Читать книгу A Date with Dishonour - Mary Brendan, Mary Brendan - Страница 14

Chapter Six

‘Must we stay longer, Alex?’

‘You’re ready to leave? I thought you were enjoying yourself.’

‘Of course, if you’d sooner stay...’ Celia Chase gave her lover an arch smile. ‘But I know of better ways of enjoying myself than listening to tedious melodies.’ Her sultry eyes flashed a promise at him. ‘I thought we could return to Vale Court. I have told Paulette to prepare us a little supper for later. Are you hungry?’

A gruff chuckle escaped Alex, but he continued scanning the crowd as he murmured, ‘I’m always ravenous, you know that.’

‘Good...for I am, too,’ Celia purred, subtly rubbing her hip against his thigh. ‘It is wonderful we share a similar appetite.’

Despite Celia’s sensual nudging against his sensitive groin Alex continued glancing about.

When he’d returned from his rendezvous with Lady Lonesome’s sister he’d been surprised and not a little irritated to find that Hugh was nowhere to be found. His mood had not been improved by the realisation that he couldn’t put the young woman he’d met from his mind, and not just because his body was throbbing with unrelieved sexual tension because of her. He’d been searching for her slight figure in the throng, but had not had a glimpse of her. From the way she’d bolted off into the night he guessed she might have decided to drag her sister off home before the chit brought shame on them both. Alex hoped they hadn’t yet quit the gardens because he wanted to see her again and find out more about her.

Once he caught up with Hugh he’d tear him off a strip. His friend ought to have realised that an ingénue, eager for excitement, might imagine it great fun to invent such a harebrained scheme.

But it wasn’t fun at all, as Hugh’s own sister could testify. She had been ostracised for a similar folly, causing heartache and financial crisis to her family, when she’d allowed herself to be compromised by a fellow with seduction on his mind.

Alex knew that he had no right to a moral high ground on that score. If Lady Lonesome’s luscious sister hadn’t fled when she had, he might have been tempted to kiss her again and finish what he’d started. He could still sense her soft flesh filling his palm, the lissom length of her leg flowing beneath his fingertips and the fresh lavender scent of her skin seemed to again be teasing his nostrils...

‘Are we to go, then?’

Celia’s petulance cut into Alex’s pleasurable reflection, making him frown at her. But his eyes were soon swooping back to a group of people close to the stage and he stared in disbelief before cursing softly in a mingling of surprise and satisfaction.

‘I won’t be going yet—I have some business to attend to.’ A ferocious determination had entered Alex’s voice and he swiftly turned his head, searching for a temporary companion for his mistress. He noticed the gallant young Hussar still watching them, so gave the fellow a nod causing him to look rather confused. A moment later Alex was propelling Celia towards her admirer. Ignoring both his mistress’s furious, suffocated indignation and Sidney Roper’s startled smile, he strode away.

* * *

‘Oh...I say! It looks as though Hugh’s great friend is heading our way. Indeed, what an honour it would be if he were to join us, Dolly,’ Edith squeaked excitedly. She started to waft a hand in front of her pink cheeks before digging in her reticule to find a small fan. Having snapped open ivory sticks, she hissed from behind them, ‘Have you spotted him, Dolly...the tall Continental-looking gentleman who appears rather severe? He is a viscount, you know...and I swear we are about to have his company.’

It seemed Edith had been more vigilant than her nephew in noticing Alex Blackthorne approaching, stony-faced. Hugh continued chatting to the group of ladies that now included Maude Chapman. Mr Chapman and his eldest daughter had James Whittiker as company and only Fiona was looking comfortable about that arrangement.

When Alex clapped a heavy hand on Hugh’s shoulder a few moments later, his arrival went unnoticed by Elise as she was slightly apart from the others, turned sideways, talking privately to Verity. The two friends had finally managed to start a whispered dialogue about what had occurred during Elise’s mission to rescue Bea. But before Elise had got very far into her doctored account, an abrupt quiet had descended close by and the change in the atmosphere penetrated her consciousness, making her turn her head.

‘Ah...Alex...how nice of you to join us.’ Hugh quickly overcame his surprise at having been rather roughly handled by his noble friend. ‘Sorry to disappear like that, but I spotted my mother’s sister in the crowd and came over to say hello to her. Let me introduce you to my Aunt Edith.’

‘Oh, but we have been introduced, Hugh.’ Edith gave the newcomer a breathless beam, hoping for a smile in return. But the viscount’s expression softened only a mite and she wondered why he had joined them if he’d sooner be elsewhere. ‘Perhaps you do not remember me, Viscount Blackthorne, but I recall we met at my sister’s—Lady Kendrick’s—when she lived in Eaton Square with her husband—Hugh’s father—because at that time he was still among us—’

‘I do remember you, ma’am, and trust you are well,’ Alex smoothly interrupted her rambling discourse before his eyes drifted, in a deceptively casual manner, to Elise.

But Elise, frozen in shock as she was, knew there was nothing innocent in his regard. His dark eyes might have seemed coolly enquiring to others, but she understood the glitter of dangerous amusement in their depths.

‘Are you not going to introduce me to your new acquaintances, Hugh?’ Alex prompted mildly.

Elise started to her senses, instinctively darting an alarmed glance at her sister...and then wished she had not, for she had betrayed to him the identity of Lady Lonesome without having uttered one word. She made a small movement as though to forbid Hugh Kendrick to disclose to his friend a solitary thing about them.

‘I imagine the two fair-haired young ladies are sisters,’ Alex said silkily, the smile in his eyes deepening as Elise shot him a baleful look.

‘Oh, how clever of you, my lord, to know that.’ Aunt Edith clapped her hands. ‘Is that not clever, Dolly? Your nieces, I would say, are not that alike. Indeed, I think Miss Verity Chapman, being tall and slender, could be mistaken for Miss Elise’s sister...’

‘Oh...let me introduce my nieces to you properly, sir...my lord...’ Dolly burbled, having recovered from her amazement at being in the presence of one of polite society’s most distinguished—and rakish—bachelors. Dolly had heard the exhilarating rumours about Viscount Blackthorne’s conquests among the petticoat set and, having just gawped at length at his fine physique and handsome visage, she could understand why the ladies found him irresistible.

And now he was asking to be introduced to her relatives, and seemed particularly interested in Elise, although the silly girl seemed incapable of giving him a welcoming smile. Dolly sent her wan-faced younger niece a glance of fierce encouragement while hoping Elise wasn’t feeling too overawed by the fellow as to appear soppy or the viscount would soon be looking elsewhere. He didn’t seem the sort to suffer fools gladly.

Maude Chapman was very much hoping he would look elsewhere. The woman was feeling giddy with excitement, but she knew such an opportunity was unlikely to ever again present itself so took heart and a deep breath. While introductions to Dolly’s nieces were underway, she tugged Fiona and Verity forwards, one either side of her, to ensure the viscount was aware there were four spinsters present.

Abruptly depriving Mr Whittiker of Fiona’s company had put the fellow’s nose out of joint—Maude noted he was looking exceptionally sulky, but gave it little heed. There had been no talk yet of an engagement and Maude was glad about that as she watched the viscount paying courteous attention to her girls. Although Maude wanted her eldest wed before she got any older, in truth she knew the idea of having James as a son-in-law would be hugely disappointing. The niceties over, she dejectedly noticed the viscount’s eyes straying again to Elise Dewey and inwardly sighed. Mr Whittiker might have to do if Fiona were not to sit for ever on the shelf...

‘You look as though you’ve seen a ghost.’

The whispered words made Elise snap her unblinking gaze back to Verity. She forced a smile. ‘Do I?’

‘He is rather gorgeous,’ Verity said with a light chuckle, ‘But please don’t swoon even if he does stare at you.’

‘I won’t swoon over him, I assure you,’ Elise announced hoarsely, having brought some of her shock under control. But still she sensed her heart racing and moisture was dampening her clenched palms.

She wished he’d not made his attention to her quite so obvious. But he wouldn’t betray her antics earlier that evening, she reasoned. He’d hardly behaved well and wouldn’t want his part in the risible drama disclosed any more than would she. He and his friend Mr Best—suddenly Elise shot an enlightened glance at Hugh Kendrick and inwardly groaned. Of course! A fellow with no prospects to look forward to might be grateful for a spinster’s few thousand pounds. Elise let her eyes travel on to her sister, noticing, with no satisfaction, that Bea seemed on sparkling form as she chattered away to Hugh.

‘Will you come with me to join the other ladies and get closer to his lordship?’

Verity’s teasing words penetrated Elise’s troubled thoughts.

‘It might be the only chance I get to bask in such exalted company and be the envy of every lady here this evening,’ Verity continued on a theatrical sigh. ‘Miss Clemence’s mama has been sending us daggers for ten minutes or more.’ Verity inclined her head at a sweet-faced brunette, chaperoned by her mother. Caro Clemence had recently made her come out and was expected to do very well in this Season’s marriage mart.

‘Go ahead and join them all,’ Elise urged ruefully. ‘I intend to go and keep your papa company. I have hardly exchanged a word with him all evening.’ Elise had noticed that Mr Chapman was on his own now James Whittiker had sidled off to eavesdrop on conversations.

Anthony Chapman was feeling happier now he was free of Fiona’s beau’s tedious company. He could tell the fellow was irked at having been thoroughly cast into the shade by the arrival of two handsome young bucks. Anthony remained unruffled at the sight of his wife and the other middle-aged ladies fluttering more feverishly about the charming fellows than were the youngsters. He was aware Maude was anxious to find husbands for their girls. But Anthony knew that if his wife’s aspirations now included Alex Blackthorne she was clutching at straws. He was utterly out of their league in that respect and, in Anthony’s opinion, was merely being polite in coming over to renew his acquaintance with Hugh’s aunt. Anthony expected both gentlemen would take themselves off quite soon, although young Kendrick did seem partial to the older Dewey sister, and, in turn, Beatrice seemed to have taken to him.

As for the viscount, Anthony had spotted him earlier with the pretty little lady he was rumoured to have recently set up in style. No sane fellow would leave Celia Chase at a loose end for too long. She was reputed to have a circle of gallants drawn from the finest Mayfair addresses. Anthony had not heard that Blackthorne was on the lookout for a wife and, when he did decide to get an heir, the fellow’s connections and bank balance would make a duke delighted to have him come calling on his daughter.

‘We have turned into a lively gathering,’ Mr Chapman greeted Elise’s arrival at his side with that cheery comment.

‘Indeed we are lucky,’ Elise said, attempting to sound sincere as her eyes glided over the saturnine features of a man who held the power to destroy her life. ‘But...it is a shame that the entertainment is drawing to a close.’ She glanced at the podium where the musicians were starting to pack away their instruments.

‘Perhaps we may have entertainment of a different sort,’ Anthony remarked with mild humour. He nodded to where a gaggle of ladies were stealthily approaching their party. ‘I could have sworn my wife told me Mrs Porter cut her dead in Baldwin’s fabric emporium the other day.’ His head vibrated in feigned surprise. ‘Yet it looks as though the woman and her friends are now desirous of catching Maude’s eye. I wonder why that might be?’

Elise chuckled—she found Mr Chapman’s amusing manner relaxing. Several young women had joined Mrs Porter and her cronies, hovering on the perimeter of their circle hoping for an opportunity to butt in and draw the viscount’s notice. Mrs Porter’s patience expired and she tapped Maude on the shoulder, then squeezed a place beside her. Her friends began delicately elbowing some space, too.

‘I imagine the hour is getting quite late,’ Elise remarked. She glanced up at a crescent moon shimmering in a starlit sky of navy blue. Despite the danger in which she had foolishly placed herself earlier she had to admit it had been an exciting evening. Viscount Blackthorne, as she now knew him to be, might forget her before he reached home that night, but she would never be able to put him from her mind, or what he’d done to her. Heat stole into her cheeks at the memory of a sensual mouth moving on hers, of cool night air on her skin as he bared her body to his hands. And tomorrow, she inwardly scolded, when you are sane once more, you will realise just how much you risked for that sordid thrill.