As she’d learned full well from Kitty, the use of a ruse could be dangerous and foolhardy—but she felt she had no choice. Therefore, before Augustus publicly threw her over, she must appear to throw him over first. How could she possibly manage it?
When Cody and his sister joined Juliet on Rotten Row before breakfast the following morning, he was shocked to see how pale and drawn she was. In addition, the skin around Juliet’s eyes was puffy and pink, as if she’d been crying all night. Obviously she’d been told her union with Lord Elbourne was not to be. Something in his gut twisted at the evidence of her suffering, but he hardened his heart. His job was to make sure Juliet said nothing to prevent his sister from marrying the earl. He owed his allegiance to his mother’s memory, not to a girl he barely knew. Surely, the young woman’s disappointment would soon pass.
Cody tipped his hat. “Good morning, Miss Beaucroft. I’m delighted to see you again.”
A ghost of a smile reached her lips, but not her eyes. “Good morning.”
He sought to lift her spirits. “I enjoyed our conversation immensely at the Ayscoghe soirée. In fact, I can’t remember when I’ve passed such a pleasant evening.”
“You’re too kind, Mr. Gryphon.”
“I hope you’re free tonight for dinner,” Stephanie said. “Lady Lovejoy is sending you a written note by messenger, but she asked me to invite you to an intimate gathering of close friends.”
“An intimate gathering for fifty, I daresay.” Juliet’s laugh seemed forced. “Nevertheless, I’m sure I’d love to attend.”
Stephanie peered at her. “Are you ill? You look as if you didn’t sleep a wink!”
“Thank you, but I’m perfectly well. It’s quite silly, really, but I heard some bad news about a family pet last night. The caretaker at our country home wrote to say the dog ran off. I couldn’t sleep for worry.”
“Oh, no! I’m so terribly sorry. We had to give our dog to another family before we left Texas. I never cried so hard as when I said good-bye to Star. What’s the name of your dog?”
If Cody had been in any doubt before, a long moment of hesitation convinced him of Juliet’s dissembling.
“Er…Hamlet. Shall we ride?”
The trio urged their mounts onto the wide, sandy track known as Rotten Row, with Juliet positioned in between the two siblings. To Cody’s surprise, a great many riders populated the path.
“I didn’t realize Hyde Park would be so popular this early in the day.”
Juliet’s lips curved in another all-too-brief smile. “Oh, yes. Many a romance is begun or encouraged on horseback. If you’re in town next April, you’ll scarcely be able to trot your horse on Rotten Row. It’s always quite crowded with hopefuls at the beginning of the Season.”
Stephanie gave her a sidelong glance. “As much as I’d like to gallop, let’s keep to a walk for a little while. As I wrote in my letter, I’ve something to confide. Truly, I hope you don’t think me too forward in asking your opinion about Lord Elbourne?”
Juliet looked neither right nor left. “Ah, dear Augustus. What would you like to know?”
“Is he handsome?”
“I think him so. He hasn’t the flashy good looks that the rakish set possess, I’ll grant you. Instead, I would describe him as comfortable and steady, like a beautiful sunrise.”
Stephanie’s eyebrows rose. “What a lovely description! I confess you intrigue me…despite my prejudice to the contrary. You see, his father and mine are set on arranging a match.”
“You have my most sincere congratulations, Miss Gryphon.”
“Do call me Stephanie. I hope you don’t think it’s too soon for Christian names?”
“Not at all.” Juliet smiled. “In my opinion, Augustus is a husband worth fighting for. To have an arranged marriage with him is good fortune beyond measure.”
Cody was flabbergasted. If he’d expected Juliet’s response to be dripping with bile or calculated to wound in retribution for her loss, he was greatly mistaken. Her ability to praise Lord Elbourne under the circumstances, and to encourage Stephanie’s interest in him, indicated an unusual strength of character. His respect for Juliet soared—even as a modicum of jealousy toward the earl took root.
Stephanie cleared her throat. “Tell me more. What are Lord Elbourne’s pursuits? How does he spend his days?”
He paid rapt attention to Juliet’s response, wondering what amazing qualities the earl possessed to have captivated her so completely. She mentioned a few of his favorite books, a beloved collection of butterflies, and the fact he liked to sketch.
Stephanie wrinkled her nose. “Forgive me, but he sounds a trifle sedate.”
Juliet finally laughed. “Perhaps Augustus needs a woman like you to spark his sense of adventure.” Her merriment faded. “Now that I think on it, I daresay it wouldn’t be beneficial for him to marry someone with a personality too similar to his own.”
Cody nodded. “A sage observation, I warrant. There can be no compromise in matters of character, of course. Beyond that, however, I suspect relationships between persons of opposite temperament are often the most satisfying.”
Stephanie leaned forward to gape at him. “I’m all astonishment, Cody. I’d no idea you’d ever thought much about matters of compatibility. You’ve perfected the means of escape from every pretty girl who ever crooked a finger in your direction.”
When Juliet turned her head to gaze at him, he felt his cheekbones flare into a heated blush and he sought to defend himself.
“Nonsense, Stephanie. You’ll have Miss Beaucroft thinking I’m a rake.”
“If she doesn’t think it now, I must certainly warn her off. Juliet, you mustn’t take my brother seriously at all.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it.”
The murmured reply rankled Cody for some reason. So Juliet wouldn’t dream of taking him seriously? Aggrieved, he threw his shoulders back and lifted his chin. Perhaps he didn’t measure up to the lofty standards of the glorious and superlative Lord Elbourne, but no woman had ever complained about his company before. Furthermore, he vowed to chastise his sister in private for her ill-considered jibe. The likelihood of an arranged marriage might set her nerves on edge, but she oughtn’t take her disgruntlement out on him. He only wanted to see her happy, and she might want to reciprocate his efforts on her behalf. In the next moment, he wondered why such a bizarre thought had entered his mind. Juliet, though admittedly pretty and sweet, wasn’t the key to his future happiness.
He gestured toward the path ahead. “Shall we pick up the pace? At this rate we won’t finish our ride until lunch.”
The book in Juliet’s lap failed to capture her interest overmuch, but then nothing seemed to give her genuine pleasure that afternoon. Although her mother tried to tempt her with a trip to the milliner’s, she’d declined the jaunt in favor of reading Jane Austen in her bedchamber. If only her life was a romance novel, it would all work out beautifully in the end. She used Lady Lovejoy’s recently-arrived dinner invitation as a bookmark and stared out the window instead.
Her ride with the Gryphon siblings that morning had actually helped elevate her mood for a short while, although the exercise had been almost dreamlike. Never before had she been so torn about anyone as she was about Stephanie. Juliet wished to dislike her romantic rival, but she couldn’t think of anything remotely unpleasant about the girl. If Stephanie ever hurt Augustus, however, Juliet didn’t think she could bear to be in the same room with her.
Cody’s comment about paradoxical relationships often turning out to be the most satisfying had been quite thought-provoking. Although she’d let his observation go unremarked upon that morning, she’d since been struck by how insightful it was. The man was an unexpected philosopher, it seemed, as well as a prime example of male beauty. Perhaps it was unfair to be prejudiced against him, but the man’s handsome face and trim figure made it easy for Juliet to believe he could play the flirt. Her admiration of his looks reminded her unpleasantly of her former
admiration of Lord Gryphon. She’d hadn’t known of the viscount’s bad character at the time, of course. When she learned he’d tried to take advantage of Kitty, however, she’d been ashamed of seeing anything handsome about him at all. Since Stephanie had said her brother was a scoundrel, she’d redouble her efforts to inure herself to his charms. Forewarned was forearmed, as the saying went.
The notion of physical attraction had been in her thoughts a great deal as well. The way she’d felt when she’d first seen Augustus had been vastly different from her first view of Cody. Augustus had pleased her eye much the way she might admire a beautiful statue or a lovely landscape. With Cody, however, she’d felt a tug at her core, almost as if she were hungry. There was no doubt in her mind that she cared for Augustus, and would have made him a good wife. But she suspected her puzzling attraction to Cody Gryphon meant she wasn’t passionately in love with Augustus the way Kitty adored Philip, or Prudence cherished her husband, Frederick. Furthermore, she and Augustus had passed a great deal of time together, but they’d never exchanged a kiss. When Juliet closed her eyes and allowed herself to imagine what it would be like to kiss Cody, her heart began to race and warmth spread through her veins. In the next moment, she pushed the feelings from her mind. Once Stephanie was married, Cody would return to Texas, and her inconvenient physical attraction to him would fade away.
Until then, however, he could play a central role in her ruse.
The dinner at Lady Lovejoy’s house—at which over three dozen guests were in attendance—was held in two sitting rooms linked together with double doors. Despite the large number of people, the party did have a sense of intimacy due to the relatively cozy size of the sitting rooms. To Juliet’s annoyance, Cody was seated in the other room, so she had no opportunity to catch his eye.
After dinner, the ladies gathered in the drawing room for conversation and waited for the gentlemen to finish with their cigars and brandy. Juliet sought out the company of Mrs. Wormwood, whom she determined to be the most notorious gossipmonger in the party. As soon as the masculine contingent appeared, someone suggested a game of charades. In the mad scramble to arrange the furniture to create a stage, Juliet located Cody and murmured her request.
“I need your assistance with a personal matter, Mr. Gryphon. Will you join me in the library in a few minutes?”
He seemed taken aback. “Well…certainly. I’ll be along directly.”
With the sound of revelry at her back, Juliet slipped from the room and hastened down the hall. She stepped into the library and checked behind the drapery to make sure no prying ears or eyes could overhear the scene about to unfold. Once she’d satisfied herself the room was unoccupied, she positioned herself next to the fireplace to wait for Cody to arrive. In the very last moment, she remembered to adjust the neckline of her bodice as low as possible. After all, her request would fall on deaf ears if the gentleman found her repulsive.
Very shortly thereafter, Cody entered the room and shut the door behind him. “How may I help you, Miss Beaucroft?”
“Thank you for agreeing to speak with me.”
Cody looked dashing and sophisticated in his elegantly tailored clothes, and Juliet was seized with an attack of nerves. Nevertheless, she cleared her throat and gave him a direct glance meant to convey a businesslike demeanor rather than one of coquetry.
“I’d like you to ruin me.” Despite her best intentions, her words were immediately followed by a blush. Why couldn’t she be more dispassionate?
His eyebrows rose. “What?”
“Just a little ruination, mind you. Nothing that can’t be hushed up in a few months or so.”
“I’m sorry, but I’m not understanding you at all.”
“You’re aware, of course, of the arrangement between Lord Moregate and your father regarding Stephanie and Lord Elbourne.”
“Yes. My father is quite keen on the subject.”
“What you don’t know is that Augustus has been widely expected to propose to me.”
“Actually, I’d heard rumors to that effect.”
Juliet’s eyes widened. “I hope Stephanie hasn’t heard those rumors!”
“Not of which I’m aware.”
A sigh of relief. “Good.”
“I’m sorry for any injury this arrangement has done to you. I can tell you’re quite partial to Lord Elbourne.”
“I am partial to Augustus, and would have accepted his proposal if he’d asked. But after a careful examination of my feelings, I can truly say I’m not in love with him.”
“You’re not?” His eyebrows drew together. “If your feelings aren’t injured, then what’s this about?”
“Once society learns Augustus has thrown me off, I’ll become an object of ridicule. I mean to publicly throw him off before anyone hears about his engagement to Stephanie. For that, I need you to ruin me…ever so slightly.”
He looked at her askance. “Won’t your reputation be forevermore tarnished?”
“I’d rather be a little tarnished than humiliated, Mr. Gryphon. An earl is about to pass me over for another woman. Do you really think my prospects will be improved by such a spectacular rejection?” She averted her eyes. “If I’m to be ruined anyway, I’d rather choose the method.”
“Have you no thought to my reputation?”
She waved her hands, dismissively. “Stephanie says you’re a rake, doesn’t she? Therefore, nobody will think less of you than they already do now. Amongst your male acquaintances, I daresay the rumor of a passing indiscretion would be well received. Besides which, you’re leaving for Texas before too long, so what does your reputation matter?”
“Of course.” He folded his arms over his chest. “For the sake of curiosity, what sort of ruination did you have in mind? After all, we are here alone in the library together. To some members of society, such intimate contact is scandalous.”
“I’ve a reputation for being beyond reproach, I’m afraid, so you and I must push the boundaries a bit farther than a minor indiscretion.”
“I’m open to suggestions. What do you propose?”
Now that the ruination had become less theoretical, Juliet became increasingly nervous. Despite that, she’d gone too far to back out now.
“Perhaps if I, um, sat in your lap? Before dinner, I asked Mrs. Wormwood to meet me in the library at nine o’clock.”
“Mrs. Wormwood, did you say?”
“Yes. She should be here any moment to be a witness to our ruse. When she opens the library door, I’ll jump up in a guilty fashion that will condemn our behavior.”
Cody cocked his head. “She’ll be here any moment, will she?” He sank down into a sturdy chair. “In that case, I’m ready when you are.”
Juliet swallowed hard as she lowered herself gingerly sideways across his legs. “I’m not crushing you, am I?”
“I’m quite comfortable, thank you.”
“Good.” She sat there for several seconds, her spine ramrod straight. “As I said before, Mrs. Wormwood should be along directly. She’s an awful gossip.”
“Forgive me, but I don’t think merely sitting on my lap goes far enough. Given your stature as a girl beyond reproach, I believe a more active participation is required to get the result you seek.”
She felt her cheeks glowing even more. A more active participation, as he put it, wasn’t anything she’d contemplated.
“I hadn’t…well, that is to say, I-I’m not sure if I could…” She trailed off, nonplussed.
“Put your arms around my neck at least, and relax your posture somewhat. You don’t appear to be enjoying yourself at all.”
She bit her lower lip. “You don’t mind?”
“Not in the least. It’s for a good cause.”
“All right.” She rested her arms on his shoulders. “Is this what you mean?”
“Only if you want to be viewed as my maiden aunt.” He reached up to reposition her arms, forcing her to drape her body against his. Then he put his hands under her legs and pull
ed her even closer. “That’s much better, wouldn’t you agree?”
“Mr. Gryphon!”
“Forgive me, but you want this to look authentic, don’t you? Trust me, Miss Beaucroft. After all, if I’m a rake, I must be an expert in scandalous behavior, mustn’t I?”
“I suppose so.” She took a deep breath, blew it out slowly, and gave him a smile. “I look more relaxed now, don’t I?”
“A little. Only…when Mrs. Wormwood walks in, you and I should be kissing.”
Juliet stiffened. “Is that really necessary?”
“Oh, yes, if you truly want to smudge your reputation.” His gaze fell to her mouth. “Shall we practice?”
She bent her head forward and brushed her lips against his so lightly that she wasn’t even certain she’d made contact. His hands cupped her face and coaxed her forward. When his lips claimed hers, this time she felt it from the top of her head to the tips of her toes.
“That’s it,” he murmured.
“Are you sure it looks natural? I’ve never kissed anyone before.”
“Oh, yes. I assure you, we’re very authentic.”
Several more delectable kisses went by before Juliet began to suspect something was wrong. “It must be past nine o’clock by now. I wonder where Mrs. Wormwood is?”
The tip of Cody’s tongue probed hers for a few moments before he responded. “She went home.”
Juliet pulled back. “You’re joking.”
“Mrs. Wormwood took her leave just before I came to meet you. I overheard her say she’d developed a dreadful headache.”
She scrambled off his lap and glared at him. “So you knew she wasn’t coming all along?”
“Yes, but I wasn’t altogether sure nobody else would interrupt us…except that everyone is playing charades at the moment and I rather doubted it.” He grinned as he got to his feet. “Would you like to practice a little more?”
Chapter Four
Rake & Romance Page 4
