The Virgin Huntress (5 page)

“She has. And I am delighted for it. Why so surprised?” Hew studied his face.

DeVere refused to meet his gaze. “After all that transpired with her husband, I thought she would avoid causing the resurrection of the old scandal.”

“But isn’t it all just ancient history now?”

DeVere looked up. “Old sins, even unfounded ones, cast long shadows, especially among the
ton
.”

“But surely you don’t think a woman like
that
should bury herself in the country forever?”

DeVere’s gaze narrowed to a pinpoint. “You seem inordinately interested in the baroness, Hew.”

Hew straightened his spine and squarely met his brother’s inquiring look. “What if I am?”

“She hardly meets the criterion we agreed upon.” DeVere began ticking off his manicured fingers. “First off, she was wed for many years without producing any offspring.”

“If rumors about her husband were true, one can hardly lay the blame at
her
feet.”

“Nevertheless, she is three and thirty, if a day. A bit long in the tooth when considering a broodmare.”

“It makes not the least difference to me if she’s a few years my senior—”

“A half dozen at least—” DeVere interjected.

“And she could still have a full dozen fruitful breeding years remaining—”

“There’s the matter of a dowry—”

Hew set his goblet down with a decisive clink. “She has an estate—”

“Wrong again, Hew. The estate is on a leasehold.”

“And just how would you be privy to all this?” Hew asked.

“Because I hold the lease.”

“Damn! You bought that blighter, Lord Reggie’s, gaming debts?”

DeVere inclined his head.

“Why would you do such a thing?”

DeVere looked annoyed. “Why must everyone always ask
why?
I do because it suits me to do. I do
not
adhere to the worldview that one must always have a
reason
for everything. You should know this better than anyone. Now as to the handsome widow, while I commend your taste, you would do well to seek your mare in other pastures.”

“I’m not buying it, Vic.”

“What?” DeVere asked.

“Your dissuasion. Though you present a convincing argument, I think there’s more to it. You think I’m poaching on your preserves, don’t you?”

DeVere scowled. “You know bloody well I have no intentions in that quarter, or any other for that matter.”

“But of course,” Hew said mildly. “For surely, if you had, you would have made some miniscule effort toward achieving that end in these past four years, instead of gallivanting among the heathens, collecting concubines.”

“Hang you, Hew,” DeVere drawled. “This conversation has advanced beyond tedious to mind-numbing. Can we be done with it now?”

“Whatever you like, brother mine, but inheritance or no, I
will
be seeing Diana again.”

***

“What is it, Winchester?” Lord DeVere demanded, his black mood having refused to lift ever since last evening’s confrontation with Hew. Damn
her
for coming to town and disrupting his peace! And double-damn Hew for taking an interest in her. He’d spent nearly four years abroad, committing all manner of debauchery just to get her out of his system, and now this?

“My lord, there is a young and
unattended
female to see you. She is a most insistent creature.”

“Is she, indeed?” He was immediately intrigued. Only lately, a pert Covent Garden actress had sought him out as a protector...only to subsequently marry his best friend. His smile dimmed. “What does this
creature
look like?”

“Very
young,
my lord,” the majordomo said with a look of condemnation.

“Such censure from my own servant, Winchester?” DeVere laughed aloud. “I’ll be the judge. Pray bring the chit to me.”

The girl preceded Winchester into the room in a swirl of black cloak, throwing back her hood to reveal burnished mahogany ringlets and a startlingly familiar face.

He rose from his chair with a start. “I’ll be deuced if it isn’t Annalee reborn!”

“Then, you have a poor memory, my lord. Her eyes were brown. Mine are hazel. See?” She stepped closer with an impish smile.

DeVere felt the cloud about him instantly dissolve. He took her hand and bowed over it. “I stand corrected. Only Lady
Vesta
Chambers has such lovely, hazel eyes.”

“I feared you would not recognize me,” Vesta said.

“You had best be much more concerned that no one else does.” He scowled. “Where is your guardian? And what the devil do you mean coming alone to my house? No respectable young lady would be caught dead here.”

Vesta looked bewildered. “Whyever not? You are my godfather, after all.”

“But I have a rep—” He cleared his throat. “I have reasons, my dear.” DeVere took up his quill and scratched a brief note before ringing for his servant. “Winchester,” he commanded, “see this delivered at once to the Baroness Palmerston-Wriothesley at Upper Grosvenor, and then have my
open
chaise put to at once. The young lady and I will be taking a drive in Hyde Park.”

“Not Hyde Park! Please, Uncle Vic,” she pleaded, “anywhere else but there.”

“Of course, my pet. London has many parks. Perhaps you would enjoy seeing the deer at Richmond Park? Even the road to Richmond is a scenic drive. The prospects from the new bridge and the hill are quite remarkable.”

“Yes,” Vesta said. “It sounds lovely.”

“We shall go anywhere you like,” he promised. He placed his fingers under her dainty chin and upturned her face to look into her deceptively guileless eyes, for he knew in his being that the girl was up to
something.
“And you will tell your godfather precisely what is troubling you.”

***

Vesta climbed into the chaise with her godfather’s assistance. “Might I drive?” she asked as he settled himself and took up the ribbons.

He looked aghast. “I think not!”

“I do know how,” she insisted.

He gave her a dark look. “You don’t know London.” His commanding tone laid the question to rest. Vesta only shrugged.

They departed the mews in fits and starts with her godfather Lord DeVere expertly maneuvering through the mass of merchants’ carts, hackneys, sedan chairs, and private coaches comprising London’s daily traffic until reaching Richmond Road where they finally settled into an even pace. Vesta lost herself for the longest time in the rhythmic clop of the iron-shod hooves, rendering only halfhearted response to the sights he pointed out along the way. After several miles, they drew up before the new stone toll bridge spanning the Thames with its magnificent five arches.

“This structure was erected only a few years ago to replace a ferry that was in service dating back to the Norman times,” said Lord DeVere. “I am told it is one of the recommended sights to see in London.”

They sat for several minutes admiring the view of woods, water, softly swelling hills, and downs in the near distance as well as the towers and spires of Richmond Village across the river, but Vesta was far too distracted to much care. “Fascinating indeed,” Vesta remarked drily.

“My sentiments exactly.” Her godfather chuckled. “Since I am quite as bored as you are with the tour, shall we dispense with the drive in the park altogether? Do you now wish to tell me what it is that sent you to my door, Vesta?”

“Must I have a reason?” she shot back. “You are my godfather, after all.”

He chuckled again, long and hard. “No, my dear,
reasons
are only for those beings with inferior understanding.”

She brightened. “I just
knew
we would be of one accord.”

“Did you now?” He grinned. “We have found but one topic in which we agree. Am I to believe there are others?”

“Undoubtedly!” Vesta exclaimed.

“Do you care to elaborate? Although it probably is best not to be seen alone in my company, why were you so insistent on avoiding Hyde Park?”

Vesta plucked at her skirts.”Because they must not know I have spoken with you.”

“They?”

“Aunt Di and Captain Hew.” She slanted a sidelong look to gauge her godfather’s reaction.

“Ah.” He nodded. “And why is this?”

“Because they would neither understand nor approve.”

“Of you speaking with
me
?” He scowled.

“No, of
what
I speak to you about.”

His blue gaze bored into her. “And that topic would be?”

Vesta bit her lip. “Aunt Di and Captain Hew.”

“Ah, but of course.”

She was glad to see his expression relax.”It’s all wrong, don’t you see?” Vesta insisted. “Aunt Di is lovely, but she’s
far
too old.”

“Old? I daresay she is younger than I.” He gave her a shrewd look. “Or do you really mean too aged for Captain Hew?”

“Indeed, I do! And she has already been married once! Should she not give others a chance? It’s only fair, after all.”

“Undoubtedly.” He smirked.

“And Captain Hew, he is far too distracted by her.”

“So distracted that he sees nothing...or no one else?” he suggested.

“Precisely! I just knew you of all people would understand.”

“So what do you propose as an answer to this dilemma, my dear?”

Vesta wrinkled her brow. “I haven’t quite decided. ‘Tis why I seek your advice. I first thought about asking her to return home as it is my father’s house, after all, but then who would I have to chaperone me? Polly couldn’t do so.”

“Polly?”

“My maid. Well, she’s only a borrowed maid to begin with. So you see why that wouldn’t answer at all.”

“No, borrowed maids are always an inferior lot.”

“Even if I found my own abigail, she still wouldn’t be an appropriate chaperone, so you see why I can’t send Diana home.”

“Indeed, I do. Have you another solution?” Her godfather took up the lines and signaled the horses to turn about.

“I do, but it’s a thorny one.” She gave him a sidelong glance. “It would require the assistance of one with considerable resources, one who might be in harmony with my proposal.”

“Go on, my dear,” he urged, cueing the team into a brisk trot.

“It’s simple, really. If Diana cannot be sent home, then Captain Hew must be taken away from her. It’s the only way as I see it. And it’s purely for his own good.”

“Then you have only my brother’s best interests at heart?”

“Of course I do, godfather!”

“And that would be...”

“Because I love him.”

He turned his head sharply in her direction.”You are
in love
with Hew?”

“Madly. Desperately. Passionately.”

“Does my brother know of his good fortune?” he asked. “Moreover, does he share your sentiments, Lady Vesta?”

“But how can he when he is blinded by
her?
” Her voice quivered. “He hasn’t even had a chance to look in my direction.”

“So in truth, you seek only to enlighten him of the treasure that lies under his very nose?”

“Yes! Do you not see that this is the only way?”

“But of course I see, my pet.”

“Then you will help me?” Vesta asked with the same wide-eyed look that always worked with Papa. She was unsure how to read the twitch of her godfather’s mouth until he turned a brilliant smile upon her.

“My dear, should I search the world over, I can’t imagine finding a more perfect match for my revoltingly straitlaced brother, Hew. Moreover, I have considerable—some would even say nearly infinite—resources, all of which I am willing to unwaveringly place at your disposal.”

“You would? How positively lovely of you!” Vesta cried, throwing her arms about his neck with a kiss on the cheek. “Papa said he could always count on you in a pinch! I am so happy he was right!”

***

“I can’t imagine where she could have gone.” Diana worried her lower lip. “We’ve searched the park and the local shops.”

“It surprises me she should have ventured out alone, but I can’t imagine she has gone far,” Hew said. “She struck me as such a timid child.”

Diana regarded him with an incredulous look and then laughed outright. “Vesta? Timid? I fear you are sadly mistaken in your impression, captain. Vesta is a willful, highly spirited, and intrepid girl who has been accustomed to running wild since her mother’s passing.”