Suzi Love

by Embracing Scandal

  “We’re pretending to be betrothed,” Becca corrected in a haughty voice.

  Cayle bent his head until his nose touched hers.

  “We. Are. Marrying.” Not caring of Laura’s close observation, he pressed his lips to Becca’s. “Later tonight, sweetheart, I’ve more to teach you. A lot more.”

  For once, Becca was speechless, although Laura wasn’t. “By the way, I came to tell you that we’re all gathering in the garden to discuss our strategy.”

  “How did you know I’d be here?” Cayle asked.

  Laura grinned again. “Oh, I asked Tony and Brian, and your disgusting cousin, and we all agreed that you’d be unable to resist sneaking in to see Becca after we managed to keep you apart for the entire day.”

  Becca regarded her sister in a mixture of horror and amazement. “Oooh, you’re all as interfering, as irritating, as … ” She waved her hand in Cayle’s direction, “As him.”

  “I’ll be there in an hour,” Cayle announced. He pointed a finger at Becca. “And so will you. We need to draw up a roster to ensure you’re not left alone at all tonight.”

  Laura flicked a telling glance at Becca, who nodded.

  “Is there something else?” Cayle demanded.

  Becca bit her bottom lip. “Actually, if what we suspect is true, you mustn’t be left alone tonight either, Cayle. Or you may find yourself engaged to be married, in truth. But not to me. To another woman.”

  Cayle groaned. “Blast! I was so worried about your safety, I’d forgotten about the other side of our bargain. That one where you protect me from some scheming hussy who’s after my money, and my titles.”

  He studied the two women. “Are you ready to tell me yet who you suspect?”

  Becca and Laura shook their heads in unison. “Not until we’re certain.”

  • • •

  Laura flounced out of the room, her message delivered and with a sigh of regret, Cayle snuck out of Becca’s room and went to search for his brothers and cousin. An hour later, the group assembled in a secluded part of the garden to plot their next move. The men, wise enough to include the Jamison women in their plans, thought they’d covered every eventuality.

  “The fact that Bennett’s also here, makes me even more suspicious,” Cayle said. “I thought I’d scared him enough he’d turn coward and go into hiding.”

  “Just what did you say to Arthur?” Laura asked.

  Cayle glanced at Becca, searching for an answer. He’d told her only part of the truth.

  “Bennett promised to lure Mitchell into a public disclosure in return for my silence on a personal matter. We need to arrange that several higher titled lords attending the ball are in the garden when we trap Mitchell.”

  “I’ll ask Arthur to accompany me to the gardens. I’ll say I’m prepared to hand over our predictions if they’ll leave us all alone. That’s sure to draw out the baron and hopefully whoever is pulling his strings.”

  “No, it’s far too dangerous,” Cayle argued. “Bennett will have you right where he wants you.”

  “This unknown gentleman must hold considerable influence over the others,” Richard added. “None of the gentlemen we quizzed are prepared to speak out against him.”

  “Or else, they’ve even less idea of his identity than we do,” Brian said.

  “Cayle,” Laura added, “we know you don’t like this plan. But Becca’s the best one to dangle as bait. We need an enticing lure and she’s the only one who can feed them exactly what they expect to hear.”

  “We don’t have any alternative,” Tony agreed. “One of us will remain close at all times during the ball. And then, when she goes outside, we’ll be positioned around the terrace and gardens.”

  Becca placed a hand on Cayle’s arm. “It’s the quickest way to end this. I want it finished tonight.”

  With great reluctance, Cayle agreed and they departed to their various chambers to dress for dinner.

  • • •

  At eight o’clock, Cayle hovered at the entrance to the ballroom, awaiting Becca’s arrival. As soon as she’d made her bow to the host and hostess, he took her arm and led her to a darkened alcove, desperate for a moment alone with her. He tried a last ditch attempt to change her mind.

  “This is crazy. You can’t keep putting yourself into danger like this. My nerves won’t stand it.” Unable to help himself, he pulled her to him and kissed her, hard.

  She patted his hand. “Your nerves are just fine. They always are.”

  “Not around you. Just promise me you’ll be cautious.”

  “You’ll be close by. I trust you to protect me, as you always have.”

  “Sweetheart, when this is over, later tonight, we must talk.”

  “When this is over, there’ll no longer be any urgency for our families to be involved. In all probability, everyone’s lives will resume as before, as if nothing has changed.”

  “You’re so, so wrong.” He closed his eyes and prayed for strength in the face of her stubborn refusal to accept his change of heart. “Everything in my life has changed.”

  When Cayle opened his eyes again, he was talking to empty space. He strained to see Becca stride purposefully across the foyer and into the ballroom. Her evening gown of amber washed silk shone as lustrously as her hair as she marched, for it couldn’t be termed a walk. She surveyed the rapidly filling room like a general quartering a battleground.

  Cayle’s stomach knotted at the thought of the battle looming later that night and of Becca being involved. If Bennett followed his usual pattern, he’d have already sniffed out a chambermaid to share his bed, a redhead, and would have imbibed in several large brandies.

  They counted on him being mellow enough to follow Becca like a lamb to slaughter and that other higher-level syndicate members would seize the golden opportunity to pounce on Becca at her most defenceless. The powerless position she’d be in rattled Cayle. A hundred things could go wrong.

  He envisioned her lying on the ground, injured and bleeding and him not being able to get to her. He didn’t blame her for being confused, for rejecting his proposals. Repeatedly, he’d swept her close and then rejected her, swinging between needing her in his bed, wanting her as his mistress, and wanting to marry her to protect her.

  Now, proving to her that he wanted to marry her for other reasons had become essential, a driving force. He was arrogant enough to believe that he could seduce her into revealing her love to him. He was humble enough to pray that happened. Four years ago, he’d pretended they’d shared a lighthearted flirtation when deep down, he’d understood that it’d meant much more to her. Circumstances had driven him away, but even since his return he’d drawn physically close to Becca while keeping her at arm’s length emotionally.

  He’d not trusted himself to keep Julia’s bargain if he allowed full reign to his emotional response to Becca. By doing that, he’d hurt the thing most precious to him. Tonight, he’d rectify his mistakes.

  • • •

  As the musicians warmed up for the first dance, Cayle hurried after Becca into the ballroom. Bowing before the older lady he asked, “May I lead your niece away for a dance?”

  Aunt Agatha didn’t smile, still distressed by his reckless treatment of Becca. Many fences still to mend. “I assume you mean my eldest niece?”

  Standing beside her aunt, Becca was trying to appear relaxed. Leaning towards them, he whispered, “For appearance’s sake.”

  “Of course.” The older lady spoke in a hushed tone. “You must project a happy front. Dearest, smile at the duke.”

  The smile Becca shot his way showed more exasperation than affection, but he wisely accepted it with good grace. No matter what it took to get her there, having Becca safely in his arms, reluctant or willing, was bliss. After their dance, Becca was claimed by her usual line of swains ready to worship at her feet.

  Two hours later, Cayle snarled at a drooling man who clasped Becca too closely and peered down her scooped neckline. Good heavens, when he encou
raged her to discard her old wardrobe and purchase new garments, he should’ve been shot. Except for the times she was naked with him, he wanted her covered in conservative necklines, high ones. Winchester teased him unmercifully, yet Cayle realised with satisfaction that his cousin’s eyes had a dangerous glint each time a young buck embraced Laura too closely. He wasn’t the only one affected by the untameable Jamison sisters. A minute later, Winchester echoed his sentiments.

  “Thank heavens, Cayle, it’s supper. If young Murchison moved any closer to Laura’s chest, he’d have toppled in. Then I’d have challenged the idiot. Hurry, Cayle, time to escort the ladies before they’re surrounded again.”

  Supper proved to be almost as hard on the nerves of the men as the dancing had been. Tony fended off would-be suitors chasing Lottie and Winchester panicked when Laura disappeared to the retiring room with a torn flounce.

  • • •

  Becca stood alone watching the evening’s chaos, normal by Jamison standards. She noticed the footman slip Cayle a note and the frown crease his forehead before he bent to Winchester’s ear. When Cayle turned to the door and left, in a hurry, Becca’s spine tingled with apprehension. They’d focused on the syndicate and shelved Cayle’s original problem of being snared for an unwanted marriage. Nothing untoward had occurred at the social events in the past weeks and their guard had dropped.

  Becca’s apprehension increased as she rushed into the corridor. Laura ran towards her, clutching her skirt up in one hand and careless of her exposed ankles. “Hurry! We were correct. I overheard Sybila. She and Julia set it up so Cayle is caught in the library with her.”

  When they tested it, the library door proved locked but having spent the afternoon sleuthing around this house, Laura knew a side entrance.

  “Laura, go for reinforcements. “We need help if we’re to disprove any accusations Sybila makes against Cayle. The more the merrier.”

  Scurrying to the hidden door, Becca pushed it open in time to hear Cayle’s angry voice. “Is this a repeat of four years ago, Sybila? I told you then I wasn’t interested in anything you had to offer. I’m even less interested now. You’ll not force me to leave England again, no matter what you try.”

  Sybila smiled, a cat with the cream smile. “Oh, I don’t want you out of the country, Cayle. As my husband — ”

  “Husband!” Cayle threw back his head and laughed. “Don’t be ridiculous. I can’t be accused of preying on an innocent this time, can I?”

  “No, but if you break your agreement with Julia you’ll have to pay her so much money, you’ll end in pauper’s prison. Unless you marry me immediately.”

  Becca gasped at her cousin’s cunning smile. She’d always known that she and her mother were schemers, but she’d never envisaged the lengths Sybila would go to for an advantageous marriage. Standing behind the door, she willed Laura to hurry and bring help with her.

  • • •

  Cayle stood in the middle of the library and stared at the woman who had already destroyed a large part of his life. For a terrifying moment, he envisaged his new future with Becca slipping away. To pay out Julia, he’d be compelled to forgo much of the immediate income from his export business. He’d not be in a good position to support his brothers as well as a wife and the children he now knew he wanted.

  However, Sybila hadn’t finished. “Oh, and if you think of refusing, remember this. I’ll make your little escapades with my mathematical cousin common gossip. Her family will never be received after it becomes known she’s your mistress.”

  Fury such as he’d never felt before consumed him. It took extreme effort to remain calm. “No one will believe you.”

  “Oh, but they will.” She smirked again. “Especially when Julia finishes spreading her gossip, the same way she did before.”

  “What do you mean, before?”

  “What? You still didn’t realise? It was due to Julia’s scheming that your father reviled you and that my dear, late departed husband, challenged you to a duel.”

  Cayle felt sick. Deep down, he’d known Julia had instigated his problems four years ago, but confirmation was still a blow.

  “I’m no longer that same naïve man. I’ll not be caught here with you, Sybila.” He strode to the door and searched for the key. When Sybila followed and ran her hand down his back, he slapped away her hand in disgust. “You’ve lost your mind.”

  “Oh no, my darling. I’ve planned this for a long time. You slipped away last time, but this time I’ll have you and your titles. You were supposed to kill my miserable viscount so I could become your wife without the scandal of breaking my vows. Not run away for four years.”

  “My God. You’ll never be my duchess. Nor will I ever let you hurt Becca.”

  Sybila laughed, a sickening, high-pitched wail. “How revoltingly sweet. You really imagine you love her, don’t you?”

  Cayle refused to answer, but she didn’t seem to care. She didn’t seem quite sane. “It matters not a whit to me. My only concern is the title and your lovely, lovely money. Once Julia has her share of the family fortune, we’ll be rid of her. The rest will be ours. Perhaps we’ll arrange for your little friend to have another accident.”

  “It was you! You tried to kill Becca.”

  Once again, Sybila touched him and he recoiled as if from a serpent, which at this moment, she resembled. “If you want to keep Becca unhurt, or alive, you’ll marry me.” Her gaze drifted over his lower body. “And you’ll share my bed. Willingly.”

  Sickened, he realised the best way to protect Becca was to pretend agreement until he could resolve this. Sybila was mad. Totally insane. And probably Julia, too. Greed had turned both their minds. And his life had become even more complex.

  “Fine. We’ll be married. I’ll never see Becca again.”

  He’d say anything to placate the bitch standing before him. “I’ll tell her I don’t want her.” Swallowing his pride, he begged, hoping to gain some time. “Just leave Becca alone. Promise me.”

  Julia spoke from the main doorway. She relocked the door she’d just entered through and pocketed the key. “Such touching devotion to your little mistress.” She smiled with evil intent. “And felicitations on your betrothal to Sybila. This time, I’ll not even need to inform other guests that I surprised you on a desk. Or that you were trying to toss my skirts, Cayle.”

  “You bitch, Julia. Both of you. You’re both as mad as each other.”

  Julia threw back her head and laughed. “Just for that, Cayle, you shall beg us to spare her life.”

  • • •

  Becca quivered with rage on the other side of the smaller door. She’d heard enough. Not waiting for Laura, she swung open the door and strode into the room. For a moment, her arrival stunned the two women but she faced them without fear. Her work involved dealing with the best and worst of humanity giving Becca a new pride in who she was and what she’d become. Jamison women were, after all, renowned for forthrightness and unafraid to admit it. Julia and Sybila, convinced of their triumphant outcome, recovered with such ease that Becca was staggered to realise she faced two of the most devious women she’d ever encountered.

  “Cayle, remember, you’re the Duke of Sherwyn. Don’t humble yourself before these two traitors. Especially not for me.”

  She saw the tension leave Cayle’s body and he stepped towards her, smiling, hand outstretched.

  “We’ve proof they tried to kill me,” Becca said. “They’ll not compromise you into a forced marriage. I heard it all.”

  Julia threw back her head to howl her derision, a mad, hysterical note to it. “Oh, you foolish child. After I devastate your reputation, your word will be worthless. I am the Duchess of Sherwyn. You are nobody and there are no other witnesses. When the St. Martin ships dock from the east, our family will be rich again and I will be compensated for all these wretched years.”

  “I’ll not let you do that, Julia,” Cayle said.

  Julia spun towards Cayle with wild eyes. “No! I w
as forced to suffer the attentions of your father for years. Because of you, I was exiled to rot in the country like an unmanageable child. With Sybila’s help, I will now have my revenge by squeezing every penny from you and the estate.”

  Cayle stood before his stepmother and let her see the determination in his face.

  “I’ve heard enough of your boasts and idle threats,” he said in a calm voice. “You’ll not make paupers of the St. Martin men ever again.”

  He turned his icy gaze on Sybila who appeared aware now that this wasn’t going to her plan. She looked frozen, unable to decide if she should flee or stay to support Julia, her fellow conspirator.

  “Sybila, I’m giving you a chance because you’re Becca’s cousin. Leave this room without fuss, and retain your dignity. Otherwise, I’ll reveal to the authorities how you thought to use me to relieve you of an unwanted husband.”

  Julia’s cackle of laughter sounded even more frenzied. “Once again, Cayle, you’ve no witnesses, no proof. At any minute, Sybila’s mother will arrive to feign disbelief at finding her daughter discomfited by your attentions. A peer of the realm dishonouring her.”

  Several people streamed into the room through the main library door, their very presence disclaiming her statement.

  Julia stuttered in agitation, “But I … I locked that door.” Reaching into her pocket, she pulled out the key and stared at it with disbelief.

  The group of new arrivals grinned, enjoying the chaos their entrance created.

  Laura held up a piece of twisted wire. “But Julia, the ridiculous Jamison sisters, as you’ve repeatedly labelled us, are all able to pick locks.”

  Lined up beside cheeky Laura, Brian and Anthony were frankly admiring of such a matchless skill from such an extraordinary woman. Winchester looked ready to worship at the feet of anyone capable of besting scheming Sybila. Lottie looked as complacent as if housebreaking was part of her daily routine, and Aunt Agatha as contented as if partaking of tea in a duchess’s drawing room.

  Both Julia and Sybila were beside themselves. Sybila almost frothed at the mouth, as she demanded, “Where’s my mother?”