Virginia Henley (24 page)

With the invaluable help of Roz and Mr. Burke to ferret out furniture treasures from St. Martin’s Lane to Soho, she went on a buying spree at Ince and Mayhew, Vile and Cobb, and Robert Manwaring’s shop. Tony was in her element, deciding that each chamber should represent the craftsmanship of a famous London cabinetmaker.

Thomas Sheraton’s designs were greatly influenced by French furnishings in the style of Louis XIV, and Tony bought matching cream and gilt pieces. The chaise longue and bedhangings were a delicate French blue. A second bedchamber would showcase George Hepplewhite’s classical designs. She chose a bed with an oval headboard as well as a matching settee and upholstered armchairs whose oval backs were decorated by the Prince of Wales’s feathers. Stunning little rosewood drum tables with drawers
to hold money or toilet articles were a specialty of Hepplewhite and they complimented the other furnishings.

Robert Adam’s designs were the absolute rage at the moment and as a result the pieces were priced outrageously. Tony didn’t even ask the cost of the marble-topped commode and bedside tables with their hand-painted panels of lovers in romantic landscapes. She couldn’t resist a pair of carved candelabra stands with ram’s heads and world-famous hoof feet. The magnificent domed bed was carved into a festoon of vines and flowers.

On impulse, simply for the pleasure of annoying Adam Savage, she decided one chamber would be Chinese. She chose a pair of Chippendale black japanned armchairs, upholstered in jade velvet, and a black lacquer commode with golden pagodas, temples, and trees dripping cherry blossoms. The bed was a thing of great beauty, with a magnificently carved dragon in rampant splendor forming the headboard. She chose jade velvet bedhangings to match the side chairs.

Tony took intense delight in everything she chose, even down to the porcelain powder bowls and the chamber pots. Everything must be delivered to Edenwood no later than Thursday noon so that she could plenish the chambers later that day or Friday morning at the latest, in time for any early guests who might arrive Friday evening.

John Bull welcomed Tony like a prodigal son. They immediately conspired to have every room perfect by the time Savage arrived with those critical ice-blue eyes. Fortunately John Bull had a full staff of servants who earned higher wages at Edenwood than at any other stately home in England. They carried the furniture up the gracefully curving staircase almost cheerfully and patiently stood by to arrange and rearrange as young Lord Lamb directed. It was amazing how well the carpets and the French wallpaper blended with the furnishings Tony had selected. Savage’s taste and hers certainly ran along parallel lines.

By nightfall every last detail was in place. When Adam arrived after dark and strolled about his Eden, no fault could be found with the extraordinary efforts that had been expended to turn his house into a palatial showcase.

Flushed with praise, Tony was happy but exhausted. Savage’s presence always disturbed her to an alarming degree, so she was glad to retire. She decided to sleep in the blue-and-gold room with its exquisite French wallpaper, but Kirinda glided up to her with a lighted branch of perfumed candles and murmured, “The master instructed me to put you in the Chinese bedchamber, my lord.”

Tony bit her lip to keep from laughing. Chinoiserie was a private joke between her and Adam and she took delight in it. In bed she hugged her knees to her chest. She hadn’t felt this happy in a long time. Her masquerade had its compensations. Adam Savage had allowed Anthony to become a part of his life, whereas she doubted if he would have allowed Antonia such liberties. She sighed, then yawned, hoping she would dream about him.

As it happened, she did not. She stood in the cold light of dawn in a black mask and a long cloak. Icy fingers clutched her heart as she selected a long, lethal-looking pistol from a leather case. In slow motion she paced off the field as her second counted to ten. Her opponent on the field of honor had none, for he turned and fired his pistol on the count of nine. She felt the bullet enter her chest, searing white hot, then blossoming into blood-red.

Bernard Lamb removed his mask and murmured, “For what I am about to receive, I am truly thankful. Amen.”

When morning arrived, Tony groaned and turned over. It felt as if she had taken no rest at all. She climbed wearily from the dragon bed and grimaced because she ached from head to foot. She brightened, however, when Kirinda came in and handed her a note from Savage. She scanned it eagerly and read:
Tony, put on some old breeches and come take a look at the stable of thoroughbreds I stole from HRH.

Perhaps a ride was just what she needed. John Bull had told her Adam intended to provide mounts for all his guests if they felt like riding. She’d been too busy the previous day to visit the stables, but hurried into riding breeches now, foregoing the tiewig and brushing her hair back into a queue the way Adam did his.

At least thirty-five of the forty stalls held a prime piece of horseflesh. A dozen grooms and stableboys were employed polishing tack, A deep voice greeted her.

“How the hell can you sleep so late?”

Tony whirled about, mildly annoyed at the taunt, for it couldn’t possibly be any later than eight o’clock. Savage stood in old breeches and rolled-up shirtsleeves. He held a shovel in his hands and was obviously cleaning out the stalls.

“Surely you have enough stableboys for that,” she pointed out. Tony definitely did not like the zealous light that shone from Savage’s eyes. She wanted to retreat with all speed, but her boots felt rooted in the straw.

With an amused grin that he made no effort to conceal, Savage said, “If there is one thing I’ve discovered that builds muscle along with character, it’s shoveling shit.” He tossed over a spade. “You could use a bit more of both, Tony.”

Her first impulse was to throw a shovelful in his arrogant face, but then, of course, Savage would have an excuse to rub her face in it. As if he read Tony’s thoughts, Adam said, “They do say it’s good for growing whiskers.”

Tony had more pride than to refuse the task and she ground her teeth because Savage knew exactly that, curse him, curse him. She picked up the shovel and nonchalantly began to scoop manure. She even whistled a merry tune between her teeth to take all his joy out of plaguing her. In actual fact he’d already done three parts of the work. “You’ve only left me nine stalls,” she cheerfully called to him as he went outside for some fresh straw.

“Nine!” she said, groaning and gritting her teeth when
he disappeared. It felt like hours later when she heard booted feet behind her. She’d actually managed to muck out half a dozen and was just about at the limit of her strength. She straightened her aching back and turned. An amused sneer on the face of Bernard Lamb almost stunned her.

“What the devil are you doing here?” Tony demanded.

“Your exact words at Richmond, I recall, dear coz,” Bernard drawled. “You are becoming a damned bore.”

Tony suddenly found plenty of strength to scoop up a shovelful of horse shit.

“Tony!” A deep command poised the muck in midair. “Mr. Lamb is an invited guest. I suggest you get cleaned up.”

Tony’s lip curled. “I doubt if even your exalted bathing room will remove the stench from my nostrils!”

Tony bathed and changed, but even though guests would be coming and going all day, she wore riding breeches and jacket. There was no way she was going to be bludgeoned into formal attire before the sun went down. Her one concession was a powdered tiewig.

Tony took herself off to the kitchens to avoid her cousin. The amount of food that had been prepared took her breath away. Most of the food dishes were English, but there were silver trays of sweetmeats and other exotic delicacies for those with an adventurous palate. Actually Savage and John Bull had argued over the food. John Bull contended every dish should be English and Savage adamantly
insisted his guests would expect Eastern dishes. A compromise had been reached.

Tony sniffed the spicy aromas appreciatively. “It smells sinful in here.”

“I told Excellency this stuff would insult his guests,” John Bull said with regret. “This is a very suspicious occasion.”

“Auspicious,” Tony murmured.

“That too,” John Bull agreed.

“Can I help?”

“Ah, yes indeed, your lordship. If you would be so kind as to help with the inspection. You will know better than I if the uniforms pass muster in your exalted country.” He opened a door to an adjoining room where a dozen men were in various stages of dressing themselves in livery. Tony felt her cheeks warm at the scene before her, but bit her lip and averted her eyes from those who had not yet struggled into their satin breeches.

The livery was a tasteful shade of gray with snowy stockings and black shoes.

John Bull sniffed. “I ordered scarlet with gold braid, but Excellency countermanded me.”

Tony would have loved to agree with John Bull, telling him Savage had made the wrong choice, but as usual Savage was right and it was galling. “I think you may trust his judgment.”

“Ah, not always,” John Bull said, handing out white gloves, then directing the footmen to take the silver trays out among the guests. “Sometimes he keeps very bad company and takes reckless risks. It is high time he gave up smuggling and settled down.”

Smuggling? Ohmigod, that explains so much about him!
thought Tony.
His ships, his wealth, his scar!

“If you are finished dissecting my character, I’d like your aid,” Adam drawled.

Tony said lightly, “Strange, you are usually so self-sufficient. Don’t you agree, John Bull?”

“Ah, yes, he insists on self-serving.”

“I’ll just bet,” Tony said with narrowed eyes.

Savage ignored the insult. “Since husbands and wives detest each other’s company, I thought you might entertain the Earl of Oxford, while I—”

“Serve the Countess?” Tony cut in suggestively.

“I wouldn’t have put it so crudely, but I would like to be private with her for about half an hour. Be a good chap and show Oxford the horses.”

Tony was furious. Savage was proving himself as disreputable as his looks suggested, and the bloody Countess of Oxford already had a shocking reputation. She furiously told herself that she was not in the least jealous, but when the pattern repeated itself with Tony entertaining Lord Grosvenor, the Earl of Huntingdon, and Lord Shelburne successively, she was seething.

It seemed the elegantly gowned ladies developed an insatiable curiosity to be shown the bedchambers while their spouses fairly galloped to the stables. Savage was a lecherous swine with the audacity to put horns on his noble guests right beneath their noses.

Tony was incensed that Savage found so many women attractive. But perhaps that wasn’t it at all. Perhaps he was driven by a need to assert his power over men who were titled. Was this just another way of showing contempt?

Tony had no more time to speculate as four carriages arrived together. Rosalind and Lady Jersey had arrived. She also recognized Georgiana Devonshire immediately and swore not to let Savage be alone with London’s reigning beauty. However, when she entered the house she saw that he was in deep conversation with half a dozen gentlemen and it was up to her to entertain Georgiana and the other ladies.

Frances Jersey cried, “Anthony darling, I swear you’ve grown a foot since last we met. Don’t tower over me, dear boy.” Her voice lowered to a suggestive whisper. “I’ve come to catch a glimpse of his concubine.”

“Kirinda is not a concubine, Lady Jersey,” Tony said stiffly, feeling a misery inside her heart.

Frances reached up to pat Tony’s cheek. “Such an innocent boy.”

Georgiana and Lady Jersey exchanged such amused glances, that Tony concluded Lotus Blossom was indeed Savage’s concubine. How bloody naive could she be?

Tony led the way to the elegant dining salon with its gracefully curved walls covered with rose silk. At each end was a carved Adams fireplace set into a wall of mirrors, which reflected the crystal chandelier over and over again. It held three hundred pale pink candles lightly scented with rose.

Georgiana caught her breath. “Oh, I must do a room in rose; it’s like living in a flower.”

Frances Jersey tapped her with her fan. “You have a very indulgent husband, Georgiana. Not only does he turn a blind eye to your little peccadilloes, he keeps you in the lap of luxury.”

“Lud, he doesn’t know I’m alive, Frances. Business and politics fill his every waking moment. He monopolizes Mr. Savage to such a degree, our acquaintance is still in the flirtation stage, I vow.”

“Not for long, if I know you, you wicked girl.” Lady Jersey shuddered delicately and again her voice dropped to a whisper. “Every woman in London fancies taming the beast. He’s only been here five minutes and already he has the reputation of a rake.”

“Roz, let me show you the conservatory,” Tony suggested to change the subject, but Georgiana and Frances still gnawed on both ends of the same bone.

“I heard a rumor that he’s interested in politics.”

“He must be,” drawled Tony, “he’s had every Whig society matron in London up to his bedchamber this morning.”

Georgiana looked decidedly piqued; Tony knew a moment’s joy.

Roz didn’t follow Frances and Georgiana into the conservatory. Instead she took Antonia’s arm. “Tony, that was blatant innuendo. Whatever were you thinking of?”

“He’s an out-and-out womanizer. He entertains titled ladies in Half-Moon Street every day and frequents brothels every night.” Her eyes filled with unexpected tears and her grandmother stared in disbelief.

“Oh, darling, you fancy yourself in love with him.”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Tony said gruffly.

Roz whispered, “You wouldn’t be acting this way if you didn’t fancy yourself in love.”

Tony sniffed. “It’s the house … Edenwood. I’ve fallen in love with his house.”

“You and a hundred other women,” Roz said dryly.

“That’s the bloody problem, isn’t it?” Tony said, angrily wiping away all trace of the telltale tears on the sleeve of her jacket.

“If you go on this way, he’ll discover you’re not Anthony.”

Tony pulled herself together instantly. She kissed Roz on the temple. “Stop worrying. I admit he drives me mad, but I shan’t have hysterics. I’ll save it all up for my journal.” She grimaced at her grandmother and led her forward into the conservatory.

It was like entering another world. The air was warm and moist and heavily perfumed by the fragrance of exotic blooms. The ceiling was a huge glass dome tinted green and beneath was a small replica of the Ceylon jungle. Everywhere grew flowering vines amid palm, bamboo, and banana. More than thirty varieties of orchid bloomed in exotic profusion, from pale vanilla to the darkly beautiful black, veined with scarlet and gold. Brilliant butterflies flitted from petal to pistil.

Amid the lush greenery Kirinda sat upon the ledge of a fountain where gold and black striped fishes darted beneath water-lily pads. In her seductively soft, musical voice she was explaining the names of the various exotic orchids
to Lady Jersey and the Duchess of Devonshire. Tony felt another stab of jealousy pierce her heart as she saw Lotus Blossom’s dark loveliness.

A deep voice came from the entrance. “Everything in Ceylon intoxicates the senses.” The moment was pure magic. Every female in the conservatory was mesmerized. The spell was suddenly broken by Rupee, who was being allowed to fly free. He swooped onto Savage’s shoulder and screeched, “Hellbait! Repent!”

“Oh, how utterly droll,” cried Georgiana. “Adam darling, I must have him!”

Tony held her breath as Adam gave her a solemn wink. “This bird cost a king’s ransom,” he told Georgiana. “I’ll never part with Rupee.” Suddenly Tony felt better. She didn’t know why. He’d just confirmed he was a liar. When she added that to smuggling and whoring the portrait was alarmingly sinister.

Roz said, “Edenwood is magnificent, Mr. Savage. I’ve never seen its equal.”

For once Lady Jersey was in agreement with her friend. “It is evident every detail has been chosen with loving care.”

“Lord Lamb deserves most of your praise. It was he who made suggestions to Wyatt when Edenwood was being built and then he chose most of the furnishings. Even this conservatory was his idea.”

Tony flushed but was warmed inside by the praise.

Georgiana looked at him with speculative eyes. “I’ve decided to redo both the house at Bath and the villa at Chiswick. Tony, you will lend me your expert advice, won’t you?”

Tony would rather eat mud. Suddenly she looked at Savage and gave him back his wink. “Chinoiserie! I predict Chinese-style furnishings will be the next rage of the ton.”

“Well,” Georgiana said grudgingly, “His Highness is doing
his Brighton Pavilion
d Vorientale
and everyone knows George has impeccable taste.”

Lady Jersey, an archrival of Georgiana, said sweetly, “His Highness didn’t accompany you today. A little bird told me he was off to Richmond again.”

Georgiana threw Frances a smug little look. “He entrusted me with a message for you, Adam darling. He’ll be here tomorrow to see Edenwood and discuss a business matter.”

“Please convey that I shall be honored to receive His Highness at any time he chooses,” Adam acknowledged.

“Come, then, I haven’t explored the gardens or the park yet. I’ll let you saddle one of your thoroughbreds for me so I can ride through the grounds.”

Adam smiled. “Tony will do the honors for me. I’ll go down and round up a party of those wishing to ride.”

Tony would rather eat horse manure. When they arrived at the stables, however, the grooms had anticipated the guests and had a dozen horses saddled and ready. Savage arrived at the stables with six gentlemen and four ladies, all eager to tour the hunting park of Edenwood on horseback. He lifted Georgiana into a sidesaddle, allowed his hands to linger at her fashionably tiny waist, and smiled up into her beautiful face.

“Stab me, sweetheart, but two dozen of my neighbors just arrived and we will need their votes to keep me in the House, you know.”

Georgiana pouted her pretty lips. “I lose all my men to politics. She’s a demanding mistress.”

It seemed to Tony that an intimate current ran between the two of them as she watched the byplay. Christ, had he already bedded Georgiana too?

In disgust Tony turned away to help the other ladies mount. One of them was so young, Antonia’s gorge rose as she observed the older man at her elbow. With relief she realized that Lord Harvey had brought his daughter. Charlotte couldn’t keep her eyes from Tony Lamb. She’d
seen his name lately in the scandal sheets and now that she’d seen him in this opulent background had decided to set her cap for him.

Georgiana led the way and the men sped after her. Tony hung back, knowing she was in a surly mood and no fit company today. Charlotte, however, spied her opportunity to be alone with the attractive young lord.

“When the Season begins, my father has promised me a ball. Will you come, Lord Lamb?”

Tony was ready to give the young miss a setdown when she saw how sweet and vulnerable the girl was. “If I am in London, I would be honored, my lady.” To discourage her Tony suggested, “Hadn’t you better catch up with the others? The river is only about a mile from here.”

The girl blushed and lowered her lashes. “I’d much rather ride through the woods, my lord.”

Good God, some randy young buck was going to make a meal of this one. Becoming a part of the male world had shown her there was no such thing as a code of honor where females were concerned. All men were profligate, lifting women’s skirts as casually and as frequently as they lifted a pinch of snuff. There was actually a conspiracy abroad to keep very young females in total ignorance of all things carnal so they were utterly unprepared when they encountered seduction.

The sanctity of marriage was another great myth. The whole of society made a mockery of fidelity. There was no such thing as a faithful husband. Was it any wonder that older women no longer even paid lip service to chastity? Savage kept a stable of women much the same as he kept his Thoroughbreds and all were eager to be ridden!

Tony was working herself into a fine rage. She hardly paid attention when something went whizzing past her ear. Her mount shied and Charlotte squeaked, “Whatever was that?”

Suddenly Tony went cold as an horrendous suspicion
came into her mind. Within a minute the whistling came again and a bullet entered the tree behind her.