His Wicked Seduction (24 page)

“Oh I will, Lady Melbourne,” he assured her. If all such business could be conducted this cheaply he’d be twice as wealthy by now.

She gathered her reticule and Ashton followed her down the stairs to the door. He helped her put on her cloak before she turned to leave.

“It was interesting to meet you, Lord Lennox.” She smiled that knowing smile again and he bowed over her hand, kissing it longer than was appropriate.

“And you, Lady Melbourne. I believe we may yet cross paths again.” Their eyes met briefly and Ashton felt his world tilt on its axis. Lady Melbourne was going to be bad for his business.

When he opened the door for her, Charles stood there, hand raised as though to knock.

“Hello Ash, am I…er…interrupting?” His eyes darted between Ashton and Lady Melbourne.

“No.” Both he and the lady replied in unison.

“Right, well, Ash, I need to speak to you straight away.” Charles’s stony gaze cut to the point. Something new had developed.

“It was…interesting to meet you,” Lady Melbourne said and then hastened down the steps. He watched her depart for only a moment before Charles was dragging him by his good arm back inside.

“What is it?” Ashton asked.

Charles glanced about the house, as though searching for spies in every corner. Ashton’s worry deepened like a gnawing pit in his stomach.

“I was going through my correspondence with Lucien’s mother. They’d been building up for some time. You know how she writes to me about Lysa.”

“Yes.” Charles made few attempts to reply back to Lucien’s mother since the letters more often than not included offers of marriage to Lucien’s sister, which would never have gone over well with anyone for any number of reasons.

“Well, I noticed a strange pattern in her letters. She’s been through several footmen in the last few months. Six in all. She writes about accidents, broken legs, being thrown from a horse, a few of them just up and left without any reason. I wouldn’t have noticed except that I read all of the letters in one sitting and it struck me.”

Ashton frowned. “What struck you?”

“The pattern, Ash.
The pattern
.” He slapped a handful of letters against Ashton’s chest. “She said the last footman hasn’t had any of the problems the others had and that the curse might finally be lifted.”

“And you don’t believe it is a series of coincidental accidents,” Ashton said, seeing where this was going. “You think he took out the other footman to gain a secure position at the Hall?”

“Exactly.” Charles paced the entryway, and his eyes again searched around them. “The question is why Lucien’s house if Cedric is the target. Perhaps it was Lucien who was the target all along? The carriage did attempt to run him over after all. Either way, we need to warn them.”

“You’re absolutely right,” Ashton agreed. “But we must be careful. After our message to them about the cat, if we show up without cause, the man might act rashly. We should send Lucien a letter but address it to his mother. If the man is under Hugo’s control he’d likely be instructed to open any mail addressed to Lucien or Cedric. Best to do this carefully.”

“Good plan,” Charles said.

Ashton winced as his arm panged. “I’ll have you write the letter, if you don’t mind.”

He led Charles to his study and prayed their letter didn’t come too late.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Cedric stretched stiffly in his chair by Audrey’s bedside and rubbed the tight muscles in his neck with a weary hand. His sister was curled up in her bed fast asleep. Her delicate features and troubled expression made her appear like a fairy queen whose woes had followed her deep into the sacred realm of dreams.

Holding her had brought back horrific memories of years long past. He couldn’t protect her from this, couldn’t save her from all the hurts in the world. In many ways, he’d been both father and mother to her and Horatia after losing their parents, and perhaps the greatest cost had been that there was no one to hold him as he silently grieved.

The memories of last evening struck him all over again and Cedric shut his eyes. He’d been fond of Muff. The cat had been one of the last connections he and his sisters had of their parents before the accident.

The accident. How many years would pass before the sting of his parents’ deaths would subside? A man could only endure so much before it finally broke him.

Audrey shifted restlessly and awoke to find Cedric staring straight through her, his mind still far away.

“Cedric?” Her voice was a little hoarse. She’d cried herself to sleep last night after he’d made her eat dinner and collapsed with exhaustion. A weak smile revealed she was doing her best to come to terms with events. She’d taken the death hard but had already begun to move on.
Good girl
, he thought silently.

“What is it, sweetheart?” He sat up straighter in his chair. Audrey smiled at him, but it was sad and wistful.

“I’m sorry that I’ve been so much trouble for you lately.” She pushed back her covers and sat up to face him.

“You’re a woman, Audrey. Troublemaking is the forté of your gender, like convincing Charles to go along with your scheme and thinking it wouldn’t anger me. I don’t mind, except when I end up strangling my best friend over it. We ought to talk about that, you know.” Cedric found himself smiling despite himself.

“I suppose we ought to,” Audrey agreed.

“Why didn’t you come to me? You could have told me that you wished to marry. I had no idea you were in such a state of desperation.”

“It is different for women, Cedric. I think that because Mama is not here that it is harder for you to understand. I want to marry. I want a husband and a life beyond Curzon Street. I dread a future like Horatia’s.”

Cedric slid to the edge of his chair. “And what future is that?”

“She’s almost one and twenty and yet she will never marry because she’s—” Audrey clapped a hand over her mouth.

The suddenness of her move worried Cedric. “Because she’s what?”

“Oh I mustn’t say. She wouldn’t want me to betray her confidence.”

Cedric was on his feet and looming over her. “You’d better tell me everything or I won’t be very generous over the next few months for your shopping allowances.”

Audrey scoffed. “Betray my sister for new gowns? Don’t be silly.”

“What if I doubled your allowance next month if you did?”

“Bribery? Never!”

“And what if I send you away to a place where there are no men of marriageable age?”

Audrey’s eyes narrowed to slits, glowering up at him. “You play a cruel game, Cedric. I will tell you, but if Horatia finds out you learned it from me, I will find the next man on the street, be he a lamplighter or chimney sweep, and I shall run off to Scotland with him.”

Cedric smiled. “You’d never marry a chimney sweep. The soot would ruin your fine gowns. Now, about Horatia? You know I only want to make her happy. Tell me and I will see that it is kept between us.” His used his best cajoling brotherly voice, yet his sister seemed unmoved.

“Cedric, I shouldn’t tell you. You’ll get angry, and nothing can come of it regardless. Just forget I said anything.” She pursed her lips as though resigned never to speak again.

“Do I ever get angry at you or Horatia? I know I threatened your suitors, but have I ever shown a temper with you or your sister?”

She cocked a brow, as though internally debating the matter. Finally with a heavy sigh, she relented.

“I suppose no more than any other brother might. But if I tell you, you mustn’t overreact. She won’t ever marry because she’s still in love with Lucien. She’s never loved or wanted anyone else.”

Cedric’s throat went uncomfortably dry. “Lucien?”

He’d known that long ago Horatia had developed a child’s affection for Lucien, but he thought that had ended long ago. Now it all made sense. Horatia being upset every time Lucien was even mentioned, her odd behavior on the rare occasions when they’d been forced to be in the same room.

“You are sure she still loves him?”

“Yes and I believe that Lucien may be starting to return her feelings.”

This was worse than he could have imagined. Lucien was like a brother, but if he was entertaining thoughts of an amorous nature towards Horatia… The League’s rule existed for a reason. The last thing he or the others wanted was to fight over someone’s sister, or pick up the pieces should the courtship sour. He could entertain thoughts of letting Audrey marry Jonathan because that man was young and didn’t carry the weight of the sins the rest of the League did. But Horatia marrying Lucien was out of the question.

That man had a taste for wicked pleasures and Cedric would die before he let Horatia play a role in those dark fantasies. He could have any woman in the world, but not Horatia. Horatia deserved a gentleman who would care for and love her for the reserved and deeply loyal woman she was. She did not need to be burned in the wake of Lucien’s fleeting passions.

Cedric shuddered as he recalled his discussion with Lucien in the billiard room the day before. Lucien had spoken of his changed feelings towards Horatia and foolishly Cedric had assumed his friend viewed her merely as a sister once again.

“What proof do you have of his feelings towards her?” Cedric asked.

“I’m not supposed to say…”

“Audrey,” Cedric growled.

“Lucien bought her a gown for Christmas. It arrived yesterday from London.”

“What sort of gown?”

“A lovely evening one to replace the one that was ruined. I helped him order it, since I have the best fashion sense in London.”

“Naturally.” Cedric’s sarcasm was lost on his sister.

“But you mustn’t be angry, Cedric. Nothing will come of it but…wouldn’t it be wonderful if Lucien and Horatia were married?” Audrey smiled and clasped her hands.

The mere thought of Lucien in bed with his sister made a veil of red descend over Cedric’s vision.

“Wonderful? Dash it all, Audrey! You’re too bloody innocent. Lucien’s not the kind to marry. None of us are, but
especially
not him.” She didn’t understand. Lucien would toss Horatia aside when the fires of passion burned down to embers. He’d seen it many times before, though always with women who found such terms agreeable. Horatia was no such woman.

“Is that any way to speak of your friend?” Audrey’s eyes widened as though startled by his dark prediction.

“He’s a friend, but he’s also a devil. As am I. I know him only too well, and I know he won’t marry her.”

“You’re wrong. Godric married Emily and he is much the same as the rest of you.”

“Emily was different… She was a perfect match for Godric.”

“And who’s to say that Horatia is not Lucien’s perfect match?” Audrey asked.

“If she is I dread to think what that says about our sister,” Cedric muttered.

“You think that would mean she’s a wicked, wanton woman, like Evangeline Mirabeau?” Audrey giggled at Cedric’s horrified expression.

“Something like that. Certainly others would think that of her.”

“Oh nonsense, Cedric. No one would think that of Horatia. She’s far too sensible to do anything rash or romantic. She’s Horatia,” Audrey said as if that explained it all, as though there was no reason to worry.

“If Lucien is determined to have her, he won’t let her be sensible. That’s the entire point behind seduction. Men use passion to rob gentle bred ladies of their good sense. Just like Charles could have when he pretended to compromise you. He could have taken advantage of you, kitten.”

“Firstly, brother dearest,
I
kissed
him
.” The words caught Cedric unprepared. “And I had to do a great deal of chasing to achieve even that. Secondly, he knew you’d be angry. I had to beg him to help me no matter the cost. And thirdly, I was not nearly so swayed from rationality by kissing him as I was by kissing Jonathan.”

Cedric froze in his pacing. “Jonathan? You mean to tell me that you’ve kissed him already? Is there anyone in Mayfair you haven’t kissed?” he growled. His sisters were running amok like Whitechapel harlots. How long had they been doing this to him? Didn’t they know it was his job to protect them, even if it meant protecting them from themselves?

Cedric collapsed back into his chair. “God in heaven. I think I may die from the shock of your exploits long before I reach old age.”

Audrey watched him, warily. “Are you very angry with me?” Her voice wavered and Cedric winced.

“I’m not angry. But I am upset to learn you’ve become so determined on the matter. I want the truth now. Are you certain it is Jonathan you want to marry?”

Audrey gave a quick excited nod.

“Do you even know him? Audrey, you’ve only met him this September. I won’t have you marrying a man for shallow reasons.”

“How can I ever know a man when you threaten them all with pistols at dawn?”

Cedric huffed. “You exaggerate.”

“Do I?” She raised one delicate brow.

He squirmed a little at her accusation. “Yes, it was only one time. The others fled before I could get that far in my shouting.”

“And you feel this is helping your argument?”

“I like Jonathan, kitten, I do. The man cuts a fine figure, but that’s no reason for marriage. You ought to marry for love.” Cedric couldn’t believe what he was saying. Somewhere along the way he’d managed to become his father. The words sounded like his.

The late Viscount Sheridan had been a noble man and he’d conducted himself with the highest levels of propriety and decorum. But buried beneath that he’d had a heart of gold that made him wise. It seemed some of his father’s wisdom had developed in him, even if it was a little late.

“You’re right, of course. But I know the way I feel around him, Cedric. I feel as though my life before him was merely an intake of breath before the true living begins.”

“Oh God, you’ve been reading those dreadful gothic novels again.”

“I have not!”

But the look in her eyes was so puzzling to him. It was as though she saw something he could not, a place that filled her with wonder and dreams. “I want to know him,” she said. “I want to learn everything about him. But I cannot do that if you do not give me the chance. Will you consider him if I can convince him to court me?”

“If he needs convincing to pursue you, then he does not deserve you. But I will speak to him, and mention your interest. If he agrees, we shall arrange for you to see more of each other. Perhaps you might land a husband after all.” He wouldn’t have trusted any of his other friends with his sister. But Jonathan was new to their circle and didn’t seem to be remotely as cavalier with his affections as his brother Godric had been at his age. There was something serious in the young man that Cedric found calming, far from the wilder valet he’d once been. It was as though Jonathan’s new position in life had matured him rather than giving him airs.

“Oh thank you, Cedric!” Audrey slipped out from her covers and ran to him, wrapping her arms about his neck and hugging him.

“I will warn you that not all people in this world have the sweet and loving heart you do. If you believe you can withstand the gossip, then you may proceed.”

She grinned impishly. “I think I can handle society and its gossip.”

As always, he was completely at a loss as to how to say no to her. The troublesome little sprite was his world, just as Horatia was.

“You’re welcome, my dear. Just promise me no more rash behavior. I need to handle this matter with Horatia and I can only survive one sisterly catastrophe at a time.”

Audrey stifled a giggle as she released him. “I promise to behave.”

“Why don’t I believe you?” Cedric said with a theatrical sigh. “Why don’t you get dressed and I shall return to take you down to breakfast.” Cedric took his leave to give Audrey ample time to change while he went to his own chamber to freshen up. After that he had to find Horatia and see just how deeply her affections ran for Lucien, and whether the trouble was as bad as he feared.

Cedric had only just finished washing his face when he heard footsteps in the hall outside his bedchamber. He pulled on his boots hastily and went to open his door. Horatia was heading towards her room. She looked tired and rumpled and she wore the same gown as she had on last night. Worry ate away at him as he strode down the hall, catching her as she opened her bedroom door.

“May I come in, Horatia?” he asked softly. She nodded and let him follow her inside. “You did not sleep here?”

“No. After hearing about Muff, I rather lost my mind. It brought too many memories. I went out into the gardens and lost myself. I fell twice I think, and if Lucien hadn’t found me I might have frozen to death. He rescued me, took me to the gardener’s cottage and warmed me up by the fire then watched over me while I slept.”

“My God,” Cedric managed to say, torn between what she’d been through and the fact that Lucien had been with her all night.

“I had hoped I’d feel better or safer today…” She did not have to finish her sentence for him to know she did not.

Her tone was laced with pain of the heart. Cedric had spent last night holding one crying sister and he did not want to repeat the experience. But he was a brother first and a selfish rogue second.

“Come here.” He opened his arms and Horatia buried her face in his chest. She did not weep, the tears seemed to have drained from her long before. He rubbed one hand gently over her upper back in a soothing motion while stroking her hair.

“You don’t always have to be so strong. Grief only rewards those who accept it, not those who fight it.” Lucien had taught him this long ago, when Cedric had been convinced his life would end.