To Wed in Scandal (A Scandal in London Novel)

by Liana Lefey

  “Well, I think it’s all terribly romantic,” a high, girlish voice sighed.

  “I’ll warrant ‘romance’ has little to do with it, Regina!” the first man guffawed.

  “Indeed. I must agree with you, Cunningham. Perhaps young Chadwick isn’t such a duffer, after all,” another gentleman commented wryly. “Ten pounds says the redheads wind up married—and a passel of fiery-haired babes to follow.”

  There was a grunt of disagreement from another gentleman. “Montgomery’ll never stand for that, my lad. He’ll retaliate, mark my words. Ten pounds says Montgomery takes the wench.”

  Henry knew exactly why she’d done it, and he also knew that no amount of kissing other men would erase last night from Sabrina’s memory. Loath to provide the gossips with further grist, he stayed out of sight until they moved on, and then he went to his chambers to pack. It was time to leave.

  “Montgomery!”

  He stopped short, his hand on the latch. How he longed to punch the owner of that voice. He quashed the impulse. It wasn’t really the lad’s fault. Chadwick would have to be bloody well dead not to respond to the advances of a woman as beautiful as Sabrina. There was no doubt but that she’d cornered him and instigated their little romantic interlude.

  The thought did nothing to improve his mood.

  “I’ve just spoken with Lady Sabrina,” said Chadwick. “I came to tell you that I’m withdrawing my suit.”

  It was certainly not what Henry had expected him to say. “I beg your pardon?”

  “We’ve agreed we are not a good match for one another.”

  Then, to Henry’s further astonishment, Chadwick did the unthinkable. “Please forgive my presumption when I say that I—I hope you two come to an understanding quickly, before she does something foolish. She’s a very headstrong young woman. But then, I think you already know that,” he added awkwardly. “I wish you the best of luck.”

  Henry looked him in the eye for a long moment. Perhaps the lad wasn’t as naive or foolish as he’d thought. If nothing else, he was certainly one of the most decent fellows he’d met in a long time. And courageous. Not many men would have been brave enough to face him, even to give over the field, much less offer strategic advice on how to win the battle. Most would have simply withdrawn in silence, hoping to avoid conflict.

  “Thank you,” he managed, though it sounded more gruff than grateful.

  Chadwick, who had begun to look exceedingly uncomfortable, acknowledged him with a relieved nod. Turning, he departed.

  Lifting the latch, Henry entered his room and closed the door.

  So, her plan had gone awry. What would she try next?

  STUDYING HER REFLECTION with a critical eye, Sabrina carefully smoothed the pale-lemon silk of her skirts.

  Speculation ran wild regarding which man she would choose. Would it be Montgomery or Chadwick? Eugenia had said that her husband had seen with his own eyes that the book at White’s had three whole pages filled with wagers on the topic.

  The problem lay in that she didn’t wish to marry either of them.

  She applied a light floral scent to her wrists and neck.

  Her mother swept into the room. “You’d best break publicly with Chadwick, and quickly,” she advised. “It was a damned daft thing you did, Sabrina. Had his family approached me, you would have been forced to accept the offer. To be quite honest, I’m still not certain whether to be grateful or angry that he decided not to pursue the matter.”

  Sabrina gave no reply. It was a moot point.

  “I can’t tell you how disappointed I am in you,” continued her mother. “And I don’t care if you have rejected Henry’s offer, you will be civil this afternoon. Have I made myself clear?”

  Keeping her gaze on the mirror, Sabrina made a minor adjustment to her hair. “I won’t embarrass you, Mother,” she sighed, doing her best to sound as if she meant it.

  Oh, she’d go to the party, but she’d sooner be damned than play nice with Montgomery. She’d never forgive him for what he’d done. Not a night had gone by since the hunt without her waking in the dark, her whole body coiled tight with need, every part of her stricken with the sickness of longing.

  The simple act of getting dressed this morning had been a torment. Every time her aching nipples had brushed against the fabric of her chemise, she was reminded of the delicious feel of his mouth on her flesh. She was beginning to doubt her own sanity. And it was all his fault.

  “Embarrassment has nothing to do with it,” snapped her mother. “Your reputation is at stake, girl. If you are to obtain a husband, any husband, you’d best do it soon—before it suffers any further damage!”

  It was the last straw. “Mama, wasn’t it you who told me that men once fought for your affections?”

  The older woman sniffed and began picking at the lace on her sleeve. “Those duels were purely the result of idiotic male rivalry. They were not in defense of my honor. My virtue was never in question. Certainly, no one ever saw me kissing anyone until my wedding day.”

  Sabrina smiled as her mother abruptly left. No one had seen her. That didn’t mean she hadn’t done it.

  To her surprise, Sabrina received a warm greeting at Pembroke, Montgomery’s family home. “Thank you for your most gracious invitation, my lord,” she gushed, dipping an overly deep curtsey. She experienced a malicious sense of glee as her mother’s smile grew strained.

  “We are honored to have you as our guest,” replied the Earl of Pembroke.

  She couldn’t help but mark the unnerving similarity between father and son. Eyes the exact same peculiar shade of violet weighed and measured her. She knew what he must think. What they all must think.

  The entire evening was spent in tense awareness of her nemesis. Montgomery was everywhere. No matter where she looked, his mocking stare met her. By the time the dancing began, her nerves were as raw as butcher’s beef and tight as a hangman’s noose.

  After an uneventful hour had passed, her gut began to untangle itself. Perhaps he might not harry her tonight. After all, he wouldn’t want to risk a scandal being associated with his sister’s coming out.

  As though the very thought had summoned him, she turned to see him heading straight for her. The knots returned all at once. Before he reached her, however, he stopped and offered his arm to another young lady.

  A thoroughly delighted young lady.

  “Sabrina?”

  Yelping, she spun about. “What are you doing here?” she blurted. Immediately, she regretted her words, aware of how rude she must sound.

  Chadwick’s laugh was relaxed. “I was invited ages ago, before you and I even met. I considered not attending but thought it might provide an opportunity to close things properly between us.”

  “Then…you have not yet told anyone?”

  “As a gentleman, I leave the manner of officially ending our courtship to you,” he whispered. “I ask only that you have a modicum of mercy on my poor, battered reputation. We had best do this quickly,” he added, looking pointedly over her shoulder.

  Sneaking a sidelong peek, Sabrina saw the countless pairs of eyes watching them. Among them were Montgomery’s. Trembling, she looked away.

  Chadwick offered his arm, commanding her with an infinitesimal shake of his head to refuse it.

  “Truly, you are a gentleman among lesser men,” she murmured for him alone. Filled with remorse, she did as the sacrificial lamb before her intended and took one small but very significant step backward.

  “I must refuse, my lord,” she said loud enough for those nearest to hear. “For reasons of my own, I cannot accept your invitation.”

  She knew that he had prepared for this moment for days, yet she could see that in his heart he’d harbored a tiny spark of hope, the stubborn belief that she might change her mind.

  That hope had just been forever extinguished.

  “I accept your decision, my lady, and bear you no ill will. I bid you a pleasant evening.” Bowing formally, he withdrew.
>
  Though it had been handled in a very civilized manner, she felt as though she’d just been dragged across a field of broken glass. The look in his eyes as she’d dashed his heart to pieces was something she’d never forget.

  Guilt and rage boiled over within her, a toxic potion that ate at her vitals. The guilt was too painful to deal with here. To the anger, however, she gave free rein.

  She sought out Montgomery, the source of her displeasure. This is all his fault! Her anger doubled when her gaze found him lounging against a column, grinning down at a pretty young woman with dark hair and flirtatious eyes.

  Like an animal scenting danger, Montgomery’s head lifted, and he met her gaze.

  By all rights, he should have been struck dead where he stood, incinerated on the spot. Instead, to her great dissatisfaction, he merely turned his attention back to the woman, eliciting a smile.

  Fingers of dread crept in to extinguish her anger, quickly replacing it with jealousy so intense it made her physically ill.

  She despised what he represented: the very weakness that had steered her mother wrong. And yet Sabrina’s hands begged to touch him. As if drawn by some devilish incantation, she took a step in his direction.

  His gaze flicked up once more, and her body heated at the unmistakable flare of desire in his eyes.

  Titters broke out among a group of young ladies standing nearby, and the spell was broken. Disgusted by her lack of self-control, she did the only thing she could under the circumstances and fled.

  Before she could reach the safety of the powder room, however, she caught sight of Fairford and hesitated. When had he arrived?

  He was turning about as though looking for someone. Then he spotted her and, to her surprise, came over at once. “I crave your pardon for my regretful behavior at the hunt, my lady. I’m afraid I was in a foul mood that morning. I was on a borrowed mount, you see, mine having stepped in a hole on the journey there. Still, one has no excuse for ill manners, and I feel I must apologize.”

  His smile was nice, or it would have been had it been genuine. His eyes were too cool, too assessing. This was a test. “I remember nothing untoward in your demeanor, my lord,” she lied prettily. “I found your company quite pleasant.”

  He extended an arm and smiled back. “Will you dance with me, Lady Sabrina?”

  Henry watched Sabrina flirt with Fairford and wondered who the hell had invited him. He looked to his father with suspicion, vowing to have a private word later.

  His hands began to ache, and he realized they were clenched into fists. Slowly, he released them to allow the blood back in.

  He stared at the couple, unable to help himself. Her act was flawless, her manner demure yet inviting. Fairford, to all appearances, seemed to be taken in by it.

  But Henry knew better. Not a week prior at White’s, he’d heard the man laughingly deny any interest in trying for her. If he’d changed his mind, there had to be a reason.

  He waited until Sabrina partnered with another gentleman and then approached Fairford. “I heard you tell Pendleton you weren’t interested in Sabrina Grayson.”

  Fairford continued to stare into the crowd. “Upon reflection, I thought it worthwhile to reconsider.”

  “I wouldn’t,” Henry said bluntly.

  “I believe the lady has made her feelings toward you quite clear,” replied Fairford.

  “Do you intend to pursue her hand?”

  The blond man shrugged. “I don’t see why I shouldn’t.”

  I can think of one very damned good reason…Henry held his tongue in check and focused on finding answers. “Why have you suddenly changed your mind? Have you begun to harbor a tendre for her?”

  The other man snorted. “Marriage is a business arrangement first and foremost. She is a wise investment, being from a decent family and having a substantial dowry. Marrying her will silence my father’s constant harping on the subject and provide me a measure of peace. The fact that she is attractive is merely a windfall.” His eyes, which had been full of avarice, now gleamed with lust. “One I shall certainly enjoy to the fullest extent possible—at least until my heir swells her belly.”

  Henry’s reaction was swift and angry. “You’ll never reach the end of the aisle.”

  After a tense moment, Fairford laughed. “You surprise me, Montgomery. I never thought you the sort to play the fool over a silly woman.” The smile vanished. “If I wish to attempt to win the lady’s hand, it is within my rights. Until she accepts someone’s offer, she is fair game. Don’t get in my way.” Without further conversation, he departed.

  Henry let him go unhindered. For now.

  About that time, he saw Percy. He went and stopped him. “Have you a moment?”

  “For you? Always.”

  Quickly, Henry ushered him into a salon.

  “This is about the redhead, isn’t it?” said Percy as soon as the door was shut. He grinned. “First she spurns you and Chadwick, and now she bats her eyes at Fairford; I must say I’m rather surprised he was invited, actually. I thought you didn’t like him much.”

  “I’m fairly certain he wasn’t invited, and I like him even less now. Every instinct tells me something isn’t right about him.”

  “Oh, come now. Are you certain this isn’t just a bit of jealousy on your part? You can’t fault the man for admiring the lady.”

  Henry glared at him. “I’ve no reason to be jealous. What do you know about him?” he asked, ignoring the dubious expression on the other man’s face.

  “Well, it’s common knowledge that he went to live in Paris after leaving university,” answered Percy. “He returned three years ago and took up with the Childers woman almost immediately…must’ve developed a taste for more than cognac brandy while across the channel.”

  “Why was he there to begin with, I wonder?” mused Henry.

  “Does a man need an excuse for Paris?” said Percy with humor that quickly sobered under Henry’s gaze. “I assumed that, like you, he must have been there on the Crown’s business.”

  “No.” Henry shook his head. “I have knowledge of the king’s objectives in France and the names of those who’ve been assigned there. Fairford has never served England in such a capacity. What of attachments?” he prompted, moving on. “He’s been here long enough to have formed friendships and alliances.”

  Percy shrugged. “Other than the Childers woman, his father, and a few country cousins—you remember young Thomas from university? Very decent fellow, that one—I don’t know of any. His father is very social, but from what I can tell his son isn’t the chummy sort. Though he’s been seen hanging about with Fenton of late, but that’s a new development.” He paused, his brows puckering. “I really know very little about him, which is rather curious, considering I know nearly everything about everyone.” He grinned and bounced on the balls of his feet. “I hear quite a lot of gossip. The ladies are ever so eager to inform.”

  “Let us stay focused, shall we?” Henry interjected before the man could begin elaborating on his favorite pastime. “It seems Fairford is adept at making acquaintances and just as skilled at preventing them from progressing beyond that point. He joined my circle for a bit, just long enough for everyone to know his name, but then he drifted on.” Until tonight…

  “He did the same with mine,” said Percy, frowning. “I didn’t think anything of it until now. I noted at the time that he wasn’t one for talk. Never initiated the conversation, always seemed more keen on listening, though he did contribute the occasional comment here and there.”

  “He’s trying to build standing without letting anyone get too close,” Henry muttered. “Can you recommend someone reliable and discreet to have an eye on him?”

  “That serious, is it?” said Percy, lifting a brow. “She must be a real Helen of Troy to have you launching an investigation on the man.”

  “This is more serious than that. While it is true that I wish to protect Sabrina, my duty to England comes first.” He knew Percy would
jump to conclusions and hated to deliberately mislead him, but he needed his help and didn’t wish to suffer constant interrogation about his personal affairs.

  “You suspect he is spying for the French?” whispered Percy, all traces of humor gone.

  Henry neither affirmed nor denied the supposition. “It might be nothing. I would have the guard watch him, but I do not wish to alarm the king or cast suspicion on the man without just cause. If evidence of subversion is found, I will have him arrested immediately.”

  “I know several good people,” said Percy. “Shall I have them contact you?”

  “As soon as possible.”

  “Done. Now, all of this intrigue is giving me a headache. If that is all, I should like to return to the festivities at once and attempt to drown it. Lady Boswell is leading a merry chase this evening, and I am in the fore.”

  They returned, and Henry resumed his vigil. Fairford, thankfully, seemed to have disappeared back beneath the rock from under which he’d crept.

  When the master of ceremonies announced the final dance of the evening, Henry’s eyes immediately sought out Sabrina.

  Striding up, he claimed her, ignoring the fact that she’d already accepted another gentleman’s arm. The young man gaped at the flagrant breach of etiquette, but wisely chose the better part of valor and let his host tow her away without further protest.

  Sabrina, however, was not so easily cowed. “How dare you?” she hissed, struggling to keep pace with his long stride.

  He ignored her efforts to free herself and tightened his grip.

  The moment they faced one another on the ballroom floor, their eyes locked in battle.

  “You cannot simply drag me off as if you’re some savage! You’ve no right to behave in such a—”

  “I saw you with Fairford.”

  “What of it?” she retorted. “Am I not allowed to dance with whom I please?”

  He bit his tongue, knowing she was deliberately trying to provoke him. “I don’t trust him,” he said as calmly as possible.