The King's League Box Set: Regency Romance

by Lucy Adams

  “Good evening,” Margaret murmured, throwing a quick glance behind her, her dark eyes assessing Olivia. “You are quite prepared for this evening?”

  “I am,” Olivia answered, not allowing her cousin’s question to strike at her confidence. “More than prepared.” She herself took in her cousins’ gowns, seeing Margaret’s pale yellow and Louisa’s light green gown. They matched their coloring very well indeed, emphasizing the darkness of their eyes and the swirling hazelnut tresses that were curled up on their heads at present. Her cousins were not markedly beautiful but still striking, and Olivia was sure that gentlemen aplenty would come to seek them out.

  “You are not late, Olivia,” her aunt said, sounding quite astonished as though she had been expecting that very thing. “Goodness. Then, I suppose, we are all prepared.”

  “Where is father?” Louisa asked, her voice a little tense. “You know we cannot attend without him.”

  Lady Dayton waved a hand. “You need not fret, Louisa dear. He is finishing up a little business in the study and will join us just as soon as he is able.” She smiled affectionately at her daughter. “We will wait in the carriage for him, and I will send the butler to inform him that we are awaiting his company.”

  This seemed to satisfy Louisa, who could not, it seemed, bear the thought of attending the first ball of the Season without her father present. Olivia, who had never had a father to attend with, tried not to feel the ball of pain that forced its way down her throat to writhe around in her belly, feeling sudden tears prick at her eyes as she recalled her own dear father. Having never known her mother, who had died giving birth to Olivia, she had only ever had her father—and to lose him also had been very painful indeed.

  “Are you quite ready, Olivia?”

  The sharpness of her aunt’s voice brought Olivia back to the present with a start. She smiled tightly at her aunt, pushing away her pain and nodding, seeing how her cousins were now at the door, standing waiting for her.

  “No doubt dreaming of the gentleman who will come to court her,” said Louisa to Margaret, sharing a smirk that sent a fresh stab of both anger and upset into Olivia’s heart. She was all too aware that her cousins knew of their mother and father’s lack of true consideration for Olivia and they never once permitted themselves to show any sort of kindness either. They continued to behave as though they were better than Olivia in many ways, holding themselves almost aloof as they went about their business. It was yet another thing that Olivia had to endure, gritting her teeth as she forced herself to walk towards them, keeping her stormy grey eyes fixed on their faces in an attempt to show how little she cared.

  Her cousins said nothing more, although Margaret dropped her gaze and turned away, walking through the hallway towards the front door. Olivia waited until Lady Dayton had taken Louisa by the arm and followed after her eldest daughter, leaving Olivia to trail behind. Keeping her chin lifted, Olivia walked quickly after them, determined not to allow their indifference to affect her. She had dealt with it for many years now. Another Season would not make any difference, Olivia was quite determined. She would hold her head high and make the best of the evening, even if she was confined to the shadows whilst her cousins dazzled in the candlelight. They would not break her spirit, nor her hopes and dreams. Those still lingered, still were confined close to her heart, and no matter how little care they showed her, Olivia was determined not to let them fade.

  Chapter Two

  “You have been invited to their card game?”

  Phillip nodded as Lord Watt tilted his head, a spark of interest in his eyes.

  “It has taken some doing,” he said a little ruefully. “I was introduced to Lord Dayton last Season although I have continued the acquaintance these last few months and–”

  “But the Season has only just started,” Lord Fraser interrupted, frowning. “Do you mean to say Lord Dayton has been in London all this time?”

  Phillip, a little irritated at the constant interruptions, took in a long breath and nodded in Lord Fraser’s direction. “That is it precisely. Lord Dayton has business in London – he has shares in the merchant ships that go to and from our port – and thus, he has been present here for some months, although he did return to his estate on occasion.”

  There was a moment or two of silence before another gentleman, Lord Wickton, broke in.

  “His estate is not far from London, I believe,” he said quietly, as Phillip nodded again. “So he has been traveling to and from London fairly regularly.”

  “As have I,” Phillip answered, a small but wry smile on his face. “I have endured the journey as often as I could permit and, whilst three days of travel is not particularly arduous compared to some, I have found it rather tiring!”

  A murmur of agreement ran around the room, making Phillip grin. He knew very well that those in The King’s League often did a great deal of traveling and knew firsthand just how uncomfortable such trips could be once they had been undertaken more than a few times.

  “Lord Dayton saw you in Whites, I believe,” Lord Watt said, indicating that Phillip should continue.

  Phillip cleared his throat, spreading his hands. “I had aligned myself with two other gentlemen – Lord Thornrake and Lord Stratton – who had sat down to a hand or two of cards.” A grin caught his lips. “There was a great deal of liquor involved, and it was not particularly difficult to engineer the game so that one soon was winning and one losing very badly indeed.” A shrug lifted his shoulders. “I lost as graciously as I could and left them both to continue, which ended in a brawl, I am sorry to say.”

  A few chuckles came from the other men sitting around the room. The men of The King’s League knew all too well how to use other men’s foibles to their own advantage.

  “Thereafter, I went to speak to Lord Dayton and expressed my frustration at my own foolishness for ever choosing to sit with such gentlemen and allowing myself to be drawn into their game.” He shrugged again. “After a few minutes, Lord Dayton invited me to this mysterious card game of his.”

  “A card game we have been longing to infiltrate for some time,” Lord Watt said quietly. “We know very well that Lord Cammish is a part of that particular group of gentlemen that meet to play, and we are also well aware that he has ties to the French.”

  “Which is precisely why I hope to join the card game and see what exactly goes on,” Phillip said. “Lord Dayton was the easiest way to garner an invitation, for he has been the one present in London the most and seemed to be the most inclined to talk to me.” He had tried speaking to Lord Cammish directly, but the man had been quieter than a church mouse and left very little hope that Phillip would be able to form a strong enough acquaintance for an invitation to this card game to be given. They had heard about the card game from one of the many spies they had captured over the last year, for one of them had been more than willing to talk about his master’s endeavors in order to escape the noose. That man had been a servant of the honorable Mr. Tassington and had spoken of this mysterious card game where his master went each and every month without fail, only to return with some new, fresh intentions and plans. Mr. Tassington himself had disappeared from England without trace, which was one of the League’s few failings, and as such, Phillip had been trying to gain entry into this card game for a long time without much success. Now, finally, he had the opportunity to do so.

  “And you are to go tomorrow evening?” Lord Watt asked, rubbing his chin with one long finger. “Is that what Lord Dayton said?”

  “And that he would collect me in his carriage,” Phillip added, with a slight lift to his eyebrow. “It seems I am not to be trusted to make my way to any location without the company of one of those who attend.”

  Again, there came a moment or two of silence.

  “You do not think that this is some sort of trap, do you?” one of the other gentlemen asked suddenly. “What if Lord Dayton knows that you attempted to speak to Lord Cammish but were rebuffed? What if he is suspicious of
you?”

  “Then that is a chance I shall take,” Phillip answered. “There is very little else I can do other than to attend with Lord Dayton and, in doing so, I hope that I will discover a little more about what is shared there.” He gave a small smile to the anxious gentleman. “Not that I think I shall find everything out at once, of course, but that perhaps, in time, I might discover which of the gentlemen that attend have links to our enemies.”

  Lord Watt nodded, glancing about the room as though to seek confirmation that the other gentlemen agreed that this was the right thing to do. “Very good,” he said, as Phillip let out a long breath. “Continue with your intentions, Lord Monteforte. Inform us of what you discover and keep yourself safe as you do so.”

  “I will do my very best,” Phillip promised, aware of the slight knot of tension that had formed in his stomach but ignoring it as best he could. “I will, at the very first, discover which other gentlemen are involved in this card game and, from that, we might be able to decipher something of importance.”

  “Very good,” Lord Watt said again, getting to his feet and concluding that particular matter of business. “And now to the ball, I think?” He chuckled as Phillip got to his feet also, rolling his eyes at the thought of having to attend Lord Drake’s ball. “Where all the debutantes will be waiting – which, surely, must bring a small smile to your face, Lord Monteforte?”

  Phillip chuckled, as the other men began to disperse. “I hardly think that just because you find yourself so well suited to matrimony that you ought to encourage me into doing the same, particularly when I am on the cusp of something of great importance,” he said, as Lord Watt grinned broadly. “Your wife is something of the exception, given that she is fully aware of your part in the League and not only encourages it but, at times, offers suggestions and insights that are of the highest value.”

  Lord Watt’s grin remained. “She is certainly unique,” he agreed, as Phillip rolled his eyes again. “But that is not to say that you should not find yourself a match also, Lord Monteforte. In fact, would it not appear a little unusual if you showed no interest in the young ladies of the ton?” He arched one eyebrow, leaving Phillip feeling a little ill at ease. “You must maintain your pretense and never allow Lord Dayton to suspect that you are not precisely as you say, Lord Monteforte. He must not see you as entirely disinterested in the young ladies of the ton, for that is not at all the way of the gentlemen here in London.”

  “Very well, very well,” Phillip sighed, passing a hand over his eyes and shaking his head. “I shall do my utmost to behave as a gentleman of London ought, Lord Watt. Does that satisfy you?”

  Lord Watt chuckled. “It does,” he said, slapping one hand down on Phillip’s shoulder. “I thank you. I hope you have an enjoyable night. I know that, for myself, I shall find myself very well contented this evening, given that I am to dance with my wife and have her in my company.”

  Phillip watched Lord Watt depart and felt a small, swift kick of jealousy. It surprised him, for he had never once felt any sort of thing when it came to finding himself a wife. He had not even given the matter a moment’s thought these last three years, for he had become a part of the League and thus had needed almost every moment dedicated towards doing what he could to prevent the enemies of the Crown from infiltrating England and setting a course against the Royal Family.

  But, that being said, he mused, as he bade the rest of the League good evening, watching them leave his drawing room, he would not be the first to marry should he wish to do so. The last two Seasons had seen two of the most prominent gentlemen within the League find themselves wives, and their work for the King had not yet been affected. Lord Watt was the exception, of course, for his wife had managed to involve herself in dealings that were the matter of the League, showing more pluck and courage than he had thought possible. As for himself, Phillip had never given much thought to securing a wife. He had always considered it to be something that would be in his future, not his present. When the time came, he would find a suitable young lady to wed, who would be genteel, elegant, and utterly refined. She would have to come from a good family line, of course, and a good dowry would help also. So long as he produced the “heir and the spare”—then he would be well satisfied with life.

  And yet, as he thought, the memory of what Lord Watt’s face had expressed as he had talked about his wife came to mind. Lord Watt had been clearly delighted with the thought of spending the evening in his wife’s company, his eyes almost aglow as he talked of what sort of evening they might enjoy. Phillip had never really considered that a gentleman could feel such contentment as Lord Watt expressed; he had never once thought that true affection was anything worth pursuing, but now, to have seen it on Lord Watt’s expression, Phillip could not help but wonder if such a thing was to be desired.

  Sighing to himself, Phillip made his way above stairs to his bedchamber, knowing he had to change and prepare for this evening’s ball. It would be in full swing by now, which meant he would be tardy, but such a thing could not be helped, and he was quite sure his host would not mind either. So long as the ballroom was filled with pretty debutantes, then it would be declared a success. A wry smile tugged at his lips as he began to unbutton his shirt, wondering just how many mothers would be watching the arrival of each and every gentleman, knowing that their sharp eyes would assess each one so as to deem them suitable for their daughters or not. Some would be dismissed at once, given their reputations, whilst others would be encouraged should they so much as look in the direction of any particular young lady. Phillip was determined to do neither. He would greet his acquaintances warmly but would make no particular effort to gain introductions to anyone new. That was not his goal for this Season. Yes, he would dance, converse, and the like, but should Lord Dayton ask, he would simply inform the man that he had no interest in marriage at this particular point in his life. Surely the gentleman would understand that!

  His valet came into the room, murmuring an apology for being a little late. Phillip waved a hand and encouraged his valet to hurry, stating that he himself was already late for the ball. His heart held no delight in attending, no joy in leaving his house to go to such an occasion, but Phillip was well used to hiding his true emotions and plastering on a different face instead. This evening would be no different, he was quite sure of it.

  It had been a good hour since Phillip had arrived at the ballroom, and still he had not greeted Lord Dayton. That had been deliberate on his part, as he had not wanted to seem too eager nor overly excited about the card game that was due to take place tomorrow evening. He had stayed back, keeping to the shadows and letting his gaze flick across the room, landing on almost every debutante but showing no interest in any.

  His stomach had grown tight with tension as he had seen Lord Dayton move towards the card room, fearing that he would lose the man altogether but not wanting to hurry after him, only for Lord Dayton to stop and talk at length with a gentleman Phillip did not know. With relief, Phillip had watched Lord Dayton return to the ballroom to stand by his wife’s side, his eyes flickering across the room in much the same way as Phillip’s.

  “My lord?”

  Picking up a glass from the tray offered to him by the footman, Phillip threw it back quickly, aware of his tension and finding that it irritated him. There was nothing to upset him here, nothing to bother him other than the fact he was simply to greet Lord Dayton and, thereafter, continue to enjoy the evening as best he could. Was it because of the thoughts that had afflicted him ever since he had spoken to Lord Watt? Was he now a little too aware of the debutantes that surrounded him, fearing that they might want to become close to him when he wanted nothing more than to stay aloof and out of reach? His eyes closed and he blew out a long breath of frustration.

  “You do not appear to be enjoying yourself, sir.”

  He half turned his head, seeing out of the corner of his eye a young lady with her arms folded and her head tilted just a little towards him.
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  “I am enjoying myself very much, my lady,” he said firmly, trying to force himself to believe it as much as he wanted her to do so as well. “I just do not show it.”

  The lady laughed, a hint of mockery in her tone, and Phillip felt himself tense.

  “I cannot believe that to be true,” she said, waving a hand in his direction. “You have not stepped away from the shadows in almost an hour.”

  “That does not mean I am not enjoying myself,” he responded, a little tartly, refusing to turn his head so that he might look at her properly. “Some are quite content to be watching proceedings rather than engaging with them.” A small, mocking smile twisted his lips. “Although some, unfortunately, are given no opportunity to engage, regardless of what they might wish.”

  The moment he said it, Phillip felt himself flush with shame, hearing her sharp intake of breath and knowing that he had been unnecessarily thoughtless. There was no reason for him to have spoken so to the lady and, in doing as he had done, he had set a wall between them – and all without even so much as knowing her name.