The Wagered Heart: Signet Regency Romance (InterMix)

by Rhonda Woodward

  Knowing from past experience that sometimes Caro spoke before thinking, Julia hoped her cousin would not blurt out something foolish.

  Before anything other than pleasantries could be exchanged, Clive’s mama called to him. Bowing to Julia and the duke, he took a very reluctant Caro off with him.

  Now that she found herself relatively private with the duke, Julia could not think of a thing to say that sounded the least bit beguiling.

  “You are certainly an interesting young lady, Miss Allard.”

  “Oh? How so, Your Grace?” She looked up at him with a twinkle in her eye, relieved that he started the conversation.

  “I would have wagered a good sum of money that, before this evening, you did not hold me in high regard,” he said in a languid tone.

  “And now you think I do not?” she teased, watching his left eyebrow lift at her words.

  “I confess that you leave me curious. But if you have forgiven me for…er…our encounter in London last year, then I own I’d be excessively pleased.”

  Feeling as if she might choke on the words, Julia made a great effort to smile up at him. “Of course I have, Your Grace. Did you not make the prettiest speech when you apologized to me? I understand completely that it was just a high-spirited lark. Please, do not give it another thought.”

  At the hint of a frown between his brows and the assessing light that entered his eyes, Julia wondered if she had done the thing too brown. Her heart skipped at the thought of giving herself away this early in the game.

  “You are exceedingly generous. I wonder if I would be were I in your shoes.”

  “I’m sure you would be, but that’s behind us now. Tell me, Your Grace, are you intending to stay in Bath for the Season?” She opened her fan and waved it in a languid manner, doing her best to gaze at him with avid interest.

  He continued to look at her with a contemplative expression before answering.

  “I believe I shall. Bath is quite restful compared to the feverish pace of London.”

  Shrugging lightly, she continued to wave her fan and attempted to keep her tone of voice airy. “I would not know.” Watch yourself, my girl, his left brow went up again. She smiled at him to dispel any hint of coldness in her response.

  “You do not like London?”

  “I was only there a short while. But I very much like Bath, and have been having a delightful visit with my cousin and her husband.”

  “Lord and Lady Farren are indeed delightful; I am pleased to make their acquaintance. May I ask where you call home, Miss Allard?”

  “I live on the outskirts of Chippenham, with my aunt and uncle. My uncle is not fond of being away from home, so I have come to visit Lord and Lady Farren without them.”

  “They must miss you.”

  “I hope so. But it is nice to be away. I shall have much to share when I return home.”

  “And what sorts of amusements have you discovered in Bath?”

  “Any number of delightful entertainments. We ride, walk, visit, and shop. We go to parties and the assemblies at the Upper Rooms and to the Gardens when they have concerts.” She finished, prodigiously pleased that he had not yet left her side.

  “I believe there is going to be a special gala night at Sydney Gardens in honor of Princess Charlotte’s wedding,” the duke put in, smiling down at her.

  “Yes, it promises to be memorable—they are planning a grand display of fireworks.”

  “Then hopefully we shall see each other there. But before then, would you care to join me in a carriage ride? We could go to one of the parks and indulge your love of walking.”

  “That would be delightful, Your Grace, thank you,” she said, looking into his eyes, wondering at the hint of amusement lingering there.

  “Would Thursday suit?”

  “Perfectly.”

  “Until then,” he said before bowing and leaving her side.

  Watching his tall, broad-shouldered frame weave through the crowd, Julia’s heart raced with exhilaration and fear.

  Chapter Eleven

  G aining the privacy of her bedchamber, Julia shut the door and leaned against it. With her eyes tightly closed, she relived those few moments of dancing with the duke and marveled. Could she truly have flirted with that dastard?

  Pushing away from the door, she walked to the middle of the room and pressed her fingers to her hot cheeks. Catching sight of her reflection in the small looking glass on her dressing table, she was almost startled to see that her eyes were glowing with an unfamiliar intensity.

  Hearing a knock, she whirled around to see Caro enter. Julia knew Caro would not be able to wait until morning to discuss the evening’s events. On the way home, Caro had stared at her in concerned confusion while Clive chattered about how honored his mother was to have the duke and Lady Fallbrook grace her ball. Not wanting to say anything in front of Clive, Julia had remained silent during the drive home.

  Now her eyes met her cousin’s troubled gaze. Caro approached, her hands spread wide in supplication. “I thought my eyes were deceiving me when I saw the duke leading you to the floor. What in the world has caused you to change your opinion of him?”

  A blush rose to Julia’s cheeks. “Nothing.”

  “Nothing? Then why did you dance with him? Why were you behaving as if you welcomed his attention?” Caro’s tone conveyed how baffled she felt at her cousin’s inexplicable behavior.

  Julia could not answer. For several moments the only sound in the room was the muted rustling of her gown as she paced the floor. Julia struggled for the words to explain her incongruent behavior.

  Here, in the familiar coziness of her bedroom, her earlier behavior seemed unexplainable, her reasons unsupportable. Now she could scarce believe what she was contemplating.

  Reaching the end of the room, she turned back and saw the concern plainly evident on her cousin’s delicate features.

  “Oh, Caro, I just could not stand it another moment.”

  “Stand what?”

  “The Duke of Kelbourne! The way he is so insufferably sure of himself. I have tried to rise above my anger and forget. I might even have been able to if I had not met him again. But it is different now.”

  “But, Julia, he apologized to you, does that not count for something? Besides, what does this have to do with your surprising change of attitude this evening?”

  “I do not know how to describe what happened. I saw him standing there, the lord of all he surveys, everyone practically bowing and scraping.” Julia’s tone took on a scathing edge. “All I could think of was how he had smiled when he apologized so flippantly to me. As I watched him tonight, I felt an overwhelming feeling of anger. I wanted more than anything to give him a taste of the damage he caused—to make him pay for his thoughtless arrogance. I kept thinking how I could have been ruined by his so-called lark. Because of his selfish actions, I have been gossiped about, and my aunt and uncle have been forced to prevaricate about my sudden return from London. My anger just kept growing. Of a sudden, inspiration struck and I realized I might be able to teach him a lesson after all.”

  “How?” Caro’s tone was hushed with rapt attention, completely absorbed by the intensity of her cousin’s emotions.

  “He thought me pretty enough to use me to fulfill his bet—if I could capture his interest…”

  “And make him fall in love with you and then break his heart!” Caro interjected sharply.

  The look of shock on her cousin’s face caused Julia an instant of shame.

  She plowed ahead with a shake of her head. “The high-and-mighty Duke of Kelbourne would never allow himself to be so human as to fall in love. But I believe I can make him desire me.”

  “Desire!” Stunned, Caro slowly lowered herself on the dressing-table chair. “Julia, I have never heard you speak like this. You must stop this at once,” she said, her voice rising in alarm.

  “I know you are right, but I cannot. I feel I must see it through.”

  “But it is so
reckless—so unlike you. What of your reputation? If you flirt too openly with the duke, you will be called fast.”

  “I do not care,” Julia said, her jaw set with uncharacteristic defiance, and resumed her pacing. “My reputation is already in question because of him. Believe me, I do not take what I have started this evening lightly. I have never done anything so daring in my life. But as much as I shock myself, I must admit that I have no desire to stop.”

  “You astonish me! I hardly know you.”

  Julia turned earnest eyes to her troubled cousin. “Truly, Caro? Cannot you understand how I feel, at least a little bit?”

  Biting her lip, Caro looked into her cousin’s eyes. Julia held her breath in the tense silence. Caro’s inner struggle was evidenced by her conflicted expression.

  “You will not do anything truly foolish, will you?” Caro implored.

  Suddenly very tired, Julia offered a wan smile. “In truth, I am not planning to do anything. He will likely go on to another lark, and this will all come to naught.”

  “I confess I hope that’s true. But I must admit that I can understand how you feel—I am just worried that you will be hurt.”

  Moving to her cousin, Julia embraced her and gave a little laugh. “That man has hurt me once, I shall not let him do so again. Do not worry, I have no intention of doing anything too foolish. I am sure the best I can hope to do is prick his pride.”

  “Somehow, I think you are underestimating the risk you are taking. But we shall not speak of this anymore tonight.” Caro kissed Julia’s cheek and gave her one last concerned look before bidding good night.

  After the door closed behind her cousin, Julia stood in the middle of her room for several moments, a frown between her brows as she contemplated what she had begun.

  Lingering over a late breakfast the next morning, Julia was relieved to be alone with her thoughts. Earlier, Caro and Clive had invited her on an outing, but Julia had declined, preferring to spend the day quietly.

  When she had almost completed her breakfast, the butler brought in a letter and placed it next to her plate. Curiously, she opened the missive and read it with dawning pleasure.

  At last, she whispered to herself, setting aside her napkin. Suddenly, the urge to see her friend propelled her out of the chair and back up the stairs. Sweeping into her room, she found her maid tidying things up.

  “Harper, I shall need my blue gown, the new one with the fawn-colored pelisse. We are going to…”—she glanced down at the letter still in her hand—“York House. Mrs. Thorncroft and her daughter have taken rooms there, and I wish to visit them this morning.”

  “Very good, miss.” Harper abandoned straightening the bedclothes and went to the wardrobe.

  A short while later, with her maid in tow, Julia headed out the front door into the bright spring sun. In her great desire to see her friend, she did not bother to wait for the butler to call a carriage for her. Long strides took her up the cobbled street, and she took note that the sky was painted with a multitude of feathery white clouds. At least the day did not seem to be threatening rain.

  Upon entering the elegant little inn, a man she assumed was the proprietor approached, bowed, and bid her good afternoon.

  After acknowledging his greeting with an inclination of her head, Julia asked that Miss Thorncroft be informed of her arrival. “I am Miss Allard.”

  “Ah, Miss Allard,” said the plump, well-dressed man. “Miss Thorncroft is expecting you. If you will come this way, I shall show you to the private sitting room, where Miss Thorncroft awaits you.”

  Following him down a short hallway, Julia thought it was just like her friend to instinctively know that Julia would come to her straightaway.

  The man opened the door and announced Julia. Looking past him, Julia was relieved to see that Mariah was alone.

  The man stood back, and Julia walked past him into the room with Harper close behind. After the man bowed himself out, Harper went to a chair in the far corner and took out her sewing bag. Julia rushed to where Mariah stood in front of the bow window, looking exquisite in a cream and lace gown, and embraced her old friend.

  “Mariah, you have no notion of how glad I am that you are here! You must forgive me if I forgo the niceties and instantly tell you my news.”

  Pulling back, Mariah’s eyes were alight with pleasure mingled with curiosity. “Yes, yes, sit next to me and tell me everything. I have been feeling very curious since your last letter, when you wrote that you had much to tell me that you did not want to put on paper.”

  They sat together on the settee, and Julia launched into her story, starting with the unexpected encounter with the duke at Sydney Gardens and ending with the ball at Lady Farren’s last night. As she spoke, Julia watched the surprise and concern cross her friend’s features.

  “Good heavens! I am agog and scarce know what to say! Are you truly going to continue with your plan when you meet him the day after tomorrow?”

  “Yes! As bad as it makes me seem, I want to teach him a lesson, if I can. Do you think I am awful?”

  “Oh, my dear, do not be a goose! All these years we have known one another, you have been the truly good one. How many times have you discouraged me from some madcap scheme or another? You have always been everything prudent and wise. But this business with the insufferable duke is enough to try the fortitude of a saint. Besides, he deserves to be taught a lesson after what he did to you.”

  Relieved that she had the full support of her friend, Julia smiled to herself, marveling at the difference in Mariah’s reaction compared to Caro’s. Julia knew she should not have been surprised, for Mariah had always been up to every rig and row.

  “Mariah, you must help me decide what to do next—I haven’t the faintest notion of how to go on.”

  “Well, I don’t have much of an idea either. I think you have done very well on your own.”

  “Yes, but I want to go about this the right way. I want him on his knees before me, so that I can turn my nose up and say, ‘Oh, my dear duke, it was just a lark!’”

  Mariah clapped her hands at this cunning plan and laughed at the haughty look Julia affected so well. “I know it’s appalling to admit, but this is all so deliciously exciting. I cannot wait to see the look on the duke’s face. This is a much more fitting revenge than boiling him in oil.”

  With a sigh, Julia relaxed against the settee cushions. “Only if it works. I admit he is paying attention, but that’s a far cry from forming a tendre for me.”

  “I agree. Now, let us see…” Mariah tapped her chin in concentration. “My brothers become crazed if the ladies they are pursuing go for drives with other men, or waltz with someone else.”

  Julia contemplated Mariah’s words. “Hmm, there are not very many eligible candidates to make him jealous. There is Mr. Dillingham, but as attractive as he is, he certainly is in no way a threat to someone like the duke.”

  “Well, I do not think it signifies that this Mr. Dillingham, or any other man for that matter, does not compare to the duke. The duke is so puffed up by his own consequence that he shall be driven to distraction by jealousy if, after showing a partiality to him, you suddenly behave as if you prefer someone else. But your plan will fizzle like damp fireworks if the duke is too sure of you—or if he gets the slightest hint of what you are about.”

  Julia looked at her friend with a hint of awe. “You are very good at this, Mariah. I do not know what I would do without you. What if, after our drive on Thursday, I am suddenly not at home to the illustrious Duke of Kelbourne?”

  “Very good!” Mariah nodded her approval. “He shall wonder why you are not available to his delightful personage, and his conceit will drive him to pursue you more earnestly.”

  “Brilliant! I feel ever so much better now that you are here helping with my plan. I shall not think any further than Thursday, or I might lose my nerve.”

  “I think that is best. After your ride with the duke, we shall put our heads together again and
decide what to do next.”

  Smiling, Julia sighed with relief. “Now, enough about my little drama. You must tell me how you managed to convince your mama to come here instead of going to London.”

  “It was not difficult at all. Since we really do not know anyone of any importance in London, once we received the invitation from Lady Farren, Mama was quite pleased to come to Bath.”

  “Good, then she will not be in any hurry to leave.”

  “Not at all. Please say you will stay for luncheon.” Mariah’s tone made it clear that she would not take no for an answer.

  “I would be delighted. Will your mama be joining us?”

  “Alas not, she is fatigued today and will probably not appear until dinner. Just as well, I think we should discuss how you are going to behave with the duke on Thursday.”

  “An excellent idea. I thought I might practice some of the flirtatious things I have thought of to say to the duke. I very much wish to be prepared.”

  “You are wise. That way they will sound more natural.” Mariah smiled and added, “I have missed you. I do not care what the fashionable world says; Bath is wonderful and I know we shall have a merry time.”

  “Indeed,” Julia said as a voice deep in the recesses of her heart whispered words of warning.

  Chapter Twelve

  “P lease hurry, Harper, I wish to be in the salon when His Grace arrives.”

  “I am on the last button, miss,” the maid said, her nimble fingers working quickly. “There!”

  With a nod of thanks, Julia picked up her reticule and moved to the dressing table, making one last check of her appearance in the mirror.

  She was pleased that she had taken Mariah’s advice and worn the new mulberry-colored sarsenet walking dress and dove gray spencer. Several months ago, when Julia had the ensemble made, the dressmaker had stated that the treble quilling of satin ribbon at the cuffed sleeves was the height of fashion. Julia hoped so, for she felt it was imperative that she look smart.