by Rakes Reward
Or by disclosure of her disgraceful meetings with Kit Stratton.
She gulped as his handsome face rose yet again in her mind. She could see him laughing with Lady Stratton like any normal gentleman, rather than like the wicked rake he was. She ought to despise him.
But she could not.
She wanted to condemn him out of hand for living a life of deep depravity and for attempting to lure her into it.
But she could not.
Everything that had happened between them had been her own doing, at least in part. She had gone to meet him—alone. She had visited his house. She had melted in his arms…
She was just as guilty as he.
And when she saw the laughing face he turned on his family, she had felt only envy. If only he would—
Marina dropped her head into her gloved hands. What on earth was happening to her?
She had been kissed by Kit Stratton. And she was lost.
‘Why, Miss Beaumont!’ Mr Stratton paused in the act of entering his sister’s drawing room. ‘What a…delightful surprise.’
Marina rose somewhat shakily from her chair. Oh, why did he have to appear now, as if she had conjured him out of her daydreams? And why had Lady Stratton not yet arrived? She was usually so very punctual.
He was waiting for her to say something. Waiting. He had cocked an eyebrow at her. Her obvious confusion seemed to be a source of amusement to him.
Marina straightened her back. ‘I have leave to visit Lady Stratton in the mornings when Lady Luce does not require my services. Lady Stratton has been very kind.’
‘So I should hope. She considers that the Strattons neglected your family after the death of your father.’
‘Oh, no—’
‘Miss Beaumont,’ he said, in that deep, arresting voice that seemed to make her fingers and toes tingle, ‘allow me to warn you that there is absolutely no point in disagreeing with Emma when she has made up her mind to something. If she has decided that our family owes a debt to yours, you would be well advised to accept it.’
How dare he? Marina knew he was arrogant, but this was the outside of enough. ‘Indeed?’ she said. She could not trust herself to say more.
‘Indeed.’ He looked her up and down then. It seemed that he had only just noticed her modish appearance, for his eyes widened a fraction. Did that signify approval?
Marina lifted her chin. She would not permit his presence to overset her. ‘I am waiting for Lady Stratton, sir. She suggested that we might practise our music together this morning. She had not mentioned that she expected any visitors.’
‘No, she would not. Brothers, Miss Beaumont, do not count.’
Marina refused to react. He was clearly enjoying his attempts to bait her.
‘As it happens, she did not expect me. I have come to take Hugo to Jackson’s boxing parlour.’ He looked shrewdly at her. ‘You do not wrinkle your nose at the Fancy, Miss Beaumont. Emma would, I assure you.’
Marina returned his gaze frankly. ‘I have a brother of my own, sir. I long ago learned not to notice such things.’
‘Ah. Yes, of course.’
She felt as if he had just patted her on the head. Suddenly, she wanted to hit him, or kick him, as she had in his Chelsea house when he— Oh, God, why did that encounter keep pushing itself into her mind? Why were her thoughts for ever raging out of control? She—
‘Oh, I am so sorry to have kept you waiting, my dear,’ cried Lady Stratton, entering the room like a small whirlwind. ‘I was— Kit! What on earth are you doing here at this hour?’
‘Nothing of great import. I was planning on a visit to Jackson’s boxing parlour. Promised to introduce a friend there this morning, but I wondered if Hugo might like to join our company. Some time since we have sparred together.’
Lady Stratton grimaced theatrically. ‘It is one of the sad facts of life, Miss Beaumont, that ladies must put up with the singularly unattractive pursuits of their menfolk. I cannot, for the life of me, understand what pleasure they derive from using each other as punchbags.’ She glanced at her brother-in-law. ‘And you have no need to grin, sir! Oh, go away, do! You may continue your discussion with Hugo.’
He bowed to her with exaggerated care. ‘Your wish is my command, dear sister.’ He turned a fraction towards Marina. ‘Miss Beaumont, you will allow me to say that I am delighted that the Dowager is permitting you a little time for yourself. Whether such freedom is best employed in the company of my quiz of a sister—’ Lady Stratton only half succeeded in suppressing a shriek of outrage ‘—is a matter on which I am not qualified to pass an opinion. Day to you, ma’am.’
The door closed on him just as the book thrown by Lady Stratton reached the spot where his head had been. ‘Wretched, wretched man!’ she exclaimed, but she was almost laughing as she spoke.
It was not possible for a lady in Marina’s position to make any comment. She tried to force a smile. Lady Stratton might laugh at her brother’s wit, but Marina knew it hid his cold, ruthless heart. She had seen him at his most dangerous, drawing the Dowager towards financial ruin and Marina herself towards…
Towards what?
Hugo shook his head. ‘I’m afraid not, Kit. I have an engagement this morning that I cannot break, though I should be happy to accompany you on another occasion. Jackson will tell me I am sadly out of condition. And he would be right, too. Haven’t been in the ring for weeks.’
‘In that case,’ Kit said, ‘I am glad you cannot come. What is the use of a brother who cannot provide a decent level of opposition?’
Hugo grinned. ‘Let us make an appointment to meet in a week’s time, brother. Then I’ll show you opposition.’
Kit stretched out his hand. ‘Agreed,’ he said. ‘Five guineas to the winner?’ They shook hands on the deal.
‘Kit, there’s something I have been meaning to ask you.’ There was a noticeable hesitation in Hugo’s voice suddenly. ‘I… Have you heard any rumours lately?’
Kit’s brows rose. ‘Have to be more specific, I’m afraid, Hugo. I hear rumours all the time. What sort of rumours?’
‘About…your Austrian lady friend.’
Not Marina, then. Katharina. What on earth could Hugo have heard? Kit permitted himself an exaggerated sigh. ‘Ah, I see. No, I have not. But I trust you will tell me what they are.’
‘I would not do so ordinarily, but she… You deserve better, Kit, than to be made to look a fool by that…female.’
Kit knew instinctively what was coming. He felt an instant surge of anger, first—and unfairly—against Hugo for being the bearer of such tidings, and then against Katharina for being the cause of them. But he refused to allow his bruised pride to show. Even to his brother.
‘You may tell me the whole, Hugo,’ he said evenly. ‘Do not attempt to spare my feelings. In this case, I have none, believe me.’
Hugo stared at him for a second before continuing, ‘It is rumoured that the Baroness has taken another lover. No, I do not have a name, I’m afraid, but I have heard it now from a number of sources. They could be wrong, of course, but…’
‘But you do not think so.’
‘No. Especially as it… You ought to be aware, Kit, that one of those infernal scandal sheets is making much of your affairs, and of the fact that the Baroness is known to have strayed.’
‘You have seen it?’
‘No. No, I have not, though others have. Do you want me to try to—?’
‘Thank you, Hugo. No. I am grateful for the information. There is nothing more for you to do now. I shall deal with matters in my own way. I trust that Emma knows nothing of this?’
‘I am not aware that she does,’ said Hugo carefully, ‘but her Aunt Warenne is always one of the first with the latest on dits. I should think it is only a matter of time…’
‘In that case, I had better be on my way. It seems I shall be…sparring with more than one opponent today. Wish me luck, Hugo?’
‘With your experience, shall you really need it?’
The Baroness was white with anger but she did not raise her voice. ‘So you have the impudence to come to me for payment, do you, Budge?’ Her foreign accent was becoming more pronounced with every word. She waved a paper at the housekeeper. ‘After this?’ she hissed.
Mrs Budge quailed, but stood her ground. ‘I carried out your orders exactly, m’lady, I promise you. It has been almost a week now and you said—’
‘I gave you clear instructions to say nothing about the writer of that letter. Do you deny that you disobeyed me?’
‘No, m’lady. I mean, yes, I…’ She shook her head slightly, trying to regain control. ‘M’lady, I said nothing about you to Mr Johnson or anyone else. I simply delivered the letter you gave me.’
The Baroness spread the paper she held and glanced down at it. ‘Are you telling me that you had no conversation with Mr Johnson?’
‘Er…no, m’lady, not exactly. We…we exchanged the time of day, so to speak.’
‘Quite,’ said the Baroness sourly. ‘I should have known better than to trust an English servant. Especially one who dares to ask for payment after betraying me.’
‘M’lady, I swear—’
The Baroness thrust the paper towards Mrs Budge. ‘Read it, then, Budge. Read it. And then tell me that you are not responsible. If you dare.’
Mrs Budge scanned the paper, her hand shaking a little at the violence of the Baroness’s onslaught. Then she lifted her chin and looked resolutely at her accuser. ‘M’lady, this is nothing to do with me. I did not tell Mr Johnson that you and the master are… And I certainly said nothing else about you.’ At the Baroness’s snort of anger, she added, daringly, ‘How could I have done so, when I knew nothing about your other affairs?’
‘How dare you?’ spluttered the Baroness. ‘Get out of my house before I have you thrown out. Get out, I say!’
Mrs Budge almost ran out of the room before the Baroness could make good on her threat. Clearly she would receive not a penny more from the Austrian woman.
What would happen now? The Baroness might well betray her treachery to the master, who would be bound to dismiss her if he found out. And Mrs Budge could not afford to lose her place, or the income it provided.
Yet there might be another way of earning money, at least for now. The Baroness had accused her of betrayal and was treating her as if she were guilty. So…she might as well reap the rewards.
She would pay another visit to the well-informed Mr Johnson and, this time, she would not be nearly so circumspect about what she told him. The next edition of Mr Johnson’s little scandal sheet would give the haughty Baroness a seizure—she hoped—besides making the woman the butt of London gossip for the rest of the Season.
She pursed her lips and nodded at her own cleverness. Good. Very good.
And, just in case that did not do the trick, she would ensure that a copy of Mr Johnson’s interesting history would find its way to the Austrian Embassy, for the personal attention of the noble Baron von Thalberg.
Instinctively, Kit ducked back into the shadows. He had no desire to be seen in the vicinity of Katharina’s house. There were quite enough rumours flying already.
Then he recognised the black-clad woman who had emerged. It was his own housekeeper.
Now, that was very interesting. What possible reason could Mrs Budge have for visiting Katharina at her home? He had given the woman no message to deliver. In truth, he had had no communication at all from Katharina for over a week, which was not surprising if his little Austrian was indeed playing him false, as Hugo had suggested. Clearly, it was time they parted. He had made it plain enough, throughout their liaison, that he was always faithful to his mistresses—while they lasted—and that he expected the same courtesy from the ladies in question. Since Katharina appeared to have ignored his warning, their rupture could not now be delayed.
For a moment he toyed with the notion of entering the Baron’s house and giving Katharina her congé face to face. What a scandal that would create! The diplomat’s wife receiving one of the greatest rakes in London—alone in her drawing room, too. Did he dare?
Yes, he did. He would do it—were it not for the scandal that would then descend on Emma and Hugo, as well as himself. That would be mightily unfair on them. Kit would have to find another means of dealing with the duplicitous Baroness. A lesser man might do the deed by letter, but Kit had no intention of adopting such a cowardly tactic. He would confront her with her deceit and leave her in no doubt of why she was to be banished from his bed.
His eye was caught by Mrs Budge’s raised hand. She had walked only a few yards from Katharina’s door and was trying to hail a hackney. Even more interesting! Where could she be going that justified such expensive transport? No doubt Katharina had paid her, but what was her errand? It made no sense for Katharina to employ Mrs Budge to take messages to her new lover. There were plenty of other servants in the household who could be bribed to do that. What was the service that only Kit’s housekeeper could perform for the faithless Baroness?
He looked around rapidly for another cab, but there was none in sight. He cursed roundly. A passing gentleman looked at him in surprise and disgust, hesitated, and then walked on.
Kit grinned ruefully at his own loss of control. The housekeeper’s hackney was out of sight. It would be impossible to follow her now. He might as well continue with his original errand and call at his friend’s house, next but one to Katharina’s. He would be waiting to be taken to Jackson’s boxing parlour for his introduction to the great man. A turn in the ring was even more necessary now, Kit decided. He really needed to vent his wrath on someone this morning, or he would explode.
Mrs Budge would not escape scot-free, however. At some point convenient to Kit, the housekeeper would be faced with an interview that she would find more than a little uncomfortable.
Chapter Fifteen
‘I did not come here to be insulted,’ hissed the Baroness, rising indignantly from her seat in the cramped parlour.
‘No, Katharina, you came here to see if you could cozen me into believing that these rumours were a pack of lies.’ He fixed her with a stern gaze. ‘Well? Did you not?’
She did not reply. She tried to meet his eyes, but failed. To cover her confusion, she began to pace around the room.
‘Spare me these theatricals, my dear. You should know they will achieve nothing. I asked you here to tell you face to face that our…understanding is at an end. You know why.’
She threw a sharp glance at him and deliberately turned her back.
‘Does your husband know that you are playing him false yet again?’
She spun on her heel. ‘How dare you say such a thing! You, of all men! As if you were blameless!’
‘My dear Katharina, it was but a simple question. I ask because I have a warning for you. Once, you were discreet. Now, it appears, you are not. If these rumours should reach the Baron’s ears and he should be minded to defend his honour—it is not impossible, you know, since he is neither as old nor as blind as you would like to believe—I shall refer him to your latest cher ami. I have no intention of facing a bullet at dawn for Cullen’s—’ He stopped abruptly, waiting until she looked him in the eye once more. ‘I am sure your English is quite adequate to supply the appropriate word.’
He smiled coldly at her, before striding across to the fireplace to pull the bell. ‘Mrs Budge will show you out.’ He folded his arms and leaned casually against the mantel until the door opened.
‘Show my visitor out, Mrs Budge,’ he said sharply.
The housekeeper curtsied and took her stance by the open door.
‘Goodbye, my dear. Be grateful that I did you the courtesy of a meeting. It is more than you deserve. A woman who uses servants to spy on their own master deserves no consideration of any kind.’
The Baroness threw him a look seething with hatred, before marching through the open door.
‘I hope you paid her well,’ he called after her, relishing the housekee
per’s suddenly ashen face, ‘for she is most certainly going to lose her place.’
The Dowager smiled grimly. ‘Splendid. Absolutely splendid,’ she said with satisfaction. ‘It will be delightful to see that woman get her just deserts.’
Marina had no idea what her mistress was talking about, but it must have something to do with the scandal sheet that lay in her lap. What woman could she be referring to?
‘Kit Stratton has excelled himself this time. I should not have believed that he had it in him. And his Austrian…er…mistress will be mad as fire. I wonder…’ Her smile broadened. ‘I wonder if someone will see fit to show this to her husband. We might have a real diplomatic incident then. Oh, it is famous.’ She chortled nastily, enjoying the thought. Then, seeing Marina’s puzzlement, she threw the paper across to her. ‘Read it, if you wish. But don’t come over all missish when you do. It’s the way of the world.’ She nodded to herself. ‘And when the world pauses to think about it, they will soon work out the identity of the mysterious M.B.’
M.B.! Marina felt as if all the blood had suddenly drained from her body. She barely had enough strength in her fingers to spread the cheap paper. She was betrayed! Now that her initials had been printed in a scandal sheet, it would take no time at all for her identity to be discovered. She had been a fool to depend on Kit Stratton’s aid. And much too quick in thanking him for ensuring his brother’s discretion. Sir Hugo must have spoken of what he had seen…or perhaps the culprit was Kit Stratton himself. She had been mad to think him a gentleman.
She felt as if a black cloud had settled around her. It was only a matter of time now until she was completely disgraced.
She glanced furtively at the Dowager who was still smiling in grim satisfaction. Why? She had hinted that she knew the identity of M.B., but that was impossible. If she had known the truth, she would not be talking to Marina in this odd way. She would be telling her to pack her bags.
