Lord of Mischief

by Sasha Cottman

  Eve relaxed into the dance, enjoying the pleasurable sensation of being held close by Freddie. He was a skilled dancer, and her body fitted well against his as they moved through the dance steps. The warmth of his arms holding her radiated throughout her body.

  They slowly worked their way around the dance floor, their target in their sights. As they reached the minister, Freddie cleared his throat. “That is a particularly lovely gown you have on this evening, my dear. If I dance close enough I can see right down the front of it. If you lean over a little more, I am certain I shall be rewarded with a glimpse of your nipples,” he said.

  Eve bit down on her bottom lip in an attempt to stifle a snigger. Out of the corner of her eye she caught the look of horrified disgust on Lady Cullins’s face.

  “Really? Can you? I don’t believe it,” she replied.

  Freddie chuckled. “Well, lean forward and I shall tell you exactly the color of your nipples. Do you have any hair on them, by chance?”

  The minister’s wife cleared her throat as Eve leant forward. Freddie closed the distance and very obviously looked down.

  “Young man. That is entirely unsuitable behavior for the dance floor. And as for you, young lady, I shall discover who you are and have a word with your mama. You should not have been allowed to come out if you were not properly finished,” scolded Lady Cullins.

  Eve watched as Freddie fixed an idiotic look to his countenance and turned to the minister’s wife. “Scientific research must be conducted in all manner of places. I am more than happy to do the same research with you if you feel the statistics will be skewed by such a small sample.”

  The ugliest of scenes was only avoided by the fortuitous ending of the music, which signaled the end of the dance. The minister and his equally outraged wife marched from the dance floor. They approached a footman who quickly escorted them out into the foyer.

  “I say. Are they leaving? Was it something we said?” asked Eve.

  Freddie turned to her. His lips were held tightly together. His eyes shone brightly with suppressed mirth. “A British cabinet minister—this calls for another drink. Then we need to decide who to target next.”

  “I could do with a spot of night air before we get another brandy,” replied Eve.

  They found a door and headed out onto the garden terrace. The cold night air immediately had Eve’s brandy-affected brain spinning. She reached out and took hold of Freddie’s arm to steady herself.

  “Are you alright?” he asked.

  She sucked in a deep breath. Then began to laugh. “I cannot believe we just did that! My mother will skin me alive if Lady Cullins ever discovers my identity.”

  Freddie gave her a worried look, which she laughed off. The thrill of danger coursed through her veins. If this was devilish behavior, it was a heady drug she wanted to experience over and over again.

  Eve’s evening of mirth and dangerous delight eventually ended on a sober note. Caroline sat silent in the carriage on the journey home. Eve didn’t bother to look at her sister. She could feel the imaginary daggers being plunged into her heart, but after an evening spent with Freddie Rosemount, she refused to let it get to her. Once inside their family home, they both headed upstairs.

  Eve entered her room and was about to close the door when an angry Caroline barged into the room behind her.

  “How dare you treat me like that?”

  Eve gave her a weary look. She was tired from too much dancing and far too much brandy to conduct a full-scale row with Caroline. Her evening with Freddie had been a triumph. Her long game of baiting Caroline was beginning to lose its luster in comparison to the sharp, shiny newness of the Rude Rules.

  “I don’t know what you are talking about,” she replied, with a tired wave of her fingers.

  Enraged, Caroline reached out and grabbed a hold of her hand.

  Eve winced in pain. “Let go of me, you self-important bore.”

  The look on Caroline’s face immediately changed. Eve took deep satisfaction in knowing the spiteful remark had stung liked a slap to the face.

  “Oh, don’t go looking all offended and upset, Caroline, just because someone doesn’t fall on their knees in front of you. We can’t all be fawning members of your royal court.”

  Caroline pointed a finger at Eve. “You take that back. You take it all back now.”

  Eve shook her head and walked away. She undid the ties of her cloak and let it fall with satisfying dramatic effect onto her bed. She walked over to her dresser and picked up her hairbrush.

  Her maid entered the bedroom and stopped when she saw Caroline. Eve beckoned her over, and her maid busied herself with pulling the pins from Eve’s hair. Caroline remained standing to one side of the doorway, her fists tightly clenched.

  Eve looked at her through the dressing table mirror, giving her a why are you still here glare.

  “You cannot hold me to account just because I am finally getting a little attention and you don’t like it.”

  “What I don’t like is being treated so poorly by my sister and her newly minted friend. I shall expect your apology in the morning,” replied Caroline angrily.

  Eve’s maid jumped as Caroline slammed the door behind her as she left.

  Eve sat quietly while the rest of the pins and ribbons, which had held her hair in place, were removed. Her heart was thumping a loud tattoo in her chest. Tonight, she had crossed several lines of socially acceptable behavior.

  The thrill she had experienced with Freddie on the dance floor had emboldened her so much that Caroline had never stood a chance when she’d sought to correct Eve. Hell would freeze over before she apologized to Caroline. Hell, or the wrath that her mother would bring down on her if Caroline decided to cross another line tonight and tell their mother about Eve’s encounter with Freddie Rosemount.

  Chapter Nine

  Eve rose late. Keeping up with Freddie and the game was beginning to take its toll. Instead of going out socializing once or twice a week, she was now seeing him every night. Adelaide had made mention of the late hours Eve and Francis were keeping when they arrived home the previous evening.

  Francis was gifted with the ability to stay out late but still be up and fresh with the dawn. Eve was not so fortunate. Adding to her problem was the fact she was a young lady. It would only be a matter of time before her mother decided a quiet word about reputations was in order.

  Fate, fortunately, had other plans for Adelaide Saunders that morning. As Eve sat in front of the mirror of her dressing table, her bedroom door crashed open.

  “He’s coming home. He’s leaving Gibraltar within the week!” announced an excited Adelaide. In her hand she brandished a letter.

  Eve didn’t need to ask to whom her mother was referring. Her older brother, William, had been away in France for five years and had recently written to the family announcing his intention to return permanently to England. Every day since then, Adelaide had checked with the family butler to see if further letters from Will had been received.

  “That is wonderful news,” replied Eve. She looked at her teary-eyed mother and smiled. It was more than wonderful. It was a huge relief.

  Will had been a secret agent for the British government in the war to overthrow Napoleon. His ability to speak his father’s native tongue, and fit in with the local population in Paris, had made him an effective spy.

  The war had been over for two years, and Will had made his first trip home to England during the summer. His family had been expecting him to stay and were dismayed when he’d returned to France. Her mother had felt the pain of disappointment harder than the rest of the family. Eve and Caroline had temporarily put aside their differences and rallied around her, but Adelaide had continued to weep for many weeks after Will’s departure.

  “He has spent some time in Spain and is now in Gibraltar. Oh, Eve, he says by the time we get this letter he will already be on the boat. My boy is coming home. My boy!” exclaimed her mother.

  “What did Papa sa
y?” asked Eve.

  “He doesn’t know. That’s why I am here. You need to get dressed and come with me to your father’s offices at once. Both he and Francis need to know the marvelous news without delay. Caroline has gone shopping with Harry Menzies’s mother and sister, so we shall have to wait until she returns to tell her.”

  Eve frowned. What was Caroline doing going shopping with the female relatives of Francis’s best friend? A best friend who, as everyone apart from Caroline seemed to know, was head over heels in love with her?

  Caroline had made no mention of having developed any romantic attachment for Harry. He came from a good family and had a sizeable fortune from importing goods from the Americas, but her sister had never treated him with anything other than cool politeness. All the nights Eve had watched Harry worship Caroline from close quarters proved her sister’s interest in him bordered on indifference.

  But Caroline was no fool. She would have seen Eve and Freddie together enough times to know Eve had likely set her sights on him. If Caroline made a sudden and decisive move to be the first one married, Eve was likely to be caught wrong-footed.

  A more pressing problem also now presented itself. The chances of her being able to get out the house each night to see Freddie would be severely curtailed in the first weeks of her brother’s return. There would be family reunions and special dinners held in his honor. Much as she wanted him safely home, Will’s return could not be coming at a worse time. If Will was already on the boat back to England, she had only a matter of a week or so to force Freddie’s hand.

  “Now get dressed. I want to go and see your father within the hour,” said Adelaide.

  She turned on her heel and rushed out the door.

  Eve stared at her reflection in the mirror.

  A small smile formed on her lips as she remembered Freddie having made mention that his mother was coming to London in the next few days. He had not formally requested permission from her father to court Eve, but Adelaide and Lady Rosemount knew one another.

  If she could manage to get the two mothers together, and drop some subtle hints, the wheels of future matrimony would begin to turn. If Caroline had indeed decided to settle on Harry Menzies as her future husband, it was going to be a race between the two sisters as to who could get to the altar first.

  “I’ll be damned if I am going to be the second bride of the family. I am going to get married before she does, even if it means having to elope,” muttered Eve.

  Her fingers gripped the side of the dressing table. Eloping would be scandalous. An elopement would put Lucy and Avery’s hasty marriage to shame. She and Freddie would be the talk of London society. Her mother would be mortified, and Caroline would be furious.

  She was falling in love with Freddie, every moment spent with him was magic to her heart. But until now he had shown no indication of having formed any sort of emotional attachment to her. Unrequited love would be a bitter pill to swallow if all her plans amounted to nothing.

  Chapter Ten

  Freddie took a walk to clear his head. Osmont Firebrace had given the Bachelor Board candidates their next challenge the previous morning. They were to purchase an animal and name it something outrageous. They were then to take the animal with them everywhere for an entire week and address the animal at every opportunity.

  Trenton Embry had shown his usual level of interest in the game by promptly buying a mouse. He’d named it Tiger, which he found highly amusing. For the first time since he had met the dour Trenton, Freddie actually heard a chuckle escape his lips. His efforts at the game had become nothing more than tokenism, which suited Freddie just fine. Only Godwin was any real threat to his success.

  Godwin had done little better. He’d bought a baby turtle and named it Flash. It had relieved itself in his coat pocket several times already that morning, and by the time Freddie left Barton Street, the stench had seeped into the wool of his friend’s clothes. Godwin was regretting his hasty decision.

  That left Freddie open to come up with something a little more imaginative. But what?

  As soon as he arrived home the previous day, he had sent word to Eve of the new challenge. She was an intelligent girl, and one he knew would have plenty to say on the matter of beast he was to purchase.

  He made it as far as the Thames before turning back to head for home. On the way he strolled from Piccadilly into Old Bond Street, his mind still fixed on the problem of the animal he should purchase. He needed those valuable challenge points if he was to hold Lord Godwin at bay.

  What sort of animal could he take everywhere with him? He was still pondering the question when Eve and her brother Francis came into view.

  He immediately questioned his decision to send her details of the next challenge.

  Leading both Eve and Francis—though dragging could have been a closer word to the truth—was a huge, lumbering, Irish grey wolfhound. His brother had once owned one while at university and had constantly complained about how much it had cost him to feed the dog.

  As they drew closer, he began to pray the dog was a member of the Saunders’s family. From the look of displeasure on Francis’s face, he knew he was in for no such luck.

  Eve, on the other hand, was grinning from ear to ear. A laugh threatened with every step she took. Her hands were wrapped tightly around the end of the lead and she appeared to be holding on with all her might.

  When they finally reached where Freddie was standing, Francis took the lead out of his sister’s hand and passed it to Freddie. Freddie’s heart sank as he took possession of his unexpected gift.

  Eve gave up on her attempt not to laugh and broke out into a cackle. “Oh, you should have seen us, Freddie, it was hilarious. We got up at the crack of dawn and went all the way out to Spitalfields market to buy him. Francis here thought a small cat would do the trick, but as soon as I saw this monstrous beast I knew he was perfect for you.”

  Francis gave his sister a deathly glare, obviously not enjoying the jest as well as she. Freddie caught sight of the drool stains on the front of Francis’s trousers and coat, and guffawed.

  “Laugh all you want, Rosemount. Just remember how funny you thought this all was when he has made a complete mess of your clothing. I expect by day’s end the joke will have worn thin. I don’t know what the two of you are playing at, but this beast is beyond ridiculous,” replied Francis.

  Eve rolled her eyes. “Saintspreserveus.”

  “No! You are not calling the dog that. You are the niece of the Bishop of London. Please try to have at least a half ounce of decorum,” snapped Francis.

  Eve and Freddie’s gazes met. They knew the rules of the game. The pet had to have a ridiculous name. She smiled back at him. Those dark hazel eyes held him in their sway. He couldn’t go against her in front of her brother; she would never forgive him.

  His gaze drifted to her lips. He wanted to kiss them. He also wanted to kiss several other places on her body.

  “Saintspreserveus. I like it. It rolls smoothly off the tongue,” said Freddie.

  Francis let out a sigh. “I see I am in the company of two fools. So be it. Eve can accompany you and the dog for the walk back to Grosvenor Square. I shall send the carriage around to collect her as soon as I get home. But for heaven’s sake, Eve, try to avoid being seen by anyone who knows you.”

  “Saints preserve us,” Eve muttered as Francis walked away.

  Freddie looked at her and chuckled. “Are we really going to give this beast that name? Poor creature.”

  The dog held its head high and seemed to be doing its utmost to ignore both of them. If Francis thought the name was foolish, so, it would appear, did the dog.

  “Yes. You told me you needed an animal for the challenge. I thought we could kill two birds with one stone. Plenty of people will take offence at the name, so we can get Rude Rules points as well. I would have thought you would understand, but clearly a demonstration is in order,” Eve replied with a huff. She snatched the lead from out of Freddie�
��s hand and let the end fall to the ground. The dog took one look at the lead and bolted.

  Freddie didn’t have time to question the recklessness of what Eve had done. He was too busy running after his new pet as its long legs loped along the street. A giggling Eve trailed behind them.

  “Call his name!” she shouted.

  “Saintspreserveus!” cried Freddie.

  The jest finally landed. Two fools were running after a dog, crying “saints preserve us” at the top of their lungs. Eve, in her cunning, had found a way for them to score extra points. The Rude Rules would allow points for idiocy and public offence, while the new challenge was covered with the name of the dog. A dog who was fast putting distance between its new owner and itself.

  As they rounded the corner into Bruton Street, they both skidded to a halt. Saintspreserveus had made it all the way to Berkley Square and was busy relieving himself on the leaves of a low green hedge.

  “Walk slowly to the right side of the square, and I shall take the left,” whispered Freddie.

  The scene was farcical. Here was a huge, furry beast nuzzling the well-kept greenery of the garden, while two humans attempted to sneak up on it.

  They got closer. At one point the dog lifted its head and looked back down the street. Eve hurried and hid in the doorway of a nearby shop. Freddie, caught out in the open, froze.

  “Here, boy. Saintspreserveus, come, boy,” he called.

  Several people passing by gave him strange looks, Freddie simply smiled at them.

  Eve stepped out from the shopfront. “Saintspreserveus!”

  Side by side, the two of them walked the length of the street, repeatedly calling the dog’s name. Both managed to keep their faces straight.

  Finally, they reached where Saintspreserveus was standing. His head was over the side of an ornamental fountain and he was happily lapping up the water with his long pink tongue. Freddie swiftly took a hold of the lead and wrapped it firmly around his arm.