Miss Taygete’s Sweet Sister’s Society

by Charlotte Stone

  He waited for a rebuttal, for her to claim otherwise, but instead she said something else.

  “I’ll see you at dinner.”

  He took a step toward her. “I thought we might talk alone… about the men you think would best fit your sisters. I have a few thoughts based on what I’ve learned today but need your… assessment.”

  She straightened at that last word and he watched her fight against a grin. She prevailed and said, “All right.”

  He showed her back down the stairs and into the common room.

  The noise was not as loud as it would get as the night went on. Hugh checked the private dining room he’d reserved for the family and saw it not only empty but prepared with everything they would need but the food. The table had been set for four on one side of the room, but Hugh led Taygete to the chairs that sat by the window with a small table between them with a single lamp as its only offering.

  The window revealed the full moon, though stars were harder to see.

  He looked over at Taygete. She was staring out into the night, and he found himself marveling at her beauty. She’d changed after her arrival, prepared for dinner. She wore a simple pale green dress with a high collar that showed off her small waist and well-endowed chest.

  She’d always eaten more than the others, though she hid it well. Still, like everything about her, he’d noticed.

  Her eyes came to him and she said, “Let’s discuss Electra. What men do you propose? What are they like?”

  He began to talk about the few men he knew who were actively looking for wives, men from large families of their own. “I don’t frequent Society often, but those are the ones I’ve come across after giving assistance in some manner.”

  “What manner?” She leaned back in her chair as if preparing for a long story.

  He didn’t understand her sudden interest in him but didn’t question it either. He did, however, wish he had brandy for the conversation or at least something to do with his hands. He gripped the chair’s arms instead. “I’ve been known to find things.”

  She lifted a brow. “What sort of things?”

  He shrugged. “Missing things. People know I’m good at it. I’ve always been good at it.”

  She narrowed her eyes in consideration. “That’s an excellent talent. Tell me something you’ve found.”

  “I was at a party with my parents when our hostess’ Etruscan pendant necklace went missing right off her neck. The necklace had been given to her from her grandmother and was said to be priceless.”

  He saw interest strike her eyes. “Did you see who stole it?”

  He shook his head and smiled. “But after more than one person voiced suspicion on the staff, I immediately began to drink heavily, or at least that’s what I allowed everyone to think.”

  She leaned forward. “Why?”

  “So that no one would question why I’d suddenly become so clumsy and started bumping into people.”

  She straightened. “You were picking pockets?”

  He shook his head and chuckled, wondering if Taygete was aware of how animated she became during a tale. He wondered how often it had happened when sailors told their stories to her in the hospital. Surely, every male there had fallen for her. “I’m afraid I’ve never had a talent for picking pockets. My brother, on the other hand, is very skilled at it.”

  She smiled. “I’m not surprised. I haven’t seen Lord Raymond in years, but I imagine he’s only grown cleverer.” They’d only met a few times during the week of Hugh and Maia’s wedding, but Ray had a way of leaving an impression.

  “You’d be right. Ray is too clever for his own good.” And he used that cleverness while he assisted in the gaming rooms of Francis’ club.

  “Finish the story,” she said encouragingly. “Why did you bump into people if not to pick their pockets?”

  “There’s a way people react when they believe their pocket has been picked and the guilty party was easy to find. He paled after I bumped into him and then when he reached into his pocket, there was pure relief. I knew it to be him and called him out.”

  She smiled. “I didn’t know you were so clever.”

  “I was sixteen at the time. I assure you my methods have changed.”

  She tilted her head slightly, and he was blessed with her smile. “So, you’ve helped others since?”

  “The party’s guest list had not been extensive, but there were a few gossips in the crowd. Word got around and I gained a reputation.”

  “For finding things,” she finished.

  “Yes.”

  “And people?”

  Maia came to mind, and he gave a solemn nod.

  She covered his gloved hand with her own. “You do know we never blamed you for Maia’s death, don’t you?”

  He looked at their hands. “I know. I knew it at the funeral. Your mother placed a hand on me in comfort, and I knew then.”

  She smiled and took her hand back slowly. “You’re an expert on finding things but claim not to have found another wife.” It wasn’t a question, but she stared at him as though waiting for an answer.

  “I believe I said I wasn’t looking.”

  “But if you did, what do you think you’d find? What is it that you want in a wife?”

  He held her eyes as his heart raced. He clamped his jaw together and refused to speak, knowing that to do so would embarrass them both, or at least himself.

  Her gaze had been strong when she’d asked her double-edged question, but they began to waver under his own and she slowly blinked away. She started to speak but then pressed her lips together.

  Then she spoke. “Perhaps she’d be young and beautiful. That’s what every man wants.”

  “Not too young,” he said on the heel of her words. “I’d rather have a woman I could have in-depth conversations with.”

  She looked at him and whispered, “Dark hair, like your own.”

  He leaned forward, placing his elbows on his knees. “I like blondes. The fairer the better, but you already know I prefer that.”

  She blushed and looked down. “She’d have a common name at least.”

  “So that she and every other woman in the room would turn around when I called? No, I’d prefer something as unique as her.”

  “Silly,” she countered.

  “Rare.”

  She met his eyes again. “Strange.”

  “Unparalleled.”

  She laughed. “The stupidest name in existence.”

  “Exceptional,” he said with feeling and then took her hands.

  She stilled and visibly swallowed.

  He leaned closer. “Taygete.”

  The door opened, and he stood as a footman came in. The rest of the Bellenger family followed only a few seconds later.

  “Oh, good, you’re here,” Mary said. “I was growing worried when Taygete wasn’t in her room, but I know she’s safe with you, my lord. Now, we can eat.” She moved to the table without another look in their direction, and Hugh noticed neither Electra nor Alcyone said a word either.

  He was unsure of how to react. If this had been any other family, Taygete would be considered compromised.

  But perhaps that was impossible because of the law. He was her brother and unless they were doing something overtly sensual, no one would say a word.

  Taygete walked over to the table and allowed the footman to pull back her chair before she spoke to anyone there. She was calm, and Hugh decided he would be the same.

  He took his seat and dinner passed without incident… except for the fact that Alcyone asked to go outside to look for spirits since it was a full moon. Her mother said no and that was that.

  Taygete didn’t look at him, which did not surprise him. Still, Hugh could not help but relax with the women and looked forward to the days to come.

  * * *

  .

  .

  .

  * * *

  * * *

  .

  .

  .


  CHAPTER EIGHT

  .

  Taygete avoided Hugh for the remainder of the trip, clinging to her side of the carriage and even to her room at the next inn when they were not all at dinner. At one desperate moment, she’d asked Alcyone for a book and admitted to finding Vathek by Ann Radcliffe as thrilling as it was terrifying.

  Still, it was slightly tamer then the books Taygete had started reading over the last few years.

  A sailor had left a book behind one evening, and Taygete had found herself immediately engrossed in the most wicked book she was sure had ever been written. Philosophy in the Boudoir by Marquis de Sade. Taygete had not finished the work, finding it too dark, yet still the sexual nature of the writing had caught her attention. She'd later found herself reading verses by John Wilmot. His poems about the happenings between men and women behind closed doors had led Taygete to have urges of her own.

  But such books could never be read in company, so she took one of Alcyone’s.

  It took Taygete a day and a half to finish it. When they finally arrived in London, she’d nearly jumped out of her skin when Alcyone touched her knee.

  “We’re here,” her sister said with a knowing expression. She then slipped from the carriage and Taygete followed her.

  She was surprised to find all she’d missed while the carriage had rumbled through the busy streets, but now she could see it.

  She looked around in the dark and was surprised by the number of carriages that occupied the road. The street was bustling as though it were day, and her eyes caught the men and women who were shown into the homes around Hugh’s.

  He lived on a popular road, and if the fine gowns and well-crafted suits were any indication, it was a street where the wealthy lived.

  She smelled horse and the lingering scents of perfumes and colognes. The air was warm as well and seemed almost alive. She could sense the fascination with the city she’d never visited.

  “Miss,” a footman said to gain her attention, and she allowed him to escort her inside.

  The townhouse was lovely. She found the papered walls and wooden floors to her liking and wondered how much of it had been her sister’s touch.

  They’d not visited that first year Maia and the marquess had been married. Mary had thought it best to give the couple time to form a strong attachment with little distraction. Though it had pained the sisters, they’d agreed.

  Then, when Maia had found herself with child, she’d returned home and had the baby in Southampton, only to return again to London without them at Mary’s insistence that Hugh and Maia should be alone with little Artemis. When Maia had been heading back, Taygete had been glad, wanting to see her niece again and to speak to her sister, but Maia had never made it. Instead of Maia, it had been Hugh who’d arrived to deliver the message that Maia and Artemis were gone.

  Taygete had been devastated, but she’d never blamed Hugh once for not traveling with her sister. He couldn’t have saved a tipping carriage. No man was that strong.

  They were shown up the first flight of stairs and Taygete realized there were four floors. She and Alcyone were to share a room on the second floor across from Electra, while Mary had been given a room on the same floor as the marquess.

  “It’s yellow,” Alcyone said as she walked into the room.

  Taygete hid a smile and was glad the hue was not as bright as the guest room had been at her mother’s house. This yellow was softer and made the room feel larger than it was. There were two beds, a fireplace, two chairs with a table and a bay window.

  The setting by the window reminded her of her time with Hugh prior to dinner the evening past.

  They’d flirted, but for some reason, Taygete had managed not to fall apart under the knowledge of their obvious attraction. Since they knew it would lead nowhere, she’d allowed the teasing. But knowing she set herself up for pain when she finally found him another wife, she’d decided the teasing would end.

  Still, the attraction had been acknowledged and there was no going back from that.

  Alcyone sat on the bed closest to the window and smiled at her. “What did you think of the book?”

  “Horrifying,” Taygete put down the book, took off her gloves, and placed them on the nightstand.

  She’d barely gotten the word out before Electra came charging in. “We’re in London!” She threw her arms around Taygete before doing the same to Alcyone and then sat down next to her.

  Taygete and Alcyone smiled.

  Electra turned to Taygete. “I know you only came to get away from Commander Nicholson, but I’m glad you’re here.”

  Taygete moved to the other side of her bed and sat down facing them. “I’m glad I could come as well to help you find the perfect suitors.”

  Alcyone looked around and said, “Hugh and Maia had a lovely home.” Hugh had instructed everyone at that first dinner to call him Hugh.

  Taygete nodded, her stomach in knots. “I’m sure they were happy.” She hoped they had been. She always closed her eyes and imagined her sister smiling.

  Alcyone stood and went to the window. “I’m excited to explore the city. I wish to visit the bookshop.”

  “We will all see the city together,” Taygete said. “And it’s best that we remember this is not Southampton with soldiers at every corner.”

  Electra laughed and said, “Taygete, be calm. You often make me forget that I’m the eldest.”

  Taygete’s cheeks turned pink. She often forgot as well, but everything she said was always said with love.

  Still, she knew that she held back more words than she wished to at times, remembering that they were her sisters and not two soldiers in her care. They were women. Gentle. More importantly, Taygete didn’t want to push them away.

  Electra walked over to her and took her hand. “We’ll be fine, and we’re to meet his friends tomorrow, who I’m sure will know everything there is to know about London life.”

  Alcyone asked, “What do you think they’re like?”

  “I’ve no idea, but you both should make a good impression. The women will be able to help you navigate the Season.” And Taygete was hoping they could also give her more insight into the marquess.

  * * *

  .

  .

  .

  * * *

  * * *

  .

  .

  .

  CHAPTER NINE

  .

  Taygete stepped back out of Lorena’s arms and tried to hold her smile in place as the other women moved in to hug her as well. The first had been unsettling, but Taygete slowly eased into them, and her smile became genuine in the face of such pleasantness.

  These women were not the sort she’d been prepared to meet. She’d read much about the men and women of Society and a welcoming spirit had not been a trait perceived in them.

  A short, red-haired woman with beautiful green eyes who’d been introduced as Lady Genevieve Cullip— but who insisted she be called ‘Genie’— smiled brightly at the Bellenger sisters. “It’s so good to finally meet Hugh’s family.” She looked ready to bounce with excitement just as Taygete often saw Electra do.

  As if knowing her thoughts, her sister said, “Hugh never said his friends were so gorgeous.”

  The other women laughed and every bit of tension Taygete had gathered before she’d stepped a foot over Lorena’s threshold vanished.

  The warm air amongst the women present didn’t seem to leave room for unease.

  Genie immediately grabbed Electra’s arm and the two walked toward the sitting room as they admired one another’s dresses. Just as Taygete had surmised, Electra made friends without putting any thought into it.

  She looked over and watched Alcyone glance around the room with a soft smile on her lips. Alcyone didn’t have many friends, but that was because she enjoyed being alone unless it was with her sisters, who often allowed her to get into some measure of trouble… so long as the trouble wasn’t life-threatening.

  Hugh spoke from
behind her, startling her. “I’ve a meeting to attend, but I’ll return in an hour.”

  She turned and stared up at him, her heart racing at his proximity… and the warmth in his midnight eyes. “We should be fine.”

  “Yes.” Lorena stepped forward, staring at Hugh. “Now leave us.” She waved a hand as if to shoo him away.

  Taygete’s lips parted at the gesture. The beautiful blonde woman with kind blue eyes may have been married to an earl, but even Taygete knew she was breaking more than a few social codes.

  But all Hugh did was narrow his eyes. “Is it too much to ask that you not take my family on any adventures? Will you be here when I return?”

  “I make no promises, my lord.” Lorena kept smiling.

  Hugh shook his head, and Taygete closed her mouth. The teasing between them was so natural that Taygete almost envied Lorena’s easiness around him. But then another feeling overrode her ease.

  Gratitude.

  Hugh was not alone. He had real friends and that made her heart glad.

  His eyes returned to her and confusion flickered in them. “I trust you to be the sensible one.”

  “Sensible, is she?” This comment came from Lady Sophia Kidd, a tall curvy woman with raven black hair and eyes a darker green than Genie’s. “We’ll be sure to rid her of that before you return.”

  Oh, dear. Taygete didn’t know whether she should run or not.

  Hugh rolled his eyes, gave Taygete a parting look, and settled his hat back on his head before leaving.

  “Come.” Sophia started for the sitting room. “There is much we must do if we’re to prepare you for the Season.”

  Taygete spoke as she followed. “Oh, but I—”

  Lorena cut her off. “Though we’re not entirely sure what to teach you. There are so many lessons that I abhor.”

  “Yes,” Sophia agreed. The two went toward a couch that was already occupied by two other women.