He strolled up the steps, eying the faded paint on the dark wood door. His childhood was not so bad. In truth he very much enjoyed his years at boarding school. His choice to go on to university seemed easy, for a band of rowdy but loyal friends and a bevy of lovely courtesan’s were easier to hide from his stepmother’s knowledge there. God forbid his exploits tarnish her good standing by marriage.
Pushing the thought from his head he opened the door and stepped into the familiar gold and white foyer. The house was quiet. With a frown he slipped out of his greatcoat and looked around. Not even a servant in attendance. What was going on?
“Smith?” he called, his rich baritone resonating in the circular entrance way.
The gray-haired servant who had been in their family’s employ for as long as Devon could remember hurried into the room. “My lord? Is it you, home from the sea finally?”
Devon handed him the coat. “Yes, I am home safe and sound. How is everything here? It is so quiet. Has no one returned from the country yet?”
“Her ladyship decided to tour Italy for the winter, in light of your … sudden marriage, my lord, and has only just arrived home last week.” Smith took the coat, shook out an imaginary wrinkle and then hung it on the coat rack.
“Did she?” Devon raised an eyebrow. “And pray tell what has become of my … wife?”
“Your wife and sister are out shopping, my lord.”
“Shopping?” Devon shook his head and headed for the family parlor. “And my stepmother?”
“In the parlor, my lord.”
He found Adele perusing a fashion catalog and sipping a cup of tea. She looked up at his entry. “Devon, darling, why did you not send word of your impending arrival? The servants need time to air out your rooms.”
“I saw no need to, Adele, I am not staying long. I will be on my way to Candlewick in a few days.” Devon crossed and poured himself a cup of tea from the silver service beside her.
She frowned at him and set down her own cup. “Candlewick? Surely you will stay in London for the rest of the season before secluding yourself away in the country?”
Devon took a seat across from her. “No, I am anxious to see the developments on the place in my absence and unpack the improvements I have brought back from the Orient with me.”
“Surely you will want to attend a few balls and show off your wife?” An icy glint sparkled in her gray eyes.
“I’m surprised you did not send the chit packing as soon as the door closed behind me when I left. No, nothing could be further from my mind. In fact, I have met someone and one of the stops I intend to make here in London before being on my way is to my solicitor to have the marriage annulled and settle on Finny a modest allowance to see her taken care of. You will only have to tolerate her under your roof for the few weeks necessary to see everything taken care of.”
A bright smile graced his stepmother’s lips. “It seems you have had sufficient time to come to your senses on your travels, Devon. Who is this lucky girl who has caught your eye?”
“I’d rather not say at the moment, Adele, for I hardly know her. In fact I only know what she has written me these past months. She must be a woman of good breeding though, as she claims to be a friend of Kat’s and writes with grace and wit in her letters.”
Chapter Twelve
Finny stepped from the carriage behind Kat pleased with her purchases that morning. “I am in need of a cup of tea after such a morning.”
Kat giggled and made her way up the steps to the house. “Yes, I find I could use a nice cup of tea myself. I swear, Finny, you shop as if you have been doing so your whole life. My poor brother’s pocket book will be sorely strained.”
“Can he afford it?” Finny paused, worried she might have caused her husband financial distress and incite his anger.
“Yes, Finny, not to worry. You have not sent my brother to the poor house yet.” Kat grinned at Finny before stepping into the house.
The butler hurried into the foyer to take their coats. “You will be pleased to know his lordship has returned home.”
“Oh, Finny, Devon is home at last!” Kat dropped her packages and hurried to the parlor door.
Finny stood frozen in the foyer. My husband is home. Will he like me? Have I become refined enough for him? Why didn’t he hint in his last letter he was coming?
Kat looked back over her shoulder before entering the parlor. “Come on, Finny!”
Swallowing Finny eyed the parlor door. “No, I mean, I should like to go above stairs and change. I want to look my very best the first time he sees me.”
“Oh, I see, you are nervous to see him again.” Kat smiled. “By all means, make yourself presentable, settle your nerves and come down when you are ready.”
When she disappeared through the door Finny took a deep breath and, clutching her packages tight to her chest, hurried upstairs.
* * *
Kat hurried across the room to the man who sat sipping tea with the dowager. He looked up, eyes sparkling at his sister’s undignified squeal. Standing, he engulfed her in his arms. Kat drew back and framed her brother’s sun bronzed face in her hands. “Oh, I am so happy you are home, Devon, I worry so when you go to sea.”
He chuckled and removed her hands, cradling them in his larger ones. “You worry too much, Kat, just like our mother used to.” He glanced down and his eyes widened. “Why Kat, you’ve either been eating far too many bon-bons, or it appears I am going to be an uncle in the near future.”
Her face flushed and she placed one hand on the hardly noticeable swell of her belly. “I wanted to tell you in my letters, but of course my husband said you might worry.”
“Hum, yes, he is right. I would have, but you look as if pregnancy agrees with you. I have never seen you look more radiant.”
“Speaking of radiant, Devon, I think you will be well pleased with the bride you left all those months ago. Finny has blossomed into a lovely young woman.”
“I doubt that very much, Kat, I am surprised Adele hasn’t shipped her off to some nunnery somewhere. I trust you, at least, found her something to do. Where is the girl anyway?”
Kat laughed. “Devon darling, she is very nervous and has gone above stairs to change before she sees you again for the first time in almost a year. I don’t blame the poor dear.”
“Well, I….” Devon cleared his throat and returned to his seat. At Kat’s snicker he looked over. Her eyes twinkled and she hid her grin behind her fan.
“I must go now, Devon. You know how my dear husband will fuss if I am late. He worries worse than before now that we are expecting, you see.”
“Understandably,” Devon mumbled, his eyes trained on the empty doorway.
“We shall see you at the Fellowgoods’ affair tomorrow night I trust. It will be one of the last dances I shall attend before I start my lying in period.”
“Fellowgoods?” He gave her an absent glanced. “Oh, yes, yes, the Fellowgoods.”
With another giggle Kat strolled from the room.
“Devon, tell me all about your voyage,” the dowager demanded.
“Yes, well there is not much to tell….”
“Obviously there is. First you dump this little baggage Finny on my doorstep claiming she is your new bride, disappear to the sea and arrive back almost a year later claiming to be in love with some mysterious lady. Pray tell, who is this lady anyway? Do I know her?”
“Her name is Lady Josephine Donelly.”
“Hum … I know of no such woman. Is she new to London?”
“I assume her to be a debutante, perhaps the daughter of a country nobleman? I assume she has inherited the title of lady from her deceased mother.”
The dowager shook her head. “You had better hope so, Devon. Heads will roll if you are playing with a married woman. Just think of the scandal.”
“She is not married, stepmother, of that I am sure. She is very sweet and naive, too much so to be a married woman.” Devon stood. “If you will excuse me,
I have some business to attend to.” With a polite bow he headed for his study.
Once inside he poured himself a glass of brandy and sat at his desk. From the top drawer he produced writing materials and set about penning a note to his mysterious lady.
Dearest Lady Donelly,
I am to attend the Fellowgoods’ ball tomorrow night and hope you decide to attend and favor me with a dance. I find myself thinking of you often, far more often that I have ever thought of any woman. Though I feel as if we have known each other for a long time through our correspondence while I have been abroad, I am eager to see you in person to tell you of my feelings. Until tomorrow eve,
Yours,
Lord Devon Dowell
Devon folded the letter, sealed it with a drop of wax and a press of his family crest. After summoning the butler, he gave instructions for the letter to be delivered to Lady Josephine Donelly and then headed out to end his relationship with his longtime courtesan.
Chapter Thirteen
Finny hurried to change into a low-cut wine-colored water silk dinner dress. She permitted the maid’s fussing a few moments tying a thick matching ribbon around her head to pull the curls from her face. Afterward she scrutinized her appearance in the mirror. Would Lord Dowell think her beautiful? He would, she was sure. Didn’t her pa say she drew men like butterflies? Isn’t that why he hid her away in her room all those years?
“My lady, you’ll be late for dinner.”
Tearing her gaze from the mirror she stood and hurried downstairs to the parlor. As she approached the door voices of the dowager and Devon carried to her.
“I do hope you are going to rectify the situation, Devon.”
“Yes.” Devon sighed. “I will see to annulling the marriage on Monday. It shouldn’t be a problem since the marriage was never consummated.”
“And what of this lady you have fallen in love with?”
“You will be pleased to know she is every bit a lady.”
“Well, that is a relief. When will you meet her?”
“She doesn’t know I am back in London as of yet. I have some business to attend here before I head for Candlewick to see about the rest of the repairs and delivery of the furnishings I’ve brought back from the Orient. I will send a note around to her when my schedule permits some time to spend getting to know the lady.”
“Devon, you must not dally too long. You wouldn’t want such a gem to slip through your fingers now.”
“I know, I must wrap up this business first.”
Finny turned from the door and fled up the stairs, tears streaming down her face. Upon entering her room she brushed past the startled maid and flung herself face down on the bed.
“My lady, is something wrong?”
Through her tears Finny answered. “I am not feeling good, well … please inform the dowager I will be taking dinner in my room.”
“Is there something I can get for you?”
“No.” Finny waited until the door shut and then sobbed into the pillow. It’s not fair! I’ve worked so hard to become a lady. My husband never even gave me a chance to prove it, tossed over for some despicable woman with no respect for marriage.
When her tears were spent she rolled over and stared up at the ceiling. There had to be something she could do. Finny Donelly couldn’t just give up the fight. She could make him love her as much as she loved him, given the chance. All I need is the chance.
The maid arrived with a diner tray an hour later and Finny sat up. “Could you please inform my husband that I should like to speak with him in private later?”
She settled the tray across Finny’s lap. “I am afraid his lordship has gone out for the evening.”
Finny frowned. “Out? On his first day home? Where did he go?”
“To game for a while at White’s.” Clearing her throat the maid glanced around and then whispered. “I believe he intends to go to the Madame’s afterward.”
Finny crossed her arms and scowled. “Is that the woman he has fallen in love with?”
The maid giggled and her cheeks turned red. “Oh no, my lady. The Madame’s is a high class brothel.”
“Oh.” Finny pouted. “Why would he go such a place, and how do you know?”
“I heard it from his valet, George, my lady.” She bowed her head. “Oh dear, it is not right of me to gossip.”
Finny snorted. “Gossip away, please. I’ll know what my husband is about.”
“Well, you see, George says he always knows when his lordship is going to Madame Jolie’s, because he orders flowers sent ahead and calls for a street coach instead of his own carriage.”
Madame Jolie. How convenient. “Why does he do that?”
“I believe he doesn’t want anyone to see the crest on his coach, and as for the flowers….” She blushed even redder. “I hear he has a certain … woman he likes to frequent there and that is his way of letting her know he wishes to spend the night with her. You didn’t hear any of this from me, my lady, for I should not like to lose my position here in service to you. ’Tis the best place I’ve worked, you see.”
“You can trust me not to snitch.” Finny settled back and picked at her thin sliced roast beef. “Do you think you could do me a favor?”
“Anything, my lady.”
“Could you make sure my husband’s flower delivery does not make it to the Madame’s, maybe it is misplaced, or delivered to another woman instead?” Finny gave the maid a sneaky smile.
“I suppose if I hurry I can offer to deliver the missive to the flower shop myself under the guise of running an errand for you already. I’m sure Harry the houseboy wouldn’t mind a chance to finish his dinner instead.”
Finny grinned. “Then see it done and send a plain coach around. I think I just might visit this Madame’s myself tonight.”
The maid’s eyes widened. “Oh no, my lady, ’tis not seemly for a well-bred lady to be seen at such an establishment.”
“Ah, but you forget, I am no well-bred lady. I am nothing but a commoner such as yourself. My pa was no better than a thief in the eyes of the likes of the dowager. Hurry and complete the errand and return to help me dress.”
“As you wish, my lady.” With a shrug the maid hurried out.
Finny pushed aside the tray and hurried to the wardrobe. Surely something in the closet was suitable for seducing a husband. In the end she decided to leave on the water silk. She studied her reflection in the mirror and then grasped the lace piece that made the ‘v’ neckline rise in a modest ‘u’ of lace, hiding the tops of her breasts from view. After tearing it free and picking off the loose threads she returned her gaze to the mirror. Now her full breasts swelled above the edge of the fabric, threatening to spill out at any moment. A grin twitched her lips and she tugged the puffy sleeves down to bare her shoulders too. Let’s see my husband ignore what Finny Donelly has to offer.
When the maid entered she donned a light cloak and crossed to the dressing table for her reticule. In her haste she knocked over a bottle of sent. “Oh, fudge!” After righting the bottle she stared in dismay at a soggy parchment sealed with a blob of wax she hadn’t noticed before and her newly monogrammed handkerchief now floating on the sweet scented puddle. With a sigh she scooped the paper up with the ruined bit of cloth and tossed it in the small wastebasket, and then fished a handful of pound notes from her reticule leftover from shopping. Though she had been told over and over it was the custom to charge all her purchases, Finny preferred to pay for any items she bought out of the allowance the earl provided her herself, afraid her husband would be cheated by a dishonest clerk. After stuffing them into the pocket of her cloak, she headed for the door. “Sneak me down the back stairs and if anyone asks I am indisposed for the evening. Blame it on my monthly flow.”
The maid gasped. “Yes, my lady … I shall tell them you are … ill.”
Finny rolled her eyes. “Come on, I must be there before my husband arrives.”
* * *
Finny stepped down fro
m the coach and then marched to the little door at the back of the high class brothel. Gathering her courage she rapped on the door.
The peephole slid back and a set of dark eyes peered out. “Can I help you … miss?”
“I am here to see Madame Jolie.”
“Do you have an appointment?”
“No.” Finny drew herself up tall and scowled at him. “I would like to speak with her on an important matter.”
“The Madame does not see anyone without an appointment.” He made to slide the peephole shut but she grasped it.
“You will tell the Madame that I will see her now, or I shall enter by the front door and oust every so-called gentleman there. I am sure their wives would be very interested to know they are not at the clubs playing cards.” She gave him her sweetest smile and raised a brow.
He blinked and then the bolt scraped the inside of the door. It swung open and he peered both ways down the alley before he stepped aside to allow her to enter. She marched in waited until he re-secured the door and then followed him down the narrow passageway. He rapped on the last door and a feminine voice bid him enter. He showed her in. “Madame, there is a … lady, here to see you.”
A beautiful blonde woman looked up from a chair by the fire. Her blue eyes framed with crow’s feet narrowed. “I am Madame Jolie. Who might you be and what business do you have here?”
Finny glanced at the man and then Madame gestured for him to leave. Once the door closed behind him, Finny pulled the wad of money from her pocket. “I’ve come to spend the evening here with my husband.”
The madam’s eyes widened. “I beg your pardon? This is not an inn.”
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