Caroline hesitated a moment, then placed her fingertips on it. His skin was warm and his grasp firm as he raised her to her feet. She felt a tiny shiver run down her spine. Had she just made a great mistake?
Lord Gresham seemed to have some inkling of her emotions, for he squeezed her hand gently as he led her toward the center of the room. “Don’t worry, I won’t ravish you. It’s far too public a spot,” he murmured.
“My lord,” she protested, trying to snatch her hand away.
“Hush,” he said softly. “It was a jest. I know you have a sense of humor somewhere. Perhaps if you search a bit you can retrieve it.”
Caroline glanced around. They were about to join the dancers; it would be noticed and remarked on if she were to flee now. She satisfied herself with shooting Lord Gresham a furious glance.
“Come, try to enjoy yourself,” he whispered. “It’s not so very hard.”
He grasped her hand more firmly as they moved into the dance. It was a formal measure, and Caroline was surprised at how gracefully he moved and how well he knew the ornate steps. Of course, she reflected dryly, he was a renowned seducer of women, and what better way to make a good impression than by excelling on the dance floor?
“What are you thinking about?” asked Lord Gresham. “You look as though you are sucking on a lemon. Surely dancing with me isn’t actually painful.”
Caroline started. She had been so intent on her thoughts that she had not realized the steps had brought them close enough for conversation. Lord Gresham reached out and took her hand, and she resolutely ignored the tingling sensation this caused.
“Of course not, “she replied. “I was minding my steps. I dance so little these days.”
Lord Gresham laughed at that. “No, do try to think of another lie to tell me. I must suppose you have known these steps since you were a babe. You dance beautifully.”
Caroline flushed at the compliment and mentally berated herself. She was letting Lord Gresham’s practiced blandishments upset her. Perhaps Allegra was right, and she needed to be out in Society more, so that the admiration of gentlemen was not so unfamiliar to her.
“Thank you,” she said repressively. “I might say the same of you.”
“An excellent partner always makes me appear at my best,” responded Lord Gresham, and Caroline was grateful that the steps of the dance moved them too far apart to talk. Really, the man was too annoying.
Lord Gresham made unexceptionable conversation through the rest of the dance, but Caroline answered monosyllabically, hoping to dampen his interest. To her chagrin, she noted that he seemed to be increasingly amused by her attempts to block his conversational gambits.
“Why ever did you agree to dance with me?” he asked finally. “You look acutely uncomfortable. The ton will think I’ve lost my social graces.”
Caroline decided to make a clean breast of the matter. “I’m sorry if your reputation is suffering, my lord. If you must know, I agreed to dance with you because the duchess made me promise to dance with the next man who asked me.”
“Oh.” Gresham’s eyes twinkled. “So this is solely to teach your meddlesome sister-in-law Allegra a lesson, is it?”
“I thought it might stop her from pestering me in the future,” Caroline admitted.
“I hope you may not come to regret your rashness.” His voice was teasing. “It seems to me you are being very adventurous tonight.”
“Don’t mock me,” said Caroline crossly. “You have no idea how eager the gossips are to find fresh topics of conversation.”
“On the contrary, I have vast experience with them, as you certainly know. I usually ignore them.”
“But you are a man, and gossip only enhances your reputation,” responded Caroline. “As a woman, mine would be ruined.”
“If you do nothing you are ashamed of, then you needn’t fear what the gossips say,” countered Lord Gresham. “They will talk anyway. The only person you need to please is yourself.”
“And so you have done nothing of which you are ashamed?” asked Caroline, thinking of the countless stories she had heard of his exploits and his near destruction of her brother and sister-in-law’s marriage.
“Certainly one or two things,” he responded. “I have not always been kind, and I have frequently been selfish. But I didn’t say I took my own advice.”
The music stopped as Caro’s green eyes met his gray ones. The mocking look was gone from his face and for a moment the chatter in the room seemed to fade away.
“What in the devil is going on here?”
Caroline jumped, and saw to her horror that Lord Gresham had brought them to a halt in front of Adam and Allegra. Adam was glowering like a thundercloud while Allegra fluttered next to him, obviously anxious to avoid a scene.
“Adam, please don’t fuss,” began Allegra, but Adam continued.
“Caro, have you lost your mind?” he demanded. “This man is - well, he’s no fit partner for you.”
Gresham assumed a bored countenance; indeed, he looked so smug that Caroline itched to slap him.
“Good evening, Gravesmere,” he said politely. “How are you and your lovely duchess? A pleasure to see you again, Your Grace.” He bowed elegantly in Allegra’s direction.
“Damn it, I won’t have this,” said Adam. He took Caroline’s hand and pulled her to his side. “What do you think you’re doing?”
Caroline’s spirits revived under her younger brother’s criticism. “I’ll dance with whomever I choose, Adam. I’m not your ward. Truth to tell, I’ve rescued you from more scrapes than I can count. Don’t lecture me about proper behavior.”
“Well, that’s rich. I’m not dancing with one of the most notorious rakes in London,” snapped Adam.
“Please, Adam, this is my fault,” said Allegra soothingly. “I encouraged Caro to dance.”
Adam rounded on her. “With Gresham?” he demanded.
“Yes - well, no - I told her to dance with the next man who asked her. It was sort of, well, a challenge.”
“A challenge!” Adam sounded outraged. “What are you two up to?”
“If I might interrupt, this charming family scene is causing a great deal more comment than my perfectly innocent dance with your sister,” said Gresham in a voice dripping with ennui.
Adam stopped and looked around, noting that everyone within twenty feet of their group had stopped talking and was listening openly to their exchange of words.
“Blast.” Adam turned to Gresham. “Stay away from my family,” he snapped out and then turned and walked away, towing Caroline behind him. Allegra gave Gresham a reproving look, and followed in their wake. Caroline glanced back once and saw Gresham gazing after her, an enigmatic look in his eyes as he watched their retreat.
“Adam, don’t make a laughing stock of us all,” Caroline said. “I won’t have you embarrassing me in this fashion. It was just a dance.”
Adam turned to her, his face growing red with annoyance. “Just a dance? Damn it, Caro, that man almost destroyed my marriage not two years ago.”
“No Adam, you almost destroyed your marriage,” she countered. Her voice was low, but she spoke fiercely. “Both you and Allegra behaved like children, and opened the door for Lord Gresham’s mischief. His intentions were less than honorable, but you created your own problems. “
“And that excuses him? Are you touched in the head? Or besotted by the man after one dance?”
“Of course that doesn’t excuse him. But neither does it make all your troubles his fault.” Caroline frowned. “And I am hardly besotted. It was a dance, Adam. Nothing more. I suggest we discuss it no further.”
Adam shook his head. “I certainly have no desire to think about Gresham. With your leave, I’ll call for the carriage. I think we’ve all had enough dancing for one night.”
He turned and stalked out, leaving Caroline and Allegra alone. Allegra sighed.
“Really, Caro, did you have to take me literally? Adam is now in a towering rage.”
“It serves you both right. Adam treats me as if I were our mother, with no need for gaiety, while you act as though I were a dried-up spinster, with no knowledge of the world. Really, I’d like to be left to manage my own affairs. After all, who helped sort out the situation between you and Adam?”
Allegra’s eyes narrowed. “Caro, you don’t have a soft spot for Gresham, do you?”
“Don’t be ridiculous. The man is a rake and a scoundrel.”
“But a very attractive one,” responded Allegra. “I should know; I was very nearly taken in by him. You must be careful.”
“I seem to remember that he didn’t take advantage of you when he could have,” Caroline pointed out. “He sent for me to save your reputation, if you’ll recall.”
Allegra looked at her closely. “Be careful, Caro. Yes, he can be kind when it suits his purposes. But that just makes him all the more dangerous. It makes you think he cares, when he doesn’t. I don’t want you to be his next victim.”
Caroline laughed at that. “Don’t be foolish, Allegra. As though I would be any man’s victim. Come along, Adam will be waiting for us. We don’t need him to be any angrier than he already is.” She swept out of the room without looking behind her, as Allegra followed in her wake, a tiny frown creasing her brows.
Chapter 2
Lord Gresham gazed after Caroline for a moment, and then turned away, his face carefully blank.
“Still trying to cause Gravesmere trouble, are you?” said a voice behind him.
He turned slowly, and looked at the woman who had spoken. His lip curled slightly.
“I don’t believe I need to share my thoughts with you, Lady Manning,” he said. “Or should I say Mrs. Campbell?”
“I use my first husband’s title,” the woman responded, an edge of annoyance in her voice.
“Of course you do,” said Lord Gresham smoothly. “He was an elderly baronet and your second husband was - a wealthy merchant, was he not?”
“Don’t be snobbish - it doesn’t become you,” snapped the woman.
“I am not the one using a courtesy title to conceal my second spouse’s common roots,” observed his lordship. “Were you not snobbish, you would acknowledge your most recent husband. But it hardly matters. What is it you want, Louisa?”
“Why, only to say hello to an old friend,” said Lady Manning. She fluttered her dark lashes at him winningly.
“Louisa, we are not friends. Even when we were lovers, we were never friends,” said Gresham. “I presume you want something from me, or you would not have approached me.”
She shrugged pettishly. “You take the joy out of everything, Tristan,” she said.
“I have no intention of bringing you joy,” he replied.
“And Lady Eskmaine? Do you wish to bring her joy? Or were you simply trying to annoy Gravesmere?”
“I have no interest in Gravesmere,” said Gresham calmly. “But, from your questions, I presume you still do. Leave him be, Louisa. The duke and his wife suffered enough at our hands years ago; they have every right to their happiness.”
Louisa waved a hand airily. “I never think of Gravesmere at all,” she said. “That was long ago.”
“But you have a long memory,” observed Gresham. “He left you, Louisa. I know that rankles. Your hopes of being his duchess were shattered by his little wife.”
“Nonsense,” she replied, her voice tight. “I should thank him. After our ways parted, I found a gentleman who appreciated and loved me.”
“He was also elderly, ill, and very, very rich,” supplied Gresham. “Oh yes, I heard of it, even when I was traveling on the Continent. I thought of you, living in Leeds, so far from the delights of London. How that must have pained you. You don’t appear to be unduly grieved by his demise.”
“I was shattered by his death, of course,” said Louisa. “And after only four months of marriage. Such a pity, but I believe I made him very happy.”
“I’m sure you did,” said Gresham. He eyed her very low cut gown of violet silk, trimmed in white and gold striped brocade, with a wispy golden fichu to lend a semblance of modesty to its deep neckline. “And now you are out of black gloves and appear to be doing very well for yourself.”
“I am very comfortable,” she acknowledged.
“You look it,” Gresham responded. “But still, you do not tell me what it is you want.”
“From you? Nothing,” said Louisa.
“That is good, as I am not likely to give you anything,” said his lordship. He bowed politely and turned away.
She bit her lip. “Tristan…” she said.
He turned back wearily. “Louisa?”
“I thought perhaps you would do me one favor,” she ventured, smiling coquettishly.
“Ah, I surmised you might,” said Gresham. Pensively, he gazed down at her astonishingly violet eyes and lovely face and held up a hand as she opened her mouth to speak. “No, let me guess. It will be far more amusing. You have no need of money, as Mr. Campbell left you a fortune. You have excellent taste in clothing, and enough cleverness to hide the fact that you are not particularly intelligent. So, what is it that you need?”
“That is unkind,” said Louisa.
“Perhaps. But it is true,” said Lord Gresham. He shook his head. “Clearly, the only thing you need is an entrée to polite society. You first marriage was a scandal, and you have been the mistress of several well-known gentlemen, including Gravesmere and me. That perhaps might not have ruined you in the eyes of the ton. After all, a few indiscretions can be forgiven. But then you married a merchant. All your wealth and beauty will not make up for that mistake, Louisa. The finest hostesses will not send invitations to one who smells of the shop.”
Louisa glared at him. “Damn you, Tristan. I am here tonight, I believe.”
“I’m sure you would rather I had not been so blunt, my dear. But I will have plain speaking between us. I don’t know what you think I can do for you, however. My reputation does not bear scrutiny, as you well know.”
“But your breeding is impeccable, and you may go anywhere you choose,” said Louisa. “It is not fair.”
“I suppose it is not, but I do not make the rules,” said Gresham. “And I have no idea why you aspire to the fashionable world. Most of its denizens are petty and unpleasant. Take your money, Louisa, go back to Leeds and enjoy life. Or visit France, and Italy, with a pleasant companion. Hanging about London, hoping the ton will accept you, is the height of folly.”
“I only wish to have what is mine by right,” said Louisa. “My father was a gentleman, and my first husband was a baronet. There is no reason I should not take my place in Society.”
Gresham shrugged. “Reason or not, you will be excluded. Of course, there are plenty of places you can still go; your wealth will open many doors, as will your beauty. But the most exclusive doors will remain closed.”
“Not if I marry again, to a gentleman,” said Louisa.
He raised his eyebrows. “I’m flattered, Louisa, but I hardly think we would deal well together.”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” she snapped.
“I am relieved,” he murmured. “You had me quite terrified.”
She gave him a testy look. “You know I didn’t mean you. But I do mean to find a husband, and I hoped you might speak my praises to your friends. You know so many eligible gentlemen.”
“You wish me to assist you in snaring a third unfortunate man, this time for his lineage?” asked Gresham incredulously.
“I could pay you,” she said.
A look of disdain crossed Gresham’s face. “My dear Louisa, were I in utter poverty I would not help you. But allow me to inform you that I have spent the last years improving my estates and I am now more than comfortable. The lamentable days when I spent my father’s money like water are long gone. I have no need of your fortune.”
Louisa shrugged. “I thought I would ask. What a pity that you seem to be quite reformed. How pleasant it must be for y
ou, looking down on those of us here beneath you.”
Gresham laughed. “Oh, I am still in the muck, like everyone else. I am simply less worried about it than you are.” He shook his head. “Louisa, take my advice and leave this behind. You have all you need to be happy now. Be grateful for that, and do not lay yourself open to further insult.”
“I will find myself a respectable husband, with or without your assistance,” said Louisa fervently.
“It will definitely be without my assistance,” said Gresham. “And now, Louisa, I will be on my way. Please don’t bother me again; you weary me.”
He bowed politely and strolled away, leaving Lady Manning fuming. She eyed his back speculatively as he walked away. She tapped her fan gently against her leg. It would do no harm to keep an eye on Gresham, and perhaps winnow out some useful information.
Caroline slept poorly that night, aggravated by Adam’s continued scolding of her in the carriage on the way home. He had done his best to impress upon her that she must never speak with Lord Gresham again, and she had eventually agreed, simply to keep the peace. When, toward dawn, she did finally sleep, her dreams were haunted by that scandalous gentleman’s mocking smile. She woke late to find sunlight streaming through the curtains; it was surely after ten-o-clock, and she rarely lay abed past eight.
“Drat the man,” she said out loud.
“My lady?” Her Abigail, who was tidying the dressing table, turned towards the bed.
Caroline started. “Nothing,” she said hastily. “I was merely - never mind.”
The maid approached her bed. “Would you care to rise, my lady? A note has arrived from your mother; the footman who delivered it said it was of some urgency.”
“Yes, Beckham, I should get dressed immediately. I have too much to do today to lie about like this. Please prepare the blue sprigged silk dress with the green quilted petticoat. And give me the note.” She held out one slender hand.
The maid handed over the missive, and Caroline propped herself up on her pillows, opening it quickly. If Adam had upset their mother with tales of the previous night’s activities, she would never forgive him. A quick perusal of the note was unenlightening; the dowager Duchess of Gravesmere simply asked her to wait upon her as soon as possible. Caroline sighed at that; the dowager stayed with Adam and Allegra when she was in London, and she had hoped to not cross paths with her brother for a day or two.
Sense & Sensuality: Caroline's After Dark Georgian Romance (The Gravesmeres Book 3) Page 2
