“As well as your father?”
“My father is dead.” The last word stuck in her throat like hardtack.
“I’m sorry.” His words were steady, even. Without a hint of pity. She appreciated that.
“So am I,” she said.
“You loved your father then?”
“Very much.” Odd that he’d asked that. Didn’t everyone love their parents?
“How long ago did he die?” Cade asked.
“I was a child.” Her heart was being squeezed. She shouldn’t have told him. “It’s late. I should go to bed.”
“I’m sorry, Danielle. Don’t go.”
The words were uttered with such simple, unabashed honesty. She couldn’t look at him.
“It’s not that. I have a busy day tomorrow.”
“What are you doing tomorrow?” The lightness was back in his tone. This was a conversation she could have with him.
“I’m taking Mary to find perfume and then I’m helping Lady Daphne plan a ball.”
“Perfume?” His brow furrowed.
“She wants to purchase a small vial of French perfume and I’ve agreed to help her.”
“May I escort you?”
If he’d announced he was Poseidon she couldn’t have been more surprised. “Escort two maids? To purchase perfume? Are you quite serious?”
“Do I look as if I’m jesting?” Cade drained his wineglass.
Danielle eyed him. “Actually, no.”
“Excellent. We’ll take Rafe’s coach. There must be some use for that expensive box of wood.”
Danielle put her hand to her throat. “Oh, no. I could not go shopping in Lord Cavendish’s fine carriage.”
Cade peered at her, a questioning look on his face. “Why not?”
“It wouldn’t be proper. Everyone would see.”
Cade’s laughter filled the room. “You have confused me with someone who cares about being proper or what anyone else thinks.”
Danielle contemplated her options. On one hand, it was ludicrous to have a viscount’s brother escort her and Mary to Bond Street to purchase perfume. On the other hand, perhaps she could find out more about him during the shopping expedition. “Are you quite certain you want to go?”
“Entirely.”
“Very well, then. One o’clock?”
Cade pressed the palm of one hand against an eye. “That’s quite early.”
“Not for normal people.”
“Fine,” he replied, grinning at her. “I’ll make the sacrifice … for you.”
“Thank you.” Their gazes met and Danielle had to swallow the lump in her throat. “I should go now.”
“I’m sorry for bringing up your father.” His voice was kind. Gone was the usual teasing tone.
She bit her lip. “You told me you didn’t grow up like this? Well, I … I was supposed to.”
He searched her face. “What do you mean?”
“My father is French and I was raised in France. But my mother, she’s English, and has ties to the aristocracy. She used to tell me when I was young that I’d travel here, have a coming-out party, wear fancy gowns, and find a proper gentleman to marry.”
His brow was furrowed. “Who is your mother?”
The hint of a smile passed over Danielle’s lips. “It doesn’t matter. That was a lifetime ago. Everything’s changed. My father is dead. My mother is dying, disowned by her family. And I … I’m a … lady’s maid.”
“What happened, Danielle?” This time his voice was too kind. Too serious.
“I…” She couldn’t tell him. She wanted to. A part of her really wanted to. She just … couldn’t. “It’s a long story. And I’m quite tired tonight.” She stifled a yawn. Her eyes were heavy-lidded. She stood and he stood, too.
She turned toward the door but his voice stopped her.
“I came back to settle a score.”
She turned back to face him. “Pardon?”
“You asked me the other night why I returned to London. I’m here to make something right.”
“What sort of thing?”
He grinned at her. “We’re sharing secrets, mademoiselle, not laying all of our cards on the table. The rest is a story for another time.”
She nodded. That made sense. They were opening up to each other. Slowly. She turned toward the door again before his voice stopped her one more time.
“Suffice it to say, I’m here to finally do the right thing by my brother.”
“Le mouton noir?”
“Yes, it’s time I made things right.”
“Does your brother know you’re helping him?”
“Absolutely not.” His grin was unrepentant. “I trust you to keep my secret.”
Danielle contemplated that for a moment. Whatever he was up to, he thought he was helping Rafe. Was he lying to her? Either could be true. She eyed him carefully. For the first time in a long time, she couldn’t read someone. She took a step toward the door.
“Did you want those things?” he asked.
She paused, not facing him. “What things?”
“A coming-out party? Pretty gowns? Beaux?”
She squeezed her eyes shut before turning back to face him. “I wouldn’t know what to do with those things. I have no idea how to dance, carry a fan, or flirt with a beau.”
“You’re doing a fine job with me.” He moved close, pulled her hand to his lips, and kissed it.
“You’re not a beau.” It was difficult to force those words from her throat.
“You know about arranging hair and taking care of gowns. Daphne’s told me how skilled you are.”
“All a lot of doing my best and guesswork, I assure you. I wouldn’t know a waltz from a quadrille.”
“Would you dance with me?” The words were soft and reverent.
“What?” she whispered.
“Dance with me?”
Her breath caught in her throat. “Here? Now?”
“You said it yourself, Daphne’s planning a ball. There will be musicians, dancing. When is it?”
“Mrs. Huckleberry said something about next week.”
“Perfect. Dance with me then.”
Was he teasing her again? This time she didn’t like it. Anger rose in her throat. “Oh, yes, I’ll simply saunter onto the dance floor in my maid’s gown with my employer’s brother. It will be entirely proper and no one will raise an eyebrow.”
“Not in the ballroom, of course,” Cade continued. “The music will carry.”
She narrowed her eyes. “You’re serious.”
“Entirely.”
“I’ll step on your toes.”
“I can stand it.”
“I might trip you.”
“I’ll take my chances.”
“Where will we meet for this dance?” He couldn’t possibly be serious.
“Meet me here. At midnight.”
CHAPTER NINETEEN
True to his word, Cade was not only ready to go shopping at one o’clock the next day, he was standing in the foyer dressed in buckskin breeches, a gray waistcoat and a green overcoat with a white shirt and cravat, and black top boots. The man not only looked perfect for shopping, but far too good overall. Mary stammered and blushed the entire time he escorted them to the carriage and handed each of them in as if they were fine ladies.
“It was kind of Lady Daphne to give us this time and allow us to use the coach,” Danielle murmured as she accepted Cade’s hand, stepped up into the coach, and sat on the velvety emerald seat next to Mary.
“Lady Daphne’s far too good to us,” Mary agreed.
“Nonsense.” Cade hoisted himself into the conveyance and took a seat across from them. “She agreed solely to get me out of the house.”
“Is that how you managed to convince her?” Danielle shook her head and smiled at his outrageousness.
“She’s warned me away from you,” Cade replied. “But I convinced her I am merely being chivalrous. Couldn’t I stand to be more chivalrous? Besides, I susp
ect she doesn’t think I could do anything too untoward with Miss Hartfield accompanying us.”
The coach took off at a brisk pace toward Bond Street, the three of them laughing inside. It soon became apparent that Mary would not be happy with only one perfumery. She wanted to visit every shop to ensure she sniffed all of her possible choices.
“I’ll just pop into this one by meself,” she said when they pulled to a stop in front of the fourth shop. “I can tell you’re vexed with me.”
“Not at all,” Danielle replied. “I want to ensure you find the perfect scent.”
“Be that as it may,” Cade interjected. “I’m certain Miss Hartfield can spare us for the span of one small outing.”
Danielle flared her eyes at him but said nothing. Truthfully, she was weary of smelling perfumes and her feet were aching. She wasn’t used to tripping around for so long in dainty slippers. Boots were much more comfortable. Even more enticing, however, was the thought of speaking to Cade alone.
The groom let down the steps and helped Mary alight. After ensuring that the groom would escort Mary into the shop, Cade promptly and unabashedly pulled the coach door shut.
“Miss Hartfield is no longer with us,” Danielle said. “Does that mean you’ll stop being chivalrous?”
“If you’re lucky,” Cade replied with a grin. “Do you think she’ll find the perfect scent in there?”
“Absolutely not.” Danielle fiddled with the strings to her reticule. Now that they were alone, she was far too aware of his soap-like scent and his proximity.
“Neither do I.”
“It was much easier for me. My grandmere chose my perfume for me when I was a girl.”
He lounged back in his seat. “What were you like as a girl?”
Now that was an unexpected question. She continued to trace the reticule strings with her fingers as she contemplated it. “I suppose I was inquisitive, impatient.”
“And?” he prompted.
“Always studying languages, devoted to my parents, desperate for a sibling. A little too apt to try something first before thinking about it.”
He laughed at that.
“What were you like … as a boy?” she asked tentatively, finding that she was truly interested in the answer and it had nothing to do with her mission.
He pressed his head against the back of the seat and rocked his shoulders. “Let’s see. Rowdy, angry, full of too much energy, always scrabbling with my twin.”
“And?”
“Hated my father and frustrated with my mother.”
The second half of that was entirely unexpected. “Hated your father?”
Cade’s jaw was tight. “Yes.”
She would leave that alone for the time being. Apparently, she’d been wrong. Not everyone loved their parents. “Why were you frustrated with your mother?”
Cade sighed and looked out the window as if conjuring memories of the past. “My mother was … weak. I used to beg her to leave my father. To stand up to him.”
“Stand up to him?” Danielle’s heart pounded.
“He drank excessively. He was violent when he was sober and even more violent when he was drunk.”
Danielle swallowed and shook her head. She’d been around violence. Living on ships she’d seen her share of men and boys fighting one another, but they’d been equally matched for the most part. She couldn’t imagine a grown man being violent with a small child or a woman. How terrified Cade and Rafe must have been. Small, vulnerable, and afraid. She thought about her own father. He’d been nothing but patient, loving, and kind. She couldn’t imagine a child being fearful of his own parents.
“What did Rafe do?”
“He tried to fight my father, defend our mother. She was a saint as far as Rafe was concerned. He stayed there far too long in order to protect her.”
“And you?”
A humorless grin spread across Cade’s face. “I left the moment I could. I’ve always left the heroics to my brother.”
The reticule was forgotten in her lap. “Where did you go? Who did you rely on?”
“I went everywhere. I relied on myself. And a few trusted friends.”
“Friends?” There was that word again.
“I suppose you could say I have a great many good friends.”
“How did you get so many friends?”
Cade tipped up the brim of his hat. “I doubt you’d believe me if I told you.”
“Tell me and I promise I’ll endeavor to believe you.”
He eyed her carefully. “I met my very best ones in gaol.”
“Gaol!” She sat up straight.
“Does that surprise you?” He crossed his arms over his chest.
“No. I … It’s just that…”
“You want to ask what I did to land myself in gaol. Go ahead.” He nodded toward her.
“What did you do?” she asked tentatively. No wonder Grimaldi wanted her to keep an eye on him.
“I stole. Some bread. Because I was starving. I stole some for myself and another starving boy. I don’t regret a moment of it. I only regret being caught.”
“They put you in gaol for that?”
“I’m lucky my hand wasn’t cut off.”
“How long were you in gaol?”
“Two years.”
“Two years? That seems like quite a sentence for merely stealing bread.”
“The sentence was ten years. I escaped in two.”
“Escaped!” The word came out much more emphatically than she’d meant it to. She covered her mouth with her gloved hand and then slowly lowered it. “Escaped?” she whispered.
“That’s right.”
“What did you do after that?”
His roguish grin was back. “I learned to acquire things with much more stealth.”
He wasn’t joking, she could tell. The man was entirely serious. It wasn’t that she was scandalized by his behavior. She herself had come close to being put in gaol a time or two. She was simply shocked that he was so casually telling her about it. Here in his brother’s fine carriage, in the middle of Bond Street. As if he weren’t in the least concerned. He’d meant it when he said he didn’t care what anyone thought of him.
“How did you escape?”
“That is a long story, but suffice it to say I did it with the help of my friends.” He took a deep breath. Silence rested between them, giving her time to absorb everything. After several moments ticked by, he finally asked, “What about you? Do you have many friends?”
A fortnight ago, Danielle would have answered no to this question, but today she had a different answer. A newly discovered, if bittersweet one. “Mary is my friend.”
“But you’ve only just met her.”
“That doesn’t matter, does it?” Now that he was asking her about herself, she went back to fiddling with the reticule strings. But she wasn’t about to allow him to hide from additional questions. If he was in a talking mood, she should take full advantage. But it made her feel guilty. He’d opened up to her last night. He was opening up to her more today. Betraying his confidence to Grimaldi felt … wrong. “Does Rafe know you were in gaol?”
Cade rubbed a palm across his chin. “Come to think of it, I don’t know.”
“How could that be?”
“Rafe and I have never been close.”
“You mentioned that before. Why not?”
“We’re complete opposites. We have nothing in common. Other than our age, our parents, and our devastatingly good looks.”
She couldn’t help her crack of laughter. “Is he modest then?”
“Of course.”
“How else are you different?”
“Rafe always wanted to please everyone, follow all the rules, be a bloody hero.”
“And you?”
“Never met a rule I didn’t break and I’m the furthest thing from a hero you’ll ever meet.”
“Are you a villain then?” she ventured.
His eyes narrowed as he contemplat
ed that question. “I wouldn’t say that precisely, but I’d warn you to stay away from me.”
“That dangerous?” Her words were flirtatious, but a chill went up her spine. He was serious.
“And more so.”
“What about wanting to please people?” she ventured.
“Entirely depends upon the person and what it takes to please them.”
She met his gaze. There was no stopping now. “Me?”
“Oh, sweetheart, you don’t know how much I could please you.” He pulled her hand into his lap, slowly unbuttoned her glove and removed it, and even more slowly, pulled her hand up to his mouth and brushed his lips against her knuckles.
Another shudder raced down her spine, for an entirely different reason. Pleasure? In bed? With a man? Somehow she couldn’t imagine it. “That doesn’t seem possible.” She didn’t realize she’d said the words aloud until Cade put a hand over his heart.
“You wound me.”
“It’s just that … I doubt it’s possible to have a pleasant experience in bed with a man.”
His grin turned wolfish. “Care to go home with me right now so I can prove you wrong?”
A flicker of something indecent unfurled in her lower abdomen. “You shouldn’t say such things,” she warned him with a half-smile, excitement coursing through her veins.
“Didn’t you hear it when I said I never met a rule I didn’t break?”
She ignored him while she pulled on her glove again.
“What about you, mademoiselle? How do you feel about rules?”
She pressed her lips together. “I’ve broken my fair share of them, too.”
His eyebrows jumped. “Have you?”
“Surprised? I’ve never been one to pass up a dare.”
He stroked his chin. “Is that so?”
“Yes, but even for someone like you, you don’t think seducing your brother’s maid is too … too bad of you?”
He shrugged. “Only if it’s working.”
“And if it is?”
“Then it’s entirely worth it.”
“What would Lord Cavendish do to you if he found you with me?”
Cade sighed. “Attempt to thrash me.”
“That doesn’t give you pause?”
Another roguish grin. “As you can see, it wouldn’t be the first swing someone’s taken at me recently.” He pressed two fingertips to his bruised eye and winced.
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