Lillith gave her friend a watery smile. ‘That sounds very convenient.’
Inside, she wished that it were that easy. Her emotions threatened to drown her in their intensity and there seemed to be nothing she could do to escape them. But she knew that talking of this to Madeline only made the situation seem more immediate.
She took a deep, shuddering breath and vowed to change the subject. ‘Are you going to Sally Jersey’s tonight?’
Madeline, ever willing to do what she could to help Lillith, tacitly agreed to change the subject. ‘But of course. Everyone who has come to Town for the Little Season will be there.’
‘I had thought of not going,’ Lillith said quietly, realising that even this new topic must lead back to Perth.
Madeline sat straight up and frowned. ‘You most certainly will go. No one knows what happened to you except me, Perth and you. That is, unless that brother of yours told others.’
Lillith smiled gently. ‘Servants, even the best, will talk and before you know it the talk has spread to another house and to another master or mistress. Even if Mathias has managed to keep this to himself, it will be known by others.’
Madeline sat back, her auburn brows drawn in worry. ‘You are right, unfortunately. However, you must on no account shun Society. As soon as you do that, everyone will know that whatever scandalous thing they have heard about you is true. Meet them face to face and spit in their eye if you must.’
For the first time in many weeks, Lillith’s laughter was genuine. ‘You are such a fierce little thing when you are bent on protecting your own. And you are right. The ton likes nothing more than gossiping about someone’s mistakes. ’Tis much less fun for them if the person they are waiting to devour fights back. I will go.’
‘And I will be there to stand by your side,’ Madeline said, handing Lillith another cup of tea. ‘Let us drink to that.’
Both laughing, they lifted their cups.
That night, Lillith entered Sally Jersey’s London town house with her head held high. The soft lavender muslin gown she wore helped. She knew it was the perfect foil for her pale complexion and willowy figure. In the world in which she moved clothes did make the woman. Just as attending functions such as this assured one’s place in Society. Thankfully, Sally was an old friend and would no more ostracise her than she would fail to provide Lillith with the much-coveted vouchers for Almack’s.
The rooms were crowded, but with winter in the air they were not hot. Parliament was back in session and only the diehard socialisers were in Town along with the politicians.
Several women looked her way, but avoided eye contact. She had expected nothing else. Others would accept her.
She made her way around small groups, smiling and nodding to those she knew. Most acknowledged her. Madeline, present as she had vowed, saw her and broke away from her companions.
‘Lillith, see how easy it was to come tonight? Although I had begun to despair that you would not.’ Her laughing eyes held a hint of compassion. ‘Ignore anyone rude enough to stare.’
Lillith took Madeline’s outstretched fingers and squeezed them warmly. ‘I have already refused to see at least half-a-dozen dowagers.’ She smiled for her friend. ‘’Tis so much easier to stay in the country and let the London tabbies do as they please. And less tiring.’
What she did not say was that Perth had drawn her back. She could not bring herself to tell even Madeline that secret of her heart.
‘Tsk. You have more energy than a full nursery—and no one rusticates all year.’ She linked her arm in Lillith’s and drew her into a slow promenade around the room. ‘Smile and nod like there is nothing on your mind but this moment.’ Madeline followed her own advice.
It was difficult at first, but Lillith found that the more she smiled and laughed, the more she nodded to acquaintances and friends, the easier the entire charade became. ‘Careful, Madeline. Before you know it I shall become a social butterfly.’
‘Become?’ Madeline teased. ‘You are one already. Even Mrs Drummond Burrell cannot cut you after this outing. Sally will not allow it.’
‘Are the rumours that vicious?’
‘So I have heard,’ Madeline said sotto voce, keeping a smile on her face. ‘But, of course, no one has dared mention them to my face.’
They continued their walk and Lillith even managed to smile and nod graciously at an older woman whom she knew would be telling the worst tales about her. Unfortunately, they were very close to the truth. The only element missing was the name of the man with whom she had spent a sinful few nights. In the ton one could do anything, defy any propriety, ignore any convention so long as one was discreet and did not get caught. She had been as good as caught.
‘Still,’ Madeline said, her voice perking up, ‘if you brazen this out, there will be another tale to occupy them within a fortnight.’
‘Quite true,’ Lillith murmured, resisting the urge to spit at the woman who had just given her the cut direct. She could not hide her flinch.
‘Grace Lovejoy is poisonous, Lillith. Pay her no heed. Her mind is always in the gutter and every word she utters confirms that.’
Surprise at her friend’s vehemence lightened Lillith’s heart. ‘Madeline, that is not at all like you.’
Madeline shrugged. ‘You are my friend.’
Simple words, but from a true friend and full of support. ‘Thank you. I know I can depend on you.’
Madeline hugged her close. ‘Never mind. There is Nathan. He is so unfashionable. He thinks I should spend every minute with him.’ Her voice held ennui, but her eyes held love.
‘Two children and four years has not lessened his unfashionable love,’ Lillith said with gently mocking humour. ‘Every woman should be as lucky as you, my dear.’
Despite her liveliness, Madeline was very perceptive and caring, the trait that had first drawn Lillith. She caught Lillith’s unspoken desire. ‘You will find someone. You did not choose de Lisle. Some day you will have with a man what I have with Nathan, trust me on this.’
‘Perhaps,’ Lillith said, releasing her friend. ‘Now you must go or Nathan will surely come to fetch you.’
‘It would not be the first time,’ Madeline said with just a touch of chagrin.
Madeline had barely left when a deep baritone said, ‘Lady de Lisle, so nice to see you returned to Town.’
Lillith whirled around. She had been concentrating on Madeline and had not heard the Earl of Ravensford approach. He was a good friend of Perth’s. Instantly, her fair complexion suffused with pink.
‘How nice of you to say so,’ she managed.
Ravensford was as tall as Perth, but there the similarities ended. Ravensford’s hair was auburn and his eyes green. He was easy going and had a manner about him that could charm the chemise off a doxy—or more likely his new wife. Theirs was said to be a love match.
The smile left his handsome face and he studied her openly. ‘Perth is here.’
Her eyes widened before she had control of herself. ‘Really? How…interesting.’
‘It could be,’ he agreed. ‘He is in a foul mood.’
‘When is he not?’
‘Where you are concerned, not often, unfortunately. He is in the room set aside for cards.’
It was her turn to study him. ‘Why are you telling me this?’
He met her scrutiny calmly. ‘Because he is my friend, and I do not want to see the two of you make a hash of everything. Nor do I want to see either of you do something that will add to the unsavory gossip circulating about you.’
‘You are nearly as blunt as he, but I thank you.’
He nodded. She turned away. Perhaps it was time she left. There were too many pitfalls here.
She cast a glance towards the door leading to the card room and froze. Perth lounged against the frame, watching her like a panther watches a long-desired prey. Her muscles tightened and her right hand crept to her throat. She could not look away. Heaven help her, she could not ignore him.
<
br /> He pushed off and moved towards her, his pace a slow saunter that drew her attention to his lean hips and strong thighs. She looked back up in time to see ardor darken his eyes and hunger sharpen the angles of his face. She took an unconscious step back.
‘Lady de Lisle,’ he said, taking the hand that had rested on her throat and bringing it to his lips. His eyes never left hers as he pressed his mouth to her fingertips. ‘I had hoped you would be here.’
Gloves were no barriers to the passion his kiss conveyed. She gulped and pulled her hand away. ‘I am just leaving.’
‘Allow me to get your wrap and call for your carriage.’
‘No.’ The word came out like a shot. She took a deep breath. ‘No, thank you. That is the footman’s job, my lord Earl.’
‘How kind of you to remind me,’ he murmured, stepping away, his eyes gone hard and cold. ‘I mistook my welcome—once again.’
He twisted on his heel and was gone before she could catch her wits that had gone begging. Lillith ignored the audience his approach had attracted. Looking straight ahead and with her shoulders back, she left. But she knew that the encounter would add more conjecture to her disappearance. By tomorrow everyone would remember the old scandal.
Later, when she was alone and safe from prying eyes, she would allow herself to remember the feel of his lips and the sound of his voice.
She loved him so much it was an ache in her chest that refused to go away.
Chapter Eight
Perth lounged at his leisure. Ravensford sat across from him and both drank from glasses filled with Brook’s finest burgundy. When Ravensford had called to invite him to Brooks, Perth had been more than happy to quit the solitude of his own house.
Lillith’s snub last night at Sally Jersey’s rout had not improved his mood. He had been in London exactly two days, having left his country retreat as soon as the servant he bribed at Lillith’s country estate told him she had left. He still was not sure why he had come, but that was how he felt about everything involving the beautiful Lady de Lisle.
‘Town is scarce of people,’ Ravensford drawled.
Perth forced himself to set aside thoughts of Lillith and eyed his friend from beneath heavy lids made heavier by several bottles. ‘Since when did you care about Society? I thought you considered it well gone since your marriage to the delightful Mary Margaret.’
Ravensford grimaced. ‘Sarcasm always was your forte. Mixed with just enough truth to make it bite.’
Perth raised his glass. ‘To a direct hit.’
Both drank.
‘And what of you?’ Ravensford asked, a sly grin bringing a sparkle to his eyes. ‘I see that you are squirming on the end of Cupid’s arrow.’
Perth studied the dregs of wine in his glass. ‘Not me, my friend. Women are like wine—to be enjoyed while being consumed and then forgotten.’
‘Ha!’ Ravensford finished his glass and, instead of pouring another, rose. ‘Let us go see what the Betting Book says about you.’
Perth raised one black brow, but stood and followed his friend. The infamous book was easily found.
Ravensford opened it to the last page and ran a finger down the print. ‘Nothing. Damme, Perth, there is not a single thing about you and the elusive Lady de Lisle.’
‘And why should there be?’ Perth queried with an uninterest he was far from feeling.
Ravensford shot him an irritated glance. ‘Because there is definitely something between the two of you. Always has been and always will be.’
He paged back and still found nothing.
‘Enough of this nonsense,’ Perth said. ‘There are better things to do with this afternoon. I hear there is some prime horseflesh to be gotten at Tattersall’s.’
‘Nothing,’ Ravensford said in ire. ‘Both Brabourne and I were subjected to having our amorous adventures written about and bet on, but not you.’ He gave Perth a suspicious look. ‘But not you.’
Perth shrugged. ‘With you and Brabourne there was fire with the smoke. With me there is neither.’
‘Really?’ A mocking grin showed Ravensford’s very white teeth. ‘Then instead of visiting Tattersall’s you will be delighted to accompany me on an afternoon visit to Lady de Lisle.’
Only for an instant did Perth hesitate. Another man would not have noticed, but Ravensford did and grinned.
Perth scowled. ‘Of course. I am sure that both she and her brother will be delighted to see us.’
‘Wentworth is staying with his sister?’
‘He is being dunned,’ Perth said flatly, knowing that explained all.
‘The man is a leech. Always has been,’ Ravensford said, setting his glass down. ‘But come along, old man. We have a visit.’
Refusal passed through Perth’s mind but, much as he detested his weakness, he wanted to see her. At least with Ravensford along he could not seduce her or challenge her brother—or could not do so without Ravensford trying to intervene.
He set his empty glass down. ‘A tame way to spend a perfectly good afternoon, but come along or we shall be past the acceptable hours for visiting.’
Lillith listened to her brother discuss his latest coat with one of her male callers while she poured tea and offered cakes to Madeline, who had come hoping for a quiet talk. Lillith was not sure whether she was glad of Mathias’s company so she could not satisfy Madeline’s curiosity or not. Her horrible suspicion was fast becoming a certainty and part of her wanted to discuss the situation with Madeline. Another part of her did not want anyone to know. What to do?
For now, nothing.
She turned to answer a question from Mathias about the cut of his coat and missed Perth’s entrance. His voice made her jerk around even as it shot through her entire being like lightning striking a tree and setting it afire.
‘Lady de Lisle, Mrs Russell, Wentworth, Peters.’ Perth’s unmistakable voice greeted everyone.
There was dead silence.
‘Hello, all.’ Ravensford broke the silence, a look of unholy enjoyment on his handsome features. ‘We told the butler not to stand on ceremony and announce us. The poor fellow was devastated, but what could he do?’
With a quick, questioning glance at Lillith, Madeline held her hands out first for Ravensford’s quick kiss and then Perth’s. ‘Ravensford, Perth, how delightful to see you. Things were getting deadly dull here.’
‘So we thought,’ Ravensford said, taking an empty seat where he could watch everyone at the same time. Such diverting entertainment was not to be wasted. It was too bad Brabourne was not here to enjoy this, for the Duke had a wicked sense of humour. But he and his new bride were on the Continent.
Perth looked at Lillith. ‘Lady de Lisle.’ She nodded coolly at him, but did not offer her hand.
Mathias scowled at both men in turn. ‘What brings you two to call? There is nothing here that would interest rakes of your stamp.’
Madeline’s gasp of surprise was the only sound. Lillith gave her brother a warning frown but Mathias ignored her.
Desperate to keep the situation from getting worse, Lillith dropped the cup of tea she had just poured. The liquid spattered the pale lavender of her gown and the fine bone-china cup shattered on the floor.
‘Oh,’ she gasped. ‘I can be so clumsy. Mathias, please ring for Simmons.’
With ill grace, Mathias crossed to the fireplace and pulled the ribbon to summon the butler. He stayed standing where he was.
Sensing that her brother was not going to let the small matter of a broken cup and spilled tea alter his course, Lillith jumped to her feet. ‘I am so sorry to end this delightful gathering—’ she sent a pointed look at Perth ‘—and so soon after you and Ravensford have joined us, but I simply must change my gown.’
She stood and individually stared each guest down until, one by one, they rose and took their leave.
Madeline pressed her fingers and murmured, ‘Do not let this distress you. Men can be such boors.’
Lillith smiled weakly.
Ravensford tossed off a casual farewell.
Perth moved forward and took the hands that Lillith had not extended. Shocks of desire and need flooded her, moving from the tips of her fingers to the tips of her toes. She straightened her shoulders, intent on resisting his pull.
‘Lady de Lisle, I hope to see you again.’ He lifted her right hand for the touch of his lips.
The breath caught in her throat as his skin touched her. If his touch had been electric, his kiss was a lightning storm out of control. She yanked both her hands free in a movement that lacked grace.
‘My lord Perth,’ she said, her voice much too husky for her liking. ‘As we move in the same circles, our seeing each other from a distance is inevitable.’
A sardonic smile curved his mouth. ‘I shall endeavour to do everything in my power to ensure that we not only see each other from a distance, but that we see each other much closer.’
Her blush was hot and instant, beyond her control. His smile turned knowing as he made her a curt bow.
She watched him saunter from the room. Slowly, her blush receded to be replaced by cold dread. Mathias had stood his ground as the others left.
‘He is not the man for you, Lillith. He will never offer marriage.’
Her brother’s cold words chilled her. Unconsciously, she lifted her hands to rub the gooseflesh that broke out on her arms. The urge to tell Mathias that Perth had already offered marriage was strong. She resisted. Perth offered a marriage she could not, would not, accept. She had married without love once. She would not do so again.
‘I am the judge of who is right for me,’ she said, ‘and if it is Perth, then so be it.’ Shock held her motionless. She had intended to agree with Mathias, not confront him and—worse yet—tell him that if she wanted Perth then she would take him. This was not like her.
Mathias crossed the room in several swift strides and gripped her elbow. ‘He was not right for you all those years ago. He is not right today. See that you remember that.’
The Rogue's Seduction Page 9
