirting was wasted on this backward colonial, since he seemed to have only two expressions — stern and sterner. "Can you not at least give me a name? Just one?"

At the very least she must know whether to risk scandal by approaching Pendrake and demanding an explanation. She would not want to look a fool if the gossip was wrong and he confessed that his heart belonged to Elizabeth Forsdyke. She found herself unable to believe such a thing, though. Pendrake, loving the drab Miss Forsdyke?

He shook his head. "I'm afraid I must live without your approval, then. For I will give no gossip a name."

Juliet considered trying again to draw him out, but his face was set impassively, and she could sense that her efforts would likely not prevail. "Very well, I commend your sense of discretion, sir," she lied, adding a more outrageous untruth, "I myself never indulge in gossip. Small minds, you know."

"I do indeed," was all he replied.

Frustrated, Juliet decided she would simply have to find out in another manner. The difficulty was in finding someone as forthright as the American to reveal gossip to her when she was the subject. She could think of no one, not even her own sisters, who would do so. Perhaps his sister, also being American and somewhat impulsive, had heard the same gossip and might be willing to reveal it?

She must find out the truth. She would not rest until she did. And if Pendrake had only succumbed to the pressures of family duty? Certainly that could be remedied. After all, hadn't her brother Valentine married his wife Emily even though it had caused a scandal and made her family unhappy?

Come to think of it, hadn't Arthur turned aside an expected engagement to another woman to choose her shy sister Hero as his wife? Perhaps that was to become a family tradition. Valentine and Arthur had followed their hearts, and they were happy.

Shouldn't she allow Pendrake the same opportunity to choose with his heart? After all, marriage was forever — and no one should enter such a sacred trust without absolute assurance.

R.J. glanced down at the smoothly beautiful face that concealed a mind he could nevertheless see working furiously. He could not help but wonder what she was planning for poor Pendrake now. So she never gossiped? He'd buy London Bridge before he believe that claptrap. He did admire, however, in a rather horrified way, her ability to cut to the heart of a matter. With another woman he might have never gotten a bald admission of her desire to ask Freddie to defend his decision.

The gossips had been cruelly accurate. This spoiled beauty hadn't liked being tossed aside so unceremoniously. He wondered if the other gossip he had heard was accurate. That her sister's marriage to a duke had turned the suddenly well dowered and well connected flirtatious younger sister into a fickle-headed lady who thought only of her own pleasure.

Certainly he had seen little to contradict the malicious gossip. He noticed, now that they stood so close together, that the tiny buttons decorating her bodice were intricately carved mother-of-pearl. Apparently they served no purpose except for decoration.

He focused on the buttons, carefully averting his gaze from the swell of her breasts, just visible at the extravagant neckline of her gown. The buttons were unlike any he had seen before, carved in the shape of roses, just as the scent of her that wafted up to him was of roses. Expensive. Frivolous. Like the woman before him.

He saw her glance sweep the room again. No doubt searching for a glimpse of Freddie. Who would, he realized at that very moment, be jealous if he caught sight of R.J. with Juliet in a dark alcove.

Abruptly, he had had enough of being a pawn in a misbegotten game of hearts. "I think we should rejoin your sisters, Miss Fenster. I have told you all that I intend to. I am of no more use to you." He knew he should not be so blunt, but he could not help himself. There was something about her careless air that made him want to rein her in before she hurt someone badly.

She did not argue, but took his arm with a feather light touch. "Really, must you be so unpleasant, Mr. Hopkins?"

He was tempted to shake some sense into her. For all that she had changed in her manner to him, his words of warning did not seem to have penetrated deeply. She still had not realized she would be better off to give up any foolish quest to assuage her wounded pride. At the very least, she was likely to embarrass herself.

"I cannot bring myself to believe you want to shame your family. I assume you have not thought of the consequences of your actions." He could not imagine the duke would be pleased if she did publicly corner Freddie. "I wish to make myself absolutely clear so that I can have no blame in this matter. I will be of no use to you in winning Pendrake back."

To his surprise, Miss Fenster blushed slightly as they moved away from the shelter of the alcove. Unfortunately, her discomfort was quickly overtaken by pique as she said in a low voice, "I assure you, I never thought of you as likely to be of any use at all. After all, you are an American."

He stopped her once again. "Miss Fenster. I have known Freddie well for years. He has made his decision, and you would do well to accept it and forget him."

"How can you profess to know him well when you live — "

He did not want to get distracted into more conversation, so he took her arm and began to move again as he interrupted her to say, "He spent months every year visiting his sister in Boston."

"Oh, yes, his elder sister. I had heard — " She stopped herself. "But then, as I said, Mr. Hopkins, I do not gossip." Changing her tone to one of bland neutrality, she continued, "I am glad to hear that you did not have to come to London knowing no one."

"I am most fortunate." As if it would have been possible to enter society without the entree of someone powerful. She was glib with the expected polite fiction that he was accepted for anything more than his fortune.

For a moment he slowed, wondering if she was offering him an insult. No one in this room would deign to speak to him if his stepmother had not known a few of the right people and acquired the necessary sponsorship. Surely she was not unaware of such a thing. Even his business acquaintances would not necessarily have been enough for an introduction into society.

She slowed to match his slackened pace. Her glance was curious, but she did not seem to be searching for signs of offense from him. "Is your sister enjoying herself? And Mrs. Hopkins, too?" Her question was nothing but polite, yet it made him uneasy.

"Susannah finds London most entertaining. And my stepmother has told me more than once that the city exceeds her expectations."

"I am certain you will have much to tell everyone when you return home. Will that be soon?" At first, the question seemed guileless, but then he realized it was beyond doubt a veiled insult.

He halted an equally insulting response as a realization dawned upon him. Miss Fenster had treated him more as he might have expected Susannah to do rather than as the matchmaking mamas and their daughters had. In an exasperating way, he found her candor refreshing.

And yet it was wholly unexpected. He wondered if she had somehow not heard news of the extent of the fortune attached to him. Certainly everyone else who had heard, including his stepmother's sponsor, the countess of Winchelsea, had practically salivated at the amount.

"I cannot say. If I find a bride here, I will no doubt have to stay to settle things with her family." He had been aware of speculative eyes upon him since he stepped foot into London. He realized, with some amusement, that his sojourn in the alcove with Miss Fenster could not have gone unnoted. Nor would it go uncommented upon. Her sudden dismay was ample evidence that she now clearly understood the gossip she had brought upon her own head. He felt very little sympathy. After all, he would bear the brunt of the talk as well.

"Are there many young ladies interested in leaving England for America?" Again, her question was quite proper, but underneath lay the implication that no sensible young lady would ever be interested in such a prospect.

"I would be most ungentlemanly to speak for those ladies, I am certain. I can say with assurance that you have convinced me you find me useful only to bedevil another man." He maneuvered them around a large woman in voluminous skirts and was rewarded by seeing her sisters. A few steps farther and he would be properly rid of this particular young woman.

"If I did not know better, sir, I would think you were jealous of the attention you believe I have given to Lord Pendrake." Again her voice was smooth and musical, almost hypnotic, the way it hummed through him. "Perhaps you wish I would give you the same attention."

He forced himself to ignore the inflammatory suggestion, although it was difficult when she was directing that low, musical laugh at him. She seemed to find the thought of desiring him highly amusing. It would be interesting to see if — once his wealth had been properly established in her mind — the attractive Miss Fenster would be less inept at hiding her own motivations in talking to him.

He repressed a shudder. The thought of the full force of her charm used to captivate him was not a pleasant one. He would not like to be the target of her special interest. Given what he had seen so far, she headed for her goal without letting facts, figures, or the feelings of others distract her.

"Hardly, Miss Fenster," he answered more harshly than he should have. "I know better than to wish for the attentions of a young woman who would spend a fortune on buttons which serve no purpose but decoration."

He heard her sharp intake of breath, but at that moment they reached her sisters. With a short bow to both the duchess and her sister Mrs. Watterly, he said only, "My pleasure, ladies."

Before they could do more than smile and nod in response, he turned on his heel and gladly left Miss Juliet Fenster behind him. He had spent enough time indulging her foolishness.

He only hoped Freddie had not been caught up in the drama the way Miss Fenster had intended for him to be. He searched the room for his friend, or for the young woman Freddie had asked to marry him, but saw neither immediately. Perhaps Freddie had come to his senses and swept Elizabeth off for a private tete-a-tete. Life would be easier for everyone if they were off together acting like lovebirds, oblivious to the scheming Miss Fenster.

There were a few startled glances as he plowed through the crowd, looking now for Susannah and Annabel, but he met each glance or glare blandly, as if nothing at all were wrong with his ungraceful course through the room. As he traveled, he gradually began to regain his composure. He was worrying over nothing. It would be easy enough to warn Freddie, obliquely, of course.

Tomorrow he would put a word of warning in Annabel's ear as well. It would not do to allow the impressionable Susannah to spend any time at all with Miss Fenster.

Juliet stood stiffly, her back to the departing Mr. Hopkins. In deference to propriety and the fact that they were in a crowded room with many eyes upon them, she did not allow her expression to betray her fury. Her sisters knew her too well to be fooled, however.

Miranda said wryly, "I take it things did not go as you planned." Infuriatingly, there was not the faintest note of sympathy in her voice.

"Everything they say about Americans is true." Juliet spoke in little more than a whisper but with a great deal of force. "They are no better than barbarians and ought not to be let into polite society."

"Surely not." Miranda allowed herself a brief, discreet gaze at the rapidly receding man before she met Juliet's gaze again with concern. "He seemed polite enough, if in a hurry."

"That is only because you did not have to endure his ill manners, as I did."

"Did he make unseemly advances toward you?"

Hero, at least, was sympathetic. "It was quite ungentlemanly to take you into the alcove as he did."

Miranda, who was unfortunately more observant than Hero, said mildly, "If he did not do so to prevent you from disgracing yourself with Pendrake."

Juliet ignored the question implicit in her sister's comment. "Do you know what he accused me of doing? He said that I was using him to make Lord Pendrake jealous."

Miranda's solemn face broke into a wide, astonished smile. "He sounds like a perceptive man."

Juliet snapped back, "He is the one who took me aside to prevent me from speaking to Pendrake directly. What else could I do?"