The Seduction of Lady X

by Julia London

  Edward was the worst. When he entered the dining room, he’d cast his arms wide. “Ah, my darling wife.” He’d put his arms around her and kissed her mouth hard, much to the delight of the others. When he lifted his head, it was a miracle that Olivia managed to keep from dragging her hand across her mouth to wipe the kiss from her lips.

  “Did I tell you that David has missed you?” Edward asked loudly as he walked a bit unevenly to his seat. He waved away the footman who was there to pull out his chair. “He insisted on coming to Everdon Court just to see you.”

  “As I recall, you insisted that I come,” David said as he helped Olivia into her seat. “You specifically threatened my stipend,” he added, and fell into a chair next to Olivia. “He tortures me, Olivia. If it were not for you, I’d not abide him.”

  Olivia smiled.

  David put his hand on his chin and smiled up at her. “How lovely you are, my dear. I’ve always thought you the handsomest of women. And with such a sunny disposition, as well. How fortunate that I may enjoy the favor of your smile and your conversation during my meal.”

  “You are always so very flattering, my lord,” Olivia said. “One cannot help but wonder if you come by that talent naturally, or if you practice it in various dining rooms and salons in London.”

  “So fair, and yet so skeptical.”

  “I have known you several years,” she said with a slight wink.

  David laughed and brought her hand to his lips, kissing her knuckles. “I do adore you, Olivia.”

  “Where is your sister?” Edward demanded as he lifted his wineglass to be filled.

  “Yes, where is that comely sister of yours?” David asked, looking around the room.

  “She has taken to her bed with a headache,” Olivia said, and Edward snorted.

  “And Tolly?” David asked. “Where has our man Tolly gotten off to?”

  “What are you waiting for?” Edward barked at one of the footmen, who stood patiently at his side, waiting for him to approve the wine. “Fill the glasses, man!”

  The footman hurried to do so.

  “I am in deep despair, Olivia,” David said with big, doleful eyes. “My brother tells me I have entered dun territory and threatens my stipend. But I have every confidence Mr. Tolly will set it all to rights.”

  “You should learn to keep your coin in your pockets instead of spreading it among the light-skirts of London,” Edward scoffed.

  “Do you blame me?” David asked cheerfully. “I haven’t the luxury of having a comely wife to occupy my bed.”

  Olivia flushed.

  David chuckled and winked at her.

  “Fennick, what of Basingham? What’s this I hear of his debts?” Edward asked, and lifted his wineglass to his lips, drinking as if it were water.

  Olivia glanced to the window as the men talked. She could hear the rain falling in great swaths, soaking Everdon Court and everything around it. She pictured the house floating down the valley toward the sea, pictured herself on the roof, jumping onto a rock just as the house was flushed out into the sea. And she imagined watching the whole thing sink, whiskey bottles popping up to the surface when the house had gone down.

  After a meal that seemed to stretch on forever, port was at last served. It was a wonder to Olivia that Edward could manage to remain seated.

  She was debating how and when to make her escape when David leaned over to her. “What are you thinking?”

  Olivia looked at his dancing eyes. “I am thinking that you are all quite foxed,” she whispered back.

  He laughed and lifted his glass in a mock toast. “There is nothing to be done for it, I fear. When four men are confined to the house because of rain, they cannot help but fill their cups and think of life.”

  She laughed. “What a curious thing to think about when one is filling one’s cup.”

  “Tell me something,” he said, planting his arms on the table. “Has your sister any suitors? Anyone in particular that she esteems? She is handsome, and my brother informs me I am in need of a wife. Come now, tell me. Has she set her sights on anyone in particular?”

  Oh dear God, this the last thing Olivia could endure. “I cannot rightly say.”

  “You can,” David said, touching her arm. “You are her sister. What do you think? Would she find a man in dire financial straits appealing?” He laughed at his jest.

  “I don’t know,” Olivia said, laughing too. “But in truth, I think there is someone she esteems. She’s been quite coy about it, really, but I rather think so.”

  David’s eyes narrowed suspiciously. “I am an earl and I come from a distinguished family. Is her interest in someone with a better position than that?”

  “I cannot say,” Olivia said, “but I shall inquire.”

  “That is all I ask,” he said. “You know me well, Olivia. We are good friends, you and I. You know that I would not enter into matrimony with someone who is not comely, or whom I cannot speak to. I can speak to you. You’ve always been very frank. I want someone like you to be my wife.” He grinned, as if that should please her beyond measure. “You will help me, won’t you?”

  “If I can,” Olivia said.

  Apparently satisfied with that, David leaned back in his chair. “Cards, gentlemen,” he said loudly. “Shall we have a round or two?”

  “I thought you’d never ask,” Fennick said.

  Olivia’s gaze happened to meet Edward’s.

  He was glaring at her, which was her cue to leave. She stood from her chair, nodding to the footman, who hurried to pull it back. “Gentlemen, if you will excuse me, I will leave you to your cheroots and your cards.”

  The men all stood with varying levels of success as Olivia quit the room, her gaze straight ahead.

  In her suite, Olivia removed her jewelry and headpiece, debating if she would even mention David’s interest to Alexa. She was working the stubborn clasp of her bracelet when the door opened and Edward stumbled in.

  Olivia gasped with surprise; then braced herself, prepared for anything. Prepared for the worst.

  Edward steadied himself on a chair; his gaze raked over her. He very clumsily began to tug at the knot of his neck cloth. “Lady Carey,” he said, slurring her name slightly, “I cannot discern from your expression if you are pleased to see your husband or not.”

  “Nor can I tell from your expression if you are pleased to see me,” she said warily.

  “Me?” His hold on the chair slipped; he caught himself again. “I cannot imagine what you mean. I am always happy to see you, Olivia. And I am always hopeful that you will become the wife I deserve.”

  Olivia’s blood instantly ran cold.

  “You came quite close to it this evening, I must say,” he added as he gave up the untying of his neck cloth and concentrated on making his way to her bed. “A more charming hostess I could not ask for.” He fell onto his back on her bed, hitching himself up on to the pillows and crossing his feet at the ankles. He smiled at her and patted the bed beside him. “Come here, my love.”

  No, no, not this, not now.

  “Why do you hesitate?” he asked coolly.

  Olivia swallowed down a swell of revulsion and walked across the room. She sat carefully on the bed next to him.

  Edward stroked her arm. His glassy-eyed look told her that he was terribly inebriated. She just wanted it over with. The sooner he’d attempted what he’d come for and grew frustrated with his inability, the sooner he would leave.

  “I saw a different side of you tonight,” he said thickly. “Kind. Gracious. It made me wonder what I must do to enjoy that lovely countenance at my table every day. Hmmm?” he asked, and wrapped his fingers around her forearm.

  Perhaps if he did not strike her, or take her without her consent, she might feel more inclined to smile at him.

  “Have you no thoughts, precious?”

  Precious? The word, spoken with his port-soaked breath, made her nauseous. “Perhaps kindness is reciprocated.”

  He squinted
at her, and his head lolled to one side. “Am I not kind?”

  She looked away from him, unwilling to have this ridiculous conversation.

  “So that is my failing as a husband,” he said, and chuckled as he clumsily righted himself once more. “I have not been kind!” The mattress sagged as he moved closer to her, propping himself up on one elbow. “I vow to be kinder,” he said, and pulled a hairpin from her coif. One thick tress tumbled down. “I shall be as kind as a man can be to a wife. The kindest man of all.” He pulled another pin free, and more hair tumbled down.

  Olivia braced herself for what was to come. She’d taught herself that if she would relax, the discomfort was not as great.

  “I will . . . lavish,” he said, searching for the word. “Yes, lavish my attention on you, wife. Is that what you want?” he asked, and with an arm around her shoulders, he dragged her down onto her back.

  Olivia lay on her back, staring up at the ceiling. Edward touched his finger to the mark on her lip. It had almost disappeared in his absence. “That was not very kind, was it?”

  “No.”

  “I should not have done it,” he said, and stroked her cheek. “I am sorry, Olivia. Truly sorry for it. But neither should you provoke me.”

  She bristled at the notion that she had somehow provoked him. She was always careful not to provoke him. But Edward was smiling magnanimously, as if he’d just shown her the kindness he had spoken of, and Olivia could not let it pass. “Does that include my breathing?” she asked simply.

  His nostrils flared. But his smile remained. “Dearest Olivia,” he sighed, and kissed her cheek. He smelled as if he’d bathed in port and sweat. “My foolish little wife,” he said, and kissed her lips. His mouth was nauseatingly sticky and warm.

  “I will be kind and gentle with you, my love . . . unless you find my brother more to your liking? Say the word, and I shall invite him into your bed.”

  Every fiber in Olivia tensed. “What nonsense is this?”

  “Would you like David to put his cock inside you?”

  Olivia cried out and instantly tried to roll away from him, but Edward moved surprisingly fast for being as drunk as he was, pinning her half with his body and half with one arm. “Do you think David would be kinder than me?”

  “Stop this, Edward!” she cried, and shoved against him.

  “Do you know, can you guess, how humiliating it was for me to watch you smile at him? And speak to him as if you share a secret?”

  She shoved him again, and Edward fell onto his side. “He is your brother! Therefore, he is a brother to me,” she said angrily. “How dare you suggest anything so vile!”

  “Do not lie to me, Olivia,” he said, and grabbed her around the waist, flipping her on to her belly. “I cannot bear to look at you,” he muttered, and started to paw for the hem of her gown.

  Something burst in Olivia; she reared up and hit him hard in the ear with her elbow. Edward cried out in pain and let go of her to grab his ear. She twisted about and shoved him as hard as she could.

  Too close to the edge of the bed, Edward toppled off, hitting his head on the nightstand.

  Olivia cried out and leapt to her feet. She leaned over him, afraid to touch him. Had she killed him? She knelt down, lifted her hand to touch his neck—

  Edward suddenly moaned and put his hand to his head. “Bloody hell,” he muttered, and rolled onto his side.

  Olivia clambered to her feet and fled her suite. In the hallway, she looked wildly about. She dared not run toward the main staircase—she had no idea where his guests were. She ran for the servant stairs.

  There were no candles lit, so using her hands, Olivia felt her way down to the ground floor, her steps soundless on the carpet runner.

  On the ground floor she paused to catch her breath, pressing her hand to her heart to contain its wild beating. She strained to hear any sound that would indicate Edward was coming after her, but could hear nothing.

  It was dark in the hallway; she slowly started walking. She would walk the full length of the house to the library and sit on the couch there until she could think what to do next. She could hear the gentlemen laughing and chatting in the small salon, the clink of glasses, the smell of tobacco . . . and what sounded like snoring.

  Olivia slowed her step and quickly pulled down the last of her hair from the chignon she’d worn earlier; she then wrapped one long tress around the rest to make a tail, which she draped over her shoulder. She took several deep breaths to slow her heart. When she was as calm as she could be, given the circumstances, she continued down the hall, intending to dart past the small salon without being noticed. But as she moved, she heard Harrison’s voice.

  That stopped her mid-stride.

  “For the love of God,” she heard David say. “The game is impossible with three. Tolly, go and fetch the marquis so that we might have a fourth and finish the game.”

  “I hardly think he’ll be any help,” Keddington said laughingly. “He could scarcely hold his hand as it was.”

  Olivia stepped forward and peeked into the salon. David, Keddington, and Harrison were seated at the gaming table. Lord Fennick was sprawled on the settee, one arm dangling off, and he was snoring.

  Olivia suddenly had an idea. She’d take Edward’s place. If he awoke, she would say she’d been here. She’d make him think the whole thing was a drunken dream. She stepped into the room.

  Harrison glanced up, and his eyes sparked when he saw her. One brow rose in silent question. There was no place she felt safer than near him, and Olivia moved forward, clearing her throat.

  David and Keddington twisted about; Keddington clumsily gained his feet and looked sheepishly at Fennick.

  “Good evening, sirs.” She shifted her gaze to Fennick.

  David had managed his feet by this time and laughed. “You must not mind him.”

  Olivia nodded. “What are you playing?”

  “Commerce,” David said. “A tedious game with only three players. Will you be a love and go and fetch that foxed brother of mine?”

  Olivia smiled and clasped her hands behind her back as she eyed the coins stacked at their elbows. “I hardly think I could rouse him if I tried.”

  “If I may, my lord,” Harrison said without looking up from his cards, “Lady Carey is quite an expert player.”

  “Well now,” David said, eyeing Olivia. “Have you any stakes, Lady Carey?”

  She held up her arm, from which the diamond bracelet with the stubborn clasp still dangled. “I do.”

  Keddington looked surprised; Harrison laughed.

  “You won’t mind partnering with your steward, will you?” David asked.

  Olivia smiled at Harrison. “I cannot think of anyone I would rather partner with,” she said.

  David grinned and casually kicked a chair back for her.

  This wretched evening was beginning to turn around.

  As luck would have it, Olivia and Harrison won the first round because of a mistake Lord Keddington made.

  “Good God, man,” David complained. “We are playing against a lady and her steward. If we cannot win against them, what good are we?”

  “My lord, a person’s gender or occupation does not determine their skill at cards,” Olivia said, and trumped the card he’d played to open the next set.

  “Your point is well taken, madam,” Keddington said, and trumped her card.

  “I suppose I should count myself as fortunate that I am able to stand upright at all,” said Harrison, and to Olivia’s delight, took the set. “Well played, Lady Carey.”

  “The credit is all yours, Mr. Tolly,” she said with a gracious incline of her head, and raked the pot to her side.

  They played a few more rounds, Olivia and Harrison winning more of them. When it was Harrison’s turn to deal the cards, Olivia excused herself and went to the sideboard for water. As she poured some into a glass, Lord Keddington said, “If I may be so bold, madam . . . but has your sister settled on a suitor?”

/>   The question startled her. “Ah . . .” She turned around. Harrison was dealing the cards, but she could see him fighting a smile.

  “A very interesting question, my lord,” Olivia said as she walked back to the card table.

  “Save your breath, Keddington,” said David. “I’ve already inquired.”

  Harrison suddenly looked as if he’d choked, and Olivia had a devil of a time keeping herself from laughing. It was all so impossible! It was a tale fit for a stage! “While she has not said anything to me,” Olivia said, “I rather think she has.”

  David and Keddington both looked quizzically at her. “Who?” David demanded. “I know you well, Olivia, and I know you are keeping a secret. You claim not to know who it is, but I think you do. Who the devil is it?”

  Olivia smiled at Harrison. “Surely you do not ask me to break my sister’s confidence, my lord,” she said sweetly. “Perhaps I do more know than I can say. The only thing I can tell you is that the gentleman is quite handsome and very kind.”

  “I don’t give a damn if he is an angel. What is his fortune?” David demanded.

  “Oh, that, I cannot say,” Olivia demurred, and smiled devilishly at David’s snort of impatience. “It would be untoward of me to inquire.”

  “I think I know who you mean,” Harrison said suddenly, surprising Olivia. “Bit of a foolish chap, is he not?”

  “Perhaps a wee bit,” Olivia agreed. “But he means well.”

  “A sycophant, is he?” Keddington said irritably as he threw down his card.

  Harrison laughed outright. “While her ladyship’s sentiment is pleasing, I have long suspected the gentleman’s trouble is his mouth. Seems to flap about without benefit of thought.”

  “Sometimes one can think entirely too much before speaking,” Olivia countered. “I rather enjoy his lack of judgment.”

  Harrison smiled so fondly at her that she shivered. “I suspect he enjoys making you smile with his nonsense.”