He choked back a laugh, “Are you…minding your steps?”
“Indeed! You see, I was only able to practice with Vern and Georgie as the waltz is relatively new here in the country and only recently sanctioned. So before tonight I haven’t honestly really done much practicing.”
“Well, I would not have known it. You are light and graceful. I would have thought you have been doing the waltz all season.”
Star smiled warmly at him and asked, “So then, are you beginning to enjoy country life, or are you missing London—or was it Brighton you just came from?”
“It was Brighton, though most of the time I am found in London and no, I do not miss either place, because yes, I find country life, country hours, country simplicity completely…refreshing,” he said softly.
She dimpled, “Indeed, I have always thought it was so, but it is not very exciting. I am sure, for someone used to the bustle of…”
“On the contrary,” he offered, cutting her off. “Country life is proving to be quite…intriguing. And you know, I find country manners most relaxing.” He looked at her intently for a long moment and added on a low, husky note, “As to excitement, I find myself…at the edge, in your company.”
Star felt her heart go thump in her chest. A smile quivered and she looked past his shoulder, if only to recoup. However, she saw Miles waving at her and giggled setting herself back at ease once more, and said. “You know sir… it wasn’t nice…what you did.”
“What did I do that wasn’t nice?”
“Cutting poor Miles off earlier. He is my brother’s dear friend and I am sure…”
Again he interrupted, “Not nice, but expedient.”
“Do you always do what is expedient regardless of whose toes are stepped on?”
“Certainly, as long as the toes are not mine,” he answered, giving her one of his most charming smiles.
“You should not,” she admonished, but amusement curved her lips none the less.
“So I have been told, but at least I am honest and if nothing else, entertaining,” he returned easily. They were outdoors before she knew it. He had without her realizing it guided her toward the fresh summer breeze at the open patio doors.
Star was immediately thankful as he led her outdoors and took in a long gulp to say, “Oh, but this is delightful. It was getting stuffy indoors.” She looked around at the brightly burning torches and the handsomely decorated garden furniture. Couples laughed as they strolled through the maze of evergreens and flower beds and Star sighed happily.
“Yes,” she said suddenly. “You are entertaining…and honest, I think. Am I right? Are you honest, sir?”
“I think I am, but,” he answered. “I am more interested in what you think.”
“Ah, so we shall allow, honest, entertaining…and what other qualities do you think you possess?”
“Should I enumerate? I don’t think so. Why don’t you tell me what very excellent qualities I possess,” he returned on a tease.
“Ah, so you think you have so many—too many to count?” She released a short laugh and shook her head. “Well, for one, and not an attractive one, I think you are a bit too puffed up in your own consequence. To be certain you have reason and I am sure London’s haute ton dotes on you, but it is not a good thing, is it?” His expression coaxed the tickle of a laugh and her laugh sugared the hard words.
His eyes met hers and he said low and seductively, “Then I must endeavor to improve myself for my lady.” He had already reached for and taken her gloved hand, but as he raised it to his bent head, he did not kiss the covered fingertips, but instead found and kissed her bare wrist.
Star felt a rush of sensation shoot through her veins. Had she a fan, it would have been working hard. She found she couldn’t speak, but as he continued in that low hoarse voice, “The moonlight becomes you, Miss Berkley. I am nearly overcome with…”
“Star,” she interrupted him. She was sure he was going to say something outrageous and she wasn’t ready. “You may call me Star. As far as the moonlight is concerned, I rather think it would become everyone.”
He laughed and still holding her gloved hand, walked with her down a stone path to a lovely set of evergreens and there he stopped her. Easily, gently and before she knew what he was about, he had her expertly in his strong embrace.
In truth, Star admitted to herself, she had been waiting for this moment. She knew what was going to happen the moment he took her outdoors. In her heart, she knew. In her head, she knew. If she listened to both, she also knew she wanted this to happen. She probably wasn’t ready, but that didn’t matter.
She wanted this.
His lips brushed hers lightly and beneath the gentle pressure she parted them as his mouth closed on hers.
All at once, what had started out as a light kiss upon the lips, grew into something quite out of control. Yearning for more filled her veins as her mind went blank and she gave herself over to desire.
His tongued tempted hers to meet and join his, as she found herself clinging to him, wanting that kiss to go on and on and never stop. She had never had a kiss like this. She had never known that her body could respond in this way.
However, the kiss did not go on, but abruptly stopped.
He yanked himself away and set her apart as though he had been burned. He stared at her with a look that said he couldn’t believe his eyes and he frowned darkly at her almost accusingly.
Star was surprised. She could not understand what was wrong. She had not expected this from him. In fact, she had expected more kissing, much more kissing. Her eyes were wide open with shock as she whispered, “Is that it?”
She saw that her question had nearly bowled him over.
It was obvious by the expressions that flitted across his countenance that he was torn between laughter and chagrin.
He opened his hazel eyes wide and she could see her question had him off tilt. He responded to her in astonished accents, “And what, then? Did you expect me to ravish you just outside our hostess’s ballroom?”
She nearly laughed, but bit her bottom lip and answered, “Don’t be hipped, sir. I only meant that if you were going to bother stealing a kiss, you should not then set the lady adrift, should you?”
He did not have the opportunity to respond to this however, for at that moment a commotion of some size took place in the ballroom and the noise that ensued made its way outdoors.
Chapter Eleven
VERN HAD WAITED only long enough for his sister and Georgie to leave the house before he took the laudanum potion Star had left him.
He drifted off, but was not yet in a deep sleep when he heard the sound of heavy footsteps just outside his door.
He frowned as he roused himself and began to sit up. His door opened wide and Vern reached for and found the gun he kept under his right side pillow. He placed it in his lap beneath the quilt, cocked and ready.
The candle on his nightstand was low, nearly spluttering off. He waited a long time, for the footsteps had stopped, he thought just outside his door.
He made a decision and carefully, quietly and in his nightshirt, made his way across the room to the hall door. He planted himself against the wall and waited. When the door opened, he was certain it would partially obscure his presence.
He had done this just in time, for his door did indeed open slowly, and Vern got a good look at the intruder. Hell and Fire, here was trouble!
A large dark ominous shape filled the doorway.
Vern watched as the brute of a man surveyed the empty bed and Vern stepped forward, choosing to take him immediately by surprise.
“Farley!” Vern growled as he stood his ground, his gun steady in his hand and aimed at the man’s back. “Hands up, turn slowly and tell me what in hell do you want here and how dare you come into my home uninvited!”
Farley was taken aback as he slowly raised his hands and cautiously turned around but he grinned a toothless grin. “Aw, now young lord…” he started to drop his h
ands, but Vern motioned with his gun and said, “Oh no, up, keep those hands of yours up, where I can see them.”
“Aw now flash, Oi waited fer yer sis to be off, now didn’t Oi?” Farley said his hands high. “All Oi want is a bit of conversation.”
“Put both your hands on your head. That’s right…just like that. Now tell me why I shouldn’t shoot you as an intruder and be done with you.” It occurred to Vern that was what he should do. Kill the scoundrel. No one would blame him for killing a thief who had broken into his home. However, cold-blooded murder of even such as this one went against the grain and he found himself reluctant to do it.
“Ye don’t want to do anything that will get ye or yers killed, that’s why. And m’lads, they would be vengeful, they would.”
Vern was fairly certain that Farley’s men worked with him because it was expedient. None of them felt any loyalty to the man and he knew it. He said on a low note full with the promise of a threat, “Get out of my house, you blackguard, now!” He felt sick to think he was the one that had brought this evil into his home. What a complete and utter fool he had been.
“So Oi will, when ye give over whot Oi wants to know.”
“It’s finished Farley. I have nothing left to tell you.”
“But flash, Oi ain’t ready to put an end to our partnership. It’s been a good thing fer me and the lads.” He eyed Vern. “And it’s been good fer ye as well.” He stood and pointed a finger. “Oi hear there is a ball tonight…right? Yer sister is there, at that ball.”
“What the bloody hell does that mean?” Vern felt his insides, shaken with certain fear. Farley was getting careless. Greed would get him caught and if he was caught, Vern had no doubt he would be pulled in.
“All the smarts and their pretties will be there, dressed…banged up to the nines, Oi’d wager and sporting their sparklers for all the world to see, eh?”
“Rot in hell, Farley!” Vern growled.
“Methinks Oi might, but before Oi do Oi mean to enjoy meself right here on earth, what say ye’ to that?” Farley’s grin displayed his distorted lips and his missing teeth.
Vern stepped forward, his eyes full with the dislike and fury he felt, “You’ll not go near that ball tonight. I’ve counted you many things Farley, but I have never thought you a fool. Are you…a fool?”
“A fool, is it? How can ye say that, flash?” Farley had stepped backward, bumped into a wall cabinet and leaned back against it as he crossed his arms. “Oi don’t think ye be clear on this. Me men know jest whot to do at sech a bang up affair and whot hour to do it in.”
“You’ll be dead, because now I don’t have a choice and your men will be surrounded before you can get out of the place. Some of the swells, as you call them, know how to shoot and their firearms are never far.”
“Is that so, flash?” Farley shook his head. “Oi don’t think so. Whot Oi think is that ye don’t want yer name dragged into this. Ye have naught to fear on that stand, fer as long as ye be helping me, Oi won’t bring ye into it.”
Vern’s face fell. He was in trouble. He didn’t care about scandal for himself, but it would ruin his sister’s chances of ever making a match of it and having a decent life.
Farley saw that he had made a hit and continued, “Aye, that’s right. By midnight everyone will be well into their cups, servants too and those servants with the barking irons, well… we’ll ‘ave them neatly trussed up and hidden away before we make our move. We’ll be in and out. No one knowing who we are or where we came from and with any good luck, we won’t have to kill any of the swells you speak of.” Farley’s leer was pronounced.
“Then know this,” Vern said refusing to back down. “If you go within a mile of the ball tonight, I’ll see to it that you never do anything of the kind ever again! For I won’t rest until you are dead! Don’t think…a swell is above killing his man. You are out of your element Farley.”
Farley laughed harshly, “Aye, lad, pluck to the backbone ye are, but a killer?” he shook his head. “Oi don’t think so. But we’ll see. It’ll take more than ye and yers to stop me from laying out me kens and twigging me rigs. It will take more than a pup to take down ‘ole Farley.” He moved away now toward the hall door and tossed one final remark over his shoulder. “Oi came ‘ere Oi did to see if ye had any information that might help us get in easy so that no one need get hurt. Oi see ye don’t mean to cooperate with yer old friend. So be it.” He looked at Vern thoughtfully and added, “If ye are so hell-bent against me going to this fine ball…then give me whot Oi want and have done. Tell me where next Oi’ll be finding a place to twig.”
“Do you think I am the sort of man that will cower to your blackmail?” Vern was in a rage. “Get out of here and Farley, remember my warning. I did not issue it lightly.”
Farley looked surprised, and said, “Oi didn’t think ye had it in ye to stand up against me, flash. Oi was hoping ye would give me whot Oi want and Oi would leave yer fancy friends to their ball. Oi’m sorry ye don’t see fit to do the smart thing. Brave lads, often die heroes, but they die…” Farley bowed and made his exit.
Vern stood for a long moment filled with indecision and a certain dread. His sister was at the ball with Georgie. If Farley did indeed decide to do what he said, she could be in danger. Even if she wasn’t in danger, he might get a good look at her and recognize her as the lad she had pretended to be. “Damnation!” he cursed out loud. There was no telling what the devil thief would do. There was no telling how many innocent people might be hurt. He had to get dressed. He had to get to Sefton House and warn them…
Chapter Twelve
STAR’S EYES FLASHED with surprise. People were all whispering and gathering together and all she could see was her brother in a state of disarray.
She looked with uncertainty to Sir Edward as he put a protective hand to her back and led her toward the ballroom doors. She couldn’t believe her ears when she first heard her brother call out for the gentlemen to arm themselves.
She watched as Miles rushed across the floor and put a supportive arm around his friend. She couldn’t hear what Miles was saying to Vern, but she imagined it was exactly what she was thinking, which was…what the deuce was going on?
Star looked up at Sir Edward again and said, “I must go to him…”
“Of course,” he said and took her elbow. “Easy my sweet, be easy.” He hovered over her as he led her to her brother. She felt as though her heart was going to burst from her chest and bleed.
Finally, she was able to reach out and grab hold of her brother’s arm and asked fretfully, “Vern, what is it? Why are you here? What has happened?”
She was aware, all too aware that a crowd had gathered and was closing in around them. She could feel their eyes darting between her face and that of her brother’s. Miles shot her a warning glance and said to Vern, “There, there ‘ole boy, let’s get you into another room. Here is your sister, safe and sound, so you have nothing to worry about.” He turned to the crowd and announced, “We have it under control…go back to your dancing.”
Vern reached out and took his sister’s hands. “All my fault…have to warn Sefton, sis. We have to arm the servants…be ready…we have to be ready. They will strike late into the night.”
“Hush, Vern, it is the laudanum. You are having a bad reaction to the medicine, nothing more.” Star also attempted to give the people closing in around them this as an answer to satisfy their curiosity.
Vern tried to break away from Miles and a slight struggle ensued between the two, but Miles was easily able to control his weakened friend. He held him upright and tightly, and tried to lead the struggling man away from the ballroom.
Star bit her lip and found herself leaning into Sir Edward. She could see that her brother was frantic. What was it all about? Was it Farley? He had been about to say something that would ruin them all…but why?
Sir Edward suddenly took charge.
In his quiet and authoritive manner Edward said, “Come along
, young lord. We will go into Sefton’s study where we can discuss this matter without worrying the ladies, or the assembled company.”
Her brother seemed to relax under Edward’s guidance and gave up the struggle as Miles helped him along. Star turned once as she followed her brother and saw that Jules had taken Georgie’s hand and pulled her away from the scene. He smiled at the crowd and made a jest with some of the ones closest to the scene.
Star breathed a sigh of relief as she heard Jules tell them that Vern was suffering from the quinsy and that the doctor had prescribed laudanum. He suggested to the crowd that the poor young lord had suffered a bad reaction. This started everyone talking about their various experiences with both the quinsy and laudanum.
Star breathed a thankful sigh of relief as Edward with his arm tightly around her shoulders led her away.
They arrived in the study, where Miles saw Vern seated before closing the door. Vern stared up at Sir Edward and mumbled, “Thank you…not thinking clearly…laudanum…but had to come.”
“Of course you did,” Sir Edward said grimly and he and Miles exchanged a glance of concern.
Star was aware that a considerable stir had been left at their backs and once again without realizing it she looked at Sir Edward. He touched her cheek and said, “You can rest easy. Jules will have everyone talking in circles before long. Do not concern yourself. He is a master at socializing and will have everyone laughing about nothing in particular before very long.” He took her gloved hand to his lips and whispered encouragingly, “Stay close to me and I promise, all will be well.”
Though still anxious, she felt somehow safe. She felt as though Sir Edward would set everything right. She smiled gratefully at him for he was quite right. She had seen Jules in action and she was certain he would do just as Edward said.
“Now my lord, would you tell us what the problem is? What brought you here like this?” Sir Edward asked gently.
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