A Scandalous Past (Regency Romance, Book 4) (14 page)

Russell shook his head.  “You can’t
bait us like that, Cordie. Have you gone and lost your mind? I
mean, Haversham for God’s sake? Do you have any idea of his
reputation?”

“I know that he’d grant me the freedom to do
as I pleased,” she shot back. “He wouldn’t dictate who my friends
could be.  Or what I could say.  Or what I could
do.  And he cares about
me
, Russell. So both of you—”
she paused, gesturing wildly to both her brothers— “had better keep
your pistols and swords to yourselves, or I’ll never forgive
you.”

Lady Avery smiled wistfully. “It is good to
have you home. Perhaps you can talk some sense into her.  Ever
since Olivia…”

Philip’s eyes flew to the baroness. 
“Pray continue, my lady.  Ever since Olivia what?”

She looked away from him, so he turned his
attention to Cordie. “Ever since Olivia what? Please tell me.”

Cordie couldn’t look at him either. Philip
was devoted to Livvie. He always had been. He
was
owed the
truth, however. “I-I suppose that means you don’t know.”

“Know what?” he demanded, which really
wasn’t like him at all. He was normally so softly spoken.

Cordie glanced up at him, her heart aching
for him. “I don’t think she meant for it to happen, Philip. 
It just did.”

“What happened?” he nearly bellowed.

She took a deep breath. Perhaps if he knew
how
it happened, it would help. “Well, you see, we’d gone to
a house party in Derbyshire at the home of the Duke of
Prestwick—”

“She married the Duke of Prestwick?” he
asked, confusion on his face.

“No,” Cordie quickly replied, “His Grace of
Prestwick is just a boy, but
his
sister is married to
Livvie’s cousin Lucas Beckford.  It was the worst house party
I’ve ever been to.  There were no entertainments to speak of,
and surly naval captains, and we were dreadfully bored.”

A muscle twitched in Philip’s jaw and he
rubbed his forehead.  “For the love of God, Cordelia, pray get
to the point,” he barked impatiently.

Before she could continue, her mother
interrupted. “The Duke of Kelfield was in attendance as well,
Philip.” She frowned at Cordie as she spoke. “The girls returned
early from the country and two days later Olivia was Kelfield’s
duchess. I’m unsure of all that transpired as Cordelia had gone
alone to keep Olivia company. I entrusted Cordie would be safe in
Lord and Lady Staveley’s care, a mistake I won’t make in the
future.”

Cordie leapt off the settee, awash in anger
all over again at the injustice. “I’ve done
nothing
wrong,
Mama.  And yet you insist on keeping me locked up here like
some villain.”

“Nothing wrong?” her mother echoed. “Then
just what would you call allowing Haversham to call on you?”

Cordie didn’t have time to answer as Philip
leapt to his feet beside her. “I’ll kill him!”

That was the worst possible turn of events.
She had to stop him. Philip started for the door and Cordie chased
after him, wailing, “Philip, no! Please stop!  Listen to
reason.”

But he didn’t stop, and Cordie turned around
to see her mother and two brothers staring at her in disbelief.

Cordie lay on her bed staring up at the
canopy above her, having been banished to her room after Philip
Moore stormed out. Her mother was still furious over finding her,
once again, in Haversham’s arms.  She was fortunate that
Russell and Tristan had returned, or her punishment would have been
more severe. However, that was the least of her worries at the
moment.

A few streets away, Livvie’s life must be
falling apart. Cordie’s heart ached for her friend. It ached for
Philip too. How horrible for him to find out the love of his life
had married another. It reminded her of the look of utter
devastation Lord Clayworth wore in her parlor that very afternoon
when she’d mentioned Haversham’s name. Though the two men handled
the situations quite differently.

Upon learning of her continued interest in
Haversham, Clayworth hadn’t stormed off ready to kill the man.
Instead he’d made her promise to be careful with such a sincere
plea, Cordie hurt just remembering it. Guilt washed over her again.
Was she doing the right thing? Why did she keep coming back to
that? She knew in her mind that she was, but her heart seemed
unable to give up.

A knock interrupted her thoughts. “Come in,”
Cordie called.

The door opened and Tristan stood at the
entrance, shaking his head, wearing a crooked smile. “You always
were the most rebellious of us all.”

He stepped inside her room and crossed the
floor in just a few strides. Then he flopped down on the bed, next
to her. “I don’t agree with Mother often, Cor, but Haversham? What
are you thinking?”

Cordie shrugged and closed her eyes. “Not
you too, Tris. You’re supposed to be on my side.”

“I’m always on your side,” he assured her,
dropping a very brotherly kiss to her cheek. “And I’m ready to
listen.”

He would listen, she knew that, but he
wouldn’t understand. He was a man and couldn’t possibly comprehend
how difficult her choice was. He’d always had his freedom to do
what he wanted. No one ever told him he couldn’t be friends with
his friends or he couldn’t go wherever he pleased. She could try to
explain, but it would end up being a very frustrating conversation,
and she wasn’t up for that just now. “Tris, what did Philip do?”
she asked, changing the subject.

His body tightened next to hers and she took
in a sharp breath. Certainly he didn’t
really
kill the duke.
“That’s men’s business, Cordie.”

Men’s business, indeed! No. Her brother,
dear as he was, would never understand her predicament. Irritating
man! She sat bolt upright and glared at him. “Tristan Randolph
Avery, Olivia is my dearest friend. Now you tell me this
instant.”

He chuckled, his weight shaking the bed.
“You sound just like mother.”

It was the worst thing anyone had ever said
to her. Her mouth fell open. Stunned by his words, Cordie didn’t
even realizing she was crying until her tears dropped to her hands
and Tris’ face contorted with concern.

He sat up in an instant and smoothed her
tears away. “Dear God! What is it? What did I say?”

Words wouldn’t come out of her mouth. She
sounded like
Mother
? The very last person she wanted to be
like in any way was their mother. He couldn’t have hurt her more if
he’d thurst a knife into her belly with that accusation.

“No, no, no,” Tris tried to soothe her,
though he sounded quite panicked. “Don’t cry, Cordie. I’ll tell you
whatever you want to know. Just stop looking like that.”

She was never emotional like this. She put
her hand to her heart and took one big calming breath after
another. How silly of her. She’d never realized that her tears were
a tool to get things she wanted.  How unfortunate to discover
so late in life.

When she could speak, she pierced Tristan
with her most pleading look. “What
did
Philip do?”

He frowned and wiped away the last of her
tears. “He challenged Kelfield.”

“He
what
?” she asked, shocked and
angry all rolled into one. What was wrong with men? This was how
they thought to solve problems?

“I shouldn’t have said anything.” Tris
started to slide from the bed.

Cordie grabbed his lieutenant’s uniform and
held tightly. “Has he lost his mind? Doesn’t he realize what this
will do to Livvie?”

“Kelfield dishonored him, Cordie. In
Philip’s spot, I’d do the same.”

“Stupid, foolish men, all of you.”

“Thank you,” her brother replied with a
furrowed brow.

Cordie leapt off the bed, pacing a path in
her rug. “Russell’s his second, I suppose.”

Philip and Russell were the closest of
friends. It wasn’t even possible he’d picked someone else. If she
had the chance to think through this clearly she might be able to
do something to fix the mess these men had created.

“Cordie,” Tristan said warningly.

“They could
delope
,” she said
hopefully. “Philip’s honor could be preserved and neither of them
would have to die.” How could Kelfield even compete with a trained
soldier in such a realm? Poor Livvie, it would destroy her.

“They can’t
delope,
” Tristan said the
word as if it left a bad taste in his mouth. “How do you even know
such things?”

She gaped at her brother. “I’ve listened to
you three my entire life.”

He massaged his temples. “We had no idea you
were such an apt pupil. Anyway, even if they wanted to
delope
, which Philip would not, they’re not using pistols.
Kelfield chose swords.”

Swords? She shuddered. How terribly
gruesome. Unless…an idea began to form in her mind. “At dawn
tomorrow?” she asked. These sort of things were always at dawn,
usually the next day, before the participants had time to think
about how incredibly stupid they were.

“Philip won’t change his mind and Kelfield
can’t
back out. So whatever you’re thinking, put it out of
your mind. None of this concerns you.”

It was a concern of hers, however. People
she loved were bound to get hurt one way or the other. Livvie.
Philip. She didn’t know Kelfield particularly well, but she did
like him. The whole thing was a terrible situation.  “It
concerns Livvie,” she said evenly.

“Cordie.” He shook his head. “I didn’t come
to discuss any of
this
with you.”

Then she remembered. Tristan’s first words
chastised her involvement with Haversham. Cordie closed her eyes.
There were much more pressing things to worry about at the moment.
“I’ll not discuss the marquess with you, Tris.”

“Good,” he said cheerfully.

Cordie opened her eyes, only to narrow them
on her brother. Why did he sound so happy? “What then?” she asked
suspiciously.

Tristan shrugged. “Mother seems convinced
you’ll receive an offer from the Earl of Clayworth. It’s a good
match, Cordie.”

She winced at the name, remembering once
again the look of pain she’d caused on his handsome face. She
didn’t want to think about Clayworth. It hurt too much. But Livvie…
If Cordie could focus on helping her friend, she wouldn’t have to
think about the earl. “Mother’s mistaken. He won’t propose.”

“You can’t possibly know what goes on in a
man’s mind, Cordie.”

She scowled at him. “Probably not, because
you all make such foolish, idiotic, ridiculous decisions. No one
with a clear mind could sort you all out.”

Tristan chuckled. “You haven’t changed one
bit, sis. I’m so glad.”

***           

Brendan climbed the steps to his Mayfair
home, cursing himself the entire way. What the devil was wrong with
him?  He’d known since the very beginning she was infatuated
with Haversham. Did he think that his one kiss would change all
that? Just because the kiss was the most intense he’d ever had,
just because the kiss made him forget what he was after, just
because the kiss made him hope for the impossible did not mean it
had the same effect on her.

But he would have sworn it had.

His butler opened the door and smiled
tightly. “Lord Clayworth.”

“Higgins,” Brendan responded, handing his
cane and hat to the man. He started off towards his study. So
Cordelia Avery had rejected him. It wasn’t the worst thing in the
world. It just felt like it. Unfortunately, he still didn’t have
his mother’s letters, so he was caught in the awful circumstance of
having to see her again, over and over, until he finally had the
evidence of his mother’s crimes in his possession. The torture this
situation presented should be punishment enough to absolve him of
whatever sins he’d committed in his life.

“Ah, Brendan, there you are,” came
Caroline’s ever cheerful voice.

He cringed as he came to a stop. The last
bloody person he wanted to see was Caroline.  Who knew what
trouble she had in store for him? Brendan shook his head. “Sorry,
Caro, I’m in a bit of a hurry at the moment.”

“The parlor’s done, darling. I just wanted
you to have a look.”

There wasn’t a polite way around it. He
heaved a sigh and turned on his heel. Caroline Staveley met him
with a beatific smile, arms outstretched. “I’m certain you’ll adore
it.”

Brendan stepped towards her and when she
wrapped her arms around him, he felt the first peace he’d had in
hours. As irritating and meddlesome as Caroline could be, she
really was a warm and generous lady who genuinely cared about those
fortunate enough to have earned her loyal devotion. For some reason
he was one of those people.

She stepped out of his arms and frowned at
him. “Darling, what is it?”

He could tell her, most of it, anyway. She
would understand, commiserate even. However, that would make him
appear weak. Brendan smiled tightly and lied, “I’m just worried
about Rose is all.”

Caroline nodded, linking her arm with his.
“She wants a season in London.”

She did, actually, but how Caroline knew
that he had no idea. “Yes.”

“I understand your reluctance. Part of her
is growing up, but the other part is so…”

“Immature,” he offered.

Caroline smiled. “I was going to say
innocent.”

That worked too. “You were trying to gloss
over the fact that she is completely ill-suited for such a thing.
But making
her
understand it is something else.”

They’d reached the blue parlor, but Caroline
kept her hand on the knob. “Perhaps she simply needs something else
to focus on. If you were to remarry, think of the excitement Rose
would enjoy.”

“I’m not marrying anyone, Caroline, to keep
Rose entertained or otherwise.”

“You are stubborn,” Caroline said without
heat.  “All right, I’ll warn you. Your parlor is a bit
different, and if you don’t like it you won’t hurt my feelings at
all.”