Desires of a Perfect Lady

by Victoria Alexander

  “Yes, indeed, Edward.” Even if said rescue meant facing the nightmares of his childhood. “Be careful what you wish for.”

  Seven

  “And as that is the situation . . .” Sterling’s gaze slid from his mother, to Nate to Quint. Reggie had, not surprisingly, chosen to forgo the meeting. “I shall be leaving for Cairo as soon as arrangements can be made.”

  Something more than surprise and less than shock showed on the faces of both his mother and Quint. Nate smiled in a vaguely smug manner. It was not often that the youngest brother knew something before the rest of the family. “And while I am gone”—Sterling fixed Quint with a no-nonsense look—“you will assume my duties.”

  Quint laughed. “Not bloody likely.”

  “Quinton.” Mother cast him a chastising frown.

  “My mind is made up.” Sterling shrugged. “You have no choice in the matter.”

  “Of course I have a choice.” Quint scoffed. “I’m not the earl. I don’t want to be the earl. And I have no desire to assume the duties of the earl.”

  “Nonetheless, you should be prepared, and this is the perfect opportunity. I shall be away for four to six weeks, possibly more. I cannot leave our affairs in any hands save that of a family member.” Sterling pinned his younger brother with a stern look. “Have you ever considered that, as I have no children, you could inherit the title at any time? Why, I could step out into the street today and be run over by a carriage. Have you thought about that?”

  “No, I haven’t.” Quint glared. “But at the moment the idea is oddly appealing.”

  “I don’t know why you think Quinton should be prepared. I’m the one who may well be next in line should anything happen to you.” Nate shrugged. “Quint is much more likely to perish unexpectedly. Destined, no doubt, to be shot by an outraged husband.”

  “That’s enough,” Mother said in the exact same tone she had used when they were boys.

  “Nate’s right, you know,” Quint continued, as if she hadn’t said a word. “Not about the jealous husband—”

  Nate snorted.

  “—but my life is . . .” Quint slanted a quick glance at his mother “. . . one of uncertainty. And travel. Yes that’s it. To places that are often less than civilized, where very nearly anything can happen. Although . . .” He cast his mother a reassuring smile. “I am nothing if not cautious.”

  “Excellent.” Sterling stifled a grin. Everyone in the room knew Quint was the least cautious person ever born. “Then you are no more likely to perish unexpectedly than I. Particularly while you are here in London.”

  “But I had planned to leave. Very soon,” Quint said quickly. He and Nate had already been in London for nearly a month. Their visits home rarely lasted much longer. Still, now that Nate was to be married and would no longer travel the world searching for treasures with his brother, it was possible Quint would linger in London. Possible but not probable. Quint had always chafed under the yoke of civilization.

  “And now your plans have changed,” Sterling said in a pleasant yet firm tone.

  “But . . .” Something that might well have been panic shone in Quint’s eyes. “I’m not the least bit responsible. Why, I am renowned for my irresponsible behavior, part and parcel of my irresponsible nature. Oh no.” Quint shook his head mournfully. “I am not to be trusted.”

  “Nonsense, Quinton,” Mother said in a straightforward manner. “It has been my observation that you have become quite responsible in recent years. I have been most impressed.”

  Quint stared at his mother. “Well, you’re wrong. It was an act designed to ease your fears. I haven’t changed a bit.” He cast a pleading look at his younger brother. “Go on. You tell them how very irresponsible I am.”

  “Unfortunately . . .” Nate heaved a reluctant sigh. “I’m afraid I have to agree with Mother. You do what you say you are going to do. You live up to your obligations. And you have a distinct, if not overly developed, sense of honor.”

  Quint’s eyes narrowed. “You give me too much credit, dear brother.”

  Nate grinned.

  “You will have Mr. Dennison to guide and assist you.” Sterling nodded at his youngest brother. “As well as Nathanial.”

  Nate’s eyes widened. “I have wedding plans to attend to.”

  “Nonsense, darling.” Mother waved off his objection. “The groom has little to do save appear at the appropriate time. Besides, we shall be back well before the wedding.”

  “We?” Sterling’s brows drew together.

  Quint stared. “We?”

  Nate studied his mother with a barely suppressed grin. “I suspect you need to define ‘we.’ ”

  Mother continued as if no one had said a word. “I shall have to ask your aunt Elise to come stay with Reggie to guide her through the remainder of the season. There’s nothing more enjoyable than shepherding a young woman through her first social season. It quite recalls the days of one’s youth. Now, as for—”

  “ ‘We’?” Sterling glared at his mother.

  “Yes, Mr. Cadwallender, you, Olivia, and myself, of course.” Mother’s smile didn’t change, but it struck Sterling as far less serene and far more determined than a moment ago. “That would be ‘we.’ ”

  “What do you mean ‘that would be we’?” Sterling stared at his mother.

  She stared back. “Goodness, Sterling, I should think you could understand something as simple as ‘we.’ It’s a very simple word.”

  “You’re not going to Egypt!” Land of snakes.

  “I most certainly am.” Her smile didn’t change, but the look in her eye was unmistakable. “Olivia cannot go traipsing around the world accompanied by two handsome, unmarried men.” Her gaze shifted between Sterling and Nate. “I assume Mr. Cadwallender is unmarried and handsome as well?”

  Nate nodded.

  “Excellent. Traveling with two dashing gentleman by my side will quite add to the adventure.” Mother beamed, then turned her attention back to Sterling. “It would be most improper for you and Mr. Cadwallender to accompany Olivia without benefit of chaperone.”

  “Olivia doesn’t care about propriety, Mother,” Nate said.

  “I do,” Mother said firmly. “And not simply when it comes to Olivia’s reputation but Sterling’s as well.” She fixed her oldest son with a stern look. “You are the Earl of Wyldewood and as such are held to higher standards.”

  Sterling clenched his jaw. “I am not concerned, and if Olivia is not—”

  “Someone needs to be, and apparently that would be me. Me, Sterling. A word very similar to ‘we,’ only singular. Do you understand ‘me’?”

  “You’re not going to Egypt,” Sterling said again in a hard tone.

  “Oh but I am. For your sake and Olivia’s,” Mother added. “Besides, I alone among all of you have spoken to Olivia through the years of her marriage. You”—she cast her son an annoyed glance—“have studiously avoided her. Admittedly, I have only crossed her path rarely, but I have observed her often enough to know that the young widow we called on after her husband’s demise was more the Olivia we once knew than the cool, remote Viscountess Rathbourne she has appeared this past decade.”

  Mother’s brows drew together in a forbidding frown. “One never knows what transpires in the privacy of a marriage. But there were more than enough rumors and accounts regarding the nature of Viscount Rathbourne’s character . . .” She narrowed her eyes. “Someone should have dispatched that man years ago.”

  Quint raised a brow. “Surely you’re not condoning murder, Mother?”

  Mother paused as if she were considering just that. “No, of course not. And whoever is responsible should certainly burn in the fires of Hell for his sin. Where he will no doubt encounter the viscount once again,” she added under her breath.

  Sterling struggled to keep his voice level. “Olivia’s past is neither here nor there at the moment.”

  “No, dearest, I am simply explaining her demeanor. The life she has led either
destroys or strengthens. Given what you’ve said of Olivia’s determination, I should think the latter. One cannot fault her for wishing to experience excitement. Nor can one blame her for not caring how the rest of the world will view her actions. However, I do care.”

  “Egypt is a dangerous place, Mother,” Sterling said pointedly. “And we have been at war with Egypt.”

  “Pish posh.” She waved away his objection. “We are always at war with someone. And aside from your need for a chaperone . . .” She paused for a moment. “Your father always wanted to go to Egypt, as have I. This is the perfect opportunity.”

  “Nonetheless, Mother, this is not a trek for carefree tourists. I intend to travel as quickly as possible, and I have no intentions of lingering at the pyramids or whatever else you might wish to see. As much as I appreciate your concern as to my reputation”—he met his mother’s gaze directly—“you are not coming. The matter is settled.”

  “Indeed, it is.” Mother leaned closer to the desk and lowered her voice. “Make no mistake, Sterling, either I accompany you, or I will be right at your heels. Traveling alone if need be.” Her tone softened. “You have never been one to accept defeat graciously. However, I would suggest you attempt a modicum of good humor now, as you have indeed lost.”

  He stared at her and realized further debate was pointless. Damnation! He was headed to the land of snakes with the lost love of his life, an overly handsome youngster, and his mother.

  She straightened and smiled. “Now then, I should send word to Elise at once.”

  Sterling blew a resigned breath. This was another battle he wouldn’t win. “Does it have to be Aunt Elise?”

  “Elise is your father’s sister.” Mother’s tone defied any of them to object. “I trust her implicitly.”

  “As did her three husbands, no doubt.” Nate grinned.

  “When one marries men substantially older, one is prone to losing them,” Mother said in a lofty manner.

  Lady Elise Quartermain was not exactly a figure of scandal even though her exploits were, at least within the family, considered to be perilously close to scandalous. Choosing her to chaperone Reggie was tantamount to giving Reggie free rein to do exactly as she pleased.

  “Still,” Sterling began. “I don’t—”

  “She has a certain freedom of spirit and perhaps her behavior, on occasion, could be considered, well, unconventional—”

  Quint choked.

  “But the rumors of her adventures are greatly exaggerated. And those that I know to be accurate are not nearly as improper as they may sound.” Mother huffed. “Furthermore, I must confess that I have quite envied her through the years as I have had no adventures at all.”

  Sterling tried again. “Mother, you should really—”

  “Nor have you,” she said pointedly. “Goodness, Sterling, perhaps if you’d had an adventure or two, you wouldn’t be so condemning of others. Nor would you be quite so . . . stuffy.”

  Sterling gasped. “I am not stuffy.” He looked at his brothers. “Am I?”

  “I’m not sure I would say ‘stuffy,’ ” Nate began in a diplomatic manner.

  Quint snorted.

  “Thank you,” Sterling said, slightly mollified.

  “Stiff, perhaps,” Nate murmured.

  “Pompous, I would say,” Quint suggested.

  Sterling glared. “I am not—”

  “You’re really quite staid, darling, some might even call you dull.” Mother shook her head. “It’s not at all becoming.”

  “I am not dull,” Sterling said through clenched teeth.

  “It’s past time you had some adventure in your life.” Mother leveled him a stern look.

  “I have agreed to go on this adventure. I have accepted that you are going.” He drew his brows together. “What more do you want from me?”

  “Nothing really, dear.” Mother smiled. “I simply want you to enjoy it.”

  Olivia stared at the lady perched on her sofa in an eminently prim manner, belying the words coming out of her mouth.

  “. . . and so it is in everyone’s best interests that I accompany you.” Lady Wyldewood cast her a pleasant smile. “Besides, I have always wanted to see Cairo, all of Egypt really, and this may well be my only opportunity.”

  “I see,” Olivia said in a cautious manner. “And your son has agreed to this?”

  The older woman laughed. “Agreed is perhaps not as accurate a word as accepted. I gave him no choice.”

  “I see,” Olivia said again, trying and failing to hide a smile.

  Lady Wyldewood grinned. “It was quite amusing. Sterling is not at all used to not having his own way and not getting exactly what he wants. I cannot recall the last time such a thing happened. Oh yes.” Sterling’s mother fixed her with a firm look. “It was when he lost you.”

  Olivia’s stomach twisted.

  “My dear, I am a firm believer in clearing the air, as it were.” Lady Wyldewood met her gaze directly. “I have been consumed with curiosity regarding the severing of your relationship with Sterling since the moment it happened. You should know that whether it was out of honor or pride, he never fully confided in me. It was most annoying. However, as I regarded you as I would a daughter, I never believed you were at fault. Furthermore, knowing the nature of your father and the reputation of Lord Rathbourne I long ago concluded, for whatever reason, you had no choice.”

  Olivia swallowed the lump that had lodged in her throat. One of the best parts about once planning to marry Sterling had been that this woman, who had indeed always treated her like a daughter, would be the mother Olivia had never known. “No, I didn’t.”

  Lady Wyldewood nodded with satisfaction. “Nor do I know the circumstances of your marriage to Viscount Rathbourne. Suffice it to say, that the Olivia Rathbourne I have encountered rarely through the years was not the same girl I knew.” She paused for a long moment. “I will confess that the opportunity to resume our acquaintance was yet another reason why I decided to accompany you. Aside from the appearance of propriety of course.”

  “Of course,” Olivia murmured.

  The older woman raised a brow. “Have I stunned you into silence?”

  “No.” Olivia shook her head. “Well, yes, I am rather shocked.” She smiled. “But pleased. I can think of no other better traveling companion.”

  Lady Wyldewood studied her. “And this doesn’t disrupt your plans regarding my son?”

  “I have no plans regarding your son,” Olivia said slowly. “He offered his assistance and I accepted his offer.”

  “And?”

  “And . . .” Olivia shrugged. “And there’s nothing more to it than that.”

  “No, of course not.” Lady Wyldewood sighed. “I never thought there was.”

  Olivia drew a deep breath. “As we seem to be confessing all, you should know, I have no intentions of resuming our previous relationship. I only want my freedom, my independence. I have no designs on your son.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yes,” Olivia said firmly.

  “What a very great pity.” Lady Wyldewood smiled and rose to her feet. “Mr. Dennison is making our travel arrangements. The details should be delivered to you tomorrow. It is Sterling’s hope that we can be off the day after that.”

  Olivia stood and narrowed her eyes. “What did you mean by that?”

  “I mean the day after tomorrow.”

  “No. What did you mean when you said it was a great pity.”

  The older woman smiled. “Just musing to myself. It was nothing of significance.”

  “Lady Wyldewood.” Olivia drew a deep breath. “If your true purpose on accompanying us is to encourage a match between Sterling and myself I am quite serious when I say that is not my intention. Nor is it my desire.” She shook her head. “Some things are best left in the past. My future does not include your son.”

  Lady Wyldewood’s eyes widened indignantly. “My dear child, I thought nothing of the sort. I am not the kind of mothe
r who interferes in the affairs of her children. My primary purpose in accompanying you is to save both you and Sterling from the ill-effects of gossip and scandal. And, as I have admitted, I do wish to renew our friendship. But I assure you I have no hidden ulterior motive regarding you and my son. Now.” She swept toward the door. “I have a great deal of packing to do.” She paused and glanced at Olivia. “I assume you’re bringing along at least one maid.”

  “I thought it might be easier and more efficient to travel with as few people as possible.”

  Lady Wyldewood’s brow furrowed. “I do recall reading somewhere an account of travel in Egypt. The writer said it was most unfair to drag servants along as conditions were far less civilized than they are accustomed to.” She heaved a resigned sigh. “I suppose we should forgo maids then. Very well.” She squared her shoulders. “It will simply make it more of an adventure.”

  “Your son considers this more of a chore than an adventure.” Olivia shrugged. “And he seems exceptionally fond of pointing out that this is not a pleasure trip. I suspect the man won’t allow me—us—to see anything of interest that does not relate directly to our purpose. Which means we probably will not be given the opportunity to walk in the shadows of the pyramids unless they have been moved to the center of Cairo.” She set her jaw. “But I will one day.”

  “And one never knows. One day may be far closer than anyone expects.” Sterling’s mother cast her a conspiratorial smile. “I, for one, have no intention of traveling to Egypt without seeing something of merit.”

  Olivia shook her head. “Sterling wishes to spend as little time as possible on this excursion. And, as he is paying my expenses, I am hard pressed to argue with him.”

  “Oh my dear girl.” Lady Wyldewood scoffed. “You should most certainly argue with him. No one else does. It will only do him good.” She nodded, again headed for the door and again paused. “Oh, and about that nonsense regarding the resumption of your previous relationship. You may well tell yourself that, you may fool yourself into believing it. However, I do not. I require proof.” She beamed at the younger woman. “Good day, Olivia.”