Читать книгу Regency Reputation - Diane Gaston - Страница 15

That evening William Westleigh, Viscount Neddington, searched Lady Cowdlin’s ballroom as he had done every other entertainment he’d attended this Season.

He’d thought she was a vision when he first gazed upon her. Pale skin flushed with youth. Hair a shimmer of gold, its curls looking as artless as if she’d just stepped in from a breezy day. Lips moist and pink as a summer blossom.

She’d turned him into a romantic in an instant. He’d felt both exhilarated and weak when she’d allowed him to assist her in selecting wine at the musicale, but he’d lost her in the crowd afterwards.

He needed an introduction to her. If she appeared tonight—if he found her again—he’d beg someone to do the honours. He’d try his damnedest to dance with her and share supper with her.

Thinking of her was a welcome respite from worry over the finances, the estates, the welfare of his sister and mother. Those matters were largely out of his hands and under the control of his father at the moment.

Unless his father fulfilled the bargain they’d made with Rhysdale, they were about two weeks from disaster.

He walked the rooms of this ball three times without finding her, but it was early yet and guests continued to arrive.

‘The Lord Westleigh and Lady Westleigh,’ the butler announced.

Ned twisted away. He was too angry at his father to witness his joviality, as if he had not caused his family the extreme stress that currently plagued them. How his mother could walk at his father’s side foxed Ned.

Of course, she did not yet know how severely her husband had squandered their fortune.

If only the beauty he encountered at the musicale would walk in, Ned could momentarily free himself from thoughts of their troubles. He glanced around the room once again, looking everywhere but in the direction of his father.

The butler’s voice rang out again. ‘Lady Gale, Dowager Lady Gale and Miss Gale.’

Ned turned to the door.

It was she!

She stood a little behind two other ladies, one tall and as young as herself and the other certainly the dowager. This family was unknown to him, but the name Miss Gale now pressed into his mind like a hot iron brand.

She was as lovely as he remembered, this night donned in a pale pink gown that had some sort of sheer skirt over it that floated about her as she moved. Her lovely blonde hair was a mass of curls on top of her head and was crowned with pink roses.

As she and the other two ladies made their way to greet the host and hostess, she paused to scan the ballroom and caught him staring at her. He bowed to her and she smiled, ever so slightly, but enough for his hopes to soar.

Hope that he could find someone to present him to her. Hope that she was unattached. Hope that her smile meant she felt the same strong attraction to him that he felt towards her.

Ned kept her in view and occasionally he caught her eye again. But he’d seen no one of his acquaintance talking or dancing with her. The time neared for the supper dance and he was determined to partner her.

He marched over to the hostess. ‘Lady Cowdlin, may I beg a favour?’

‘A favour?’ She patted his hand. ‘Tell me what I might do for you.’

‘There is a young lady here …’ He paused. ‘I need an introduction.’

‘Who is it, my dear?’ She smiled.

‘I believe she is Miss Gale.’ He inclined his head in her direction.

‘Ah, I knew her mother. A lovely lady.’ Lady Cowdlin gave him a knowing look. ‘I understand, Neddington, that Miss Gale is worth five thousand at least—’

As if he cared a fig about that.

‘But she is not very grand. Her father was only a baron, you know. This is her first time in town and Edna—her grandmother—wants her to marry her cousin who inherited the title.’

That was not welcome news. ‘Who is her cousin? Do I know him?’

‘Luther Parminter. He is the son of her father’s cousin. I am certain you have seen him around London. Of course, now he is the new Baron Gale. He inherited, you see.’

Ned knew who the man was, but could not even count him an acquaintance. Now must he think of him as a rival?

Lady Cowdlin took his arm. ‘Come with me. Let us make this introduction forthwith.’

She brought him directly to where Miss Gale stood next to her grandmother’s chair. Lady Gale stood nearby.

Lady Cowdlin spoke to the dowager. ‘Ma’am, may I present this young man to you and the other ladies.’

The dowager looked up.

‘This is Lord Neddington.’ She turned to the younger Lady Gale, who looked upon him with a quizzical expression. ‘Lady Gale and Miss Gale.’ She nodded towards Ned. ‘Lord Neddington.’

Ned bowed. ‘Madams.’ He looked into the eyes he’d longed to see up close again. ‘Miss Gale.’

She lowered her long thick lashes and curtsied. ‘Lord Neddington.’

‘May I perform any service for you ladies?’ He glanced at Miss Gale. ‘Bring you some wine, perhaps?’

She coloured and looked even more lovely.

‘That is kind of you, young man.’ The Dowager Lady Gale smiled.

‘None for me, thank you,’ the younger Lady Gale said.

‘I will return directly.’ He hated to leave Miss Gale’s presence.

Ned quickly found a servant toting a tray of wine glasses. He took two and returned to the ladies.

When he handed a glass to Miss Gale, their fingers touched and his senses heightened.

‘Thank you, sir,’ she murmured.

He took a breath. ‘Are you engaged for the supper dance, Miss Gale?’

She lowered her lashes. ‘I am not.’

‘Adele,’ the Dowager Lady Gale broke in. ‘I have asked your cousin to claim you for that dance.’

‘But, Grandmama …’ she murmured.

The younger Lady Gale spoke up. ‘He did not ask Adele, though, Lady Gale. Let her decide.’ She turned to Miss Gale. ‘You do not want to sit out at a ball when you could dance, do you?’

Miss Gale smiled. ‘Indeed not.’

Lady Gale faced him. ‘Then it is settled.’

Ned peered at this woman who had just helped him engage the dance. He had the oddest notion that he’d seen her before.

Ned bowed. ‘I will return for the pleasure of dancing with you, Miss Gale.’ He walked away, hoping the supper dance would be announced very soon.

Celia noticed the change in Adele as she danced with Lord Neddington. The girl gave evidence of enjoying every dance and every partner, but never had such a dreamy look crossed her face as when she glanced at this man.

‘He is likely a fortune hunter,’ Celia’s mother-in-law commented.

‘Her dowry is respectable, nothing more,’ Celia responded. ‘Perhaps he just fancies her.’ That he visited gaming hells was Celia’s prime worry. She’d recognised him immediately.

‘Hmmph.’ The dowager frowned. ‘You ought not to have encouraged that young man, in any event. You know I am determined she should marry her cousin.’

Celia probably should not have encouraged Neddington. She’d done so only to oppose her mother-in-law. And because she’d seen the look in Adele’s eye, how much she wanted to dance with the man.

‘Luther shows very little interest in Adele, Lady Gale,’ Celia said.

Luther was the more likely fortune hunter.

Celia would not see Adele forced into a marriage, but could she allow Adele to marry a gambler? She had seen Lord Neddington at the gaming hell more than once. She could never recall seeing him play more than once or twice at hazard. He spoke to Rhysdale on occasion.

Rhysdale.

Rhys, he’d asked her to call him, although could she really think of him in such intimate terms? Her heart skipped at the mere thought of speaking his name aloud. Her name on his lips came back to her, as well as his smile and the way those lips touched the edge of his teacup.

And had almost touched hers.

She placed her hand over her heart.

She would see him tonight after the ball. And once again yield to the temptations of the gambling den, with no need to wager her own money. She felt a dangerous excitement at the prospect of playing cards with a hundred pounds to wager. Think how much she could win!

The Dowager Lady Gale’s voice broke through Celia’s thoughts. ‘You should have refused Neddington the supper dance. Now he will spend supper with her. That is entirely too much time.’

Her mother-in-law had a point.

Celia gazed in Adele’s direction. Adele was glowing with pleasure each time the figures joined her with Neddington. His face was filled with admiration.

Was this how young love appeared?

Celia had been given no chance to experience a youthful romance. She could not bear to take such joy away from Adele.

She turned to her mother-in-law. ‘Do not interfere, Lady Gale. Allow your granddaughter the pleasure of supper with an admirer.’

Lady Gale’s nostrils flared. ‘I’ve half a mind to fetch her to me for supper.’

Celia seized her arm with just enough pressure to make her point. ‘You will do no such thing. Do you hear me clearly?’

Lady Gale shrugged. ‘You are indeed a wretch, are you not?’

‘Interfere with Adele’s life and you will see what a wretch I can be.’

Celia’s conflicting wishes for Adele waged inside her. Let the girl choose her suitors. Let her fall in love with whom she wished. But not a man who would be cruel or thoughtless or more enamoured of gaming than of a wife and children. Celia had endured all of those.

Later that night Celia’s lady’s maid helped her get out of her ballgown and prepare to dress for the Masquerade Club. Celia sat at her dressing table, pulling pins from her hair so that they could fix it to fit under the new turban Younie had fashioned, to go with a new mask of white silk adorned with tiny seed pearls taken from one of her mother-in-law’s discarded gowns.

There was a knock on the door and Adele entered. ‘Celia, I saw the light under your door.’

Celia grabbed the new mask and hid it under her table. ‘I am still awake.’

Younie, new gown in hand, quickly retreated to the dressing room.

Adele flopped onto Celia’s bed. ‘I cannot sleep!’

Celia brushed out her hair. ‘What is the matter?’

Adele stretched and sighed. ‘Nothing is the matter! Everything is wonderful!’

‘What is so wonderful that you cannot sleep?’ Celia asked, although she was certain she knew.

‘I had such a lovely time at the ball. The best ever!’ Adele sat cross-legged. In her nightdress with her hair in a plait, she looked as young as when Celia first met her six years ago.

Celia smiled. ‘And to what do you attribute this pleasure?’

Adele wrapped her arms around herself. ‘I—I think I met someone I really like.’

Celia turned back to the mirror. ‘Lord Neddington?’

Adele’s reflection showed surprise. ‘How did you know?’

Celia kept brushing her hair. ‘A lucky guess, I suppose.’

‘He is so wonderful!’ She flopped back onto the bed. ‘And so handsome.’ She sat up again. ‘Do you not think he is handsome?’

‘I do,’ Celia agreed. ‘Very handsome.’

‘And very gentlemanly,’ Adele continued. ‘It was he who helped me procure the wine for you and Grandmama at the musicale. And tonight he fixed me the nicest plate at supper and gave me the choice of sitting with my friends. He was so agreeable, do you not think?’

‘Indeed.’ Celia had watched Neddington carefully and had seen nothing to object to in his manner towards Adele. It was his activity after the society events that concerned her.

Adele bounded off the bed and paced. ‘I do not know how I can sleep. Do you think he will call? I hope he will call. But I’m afraid Grandmama does not like him. Do you think she will send him away if he calls?’

Celia rose and hugged the girl. ‘She would not be so impolite.’ Celia would see to it.

Adele clung to her. ‘But she wants me to marry Cousin Luther and I do not even know him!’

‘Leave your grandmother to me. She will not interfere in your wishes.’ She loosened her hold on Adele and made the girl look into her eyes. ‘But know that neither your grandmother nor I would let you marry a man who was unsuitable.’

‘Lord Neddington is very suitable!’ Adele cried.

Celia hugged her again. ‘Indeed he seems to be, but you must not put your hopes beyond tomorrow. Merely hope he calls and, if he does, see if you still like him so well.’

‘I will like him tomorrow and the next day and the next,’ Adele cried. ‘But will he like me?’

Celia kissed her on the cheek. ‘Any man would be a fool not to fall heels over ears in love with you. But you should go to sleep now so you will not have dark shadows under your eyes tomorrow.’

Adele’s hands went to her cheeks. ‘Oh, my goodness, yes! I must look my very best.’ She kissed Celia and hugged her tightly. ‘Goodnight, Celia. I hope you sleep well.’

‘Sweet dreams,’ Celia murmured as Adele rushed out of the room.

Celia breathed a relieved sigh and looked towards her dressing room door. ‘It is safe to come out, Younie.’

Her maid appeared in the doorway. ‘That was a near go, wasn’t it?’

‘Indeed.’ Celia retrieved the mask from beneath her dressing table. ‘We’d best wait until we are certain she is sleeping.’

Celia arrived at the Masquerade Club later than she’d ever done before. Would Rhysdale—Rhys—be angry at her for being late?

She rushed inside, undeterred by the doorman, who seemed to recognise her even with the new gown and mask.

Rhys stood in the hall, as if waiting for her. Her breath caught. He wore an impeccably tailored but conservative black coat and trousers. With his dark hair and glowering expression he looked as dangerous as a highwayman.

‘You are late,’ he said.

‘I had difficulty getting away.’ She handed her shawl to the footman and tried not to sound defensive.

Rhys walked her out of the hall and she prepared to hear him ring a peal over her head as soon as they were out of earshot.

But he said nothing. When they stepped up to the cashier’s desk, Rhys withdrew. The cashier was the same man who had served the tea in Rhys’s drawing room and the only other person connected to the gaming house who had seen her face. He obviously knew precisely who she was, even masked, because he counted out the exact number of counters Rhys had promised her.

As she turned to make her way to the game room, she caught Rhys still standing in the doorway. She forced herself to lift her chin and meet his gaze head-on.

His eyes shone with admiration, much like Neddington’s had done when looking upon Adele. ‘The new gown is effective.’

Celia felt an unfamiliar rush of feminine pleasure and immediately forced herself to sober. She would not melt at mere compliments.

Her smile was stiff as she clutched her reticule, the counters safe inside. He stepped back for her to pass, but he followed her into the game room.

The room was crowded and she recognised many gentlemen who a couple of hours before had been dancing in Lady Cowdlin’s ballroom.

Xavier Campion approached her with his disarming smile. She sensed something unpleasant beneath it.

‘Madam.’ He bowed. ‘Do you fancy a game of whist?’

She glanced at Rhys, who frowned.

‘I came to play,’ she answered, unsure if she should accept Xavier’s invitation or not.

‘I will partner you if you wish,’ he said.

She glanced back to Rhys, but his back was to her and he was conversing with a group of gentlemen.

‘Yes, Mr Campion. Do you have some opponents in mind?’

He smiled again as he took her arm. ‘It is Xavier, remember. Let us go in search of some worthy opponents.’ His grip was firmer than was necessary. He leaned towards her and murmured in a tone that seemed falsely convivial. ‘I understand you are in Rhys’s employ. How did you manage that, I wonder?’

She did not miss a beat. ‘He made me the offer and I accepted. How else might it have been accomplished?’

‘He is my friend,’ Xavier said through gritted teeth. ‘I will not have him trifled with.’

Celia lifted her chin. ‘Rhysdale seems capable of selecting his own employees. Ought I to tell him you think otherwise?’ His concern was ridiculous. ‘Or perhaps he has asked you to protect him from me?’

Xavier’s eyes flashed. ‘He does not need to ask. I protect all my friends. Do you tell tales on all of yours?’

‘I do not.’ Celia paused. ‘But, then, you are not my friend, are you?’ She shrugged from his grip. ‘I have changed my mind, Mr Campion. I believe I will try my luck at hazard.’

She left him and did not look back.

It made her feel wonderfully strong. A man had tried to intimidate her and she’d held her own against him.

The hazard table was crowded with mostly men. Celia faltered a bit, then remembered Rhys said she was equally as alluring as his mysterious masked woman who had played here before.

She’d just stood up to a man; perhaps she could also be a little bit alluring.

‘Pardon me.’ She made herself smile in what she hoped was a flirtatious manner. ‘Might a lady play?’

The gentlemen parted. One was the man who had so disturbed Rhys the previous night. Her skin turned to gooseflesh. He, too, had been at Lady Cowdlin’s ball.

What did such a gentlemen say to his wife to explain going out again after a ball? Did the wife pace with worry as Celia’s mother had done?

‘You are welcome to play, my dear.’ The gentleman flicked his eyes quickly over her person. ‘Have you played before?’

Disgust roiled through her. She remembered Rhys’s warning.

She dropped any flirtatious affectations. ‘I am accustomed to card games like whist and piquet and vingt-et-un. I’ve not tried a game of dice before.’ But tonight she had money she could afford to lose.

The croupier at the hazard table was a pretty young woman with curly red hair. ‘Do you play, miss?’

The gentleman rose on his heels in self-importance. ‘I will assist the lady, if she so desires.’ He scooped up the dice. ‘I will stake you for this first round.’ He put a pound counter on the table and placed the dice in her hand. ‘Call a number between five and nine.’

‘Nine,’ she called, the date her father died.

‘Nine,’ he repeated.

Around the table there was a flurry of side-betting accompanying her call.

‘They are betting on your chances to win,’ he explained. ‘If you roll a nine, you will win. If you throw a two or a three, or an eleven or a twelve, you will lose. Now shake the dice in your hand and roll them on the table.’

She shook the dice and threw them down. They landed in the middle of the green baize, one landing on three, the other, on five.’

‘Eight!’ the croupier called.

‘That is a called a chance,’ the gentleman explained. ‘You did not win, but neither did you lose.’ The croupier handed him the dice. ‘Roll again.’

He dropped the dice into her palm.

‘I want a nine, correct?’ She shook the dice in her hand.

‘No, this time you want a two or a three to win. Or anything but the main—your nine—to continue to roll.’

She dropped the dice onto the table, this time rolling one pip on one die and two on the other.

‘Three!’ called the croupier. ‘A winner.’

Westleigh handed the winnings to her.

A man next to her pushed the dice back to Celia. ‘Let the lady keep playing. She has the luck.’

Celia continued to play and to win. The rules of winning and losing changed depending upon what number she chose as chance and she quickly calculated that choosing the numbers five or nine reduced the odds of winning. The crowd around the hazard table grew, most betting with her.

Each time she won she jumped for joy and could not wait to throw the dice again. Her heart was beating fast and her breath as rapid as if she’d run all the way to Oxford Street. Even knowing this gentleman was having a grand time as her host did not dampen her excitement. The impact of his presence faded with each roll of the dice, each possibility that her pile of counters would increase.

As the gentlemen betting with her gathered their winnings, she caught sight of Rhys. He stood at the edge of the crowd, his face a dark cloud.

No wonder he was upset. Every time she—and those who bet with her—won, Rhysdale lost. It woke her from her reverie.

When the dice were again handed to her, she held up her hands. ‘I am done, gentlemen.’ She made herself smile. ‘I wish to keep all these lovely counters.’ She’d won at least forty-five pounds.

She gathered her counters and backed away from the table, shocked at herself. She’d lost all sense of time, all reason.

Rationally she should continue to play until losing again and lead her followers to do the same.

She blinked.

Like a swarm of bees around a hive, the other players filled her space at the table and resumed the play.

To her dismay the gentleman who had assisted her was not among them. Instead he remained at her side.

‘Allow me to introduce myself.’ He bowed. ‘I am Lord Westleigh.’

She felt the blood drain from her face. ‘Lord Westleigh.’

Lord Westleigh was the man who’d accused her father of cheating at cards, who’d accepted her father’s challenge of a duel, who’d fired the pistol ball that pierced her father’s heart.

Because he was an earl with friends and influence, he’d walked away from killing her father with impunity, broke her mother’s heart, destroyed her health and, in effect, killed her, as well.

Celia tried to remain upright, even though her legs trembled. She tried to keep her face expressionless.

Westleigh waited, as if expecting she would reveal her name.

He finally smiled. ‘You will not tell me who you are?’

She took a breath. ‘I have chosen to wear a mask. That means I do not wish to reveal myself.’

He laughed. ‘I thought you might make me an exception.’

Never for him.

Undaunted by her obvious reserve, he glanced around the room. ‘Shall we find some partners for whist?’

‘No!’ she snapped.

She scanned the crowd for Rhys, needing him. He’d said she should find him if this man bothered her. He was bothering her greatly. He was making her ill.

She caught herself and moderated her tone of alarm. ‘I—I am looking for someone.’

Rhys stood some distance away and he did not glance her way.

She found another familiar face. Sir Reginald. ‘There he is. I must speak with him.’ She inclined her head. ‘Thank you for teaching me hazard.’

Before he could protest, she started to cross the room to where Sir Reginald stood, but someone stepped in her way.

Rhys.

Tears of relief pricked her eyes.

He touched her arm. ‘I saw you with Westleigh. Was he uncivil to you?’

‘Yes,’ she blurted out. ‘No. Not really. He wanted me to play cards with him.’ She took a deep breath. ‘I did not know that man was Westleigh. It—it surprised me.’

His brows lowered. ‘What do you know of Westleigh?’

‘I cannot tell you here.’ Her knees weakened.

He must have noticed because he offered her his arm. ‘Come with me.’

He walked them to a back staircase, one used by the servants, perhaps. They climbed to the second floor. They passed dark rooms that smelled of sawed wood and linseed and entered the drawing room where he had received her earlier.

He led her directly to the sofa. ‘Sit here.’

She removed her mask and rubbed her eyes, trying to calm herself from the shock of learning she’d spent the greater part of her night in the company of her father’s killer.

Rhys handed her a glass. ‘Have some brandy.’

She took the glass gratefully and drank, the liquid warming her chest. She sipped more. And finished it.

Rhys sat in an adjacent chair and poured her some more. He asked nothing. Just sat with her.

She finally calmed enough to look up at him. ‘Thank you, Rhys.’ The brandy was helping. ‘I am afraid it was a shock to learn that gentleman was Westleigh.’

He did not press her to tell him more.

Since her mother’s death she had spoken to no one about Westleigh, but suddenly it seem too great a burden to carry alone. ‘You must wonder why I became so upset.’

He shrugged. ‘With Westleigh, nothing would surprise me.’

She stared into his eyes. ‘Would it surprise you to learn he killed my father?’

His brows rose, but his gaze did not waver.

She glanced away. ‘My father enjoyed gambling … too much. He sometimes played unwisely. He played cards with Lord Westleigh and apparently was winning when Westleigh accused him of cheating.’ She looked back to see his reaction to that information. Would he think her father a cheat? ‘My father would never cheat. He was outraged and challenged Westleigh to a duel.’ She blinked away tears. ‘The duel was fought and Westleigh killed my father.’ She choked on her words and quickly took another sip of brandy. ‘He walked away with impunity.’

The sound of her mother’s voice telling her of her father’s death returned to her and the horror and grief struck her anew. Dear God, she was about to lose control of her emotions.

He moved from the chair to the sofa and took her into his arms.

Celia collapsed against his chest, heaving with sobs, and he held her and murmured to her. She could not even tell what he said, she just felt his voice, low and rumbling.

It had been so long since she’d been held, so long since anyone had comforted her. The years of loneliness and loss overwhelmed her and his arms were so warm and strong.

She had to pull herself together, though. She could not do this.

Rhys held her close, relishing the feel of her in his arms, but, even more, feeling her pain and wanting to do anything he could to ease it.

Damned Westleigh! The man had killed her father? It was more than even Rhys would have suspected. Fighting a duel over a game of cards was foolish beyond belief. Killing a man over cards was a million times worse.

‘There, there,’ he murmured, realising he sounded like his mother. His own throat tightened with the memory of her loss. Another deed he could throw at Westleigh’s feet. His mother might have lived a long happy life if not for that cursed man.

She pulled away, wiping her eyes with her fingers. ‘I am so sorry.’

He handed her his handkerchief. ‘Do not say so.’

‘It is the surprise of seeing him.’ She blew her nose. ‘I wondered how it would be. I did not know I would turn into a watering pot.’

He suspected that weeping was not something she often allowed of herself. ‘What would you like me to do about Westleigh?’

She gaped at him in surprise. ‘Do about him?’

‘It cannot be comfortable for you that he comes here. I can prevent him, if you like.’ Rhys disliked seeing the man here anyway.

She finished her second glass of brandy. ‘I do not know what to say. I do not know what to think. I do not want him to know who I am.’

Rhys did not know who she was.

Her face hardened. ‘I would like to make him pay in some way.’

‘Revenge?’ He well knew the need for revenge.

‘Yes!’ She covered her mouth with her hand. ‘I suppose that is wrong of me.’

A corner of his mouth turned up. ‘Quite natural, I would say. You are probably one of many who would like revenge on Lord Westleigh.’

She peered into his eyes. ‘You detest him, as well.’

He could explain to her that Westleigh was his father, but, at the moment, the idea that the blood of such a man flowed in his veins filled him with disgust. He did not wish to take the chance she would feel the same.

They could each keep their secrets from the other, could they not?

He held her gaze. ‘I detest him. It will give me pleasure to throw him out for you.’

She stared for a moment, as if thinking, then shook her head. ‘It would not do to ban an earl from your gaming house, would it? Especially one who likes to gamble. I would never ask this of you.’

‘Nonetheless,’ he responded. ‘It would be my pleasure to do so, if it will ease your mind.’

She reached over and touched his hand. ‘It is enough to know I have an ally.’ She withdrew her hand almost as quickly and turned away. When she turned back, she smiled the ghost of a smile. ‘Perhaps there is some restitution I can force on him. Engage him in a card game and win all his money …’

As if he had any sum of money to lose, Rhys thought.

She straightened. ‘At least that would be something, would it not?’

He would have preferred an excuse to toss Westleigh out on his ear, although her course was undoubtedly the wiser for both of them. He preferred a more subtle revenge, one that would cause Westleigh even greater pain.

‘It will be as you wish.’

She dabbed at her face again and folded his handkerchief. ‘I will launder and return this.’

He waved that away. ‘It is of no consequence.’

She picked up her mask. ‘I have taken up enough of your time. We should return to the game room, do you not think?’

Leaving her was the last thing on his mind, but she was correct. He should get back. ‘You may stay here, if you wish. Stay until it is time for your coachman.’

She shook her head. ‘I think it is like falling from one’s pony. One must remount immediately.’

She’d ridden a pony? Riding a pony seemed unlikely for an actress.

He’d pursue that thought another time. ‘Then I will go down first. You may follow a moment later. It will not seem as if we have been together.’

She gave him a grateful smile.

They both rose. She lifted the mask to her face and fussed with its ribbons. He stepped behind her and tied the mask in place.

She stood very still as he did so.

When he finished, his hands hovered over her shoulders, wanting to explore more of her.

Instead, he stepped away and walked out of the room.

Down in the game room, he found Westleigh almost immediately, laughing at something his companion had said. Westleigh caught his gaze and froze for a moment, an icy expression on his face. Rhys returned the unfriendly glare and resumed his patrol of the room.

In a few moments Celia appeared, searching the room, her reaction to finding Rhys as warm as Westleigh’s had been cold. She appeared perfectly composed, strolling to where Sir Reginald stood.

Sir Reginald greeted her like a long-lost friend. This man was a member of the aristocracy who Rhys could like. Sir Reginald was kind and friendly to everyone.

Westleigh also noticed Celia’s entrance. Rhys watched him leave his friend and make a beeline to where Celia stood.

Xavier appeared beside Rhys. ‘Would you mind telling me what all this is about?’

‘All what?’ Rhys countered.

Xavier inclined his head towards Celia and Westleigh.

Rhys waved a dismissive hand. ‘Nothing of consequence, I am certain.’

Xavier frowned. ‘Between Westleigh and the woman who captivates you? Do not take me for a fool.’

Celia watched Westleigh make his way across the room and knew he was coming after her. She cast a glance towards Rhys. He stood close by.

She turned to Sir Reginald. ‘Do you need a whist partner tonight, sir?’

Sir Reginald smiled in a jolly way. ‘Is that an invitation, madam? If so, I would be honoured.’

Westleigh came up to her side. ‘There you are, my dear. I feared I had lost you forever.’

She inclined her head slightly and spoke without expression. ‘Lord Westleigh.’

He bowed. ‘Are you ready for our game of whist?’

He presumed she would play cards with him? ‘I fear you are too late.’ She managed to sound civil. ‘Sir Reginald and I will be playing.’

That did not daunt him. ‘Whist? You will need partners, certainly. Allow me and my companion to challenge you to a game.’

Whist had been the game that Westleigh had played with her father that fateful night.

Her eyes narrowed.

Sir Reginald broke in. ‘Madam, I am completely at your disposal. We do need partners, but I leave it to you to say who that should be.’

She glanced over to Rhys, who had stepped away from his friend, but looked her way.

He was still near.

It emboldened her. ‘Very well. Sir Reginald and I will play whist with you.’

Westleigh fetched his companion. Celia wondered if his companion had been his partner when Westleigh engaged her father in play. If so, why had the man not intervened? Someone should have stopped such folly.

They took their places at a card table and the cards were dealt.

Soon Celia focused on the play instead of the detested player who sat at her right, too often brushing his arm against hers or fussing over her counters as if it were his job to tend to her.

The play was tame. Westleigh and his partner were particularly predictable in which cards they put down and when. Even Sir Reginald’s limited skills more than outmatched them. Westleigh could not have been a challenge to her father, who was very good at whist. Her father would have had no reason to cheat.

That knowledge was like a burden lifted from her shoulders. She now had no doubts that the charge of cheating against her father had been unfounded.

It also made Westleigh’s actions that night all the more reprehensible.

Perhaps the revenge she could enact against him was to play cards with him as often as she could. To take as much of his money as she could. It would probably not put a dent in an earl’s fortune, but it would be some restitution—the sort of restitution her father might admire.

While Sir Reginald shuffled the cards for the next hand, Celia glanced around the room, as she often did, looking for Rhys. Instead, her gaze caught upon Lord Neddington.

It did not please her that this young man was so frequent a visitor to this place. She had no wish for Adele to be enamoured of a gambler.

Celia watched Neddington walk through the room aimlessly. He turned towards her table and she quickly averted her eyes, but Neddington was not concerned with her. He was scowling at Lord Westleigh.

At least that was in the young man’s favour.

Between hands Celia kept tabs on Neddington who walked around, but never seemed to gamble. How odd. It did make her a bit less concerned about his character, though.

After several games Westleigh’s partner threw up his hands. ‘No more!’ He turned to Celia. ‘You have emptied my pockets, madam.’

He was even worse a player than Westleigh.

She smiled good-naturedly. ‘Perhaps you would like a rematch another night, sir.’

He laughed. ‘A night when luck is with me.’ He winked. ‘At least I won when you played hazard. We must coax you back to the hazard table, must we not, Westleigh?’ He turned to the earl.

‘It would be my pleasure to play whatever game the lady wishes.’ Westleigh eyed her in the same manner her husband had done before they were married.

It made her cheeks burn.

Sir Reginald, so harmless and friendly, said, ‘Well, madam, you may count on me to partner you any time.’

‘You are an excellent partner, Sir Reginald.’ She dropped her counters into her reticule and stole a glance at her watch. It was nearly time for her coach to arrive.

She stood.

Westleigh took her elbow. ‘Shall we play more hazard, my dear?’

‘Thank you, no.’ She drew her arm away. ‘I bid you gentlemen goodnight.’

She looked for Rhys, but he was not in the game room, so she made her way to the cashier and repaid the hundred pounds she’d not touched in her play. At the end, she carried away over seventy pounds. The huge sum filled her with guilt. Winning at hazard would cost Rhys directly. It was a poor way to repay his generosity.

Celia wanted to see Rhys before she left. After cashing out, she glanced in the supper room, but he was not there. She asked the hall servant where Rhys was.

‘Drawing room,’ the man told her.

Celia climbed the stairs. As she neared the doorway to the drawing room, she heard Rhys’s voice and held back.

‘Your concern is unfounded, Xavier,’ Rhys said. ‘And insulting, as well.’

‘Insulting?’ His friend’s voice rose.

‘I am well able to make my own decisions about business and about women.’ Rhys spoke with heat. ‘I do not caution you against dallying with any of the several women who vie for your attention, you know.’

‘There would be no need.’ Xavier’s tone was just as angry. ‘I know how to handle women.’

‘And I do not?’ Rhys countered.

‘Come now.’ Xavier turned placating. ‘This infatuation with the masked woman is something else. You do not know who she is. Or what she wants.’

‘She wants what I want. Money,’ Rhys answered. ‘And she has given me her name. That is enough for me.’

‘Rhys—’ Xavier began.

‘Enough,’ Rhysdale broke in. ‘I need you as a friend, not a nursemaid. Do not press me further on this matter.’

Celia stepped away from the doorway as Xavier strode out of the room. Seeing her, he hesitated only briefly, long enough to look half-apologetic, half-provoked. He continued on his way down the stairs.

She knocked on the door.