Secret Pleasures

by Cheryl Howe

  “Was that necessary?” Ivy said as soon as they disappeared. “She’s actually a sweet girl. We cannot blame her for these circumstances.”

  Lily watched from the corner and waved them over in a very unsubtle swish of her fan. She bowed to her companions and marched to an empty table arranged for chess.

  “You’ve done it now, and we’ve yet to sit for dinner.” Ivy took his arm and they strolled to Lily, nodding to disapproving strangers who turned their faces away at their efforts.

  “I wanted to ask her if she intended to tuck me in at night, but I refrained.”

  “If that is the case, I applaud your restraint.” Ivy genuinely grinned at him for the first time all night.

  “At least you look the part of an heir to an earldom.” Lily flicked her fan open like a bull tamer unfurling a whip and fanned herself rapidly. “Thank you for dressing appropriately, Darien. And Ivy, you are lovely as usual.”

  Darien spotted Maddox glaring at them but he turned away the moment they made eye contact. Mrs. Maddox settled Arianna on the piano’s bench. After a few disjointed notes the hackles on Darien’s neck rose like porcupine quills.

  “Where is Westhaven?” Darien demanded. “Dinner is never served past eight. Eating late gives him indigestion.”

  “He’s been retired all day. This is not easy for him, Darien.” Lily squeezed her fan shut. She wore an emerald gown that showed her to be as trim as she was in her teens. The permanent frown around her eyes and mouth as she scanned the room showed that indeed the years had been difficult. This evening appeared to be no exception.

  The door opened, and gratefully, Arianna broke off from abusing the piano’s ivory keys.

  Doctor Shipley slipped into the room and headed directly for Henry Maddox. They conferred briefly and Maddox’s scowl deepened. Darien straightened, his interest piqued for the first time this evening.

  Maddox turned to address the small gathering. “Lord Westhaven regrets he will not be joining us for dinner this evening, but hopes we enjoy the fine meal he has had prepared for our arrival.”

  Lily slumped into an empty chair. Her husband brought her a sherry and she downed it.

  “You predicted that, Lil.” Major Fitzgerald gripped his wife’s shoulder.

  “What’s wrong with Westhaven?” Darien said suspiciously.

  “He’s not been well. I’ve told you that, Darien. You do not have forever to bury your grievances.” Lily smiled as couples passed and blatantly stared at their intimate conversation.

  “Then why the bloody hell is he marrying a girl close to the age of his eldest granddaughter.” Darien did not shout though his voice seemed to boom over the other guests hushed voices.

  “He needs an heir since you have refused to provide one,” Lily said fiercely, but in a drastically lowered voice. “Until recently, you made it quite clear that you would not marry, or provide a son to continue the Blackmore line. If the estate passes to the crown, everything will be lost.”

  “And good riddance, I say.” Major Fitzgerald spared his wife one long glance, then found his daughter to guide her into the dining room.

  Lily did not glance in her husband’s direction, just rubbed her forehead.

  Darien folded his arms over his chest, but did not defend himself. He was not a useless relic just yet, but neither could he claim that he and Ivy truly intended to settle down to create a dynasty.

  “Ah, but then we have your boy, Robert Fitzgerald.” Darien did not intend to let his sister justify his father’s heavy-handed actions. “Don’t think I don’t know Westhaven has already petitioned the House of Lords to make your son his heir.”

  “Perhaps we should be seated, Darien. You two can discuss this later.” Ivy touched his arm and he flinched, not realizing how long he’d been waiting to confront his sister.

  “Henry Maddox has held up the petition. Too many old family lines are getting muddled. Not to mention that the crown needs funds. The war in America put a strain on all our fortunes.”

  Darien blinked, but saw the truth in the deep lines around his sister’s eyes. He did not want the land his family had held for centuries to fall into the hands of the crown, perhaps be sold off to strangers. His mother and brother were buried on these grounds. And as painful as it was, Darien did not want to lose the ghosts that roamed these halls. His mother had taught him how to play on the very piano recently defamed by Arianna Maddox.

  “This is just a ploy by the old man to scare me.” Darien narrowed his gaze on his sister. “He’s probably upstairs with a fat cigar, a bottle of brandy and a naked woman.”

  “You know our father never brought another woman under this roof and he never will.” Lily stood and turned toward the dining room, unescorted and undeterred.

  “And what do you call Arianna Maddox?” he called to her retreating form.

  “Desperation.” His sister stopped and turned to face him. “Shall we adjourn to dinner? The other guests are waiting.”

  “Yes, let’s.” Darien managed to escort both his sister and Ivy into the dining room, skirting past three elderly couples compressed in the doorway. White linen place cards, names written in careful script, perched atop every glistening china setting running down the long table. Darien dropped his sister off with her husband and sprinted to change the seating to his liking, jostling one older gentleman from his seat. Ivy followed, slowed by her tight-fitting dress and long train.

  Dr. Shipley and Maddox strolled into the room both still in serious conversation. When Shipley discovered he was sitting next to Darien, he frowned.

  “Darien, I hope you are not going to trouble me with a dozen different questions.” The good doctor shook out his napkin and took his seat. “I’m famished and am in no mood for foolish speculation.”

  “Do you have any different answers to give, Dr. Shipley?” Darien asked as friendly as possible.

  “No, I do not.” The doctor waved over a servant carrying in a tureen and the first course.

  “Then I must ask different questions. How is my father? It’s not like him to miss a meal. Perhaps he has heard his betrothed abuse the pianoforte?”

  Ivy stomped on his toe and hissed, “She might hear you,” even though Arianna had been seated on the opposite side of the long table.

  “You father is perfectly fine,” Shipley said in-between slurping squash soup wafting of nutmeg. “His old knee injury pains him a bit. I bled the swelling and he should be fine for the hunt tomorrow.”

  “There is to be a hunt?” Darien laid down his fork. He had studied every detail of Mrs. Maddox’s schedule from afternoon teas, morning bird watching and what was sure to be a rendition of Vivaldi that would burn his ears.

  “Mr. Maddox,” Darien called down to the other end of the table, only now realizing the incessant interloper was feasting in the earl’s chair. Though that should be Darien’s seat in his father’s absence, he never felt the urge to claim it until now. Darien stood abruptly and the room silenced. “I hear there is to be a hunt tomorrow. The time must have been inadvertently left off my schedule.”

  “It’s a private affair,” Maddox said flatly. He gripped his knife in a way that hinted he’d like to drag it across Darien’s neck. He turned to an elderly gentleman on his left that Darien realized was the duke of the neighboring county. A powerful man to be sure.

  “Certainly not so private that the earl’s only son may not attend,” said Mrs. Maddox charmingly, despite Darien’s earlier obnoxious behavior. The lady even smiled in his direction.

  “You don’t hunt, Darien,” Lily said from across the table. Her words were heavy with warning.

  “But I’m awfully handy with a gun.” Darien patted Shipley’s shoulder, causing him to spill soup on his lace neckcloth. “And how convenient that we have the good doctor in residence.”

  “I shan’t be joining you tomorrow.” The doctor soaked up the orange splatter with his napkin.

  “Oh, but you are certainly staying the night. You never know when ther
e might be an accident.”

  Doctor Shipley, who had delivered Darien and signed Philip’s death certificate, waved to a servant to remove his soup bowl. He ignored Darien to the best of his abilities.

  Darien raised his glass to the only other man who had been confirmed to be at the last hunting party the Blackmore family had hosted.

  “You shall be joining the hunt, will you not, Henry?”

  Maddox toasted Darien in return, appearing to relish the confrontation.

  “I would not miss it for the world, Lord Blackmore.”

  To that end, I am willing to give up everything,

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  Arianna laid down her final card, the Jack of Spades, to win another pot.

  “My word, dear, but you are an excellent cribbage player.” Lily Fitzgerald examined Arianna as if she hadn’t really noticed her before. “You must play often.”

  “Actually, not very often at all.” Arianna pushed the pile of chips in the direction of Mrs. Fitzgerald. “I just enjoy the strategy of it all. I didn’t intend to take all of your markers, Mrs. Fitzgerald. Shall we play another hand? I am sure my luck has run out.”

  “Luck?” Ivy discarded her own hand and gathered the cards to reshuffle. Though she’d played more rounds of cards in more gambling establishments than she cared to name, Ivy could hardly hold her own with this wisp of a girl. Ivy had not won a single hand the entire evening. “I think it is more of a keen mind you are hiding behind that innocent exterior.”

  “Arianna has always been quick with games. She can be such a ninny when it comes to other things, however.” Mrs. Maddox glanced sharply at Arianna. “I am sure she won’t win again, Lady Lilian.”

  Arianna dropped her gaze. “My mother is right. I won’t win again.”

  “I won’t hear of that, dear girl.” Lily pushed the pile of markers back to Arianna. “You’ll need these. That table over there is playing partners. You shall be mine. I shall be right back after I pinch some of my husband’s chips.”

  Ivy laid down the cards and turned to watch Darien at the piano. He missed a note here and there but the concerto filled the room, sweeping Ivy pleasantly away to a nostalgic place she dared not wander. Ivy turned back to Arianna and Mrs. Maddox, wishing she could stay angry with Darien longer than a few hours. Then she saw Arianna’s eyes widen as she stood abruptly.

  In nearly the same instant, the music also stopped. Ivy turned just in time to see Darien get up from the piano and greet Robert Fitzgerald, who had apparently just arrived.

  “I did not know he was coming.” Mrs. Maddox gripped her daughter’s hand and urged her to sit down. Her gaze darted to Ivy. “A shame the music has ended. I had no idea Lord Blackmore was so talented.”

  “You should hear him play the violin. His mother was quite gifted herself and recognized Darien’s talent at an early age.” Ivy noted that Darien seemed happy and refreshed after playing his mother’s piano.

  “You are quite fond of him, aren’t you?” Mrs. Maddox’s voice held an unexpected note of sadness.

  “He amuses me at the moment.” Ivy shrugged, though she knew she was not fooling anyone, not even herself.

  Mrs. Maddox studied Darien in a way that garnered Ivy’s raised eyebrow. “I can certainly see why.”

  Robert Fitzgerald glanced in their direction and turned away without so much as an acknowledgement. He and Darien found their way to a side table lined with after dinner liqueur. Darien had been well behaved after the announcement of the hunt over dinner, and he and Maddox had mercifully avoided each other.

  “Come along, Arianna. Your great-aunt Martha came all the way down from the Midlands to wish you well, and you have hardly spoken to her.

  Ivy followed Arianna’s gaze to the pinched-faced elderly woman in the corner who blatantly glared at Ivy and her very crimson dress.

  “She smells of cod liver oil and has nothing pleasant to say.” Arianna’s gaze returned to Robert. Lily had joined her brother and son at the buffet table. Robert laughed and Arianna’s frown deepened. “Miss Templeton is so much more amusing.”

  “Miss Templeton is welcome to join us.” Mrs. Maddox’s genuine sincerity momentarily startled Ivy. “I would not dream of leaving Ivy to sit alone. Come dear, I shall make the introductions.”

  “Oh, you are too kind, Mrs. Maddox, but your poor aunt would likely keel over if I dared to address her. I am lucky to be in the same room with such proper and respectable folk.” Ivy smiled and winked at Mrs. Maddox. “Do not worry about leaving me on my own. I’m quite used to making a spectacle of myself.”

  Mrs. Maddox stood, glanced nervously at the matron who watched them with undisguised contempt. “I understand, Miss Templeton, though I hope you know I do not share those views. Women sometime do not have the luxury to choose the life that they would. Is that not right, Arianna?”

  “Aunt Martha is looking quite unhappy, Mama,” Arianna said, though she could be describing herself. “I think she needs another sherry. I shall stay here and keep Miss Templeton company. Though she claims otherwise, it would be unpardonably rude to desert her.”

  “Very well. I shall return shortly.” Her mother stood and rushed over to the elder woman.

  Immediately, Arianna moved her chair closer to Ivy’s. She grabbed her hand and held it under the table.

  “I have been hoping to speak to you alone for some time, Miss Templeton.”

  Ivy withdrew her hand and sat back. “You may call me Ivy if you promise to sit properly in your chair and to appear as if we are speaking of nothing but the weather.”

  Arianna nodded. She cast a smoldering glance at Robert. Lea had joined them and they appeared to be teasing her about her dress.

  “Look at me, Arianna. Not Robert.”

  “He is ignoring me. Perhaps he doesn’t love me, but he doesn’t have to pretend I don’t exist.”

  Ivy glanced in Robert’s direction. Though he seemed completely engaged in listening to his sister, his gaze darted over her head to Arianna.

  “He’s not ignoring you.” Ivy returned her gaze to Arianna. “Watch me and let nature work its magic.”

  “I shall need more than magic, Miss Templeton.”

  “Ivy, if we are to be friends.”

  “Yes, I would like that.”

  She watched as Arianna glanced around the room and Ivy noted that her father was nowhere to be found.

  “Might I have a sherry?” Arianna asked.

  “Of course. You are a grown woman about to be married soon, are you not? You do not have to ask permission.”

  Arianna jumped to her feet. Ivy realized she intended to march over to Robert and pour the drink herself.

  “Sit, Arianna.” Ivy waved to a servant who brought a glass and a cut crystal bottle.

  “I am far from a grown woman,” she said when the servant backed away with a bow. “But I want to rectify that situation in a manner of my own choosing.”

  “Indeed.” Ivy sipped her sherry.

  “I mean to seduce Robert. I’d like for you to help me. Please, Ivy.” The girl’s sincere gaze forced Ivy to lean back in her chair.

  Suddenly, Ivy was not at all sure if she should encourage Arianna. There might be tender hearts involved here.

  Arianna’s gaze had locked again on Robert. Ivy turned to find Darien staring boldly, feasting on Ivy with a lustful gaze that showed no signs of restraint. Robert, who must have accidently met Arianna’s desperate gaze, abruptly turned and showed her his back.

  “Does Robert know of your desire?” Ivy picked up the cards. She dealt them each a hand, to give Arianna something to do besides gape at Robert. “Men don’t usually need much encouragement beyond that.”

  Arianna’s wobbled sigh alerted Ivy to the fact the girl held back tears.

  “I did indeed tell him in no uncertain terms.” Arianna lowered her voice, placed the cards in front of her mouth. “I told him that I want him to be my first lover.” Her swallowed sob tore at Ivy’s heart. “He claimed to have
no interest, brushing off our acquaintance as no more than a light flirtation.”

  “A light flirtation can lead to the most interesting peccadilloes.” Ivy really did not want to encourage Arianna, but she could not stand for her to think herself rejected. Though, Robert no doubt had very good reason for keeping his grandfather’s bride-to-be at arm’s length.

  “For you, perhaps.” Arianna studied Ivy’s face, then dropped her gaze to the crimson gown’s low neckline and Ivy’s impossible-to-ignore attributes.

  “Don’t underestimate your appeal, Arianna. Men fall helplessly and hopelessly for the innocent, as well. Especially if the girl in question is hiding a bit of the wicked underneath.”

  “I can assure you I am not what I appear, Miss Templeton. I usually wear spectacles and have a full grasp of anatomy. Not only of the skeletal and musculature system, but of the vascular, as well.”

  “I had no idea.” Ivy blinked, not sure what to make of her confession. Her grasp of academia was not exactly what she meant.

  “And you would also be scandalized to know—”

  Music filled the room and Ivy quickly turned to find Darien at the piano again. Ivy could not pull herself away from watching him play. The wrinkles around his face and eyes softened. He glanced to her as if drawn by her gaze on him. Their eyes locked, instantly warming Ivy’s insides. He stared another moment, passion building in his gaze as the music’s tempo increased. Heat curled in Ivy’s sex forcing her to cross her legs. She had not bothered with a fan tonight, but now wished she had. Her face burned. She turned back to Arianna. Tonight she and Darien would thoroughly make amends. They had too little time left together to waste.

  “You were saying something about scandalizing me before I was rudely distracted?” Even Ivy’s voice had grown husky. She cleared her throat, amazed what Darien could do to her with just a smoldering glance. “Do go on.”

  “Perhaps not scandalize, but shock.” Arianna had obviously watched her and Darien’s exchange. Her shoulders sagged and she picked at the fingers of her lace gloves. “Disgust would probably be a better word. I should not have mentioned it at all. My mother says no one with any breeding would be interested in my morbid hobby.”