by Jade Lee
“Nonsense. You leave my brother to me. Besides,” Diana said as she linked arms with Amber and drew her toward the stairs, “I want you to stay, and so you shall. I have need of a companion, and I find I like you quite well.”
And wasn’t that just like a peer to declare she wanted something and expect that everyone would comply? Except in this case, Amber wanted it with her whole heart. She just didn’t know what her father and grandfather would do without her for so long. And if she doubted the wisdom of giving in to Diana, all she had to do was look behind her at Lucifer to see the grim way he was shaking his head.
She wasn’t stupid. She knew she was allowing herself to be pulled into something that wasn’t her life. Sleeping past noon, dresses given for free, and dancing at night. That life would never be hers. But if she viewed it as a holiday, it could be for a time. A few days of color in the midst of a lifetime of gray. What was the harm in that?
She resolutely turned her back on Lucifer and allowed Diana to pull her close. They went down to eat together, happily discussing dresses. Did she look better in a high cut gown? Did she prefer lace or ribbon? And how would her hair be styled? They spoke nothing of significance. No grand state of affairs and certainly nothing of the selling or buying of jewelry, which is what her father and grandfather always discussed. And yet, every word was gold to her. And when Diana showed her the voucher from Almack’s, Amber traced the elegant sweep of her name on the linen. She stroked the edge of the paper and even brought it to her nose to catch the vague scent of rosewater. That last part could be imagined. There was no reason at all that Lady Castlereagh would drip rose scent upon a voucher. But in Amber’s imagination, that little detail was added. As was the way she would dance yet another night through.
“Lord Byrn, my lady,” her butler announced, jolting Amber out of her thoughts.
“Thank you, Simpson,” Diana said. “Show him in here. And set another place at the table. My brother never remembers to eat.”
Amber looked up from where she’d been stroking the voucher and imagining such things. Her heart was beating hard in her throat as she watched the door for Elliott to appear. In her dream, h would see her and light up with joy. He would grin, rush to her side, and drop immediately to his knee before her as he professed his love.
It was a ridiculous thought, and she mentally kicked herself for such an idea. But her imagination could never be restrained, only held up against reality to show her the truth.
Lord Byrn walked in wearing—no surprise—all black. His cravat was tied differently today, his hair mussed, and there were dark smudges beneath his eyes.
“Good heavens, brother,” Diana cried. “You look positively haggard.”
Her brother’s eyebrows rose in surprise. “Surely not that bad.” He kissed his sister’s cheek then—far from dropping to one knee before her—he barely glanced at Amber before murmuring a polite, “Miss Gohar.”
“Sit down. Eat. We have plenty here, and there’s no reason for it to go to waste.”
“You are too kind,” Elliott said as he settled in a chair on the opposite side of the table as Amber.
“I know you too well,” Diana said lightly. “Tell me what has brought you here so early.”
Elliott didn’t answer as the footman served him a hearty meal. He tucked into it with relish before shooting his sister a too innocent look. “How goes it with the new footmen?”
“Don’t you mean spies?” she answered, her voice high.
Elliott’s head and his eyebrows lifted as he looked at his sister. He didn’t speak, and neither did she until the silence stretched to an uncomfortable degree. And then she turned to the butler. “Thank you, Simpson. I think we can manage from here.”
“As you wish, my lady,” the butler said as he gestured the footmen to precede him out of the room. He shut the door firmly behind him while Diana relaxed back in her seat as she regarded her brother. When she spoke, it was quiet, but her words hit with the force of a sledgehammer.
“Out with it, Elliott. Why am I hosting four new footman and a delightful new guest all from London’s most infamous gaming hell?”
“My lady!” Amber gasped as she straightened out of her seat. She knew! She knew who Amber was, and she was not pleased.
“Sit down, Amber,” Diana said gently. “I have no quarrel with you. I will delight in taking you to Almack’s tomorrow. But the question—for my brother—remains. Why is everyone here?”
Elliott’s brows drew down. “Almack’s? Whyever would you want to go there?”
“Because she has a voucher, Elliott. And I shall be pleased to go with her, that’s why.”
Which was a lovely thought. It was a beautiful one! But not if Diana knew she was foisting a fraud into those hallowed halls. “I-I can’t,” Amber said as she fought the tears. “You know what I am.”
“Do I?” Diana challenged. She arched a brow at her brother. “Who is she to you?”
The question was clear. Is she your mistress? And Amber would not sit down for that. “I make jewelry, my lady. I am the best there is in all of England, even though I am a woman. And it was not my choice to deceive you.”
“Of that, I have no doubt,” Diana drawled. Then she gestured at Amber’s hair. “Did you make the lion you wore last night? It was exquisite.”
Amber smiled and nodded. “I did. And Lord Byrn has asked me to make a specific piece based on—”
“That blighter, Larry John, sold Lady Morthan’s brooch, and now if I am to get my resolution passed, I need the damned thing remade. It’s been melted down, and Miss Gohar here is the only one I trust to remake it.”
Diana frowned. “That ugly ruby thing? The one on the portrait they’re so proud of?”
“Yes,” Amber said. “Only it wasn’t detailed enough.”
Diana lifted her teacup to her lips. “Then have a look at the companion pieces. There’s earbobs and a ring. Matches a neck pin her father used to wear.”
Elliott nodded. “That was my thought exactly.” He glanced at Amber. “You can deduce the design from those, can’t you?”
She nodded. It should be enough. She hoped.
“Good. But the other pieces are at their country estate in a safe in his library. Deuced inconvenient, but I thought we would leave tomorrow morning early. We can be out there and back by nightfall.”
So quickly. Her fun was ending so fast. “Yes, my lord—”
“You certainly cannot! Elliott, I told you. She has a voucher to Almack’s!”
The man huffed out a breath but didn’t argue. It was left to Amber to point out the obvious. “I’m a merchant, my lady. I cannot go—”
“You have a voucher, do you not?” She tapped her finger on the invitation.
“Yes, but—”
“And a sponsor, yes? I am here, am I not?”
For such a small woman, she could be decidedly imperious. “Yes, but—”
“Then you may go, and I will hear no more about it.”
There was a long silence as both Amber and Elliott stared at her. It wasn’t Amber’s place to argue or even question, but she did. It wasn’t in her nature to let something so bizarre go unchallenged. “Why, my lady?”
Diana set down her teacup with a hard click. “Do you know that it was Lady Castlereagh herself who convinced Mother to marry me to Lord Dunnamore?”
Elliott jolted. “What?”
“She and all the other ladies of Almack’s came to see Mama. It was a tragedy, they all said. Papa dying so young and Mother so confused, but they had the solution.”
“The devil you say,” Elliott muttered.
“All of them came, but Lady Castlereagh was the one who spoke the most. She said that Mama wouldn’t be able to handle things by herself. That she needed a man to help her.”
Elliott pursed his lips. “She probably did. You know how…” He fluttered his hands about his head. “Distracted she can be.”
“So, she agreed. Though she was still grieving Papa, sh
e agreed to marry Lord Dunnamore.”
“What?” Elliott asked, and no wonder. Because his mother had not been the one sacrificed to the altar.
“Lord Dunnamore didn’t want her,” said Diana. “Lady Castlereagh was most clear about that. He wanted someone young and tiny.” She lifted her chin. “He wanted me, a girl not even out yet. And they were so firm that Mama agreed.” She looked at her brother. “I stood at the top of the stairs and listened to it all. And then I stood there like an idiot, silent and miserable while they saw to my dress and the breakfast buffet. They managed the agreement between Mama and Lord Dunnamore. And they touted it as a great match, a great solution. Me, wed to a man three times my age. They did that to me.”
Bitterness rang through her tone, and Amber bit her lip to keep from saying anything. What the ladies had done to the young Diana had been cruel.
“I failed you then, Diana—”
“No. You were much too young to know anything.”
“But you cannot use Amber as they used you. She is not a weapon to wield against the Patronesses of Almack’s in some twisted form of revenge.”
Diana’s brows rose as she looked at Amber. “You are a dignified, well-mannered woman,” she said.
And how was Amber supposed to respond? “Thank—”
“You danced beautifully last night, and I heard not one word said against you. No one has heard of Miss Gohar, and no one questioned your story.”
“That is my real name, my lady. We changed it when we came to England to fit in better.”
Diana waved that comment away. “You are a jewelry maker, yes? So, your family has some money, I should think. Enough to dower you a little, at least.”
She’d never asked her father that, but she assumed so. He had often talked of the diamond necklace her mother wore when they were wed.
“That puts you above more than half the maidens at Almack’s. And if you, as a well-spoken and dowered young lady, were to meet a younger son or an heir in need of a dowered girl, then why shouldn’t you dance together at Almack’s? And why shouldn’t you consider becoming the wife of such a man? Because you fashion jewelry? My father whittled little animals out of sticks. I embroider flowers upon chair cushions. Even Mama makes displays out of flowers.”
“Those are not trades, my lady,” Amber said, her voice barely above a whisper. “I am a tradeswoman.”
“Why? Because you say so? I am fairly certain your father does not bandy it about that you fashion jewelry. I’d wager he claims it is done by his own hand.”
Or her grandfather’s trembling hand.
“So why then,” continued Diana, “should it be wrong for a woman with a hobby to enter into the sacred Almack’s halls? And if I, as a proper wife to my elderly husband, took pleasure in opening those narrow doors to deserving young ladies without a pedigree, then who is to say I am wrong?” She flashed her brother a truly devious smile. “That is not revenge, brother, that is social change.”
Elliott stared at her, his jaw slack. And when it was clear that Diana would say no more, he leaned back in his chair. “My sister is a republican,” he said, his voice hushed with shock.
“Oh, I shouldn’t go as far as that,” Diana said with a smile. “But I see no reason why a level-headed young woman should not be brought to Almack’s to meet a husband to marry. And I shall be quite pleased to be the one to do it.” Then she looked to Amber. “What say you? Shall you join me in a gilded cage? We can have tea and talk fashion to our heart’s content. And then scheme to bring more deserving ladies into those very same halls as you will attend tomorrow night.”
More deserving ladies? Like the upstairs girls? Like Lina, the mysterious Abacas Woman? The very idea was…interesting. And was exactly the kind of social change that Mrs. Dove-Lyon was trying to create. She daily tried to educate her girls into more refined manners and ways to be self-reliant. And the women who came to her asking for help in finding a husband were all of them blocked out of the proper course of things by the same kind of ladies as the Patronesses of Almack’s. The women who sought Mrs. Dove-Lyon’s help weren’t of the right pedigree or fortune. They had been harmed by the men in their lives or cast aside by society in one way or another.
“I believe you and Mrs. Dove-Lyon would get along famously,” Amber said softly.
“Don’t be ridiculous!” Elliott said. “You will not go to a gaming hell!”
“Why not?” Diana winked at Amber. “I gather you go there quite often.”
“I do,” Amber said. “But if you wish to go, pray have me alongside you. Just as I shall be very pleased to have you with me at Almack’s.”
Diana clapped her hands. “Excellent! We have a bargain.”
“We do not,” Elliott declared, but no one was listening to him.
Amber and Diana were smiling at one another, and Amber’s imagination had taken flight. Who might she dance with at Almack’s? Just think of the eligible gentlemen she would meet and perhaps marry! The very idea brought her gaze back to Elliott. Because she was certain, he would not dance with her. And never, ever marry her. Hadn’t he said that last night? And wasn’t that reinforced now by the way he was scowling at his sister?
Clearly, he did not approve of her ideas on social change. And he certainly didn’t approve of Amber dancing at Almack’s or potentially marrying into his ranks. Which was like looking at a wet blanket on a dreary day. Even the sight of him depressed her.
“Do you know what I think?” Diana asked brightly.
Elliott groaned. “What now?”
“I think you should take Miss Gohar for a ride around Hyde Park this afternoon. If she is to be one of us, then she should be introduced properly, don’t you think? And a tour about the park in the fashionable hour is just the way to show our support.”
“But he doesn’t,” Amber pointed out as she looked at his stunned face. “He doesn’t support me.”
“He will,” Diana returned archly. “He will if he wants me to keep Mr. Lucifer and all those new footmen running about.”
“They’re here to protect you,” he grumbled.
“I have been protecting myself long before you came to London.” Was there bitterness in her tone? Anger? Not exactly. More like resignation to her fate. But that didn’t mean she’d lost her spirit as she boldly challenged her brother.
“Will you support her, Elliott? Will you help her marry well?”
Her brother swallowed the last of his tea, then looked to Amber. It was the first time this afternoon that he had set all his attention on her. And far from having a devoted expression, he looked as if he had just swallowed poison. “It shall be my pleasure to ride with you at the fashionable hour.” His expression softened, and his words came out with sincerity. “But do you want to, Amber? Don’t let my sister use you if this is not what you want.”
“As opposed to how you are using me for your vote? And to dupe Lady Morthan into thinking her grandson isn’t the grandest idiot of them all?”
He flinched, but he kept his expression clear. “Even so,” he said. “I will only do this if you wish it.”
“I do,” she said with absolute truth. “I want to go to Hyde Park. I want to go to Almack’s. I want to marry a young lord and leave my gray cage forever.” She looked to Diana. “Even if I switch a gray cage for a gilded one, it is still an improvement. So yes, my lord, I shall be pleased to go riding with you.”
“Excellent,” Diana cried. “Now go away, brother. Amber and I have to discuss her wardrobe for this afternoon and then for tomorrow’s dance.” She winked at Amber. “And I shall talk to you about all the gentlemen who are likely to be present, who you should entertain, and who should be set aside like bad meat.”
Amber thought she had better information on who was a bounder simply because she knew who frequented the Lyon’s Den, but it was always good to know more. “I am at your disposal…Diana.” It was bold of her to use the lady’s given name after her deception had been revealed. But Diana smiled and
then gave an arch look to her brother. “We shall expect you at four o’clock.”
Her brother stood slowly as he stared at her. “You will allow Lucifer and his men to remain here? For as long as I deem it necessary?”
Diana froze a brief moment, but then she nodded. “Yes,” she said softly. “I will allow it and…and attempt to be grateful for it.”
Elliott gave his sister a bow. “Then, I am content. And I will see you this afternoon.”
It was done. Amber’s wildest dreams were coming true all because she was a convenient bargaining chip between brother and sister, not to mention an instrument of social change and possible revenge. None of that sat well. She was a person with desires of her own. But beggars couldn’t be choosers, so she would take what she could and make the most of it.
And maybe, just maybe, she would meet her future husband today.
Chapter Eleven
Politics was a dicey game. Society was a great deal more complicated. And given that Elliott had spent the afternoon failing at the first game, he was not in the best frame of mind to attempt the second. But he had promised his sister, and so he appeared at her front door at precisely four of the clock. He was unhappy, frustrated, and not fit company for anyone. And yet, all of that disappeared the moment Amber stepped into the parlor.
She wore a simple gown of rose, too pale a color for her, he thought, but muted colors were expected of ladies entering the marriage mart. She smiled in greeting even as she turned to accept a fashionable wrap from his sister.
“This will keep you warm if the weather kicks up,” Diana said. “But if you can stand it, keep it off. A little cold engages the male mind.”
She meant that men enjoyed seeing the outline of nipples. If even the vaguest bumps appeared, men would come from everywhere just to greet her.
“She doesn’t need ploys,” Elliott grumbled as he shook out the wrap and put it across Amber’s shoulders. “She’s beautiful just as she is.” He meant what he said to an almost disturbing degree. After all, he knew many lovely ladies, several of whom were considered quite beautiful. Objectively, Amber was fair but not exceptional.
