Wolfishly Yours

by Lydia Dare

  Lady Sophia shook her head. “We are here to practice for the season, Mr. Hadley.” Then her face lit up. “Actually, if you are suffering so badly, the healing waters might do you some good.”

  The healing water was vile stuff, and given the choice, Gray would rather suffer all this day and the next than be forced to partake of “the cure.” “I’d rather drink the raw egg yolk.”

  “Don’t forget the sausage. The greasier the food, the better, Mr. Hadley.”

  Gray turned his attention back to the exotic American beauty. “Just how do you know so much about this, Miss Mayeux?”

  “Well, I’ve known more than a few pirates and sailors and trappers in my day, Mr. Hadley. And one hears all sorts of interesting things.”

  Lady Sophia gasped and covered her heart with one hand. “Liviana, you shouldn’t say such a thing.”

  “But it’s true.” She blinked innocently.

  “Be that as it may, I’d rather not have anyone else learn the particulars. Pirates, for heaven’s sake!”

  “If I called them privateers, would that be better?”

  Lady Sophia shook her head vehemently. “Absolutely not! On second thought I don’t know that an excursion into town is wise. Perhaps we should spend the afternoon determining the best topics of conversation for the musicale this evening.”

  Gray groaned, his head pounding even harder. “Can’t you determine that in the Pump Room?” With his ears, he’d hear them no matter where they were in the house.

  “Ready to be rid of us, Mr. Hadley?” Miss Mayeux smirked.

  “I would dearly love a little peace and quiet.”

  “Whether you’re deserving of it is another matter.” Lady Sophia sighed as she turned her attention to Miss Mayeux. “I suppose we can go into town, but only if you promise to stay at my side.”

  “I would like to see a different set of walls. I haven’t left my grandfather’s house since we arrived in Bath.”

  ***

  The half columns and honey-colored stone of the Pump Room gave the exterior a very grandiose feel. It did seem exactly the sort of architecture Livi would expect to see if she found herself in Rome. “It’s very pretty,” she muttered under her breath.

  “Remember what we talked about yesterday, Miss Mayeux,” Lady Sophia directed. “Don’t mumble. Speak clearly enough for others to hear you, unless, of course, you shouldn’t be saying something. In that case, close your mouth completely.”

  Livi shook her head. “I’m sorry. It took me by surprise.”

  “Much as you’ll take Bath by surprise, if I have anything to say about it.” The lady smiled kindly.

  No matter what Livi had to say about it, she was sure. Lady Sophia obviously had plans for her. As soon as they entered the Pump Room, Livi wished she had remained back at her grandfather’s house. Indeed, the morning hours did seem as though they were the fashionable times to see and be seen.

  As soon as she stepped over the threshold, every eye in the room turned in her direction. Livi had never considered herself particularly shy, but she’d never been faced by a room full of people who didn’t know her at all and who already looked at her with harsh judgment in their eyes. With the exception of Father Antonio, of course, judgmental man that he was.

  “Breathe,” Lady Sophia whispered.

  Livi did take a deep breath and then wished she hadn’t. There was a slight odor of eggs that had gone bad in the air. She coughed into her fist.

  “You’ll get used to it,” Lady Sophia said quietly, which almost made Livi laugh. What happened to speak clearly or don’t speak at all? Perhaps the same rules didn’t apply to tutors. Lady Sophia linked her arm with Livi’s. “We’ll stroll about the room, shall we?”

  There didn’t seem to be a place to sit in the overcrowded room, so Livi nodded. What was wrong with the English? Could none of them smell the air? Or was her nose overly sensitive since her father’s Lycan blood flowed through her veins.

  “Many members of the ton holiday in Bath. They partake of the healing waters. Attend balls at the Assembly Room.” Lady Sophia slowly led Livi toward a grand clock on one side of the room.

  “Dancing?” Livi squeaked. And despite the warmth of the air in the Pump Room, she felt a chill wash over her.

  “You do dance, don’t you?” her tutor asked.

  Livi shook her head. “Papa never saw the point.”

  Lady Sophia huffed indignantly as though such an idea was an affront to her personally. “Employing an instructor will be difficult here this time of year.” She frowned. “I suppose I shall have to recruit Lord Radbourne and Mr. Hadley to help us in that regard.”

  Livi glanced up at the lady and frowned herself. “Do you not like the Hadley brothers?”

  Lady Sophia laughed. “That obvious, is it?”

  “Well, you did berate Mr. Hadley last evening for coming upon me in the kitchen, did you not?”

  Lady Sophia stopped walking and turned her stare on Livi. “I thought you’d gone to bed.”

  Perfect. She clearly shouldn’t have given herself away. But what’s done was done. “At home, sometimes the only way to know what is truly going on is to eavesdrop. I suppose you’ll tell me that isn’t ladylike.”

  A smiled tugged at her companion’s lips. “On the contrary, Miss Mayeux, many a lady has need to resort to that very thing. I’ve done so myself more times than I can count. I just don’t enjoy being the one spied upon.”

  Nearby, a fellow cleared his throat and Livi looked up to find a tall man with blondish hair. His gaze raked from Lady Sophia’s head all the way down to her toes, stopping at certain parts in between. It made Livi think of the way an alligator appraised its prey.

  “My dear.” The man smiled, and if it wasn’t for the predatory gleam in his eye, Livi might have thought him handsome. “I never dreamed I would see you in Bath, of all places.”

  Lady Sophia must have seen the lascivious sparkle in the man’s gaze because the muscles in her jaw tightened and she clipped out a greeting: “Lord Robert, always a pleasure.”

  It could hardly be a pleasure, however; the lady looked as tense as the bow of a fiddle. Apparently, prevarication was all right under certain circumstances, Livi noted.

  “Indeed,” Lord Robert replied smoothly. “Have you come to town with Lady Radbourne?”

  “I am her companion.”

  The man heaved a sigh. “Taking such a position is beneath you, Sophie.”

  “On the contrary, it was by far the most complimentary offer I received, my lord. Do send my well wishes to your grandmother.” Then she started to tow Livi around the man, but he stopped them when he placed his hand on Lady Sophia’s arm.

  “I had hoped you’d change your mind about that.”

  “Alas, I never shall, my lord. Please do let us pass. You are making a scene.”

  He released his hold on her arm and finally turned his attention to Livi, as though he had just realized she was there. It must have been the “us” that had clued him in. “We have not had the pleasure.” He tipped his head in greeting.

  “If you would like the pleasure,” Lady Sophia began, “then I suggest you present yourself to the Earl of Holmesfield. If he deems you worthy, I’m certain he’ll make a proper introduction between you and his granddaughter.” Then she lowered her voice to a hiss, “Let us pass, Robert.”

  He did step aside, though a wounded look flashed across his face. “Always so wonderful to see you, my lady.”

  “Who was that?” Livi asked as soon as they were far enough away that she didn’t think the gentleman could hear them.

  “Lord Robert Hayburn.”

  That was all she intended to say? “He called you Sophie.”

  Lady Sophia closed her eyes for a moment as though to compose herself. “He’s known me a very long time. His sister is one of my dearest friends.” Then she looked over at Livi. “Lady Madeline is now married to one of the Hadley brothers.”

  Ah, the brother her grandfather had sne
ered about and referred to as a kidnapper. “Oh.”

  “Whatever you’ve heard, Madeline is very happy and very much in love.”

  “How lucky she is then.” Livi smiled at the thought. “Any hope I had for happiness or for finding love ended the day Papa put me on one of his frigates and shipped me away from my home.” And if there had been any doubt about her future, her grandfather had made it perfectly clear that he would secure her an advantageous match. Happiness and love be damned.

  “Mine ended the day my father died,” Lady Sophia said quietly. Then she seemed to shake the unpleasant thought from her mind. “But, please don’t think that your future is so bleak. You may be on a different continent than you’d like, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find love here.”

  “But my grandfather—”

  “Is not in complete control,” Lady Sophia interrupted. “We are just starting the process. You don’t know who you’ll happen to meet. Just keep an open mind, Miss Mayeux. That’s all I ask.”

  For the first time since she stepped off that frigate in Bristol, Livi felt a ray of hope. Perhaps Mr. Hadley was correct. Perhaps Lady Sophia could use a friend, and honestly so could Livi. “Please,” she looked at her companion and smiled, “call me Livi and I’d like to call you Sophie if that is what your friends do.”

  Lady Sophia smiled in return and squeezed Livi’s arm. “I think I would like that, Livi.”

  “Lord Robert would be handsome if he didn’t have a predatory look about him.”

  Sophie scoffed. “Lord Robert is not the sort I have in mind for you.”

  “What sort do you have in mind?”

  “The sort who can make you happy.”

  “Lady Sophia!” barked an old woman a few feet away, seated at a table.

  Sophie groaned. “I didn’t realize all the Hayburns were on holiday here. Robert should have given me fair warning.” She cast a sidelong glance at Livi and whispered, “The Duchess of Hythe is a bit of a dragon. Take my word for it, don’t open your mouth unless absolutely necessary and unless you’d like her to jump down your throat.” Then she turned a dazzling smile on the old woman. “Your Grace!” she gushed. “I had no idea you were here in Bath.”

  The old woman, who looked kindly despite Sophie’s warning, gestured them forward. “Come and sit with me.”

  Sophie groaned again but made no attempt to take as much as a step toward the duchess.

  “And be sprightly about it, Sophia Cole! I’m not as young as I used to be.”

  Finally Sophie crossed the floor toward the old woman, with Livi in tow. “I didn’t want to intrude, Your Grace.”

  “Bah! You haven’t changed a bit.” The duchess snorted, and then she turned her gaze to a nearby table. “Herondale!” she barked. “Be a gentleman. Give your chair to Lady Sophia and find one for her friend.”

  A middle-aged fellow bolted from his seat in his apparent haste to do the woman’s bidding. Livi might normally have found the situation amusing if it wasn’t for the pained expression on Sophie’s face. The tutor had warned Livi the duchess was a dragon.

  In no time, Herondale, whoever he was, had swiftly brought two chairs to the duchess’ table and then made a hasty retreat as though afraid the old woman would ask him to do something else.

  “Thank you, sir,” Sophie called out to his retreating back.

  “Pay the man no mind,” the duchess directed. “Now sit, Sophia. I want to hear how you’re getting along in your new position.”

  With no possible escape in sight, Sophie and Livi both sat. Sophie gestured to Livi as she feigned a smile. “Your Grace, I’d like you to meet Miss Mayeux. She’s—”

  The duchess waved a breezy and dismissive hand in the air. “Yes, yes, I know who she is. Holmesfield’s recalcitrant granddaughter. When did you arrive, gel?” She turned her icy eyes on Livi.

  But before Livi could answer, the duchess motioned, well… barked was more like it… for a footman to bring her another biscuit. While she did so, Sophia leaned close to Livi’s ear and murmured, “The Duchess of Hythe gets away with more than most. Don’t let her scare you. And don’t let her outspoken nature worry you.”

  On the contrary, Livi found the duchess to be a refreshing change.

  The duchess wore an eyeglass that hung around her neck and, at the moment, it was tucked directly between her breasts. With a mighty heave, she retrieved it and held it up to her left eye. The eye grew about ten times in size as her light blue orb blinked at Livi. “Pretty little thing,” she said. Then she lowered her eyepiece slowly and cocked her head at Sophie. “Doesn’t look like a banshee. She looks like her mother but a bit darker. Must be the French in her.”

  Livi did wish people would stop saying that as though it was an insult.

  “I’m certain Lady Grace was just as delightful as Miss Mayeux is,” Sophie replied and kicked Livi under the table. Blast, she must have been scowling.

  Livi sat up straighter. “Lovely to meet you, Your Grace.”

  “Lovely?” the woman crowed. “It’s never lovely to meet old ladies.” Then she turned her eyes back to Sophie. “Madeline is worried about you.”

  Sophie shook her head. “She is sweet to do so, but there is no reason.”

  “So Violet Radbourne is treating you well?”

  “Of course.”

  “And what of her scurrilous sons?”

  “I see very little of them to be honest, Your Grace.”

  The old woman harrumphed. “Did you know they are opening a gambling establishment?” She lowered her voice to an annoyed hiss. “My granddaughter married to the proprietor of a gambling establishment.”

  An expression of sympathy settled on Sophie’s face. “You know she loves him.”

  Finally a smile cracked the duchess’ lips. “And that is why he continues to breathe.” Then she winked at Sophie before turning her attention to Livi. “How are you enjoying the Pump Room, Miss Mayeux?”

  “To be quite honest,” Livi said, leaning closer to the duchess, “I’d rather be anywhere than here, smelling these foul waters.”

  Sophie stiffened in her seat. “But we’re happy to be here taking advantage of the healing waters,” her tutor added.

  The duchess interrupted her with a harsh snort. “Healing waters. It’s more like social hour. Seeing and being seen.” She narrowed an eye at Livi again. “Wouldn’t you agree, Miss Mayeux?”

  “There must be some benefit to smelling that rotten odor. It’s worse than the docks in June,” Livi said. “The fish wash ashore and the ships come into port. The men smell like they’ve been at sea for months and didn’t have a pot of water to wash themselves in.” She inhaled slightly, which made her cough. “I think this is worse.” She winced.

  Sophie dropped her head into her hands beside her. Livi was probably making a mess of things. “Do you remember we discussed appropriate topics of discussion?” Sophie hissed at her. “Unwashed men do not fall into that category.”

  “Did I hear something about unwashed men?” a voice asked from behind them.

  Seven

  The smell of unwashed men? Bon Dieu. She’d made a mess of it, hadn’t she? Livi glanced over her shoulder at the man. He was tall, with broad shoulders, and his handsome face was completed with a nose strong enough to match his jaw. “Lady Sophia.” He bowed in the tutor’s direction.

  For the first time since Livi had met her, Sophie wore what appeared to be a genuine smile. “Henry Siddington, what brings you to Bath?” she asked pleasantly.

  “Robert Hayburn invited me to accompany his family,” the man said. He adjusted his jacket and looked a bit awkward for a moment. “I couldn’t find a good reason to decline.”

  The duchess snorted and the man grinned at the old woman.

  “The fact that he’s a reprobate, a ne’er-do-well, and a drunkard were not enough for you?” Sophie asked, without even breaking the serene look on her face. Sophie shook her head at the tall fellow. “Certainly, you can find better company.”
>
  “One would think so,” the duchess agreed.

  The man arched a brow at the tutor. “Certainly, you can still skewer a man without even holding a sword.” He clutched a hand to his chest as though her words had wounded him. “Pray introduce me to the lady, Sophie,” he said.

  Another gentleman who called her Sophie. Interesting.

  “Oh, where are my manners? Miss Liviana Mayeux, this is my cousin Henry Siddington. I’ve known him since he was in short pants. We have played together most of our lives. Until we grew too old to play, that is.”

  Mr. Siddington looked offended. “One is never too old to play, my dear cousin.” He turned his full gaze toward Livi. “Enchanting to meet you, Miss Mayeux,” he said.

  “Henry.” Sophie tapped the man’s hand. “I’ve need of you for a few moments this evening,” she said. “You do plan to attend the Longboroughs’ musicale, do you not?”

  “I’d hoped to avoid it. I’d rather listen to Robert blather about his latest conquest than listen to young misses struggle to stay on tune.” He shuddered, which brought a smile to Livi’s face.

  “And his conquests are many and varied,” Sophie tossed in.

  Talk about improper discussions.

  “Yet you seem to have avoided falling into his trap,” Mr. Siddington said. “Bravo for you.” He clapped lightly and dramatically. Then his face softened. “Truly, how are you finding your position with Lady Radbourne?”

  “Heavens.” Sophie sighed heavily. “Everyone wants to know the same thing. Is there a wager on the book at White’s that Lady Radbourne would throw me to wolves or something?”

  Wolves? A sputtering sound escaped Livi at hearing that particular turn of phrase. Did the man know of Lycans? Mr. Hadley had made it seem as though no one knew of such things.

  Mr. Siddington cast Livi a confused expression before turning his attention back to his cousin. “I suppose none of us are accustomed to seeing you in a subservient role. You can’t blame us for that. You know you always have a place with me, Soph,” he said gently. “And I won’t even force you to wash chamber pots or bring tea.”