Virginia greeted the viscountess with a curtsy. “So lovely of you to have us here tonight,” she said. When her eyes went past her hostesses, she noticed a familiar figure behind them, supposedly awaiting introduction. She was speechless.
Commander Ernest Saunders of His Majesty’s Royal Navy stepped forward and took her hand as his sister introduced them. “Miss Livingstone, I am happy to make your acquaintance. My sister has spoken of you a great deal. I gather you are a fellow book-lover.”
Though she had come to know the man very well during their journey across the Atlantic on the ship he commanded, the first officer clearly had chosen not to reveal the fact. Virginia and her uncle had sworn never to speak of it rather than embroil the ship’s captain in the potentially questionable act of transporting an American lady and his former officer, Lord Ogletree, during wartime. Apparently the charade was to be maintained in this London drawing room as well.
“I am pleased to meet you. May I present my aunt Ogletree and her nephew, the Honorable George Tisdale? Aunt, Mr. Tisdale, this is Lord Wellingham’s brother, Commander Saunders.”
“Charmed,” said the commander, bowing over her aunt’s hand and then shaking Mr. Tisdale’s. Like his brother, he was blond, and his deep suntan accented the light blue of his eyes. In his dress uniform, he was a very handsome sight.
As on shipboard, he treated Virginia with great formality, which she attributed to his dislike of Americans, particularly an American who was on his ship. She couldn’t resist giving him a saucy smile. He blinked, startled.
Moving on inside the room, she was happy to see the Duke and Duchess of Ruisdell as well as Lord Strangeways. She had forgiven him for his comment about her “beauty,” as it was a compliment after all. The duchess came forward.
“My dear! Lord Strangeways tells us you have recovered your memory! That is excellent. I am happy to hear it.”
“It occurs to me that I read your novel! I enjoyed The Curious Affair at Staley-in-the-Wold very much.”
“I am delighted that you liked it. Now, the day after tomorrow is my literary luncheon. I expect you to be there. Your aunt is invited as well. It is at one o’clock at Ruisdell House in Grosvenor Square.”
Virginia asked, “Is there any particular book we are to discuss?”
“Oh, yes! Pride and Prejudice. Have you read it?”
“I believe I made a start before my accident. I will have it finished by then, I promise.”
Lord Strangeways made his way to her side, his eyes caressing her. “The gown becomes you well,” he said.
“Thank you, your lordship. I have your mother to thank for sending me to her dressmaker. Is she here tonight? I don’t see her.”
“She is not feeling quite the thing. Too many late nights she is not used to. She is only just out of mourning. She did bid me to tell you she was sorry to miss seeing you.”
At that moment the Honorable George approached. “May I bring you a glass of Madeira?” he asked.
“Thank you, but no,” she said. She was not a lover of sherry. Virginia also did not like her aunt’s nephew hovering over her as though he had a perfect right to be there.
When the dinner gong went, the duke and duchess led the company into the dining room. Virginia was happy when Viscount Strangeways offered his arm. Putting his hand over hers as it lay in the crook on his elbow, he indulged in a wink. She knew it was outrageous of her to do so, but she winked back. He laughed.
The commander diverted them with tales of the sea. Significantly absent were any stories related to the war in America. Instead he spoke of the Galapagos Islands, South America, and Africa. Virginia found herself vastly entertained. Arabella kept peppering her brother with questions, so the conversation took up most of the meal.
“Are there wild Indians where you live, Miss Livingstone?” asked Arabella. “Are they very fierce?”
“Hundreds of years ago, maybe,” Virginia said with a smile. “But they no longer live in my part of Virginia. However, long ago, there was a town called Roanoke, Virginia, which disappeared completely. No one has ever been able to find a clue to what happened to it. Indians have been suspected.”
“Now there are just Englishmen persecuting you,” said Beau Wellingham with a wry grin. “Far more civilized.”
She did not reply to this comment, instead putting her head down as she attempted to dissect the chicken breast on her plate. Aware of Commander Saunders’s and his older brother’s eyes on her, she felt she needed to defend herself for being an American but refrained.
Very glad when the ladies withdrew to the drawing room, leaving the men to their port, she suppressed a sigh of relief. Arabella was beside her in a moment. “I do so like your evening dress,” she said. “It goes beautifully with your coloring. I do wish I were dark, but fair coloring runs in our family.”
“I think you are very fortunate,” Virginia said. “Blondes seem to be the fashion in London.”
“But I do not like being like everyone else,” said Arabella with a becoming pout. “How I should like it if I had red hair!”
Her sister-in-law, Lady Wellingham, laughed. “You know my desire to see India. Perhaps we should run off and see how they like blondes there!”
“My brother would never let you out of his sight!” proclaimed the girl.
The duchess was sharing the latest exploits of the little marquess with all of them when the men rejoined the party. Over her pique, Virginia acknowledged to herself the hope that Lord Strangeways would sit beside her on the sofa, but he started up a game of whist instead, asking Virginia to be his partner.
Nonessentials were the only topics discussed over the card table. She was only a fair player, and she and the viscount fell again to Lady Wellingham, who, Virginia learned, had a reputation as a cardsharp.
From time to time, she felt Lord Wellingham’s eyes on the back of her neck. It was a good thing she had decided not to spy. He seemed to be keeping a close eye on her. Mr. Sagethorn would be very disappointed that this was an opportunity wasted.
As she thought about it, she actually found it quite ludicrous to expect that Lord Wellingham would have brought war plans home from the Foreign Office. Mr. Sagethorn must be desperate to tie her to this whole business.
After cards, the tea tray was brought in. She found herself and her teacup maneuvered into a corner of the room by Commander Saunders.
“Thank you very much for not giving the show away, Miss Livingstone,” he said. “My captain could come under reprimand for carrying an American to Britain. Indeed, I believe my own brother thinks you have been brought here to spy on us! Can you imagine?”
Virginia’s heart jumped into her throat. She was right. Beau Wellingham did think her a danger.
Now his brother was standing close enough to her to make her uncomfortable. She encountered the stares of the Honorable George and caught frequent glances from Lord Strangeways.
To the commander, she said, “I know him to be curious about how I came to be here in the middle of the war. Could you possibly tell him, and I mean only him, that you brought us here as a favor to my uncle?”
“I shall, if you wish. I know I can depend on his discretion. My sister says you have lost your memory?”
“For a time. I foolishly thought to go up in a balloon, and there was an accident. I have only recently recovered most of my memories. I do not remember the accident itself, however.”
“I must say, you are a very adventurous young woman!” The commander’s tanned face creased in a large smile. “I don’t think you would stick at spying if you set your mind to it.”
Virginia bristled. “Not only do I count the people here as kind friends, but I am also fond of my neck.”
At that moment the Honorable George materialized at her elbow. He looked at her stern face and then back at the commander.
“I say, have you been upsetting Miss Livingstone?”
“Just a little chat between friends. I was having her on, and she knows it. I
expect she is only a very little bit peeved with me.”
Her aunt’s nephew looked even shorter next to the brawny commander.
“I am very much able to handle myself, Mr. Tisdale,” she said. “Now, if both of you will excuse me, I must speak with the duchess. I believe she is preparing to leave.”
Virginia assured the lady of her intention of coming to the literary luncheon.
“I shall look forward to seeing you, then,” said the duchess, her midnight-blue eyes sparkling. “We shall have a grand time.”
Now that the duchess was leaving, her aunt seemingly had no reason to stay. “Come, Virginia, George. We must be going. Thank you for the lovely evening, Lady Wellingham.”
Viscount Strangeways whispered in Virginia’s ear, “A walk in the park in the morning?”
Since her aunt was watching, she held back her smile. “Of course.”
Chapter Fifteen
For Tony it had been a frustrating evening. The American lady looked lovelier than ever, and he regretted that he had no chance to speak to her alone. What had Beau’s brother been talking about that made her so perturbed? He had noticed a thread of tension between them. What was that about?
And little Mr. Tisdale seemed determined to claim what he viewed as his “property.” All of this had upstaged his concerns about Sagethorn, but he still intended to speak to Miss Livingstone about the man. He was more curious than ever about what constituted their relationship.
Arriving at Shipley House at eleven o’clock, he was relieved to find the lady waiting for him in the front parlor. They slipped out of the house without being seen by Tisdale or Lady Ogletree.
Offering his arm, he said, “Continuing to feel well?”
“Yes, thank you. I enjoyed the dinner party last night.”
He liked the feeling of her arm through his. She was wearing the new apricot muslin again today, and it was very becoming. They stopped at a crossing, and an eager boy swept the street for them. Tony tossed him a ha’penny.
“I know it must be impossible, but you seemed to be acquainted with Ernest. Had you ever met him before?”
To his surprise her face colored, and she bit her bottom lip. “Oh, dear. I’m afraid that is a question you must ask him.”
“The man has been at sea these three years!”
“An intelligent man like you ought to be able to put the pieces together, then.”
“So you met him at sea. Wait . . . was it his ship upon which you sailed to England?”
“Remember, I told you nothing,” she said.
“But how is that possible? He commands a warship. He wouldn’t carry an American passenger during a war!”
“Maybe you had better have this discussion with him.” Her transparent face looked incredibly uncomfortable.
“All right. I shall. But now I have something else to ask.” She looked up to him with eyes so deep and warm, he nearly forgot what he was going to ask. He cleared his throat and said, “Have you recalled anything further about Mr. Sagethorn?”
“No. He is a strange duck. He claimed to know me, to have read about my fall in the newspaper. He does seem a bit familiar somehow, but I could almost swear I have never met him. Do you think it could be part of my memories that are still lost?”
Her hand trembled on his arm. She pulled it away and clasped her hands together in front of her.
“He frightened you.”
“Yes, he did.”
“Howie should have stopped him before he went into the house. He thought he looked dodgy but assumed the man was there for me and that Reams would turn him away.”
She didn’t comment on the man but said, “May we talk of something else?”
Tony was extremely glad he was having the man followed. He sounded like a dashed rum cove. Was she telling him the truth? What if Beau was right, and he was prevailing upon her to spy?
Impossible!
They had made their way to the gates of Hyde Park, which was fairly deserted at this hour, save for nursemaids with their prams.
“Look here,” he said, his voice unnaturally husky. “I just want you to know that if ever you are in trouble, you can talk to me about it. You can come to me.”
“Why ever would I be in trouble?” Her laugh was forced.
“If that man imposes on you again.”
She was silent at this. A cloud overtook the sun, and Tony began to fear they were in for a shower.
“Does it always rain this much in England?” she asked, peering at the sky from under her bonnet.
“Invariably. That is why it is so green here. It can be a nuisance. I expect we had better find a big tree to stand under.”
He spied a large oak, not unlike the one that used to stand on his property before its demise. As they moved under it, he removed his jacket and placed it around her shoulders.
“I should not like your new frock to get soaked.”
When she looked up into his eyes, he saw that they were full of gratitude and something else he couldn’t read.
“It is really a shame that you are an English aristocrat,” she said, looking away.
“And why is that?” he asked, his heart hammering.
When she looked at him again, she was smiling. “If you were an ordinary American, I would be in danger of falling in love with you.”
The rain started falling around them, but the tree sheltered them well. It was as though they were alone in a private room. He gazed down at her, and her smile faltered, leaving her lips tremulous. Unable to resist the pull of the lady, he drew her into his arms and placed her head down on his chest so he would not be tempted to kiss that mouth.
“You couldn’t fall in love with an English aristocrat?” he asked gently.
“It would be frowned on by my friend President Madison.”
Startled out of the pleasant reverie, he pulled back and looked into her face. “You are a friend to President Madison?”
“And former president Jefferson. I even knew President Washington. My American roots are every bit as meaningful to me as your English ones are to you.”
He moved his hands to her shoulders and gazed directly into her eyes. “You intend to return to America, then?”
“When I am five and twenty, I will come into my property. At that time I will go back.”
Tony had no answer to this sudden revelation. He only knew that his heart was wrapped around this lady’s, and he could no longer maintain a distance. Instead of saying anything, he pulled her to him once more and lowered his lips to hers. For days he had been withholding his feelings for this lady. Now he let them have their rein, and he kissed her with startling passion.
Despite their conversation, she was as eager as he was, her mouth responsive, kissing him back as earnestly as he was kissing her. Warmth and an odd familiarity surged through him. It was as though he had known her before, as though they had kissed before.
“You cannot go back,” he whispered between kisses. “I have never known anyone who suited me so well or whom I desired so fully.”
She eased away. “I am sorry. I have wanted to kiss you for so long. But I shouldn’t have yielded. I don’t belong here in England any more than you belong in America.”
“It is a problem, then,” he said and kissed her again. He could not hold back, and again she did not resist.
Eventually, she said, “It has stopped raining, my lord.” She snuggled her face into his waistcoat. He didn’t want to let her go.
Propriety nudged him finally, and, moving out from under the tree, he looked around. Fortunately this part of the park was deserted. She shrugged off his coat and handed it to him.
No sooner had she done so than they spotted a footman in the Wellingham livery hustling toward them. “My lord, you have an urgent message from Wellingham House. Your immediate presence is required.”
Puzzled, Tony endeavored with difficulty to move beyond his amorous mood. He took the note from the footman.
Wellingham House
Strangeways,
Discovered this morning that my library has been burgled. Will explain when you come. Discretion advised.
W.
Tony folded the note and stuck it inside his jacket pocket. His mind whirled. Stealing government secrets was a hanging offense. Was it Sagethorn? Or Virginia?
His heart dropped, and his hands were cold with dread.
“What is it?” his companion asked, her voice alarmed.
“Bad news, I’m afraid. I must be off. My good man, will you be so good as to see Miss Livingstone back to her aunt’s?”
“I’m sorry,” said Virginia softly. “I hope all will be well.”
He felt her trying to engage his eyes, but he avoided her look, leaving her standing on the paving stones staring after him.
* * *
“We are looking at someone skilled who opened the window and climbed in here sometime in the early hours of the morning,” Beau said. “They knew exactly which window to choose and made off with my entire leather portfolio of notes from the Foreign Office.”
Tony looked around the library. The large mahogany desk had clearly been disturbed, and the window in question was still open, a breeze blowing papers all over the floor. “How serious is the breach?” he asked, dread filling him like a noxious gas.
His friend looked at him. “Last night was by way of a trap. I suspected Miss Livingstone would find a way to get into my library and make off with my papers. I filled my folio with information that is a year old. It won’t do anyone any good at all.”
Tony put a hand to his forehead, trying to stifle his anger toward his friend. “You are too fast off the mark with your conclusions. There is an element here you are unaware of.”
“Come now, man. You can’t think to protect her!”
“There is a far better suspect. An American named Sagethorn. I have been having a runner follow him.” Tony explained what he knew about the down-at-the-heels American.
“You are blind!” exclaimed Beau with heat. “Obviously the man recruited your Miss Livingstone.”
“Do me the favor of waiting to take any action until I have been in touch with my Mr. Sandby, the runner following Sagethorn. He is a far more likely candidate, believe me.”
His Mysterious Lady, A Regency Romance (Three Gentlemen of London Book 2) Page 15
