A Scandalous Past (Regency Romance, Book 4) (16 page)

Brendan had no choice but to follow the old
man, excruciatingly slow as he was. Finally, the butler stopped
before Lord Staveley’s library and pushed the door open. “My lord,
the Earl of Clayworth has arrived.”

David Benton, Viscount Staveley, was at the
doorway in a heartbeat. His hand extended, Staveley smiled
amiably.  “Ah, Brendan, good to see you. Come on in.”

The library was not an unusual place to find
the viscount. In fact, Staveley spent most of his time in this
room, perusing old books and researching something, though what
that was Brendan didn’t have a clue. It was one thing Staveley
never spoke about.

“I’m certain you’ll be glad to have Caroline
back here, now that she’s finished overseeing the refurbishment of
my parlor.”

Staveley chuckled and motioned for Brendan
to find a spot in one of his leather chairs before taking a seat
himself. “She’ll find some other project to occupy her time. In
fact, it’ll just be you and me for dinner. She ran out of here not
half an hour ago.”

Good heavens, that was odd. Caroline could
be tiresome, but she’d never abandoned a dinner guest before, at
least not that Brendan knew about. “If you’d rather I come back
later, Staveley—”

The viscount shook his head. “Don’t be
ridiculous. She’s just a little scatterbrained ever since she got
home this afternoon.”

She’d seemed fine when she left his home.
“Why? If you don’t mind my asking?”

“Oh, she hadn’t heard about the duel until
she walked in the door. I’m afraid it put her in a frightful
mood.”

“Duel?” He hadn’t heard about it either. He
couldn’t imagine who was involved to get Caroline upset. Robert was
safely in Dorset, and he believed Luke had returned to
Derbyshire.

“Major Moore returned today,” Staveley
replied, as if that answered his question.

It did not. He didn’t even know the name.
“Major Moore?”

Staveley nodded. “The young man was Olivia’s
intended. He arrived in Town this afternoon and went straight to
Kelfield House.”

Ah, that did explain everything then. Had
Brendan been in Moore’s position, he’d have done the same thing. He
chose not to voice that thought, however, as Kelfield was one of
Staveley’s oldest friends and now a cousin by marriage. Still,
there was nothing even the intrepid Caroline could do about the
situation. Then his stomach tightened. “Certainly, Caroline doesn’t
think she can
stop
the event.”

Staveley barked with laughter. “Honestly,
Brendan, even my wife isn’t that foolhardy.”

Well, that was a relief. Brendan sat back in
his seat, relaxing a bit. “Where did she run off to then?”

“I’m not sure,” Staveley replied, rubbing
his chin. “She got some note from Miss Avery and she tore out of
here.”

Miss Avery
! Brendan’s heart lurched.
Was Cordelia in some sort of trouble?  “You don’t know where
she went?” he asked, not even bothering to hide his panic.

The viscount shrugged. “She didn’t say. I’m
sure she’ll tell me when she returns, she always does…well, most of
the time.”

Brendan leapt from his seat. “For God’s
sake, Staveley! How can you just let her gallivant around Town the
way she does?”

“Let her?” the viscount echoed with an
amused look on his face. “Have you
met
my wife? No one lets
her do anything, Brendan, and I wouldn’t want it any other way. She
wouldn’t be Caroline otherwise.”

That was the most ridiculous thing he’d ever
heard. He didn’t even say good-bye to the viscount as he stormed
from the library and out of Staveley House. South Audley Street
wasn’t that far. If Cordelia was in trouble, he could make it
faster on foot than wait for his carriage to be brought around.

***

A smash could be heard coming from the
yellow parlor. Cordie winced at the closed door, wondering what
Philip had just broken. He had taken the ‘first blood drawn’
stipulation rather badly. Though he was suffering, she couldn’t
feel guilty about her actions. Both he and Kelfield might get
injured, but they’d live to see another day.

She had hoped Philip would begin to see
reason. If she could just have a few minutes with him, he’d see
things her way. Unfortunately, he’d holed himself up with Russell,
of all people.

“I’d like to run
you
through with my
sword, Avery,” Philip’s voice came through the oak door.

“You do now, Moore. But you’ll see I was
right. We just arrived in England. Do you want to be exiled in less
than a day? And what if you did kill him? Do you think Olivia would
thank you for making her a widow? By all accounts she loves
him.”

Philip said something Cordie couldn’t quite
make out. It sounded like a growl.

“Cut your losses,” Russell advised. “She’s
just a girl, Philip. There are a million others out there. You’re a
war hero, for God’s sake, they’ll be lining up to set their caps
for you.”

“She’s not
just
a girl! She was
my
girl, Russell.”

Cordie closed her eyes. Even if her brother
couldn’t feel the pain that rolled off Philip, she could. It was a
terrible situation. Truly, he deserved better, and she wished she
could help him. Not that she regretted her actions. She’d saved a
life, maybe two, and she wouldn’t feel badly about that.

She was concerned about the deal she’d made
with the marquess however. He’d had a strange look in his eye when
he agreed to her kiss. At the moment she’d been in such a hurry,
with Sanders growing impatient on the other side of the door,
Cordie hadn’t clarified where he wanted to kiss her. The park
again? Or maybe the gardens at Vauxhall? Somehow she wasn’t certain
that’s what he meant at all.

This could certainly be a problem. After
all, she wanted to marry the man, not be ruined by him.

The dinner chime rang, bringing her back to
the present. She glanced quickly at the door that sheltered Philip
and Russell, then darted for the dining room. Heaven forbid they
find out she was eavesdropping.

Tristan was waiting just inside the dining
room, and quickly offered her his arm, one eyebrow raised. “I can’t
believe you actually pulled it off,” he whispered. “What did you
say to Russell?”

Cordie smiled at him, allowing him to lead
her to the table where their mother was already seated. “I don’t
have any idea what you’re talking about.” Until the duel was over,
she wasn’t about to talk about the particulars on the off chance
something might change.

Tristan winked at her. “I’ve missed
you.”

“I missed you too,” she said, sliding into
her seat.  “I’m so glad you’re home, Tris.”

He took the spot next to her. “Please. You
haven’t even had time to miss me. Betrothals, jilted naval
captains...”

Cordie rolled her eyes. “He never spoke with
Gregory. I was never technically betrothed.”

“I was,” Philip Moore remarked from the
doorway, with Russell right behind him.

Cordie flushed red. She hadn’t intended to
say that. Poor Philip. It would be best for her not to say another
word all night.

“Oh, Philip,” her mother trilled, “ignore
her. She’s such a foolish girl and doesn’t have any idea what she’s
saying.”

Cordie let the insult roll off her. With a
little luck, she could bring Haversham up to scratch, then she
could avoid her mother until the end of time. Showing her anger
wouldn’t further her goals and would only make evading her mother
more difficult in the coming days.

Russell and Philip took seats across the
table, and Cordie stared down at her empty plate. Philip looked
more miserable than anyone she’d ever known.

“Why is Greg holed up in Papplewick?”
Tristan asked, ending the awkward silence.

“It is August, Tristan,” Lady Avery replied
with a frown. “I can barely drag him to Town for the season.”

Sanders approached the table, confusion
etched across his brow. “Lady Avery,” he whispered loud enough for
the entire table to hear, “Lord Clayworth is demanding to see Miss
Cordelia.”

Cordie’s heart stopped beating. Clayworth
was here? To see her? All eyes focused on her and she
swallowed nervously.

“What did you do, Cordelia?” her mother
asked.

She shook her head. “Nothing, Mother.” Did
he have a guilty conscience for not revealing her escape earlier?
Was he still trying to keep her out of trouble?

“Show him in, Sanders,” the baroness
directed.

A moment later, the Earl of Clayworth burst
into the dining room. His eyes were wild and his face flushed. He
looked as if he’d been through quite an ordeal, and Cordie couldn’t
imagine what would have him so upset. When his eyes landed on her,
he took a deep breath and began to rub the lines of worry that
marred his handsome brow.

“My lord,” Lady Avery began with a frown,
“we were not expecting you.”

Clayworth then glanced around the room, as
if now noticing that everyone was gathered at the dining table.
“I’m very sorry to intrude.”

Her mother’s face softened to a smile. “Have
you dined yet, my lord?”

He shook his head. “I couldn’t possibly
impose on—”

“Nonsense,” Lady Avery interrupted him,
pointing to the open spot next to Cordie. “I insist you stay.”

Clayworth’s eyes flashed to Cordie’s, and
she sucked in a breath. His very gaze sent tingles racing across
her skin. How could she possibly manage an entire meal beside
him?

Tristan stood and gestured to the spot. “I’m
certain my sister would prefer your company to hearing more of our
tales from the battlefield.”

He didn’t want to stay. It was obvious in
how stiffly he stood, but he inclined his head. “Of course. Thank
you for your generosity.”

Tristan held his position until Clayworth
reached his chair, then he offered his hand in greeting.
“Lieutenant Avery. The ugly fellow over there is my brother,
Captain Avery, and of course our very good friend Major Moore.”

“Clayworth.”

Tristan’s eyes dropped to Cordie and he
smiled. “Yes, I know, my lord.”

He slid into the spot next to her and Cordie
chanced a glance at him. “My lord,” she said softly.

His twilight gaze nearly made her melt. “I’m
relieved to find you well, Miss Avery,” he replied as a footman
quickly set a place in front of him.

Relieved to find her well? What did he
expect to find? He’d seen her that very afternoon. How reckless did
he think she was that she couldn’t stay out of trouble for a few
hours? It wasn’t particularly complimentary. Her ire began to
build.

“I understand,” Russell broke in, “that you
intend to take Cordelia for a ride along the Bath Road in your
phaeton.”

“On the morrow,” Clayworth agreed.

“Is it particularly fast?” Russell asked

Clayworth nodded his head. “I’ve been told
so.”

“Of course,” Cordie said to her brother.
“Lord Clayworth does everything faster and better than anyone
else.”

“Cordie!” Tristan muttered under his
breath.

She ignored her brothers and flashed a
cheeky smile at the earl. “Or so Lord Astwick has led me to
believe.”

***           

Brendan raised his brow at the lovely lady
at his side. She was clearly annoyed with him, and he couldn’t
blame her one bit. What a fool he was! Running through Mayfair on
foot, convinced she needed to be rescued, only to find her safely
surrounded by her family. Army officers, for God’s sake! Neither
Haversham nor Brookfield would get past these men.

He was losing his bloody mind.

He somehow managed to get through dinner,
answering question after question about his phaeton and horses.
Though he’d be hard pressed to relay the conversation, his
attention was focused solely on Cordelia, who was breathtaking even
when angry at him.

When dinner came to an end, Lieutenant Avery
stood with the women. “I’ll forgo port, gentlemen. It has been too
long since I’ve enjoyed female company.”

Brendan rose from his seat as well. “I
should be leaving.”

Beside him, Cordelia took a staggered
breath, and he couldn’t tell if she was relieved by the fact or
bothered by it. He imagined it to be the former, as she’d barely
spoken three words over dinner.

“Do stay, Clayworth,” Captain Avery replied.
“I’d like to speak with you, if you don’t mind.”

Somehow Brendan kept himself from groaning.
He could just imagine the warning the captain would give him, not
that he could see a way out of the situation, and not that he
didn’t deserve it after barging in to their dinner. “Of
course.”

Brendan reclaimed his seat while the others
left, even Major Moore. God, this was going to be more painful than
he thought. He imagined the captain would quickly ask him to keep
his distance from Cordelia. No brother wanted an obsessed fellow
calling on his sister. Who knew what such men were capable of?

“I need to ask you a favor, Lord
Clayworth.”

Here it was.
Stay the bloody hell away
from my sister.
He steeled himself for the words. “Yes,
Captain?”

“I’m afraid I was a bit negligent in my
duties this evening. I need to arrange for someone to officiate a
duel between the Duke of Kelfield and my friend Major Moore.”

Brendan kept his mouth from dropping
open.

“It is something Lord Haversham and I should
have agreed upon, but he was in and out so quickly, I’m afraid this
detail slipped past me. You are known for your honor, sir, and you
would be doing me a great service if you would perform the
duties.”

Certainly not what he was expecting. Relief
washed over him. He would have agreed to just about anything if
that meant he wasn’t barred from Cordelia. Doing Captain Avery a
favor was the least he could do. “Of course.”

The captain took a long swallow of his port.
“Thank God. I didn’t have the heart to tell Moore I’d flubbed that
last bit up. He’s already furious I agreed to first blood
drawn.”