“Who is he?” Nicholas asked when she faced him again.
They were apart again, and she remembered to breathe as she wondered what it all meant.
“Who is that man next to us who has left you so pale and breathless?” Nicholas demanded as they stood again face to face, hands linked, and she could feel his anger as he crushed her fingers in his hand.
“I don’t know who you mean,” she lied.
Then they were all four up, hands abreast and with two steps and a rise, they led up and went the figure through and cast off. She watched Nicholas study the mysterious stranger, and wondered what he could possibly be thinking, for her own thoughts were so scattered.
She prayed for the end of the dance as she stumbled her way through it, conscious of Nicholas’s tight-lipped hostility. She did not look at the young man again, and ignored him completely, but it was too late, she feared. Then the music faded and they clapped hands to the musicians and Nicholas took her arm and steered her out of the ballroom and toward a set of doors that led outside into the gardens. It was cold but the air was exactly what she needed to clear her mind so she could think. She pulled her arm from his hand and he let her go. They stood a short distance from anyone who could overhear them.
“You have replaced me in your bed so soon?” he said.
“And will you strike me again?”
He turned away from her, and she took the moment to compose herself. The last few days had been too much in a year of too much. Her life seemed to only spiral further out of control with every passing week and she seemed unable to prevent it. He turned back to her, his eyes sad.
“It was wrong of me, Georgiana,” he said. “Forgive me.”
“No,” she said angrily. “I will never be treated like that again.”
“You would have your revenge on me then with this boy?”
“I do not know him.”
“And yet you could barely remove your eyes from him.”
It was true, but not for the reasons he thought, and there was nothing she could say to him to explain for she barely understood it herself.
“We must return,” she said finally.
He thought the worst of her and she had to allow it, for she could not explain. It was better this way. She had given him up. What better way than to let him think she had replaced him? She turned away from him and returned to the ballroom.
***
Nicholas watched her go, knowing he had truly lost her. He had taken to sea in hopes he would with time forget her but his heart still raced at the sight of her. He remained outside in the cold air until he could delay no more. He wanted nothing more than to leave, but his duty was to Caroline.
He returned to the ballroom and found his fiancée seated next to her mother, and she seemed greatly relieved when he returned. He was sorry for it. He did not mean to be the cause of her agitation. He was relieved Georgiana was absent and after fetching some punch for Caroline, he seated himself next to her and listened to her talk. He watched her as she spoke of the Countess of Cavan, who had sat with them briefly.
She had a pretty face, he thought, her features creating an overall pleasing effect without drawing attention to one specific aspect. Her lips were not overly full and her eyes were subtle in their beauty. He had kissed her often enough to know her lips were soft and willing and she allowed him to do as he pleased within modest decorum. She was restrained, he knew, because she had been taught that was what a woman was supposed to be. After they were married, he would grow to love her.
He had neglected her for far too long, and the guilt made him lean closer and be more attentive, even as he felt like every breath he took was his last. His chest burned with pain, and he felt the sweat form on his skin. It was far too hot in the ballroom. He thought to loosen his cravat but knew he could not and took instead a deep swallow of his punch.
Dorothea arrived and she brought with her Charles. It was their first public meeting since the night Charles had told Nicholas to leave Georgiana alone. In moments like this one, Nicholas appreciated the endless chatter that woman provided. Charles was polite, he knew, for appearances; he sensed his old friend too wanted to be elsewhere. They both remained for the sake of the social graces.
“You have just missed your sister,” Lady Kingston said. “We are all so pleased to see her in such recovered health.”
“Yes, Georgiana is doing well,” Charles smiled. “We are all pleased with her remarkable progress.”
“How did it come about?” Dorothea asked.
“Her physician, Dr. Milton, informed us that it is not uncommon that some fortunate few, after years of being paralyzed, are sometimes miraculously cured.”
But, why now? Nicholas wondered. Had she finally become tired of the charade or had Edward discovered it? Charles would know, but he was no longer in his confidence, and unlikely to encourage any further interest on his part when it came to his sister.
“There she is,” Lydia said excitedly and pointed her out in a line of dancers on the dance floor.
They all followed her progress as she danced past, stepping down the line with her partner. Nicholas felt himself tense again as he recognized the young man with whom she danced and the jealousy he had felt earlier rose up again and he cursed himself.
“Who is the young man she is dancing with?” Lady Kingston asked.
“Whoever he is, it seems like they are intent upon each other,” Dorothea said. “Do you know him, Charles?”
“I have not made the acquaintance,” Charles said, frowning.
“He is wearing a soldier’s uniform. Is he one of ours?” Lydia asked.
“It’s a foreign uniform. Austrian, I think, a lieutenant in the 1st Light Infantry Regiment,” Charles replied.
“Perhaps he is one of those soldiers attached to the visiting ambassadors,” Caroline ventured.
“They almost look like they are arguing,” Dorothea said, glancing at Charles. “Perhaps he is the mysterious young man to have dueled with Edward before they were married.”
“Dorothea,” Lady Kingston said, shocked her daughter would bring the subject up so openly in polite society.
If Dorothea hoped her indiscretion would lead to a reaction from Charles, she failed. In fact, the statement had the opposite effect, making Charles’ face unreadable. Her own face paled, as she realized the enormity of her mistake. Charles stood stiffly watching someone else across the ballroom and Nicholas followed his gaze to find Edward.
Georgiana was unaware of the attention so focused on her and her partner from not only his group, but her own husband. Edward was watching her with a murderous look, and it only seemed to confirm what Nicholas himself had suspected. She had taken a new lover. This time she was being far less discreet; she was openly flaunting it in her husband’s face.
She had no thought of how the folly of her actions would reflect. Had he allowed himself to be so deceived as to her true nature? What others had asserted about her, he dared no longer doubt. It was supported by proofs he himself had found. He was a dupe of his own feelings. She was not to blame for she had never feigned a regard for him. Any hope he had ever felt that she might come to love him was an illusion of his own vanity. It was this same vanity that allowed him to think the purpose of this display was to injure him willfully, and without regard to her family. In truth, she gave him no such consideration, and was intent only on her own pleasures.
He watched her as she passed again, the entire group focused on the spectacle she was making of herself as she whispered passionately into her lover’s ear. In trying to be discreet, she failed miserably as her attention was so focused on the man that she failed to notice that she was drawing attention, or if she knew, she did not care. The latter was worse, he thought.
The dance had barely ended when she pulled her hand from the young lieutenant’s and tried to walk away. The young man, however, would not be so easily put off and grabbed her, his lips finding hers. He kissed her in front of the entire assembly,
and an audible gasp was heard at the scandalous nature of the act. Nicholas felt his heart stop as he watched another man do what he had longed to do only a few moments earlier.
Such an act spoke of a passion and temerity so far beyond his own, he could only envy the man. The kiss ended as she pulled back, and the couple seemed frozen for a moment, surrounded by a stunned and silent crowd.
Nicholas could contain his anger no longer and made a step forward. Charles halted his progress, stepping in front of him, his hand on his arm. Then Edward stepped forward onto the dance floor and slapped the young man across his face. Georgiana’s fearful expression spoke volumes as she stepped between her lover and her husband, trying to stop the dreadful conclusion already set into motion. A few words were exchanged and then Edward grabbed her arm and drew her away, and they disappeared into the crowd.
The silence lasted only a moment more before the crowded erupted into conversation all at the same time. The young lieutenant glanced at Nicholas, the piercing eyes intent, and then he turned away and he too disappeared into the night.
As if a spell were suddenly broken, the group around him erupted into excited talk. They all focused their questions on Charles but he merely excused himself and left.
“How incredibly curious. Do you have his acquaintance, Nicholas?” Lady Kingston asked.
“I think it romantic,” Lydia sighed.
“She is a very headstrong and foolish girl,” Mrs. Jones said.
“I knew she was not as innocent as she pretended,” Dorothea said, feeling vindicated. “How scandalous! Her reputation is ruined now.”
“I don’t think that is fair,” Caroline said. “He kissed her. She tried to discourage him during the dance. She looked quite intent on trying to stop his behavior.”
“I disagree. She encouraged it. We all saw her,” Mrs. Jones said. “Lydia, you are never to associate with that woman again.”
“No, indeed, we cannot allow this sort of behavior,” Lady Kingston said.
“There will be a duel,” Lord Kingston said. “The Austrian will die, for Edward has yet to lose a duel, and I don’t think he will spare the young man this time. He looked most agitated. All I can say is that Edward is fortunate he got her with child before she started up with that scoundrel, or there would be doubt as to the father.”
Nicholas heard the words, and felt himself grow numb.
“He should be furious,” Robert said. “The man kissed his wife in public. At the Regent’s fete, no less. I am surprised if the Regent himself will not order the man hanged if he should survive.”
“He will die for a kiss,” Lydia sighed. “How gallant.”
“Why did he glance at you, Nicholas?” Lady Kingston said again.
Everyone turned to him, and he wanted nothing more than to follow Charles’s example and leave.
“I cannot say,” he lied.
He knew exactly why the lieutenant had turned to him. Georgiana had confided in her new lover. It spoke of a great intimacy between them, and the young man had warned off his rival with that look. He knew her husband was no threat to her affection, that the real threat was her previous lover.
“She is with child?” he asked, trying to make sure his voice sounded even.
“Oh, yes, it has been the talk of the town,” Lady Kingston said. “Edward wasted no time, and we can see the wisdom in that now.”
“Nicholas, are you ill?” Caroline asked, concerned. “You look so pale and drawn.”
“I just need some air,” he said and smiled at her. “Will you take a walk with me?”
They left the group who continued to speculate excitedly about the likely outcome of the duel.
10
Georgiana could not believe she was back in Hampstead Heath on a foggy early morning for yet another duel. She pulled her skirts higher and hurried through the wet grass taking a short cut toward the far end of the heath. A full year had not passed yet since the last time she found herself in this predicament. She cursed herself for not paying closer attention.
She could not let her husband go through with it. She had begged Edward to call it off but he had refused. She had never seen him so angry before. She had denied an affair but he did not believe her. He would annul the marriage, he had screamed at her, and then locked her in her room. His honor was at stake and this time he meant to kill his opponent. He was beyond seeing reason. Fortunately, her lock picking skills had improved, and it had not taken her long to free herself.
She saw movement beyond the trees and headed in that direction. She had left the house even before Edward, and now stood in the first light of dawn trying to distinguish the shapes that formed out of the fog. The heath was at the edge of the city and still deserted at this early hour. She approached a rider, thinking it must be him, but it was not and she turned quickly away again fearing time slip away. She waited amongst the trees, sure that they would have to come through this way. Then two horses came down the path and she recognized him, and ran quickly forward, her long black coat trailing behind her over the frost-covered grass.
He dismounted as she approached, and again she was struck by how altered he seemed. Again, she doubted her own sanity, but then she saw Haskell astride the second horse.
“Oh, God, Peter, what have you done?” she said.
Peter bowed before her a deep and courtly bow. “You were not sure last night, were you?”
“I thought I was going mad. I still may do.”
“You are not the only one skilled in disguise,” he smiled.
She stared at him. He wore the same crisp white uniform of the night before, the same false black mustache. It was he, but greatly altered. She raised a hand to his face and turned his left cheek to her but the scar was gone. He had covered it well with a thick paste the color of his skin and she only saw it because she knew it was there.
“You cannot do this,” she said.
“It’s the only way.”
“I forbid it.”
He smiled at her and she turned to Haskell who, like Peter, was dressed in the white uniform of a lieutenant from a foreign legion. He sat his horse comfortably and looked every inch the soldier he was impersonating.
“Haskell, you must help me to persuade him of the danger,” she said.
“Sorry, miss,” he said. “I have my orders.”
“You aren’t even a real soldier,” she cried. “Stop this at once.”
But she could see her words had no effect and she turned back to Peter, still unable to believe how transformed he seemed in the uniform.
Last night she had stumbled at her first glance of him, unable to believe it. The person she had seen was no street boy, but a young gentleman with the manners, speech and behavior of those around him. He had approached her, bowing low to her and introducing himself as an Austrian lieutenant, and asked her to dance. Taken by surprise she had agreed, even then thinking she was mistaken but unable to take her eyes from him.
He had flirted with her and she had warned him off, confused and horrified at how quickly she lost control of the situation. Trying to walk away after the dance, she knew she had made a mistake when he pulled her back and kissed her in front of everyone. It had been no innocent kiss but a practiced maneuver that had affected her more than she cared to think of. Her mistake had been underestimating Peter.
She had not understood his presence or actions until Edward slapped him, and it had suddenly all became clear to her.
“Peter, he will kill you.”
He ignored her and led his horse on and she was forced to run to catch him up taking two strides for each of his.
“I cannot allow you to do this,” she cried.
“Allow me?” he asked and smiled.
“You work for me and I demand you stop this foolishness.”
“I have never worked for you,” he smiled. “I just allow you to believe I do.”
“You cannot think this the solution.”
“I can and I do.”
�
�Again I insist you hear me when I say he will kill you,” she said angrily. “How does that benefit me?”
“You fear I will die?”
“Of course you will die. Edward does not lose at swords.”
“I chose pistols.”
“Then you die faster.”
“Your confidence in my abilities, madam, is flattering.”
“Peter, you cannot mean to kill him.”
“Do you know a Mr. Marsh?” he asked and paused to turn to her.
“Marsh,” she said shaking her head no, confused as to why this was important.
“He knows you,” Peter said. “Edward hired him a week ago to investigate you.”
She paled. “You mean Constable Marsh?”
“He was once, I suppose, but now he goes by Mr. Marsh, private detective. He has informed Edward of his suspicions concerning your involvement in your father’s murder.”
“Oh, dear God,” she said, feeling faint and Peter took hold of her elbow.
“It’s amazing the information you can pick up as a servant. No one pays any attention to us. What do you think Edward will do with what he learned?”
“I don’t know,” she said.
“What does Marsh know?”
“Nothing,” she said, frightened. “He only suspects.”
“He will use it against you,” he said. “For the rest of your life, you will do exactly as Edward requires.”
“It doesn’t make killing him right.”
“Of course not,” he said. “But it does make it necessary.”
“Have you considered that if you live, they will hang you for murder?”
“They would have to find me to hang me,” he reassured her. “You wanted to stop him.”
“Yes, but not like this, Peter,” she begged. “I will find another way.”
Raven's Shadow (Book 2, the Ravenstone Chronicles) Page 20
