Lady Libertine (8 page)

‘Oh dear! But then, you have been very popular in their column of late so I suppose your attitude is understandable.’ The smoldering look on the earl’s face suggested it might be time to drop the subject.
If
he would allow it to be dropped. Lady Libertine was the reason he was here, after all. A small imp of mischief prompted her to add, ‘I read Friday’s column with interest.’

He gave her a look. ‘You and the rest of London, I’m sure. Thank God Gatton was out of town.’

‘I was just wondering…,’ Lucy trailed off. She would not have dreamed of asking him the question that was now on the tip of her tongue thirty minutes before, but, against all odds, they actually seemed to be having a conversation and not the kind of conversation that left her feeling as if nothing at all had been said.

‘Well? What were you wondering?’

‘Well, if you must know, I was wondering why you and Lady Astor were so foolish for a second time,’ she replied. ‘I mean, you had been caught out once. What in the world prompted you to be so foolish again?’

‘It isn’t foolish to – ah – make love to a lady, if the lady is willing and no harm is done,’ Hamersley said carefully. ‘And I can assure you, Lady Caroline will go to her marriage bed with her maidenhood just as it should be, firmly intact.’

Lucy tried to keep a straight face, she really did, and what he said was truly shocking, but she simply couldn’t help it. She laughed. ‘I am sure,’ she spluttered after a moment, ‘that his grace will be very appreciative!’

‘Well Caroline certainly was.’ Which only set her off again. It was dreadful and very wrong of her, but it did seem quite ridiculously funny. Hamersley watched her with a faintly pained expression. ‘I am glad you find it so amusing.’

Lucy pulled her handkerchief out of her sleeve and dabbed at her eyes. ‘I am sorry. It was the way you phrased it, as if Lady Caroline is a package that still has the ribbon tied, but the wrapping is a little crumpled.’

He grinned. ‘An apt simile. Gatton will still enjoy his present when the big night arrives. If he knows what to do with it. I have my doubts.’

This elicited another snort, but Lucy had herself under control now. She took a sip of coffee, but before either of them could speak again, Lady Landon walked into the room. She paused at the sight of Lucy sitting with an unidentified man.

‘Lucy, I did not know you had already come downstairs.’ The words were directed at her daughter, but her attention was all for the gentleman sitting with her. Lucy watched the dawning recognition struggle with incomprehension as her mother tried to fit the Earl of Hamersley into Lord Billingsworth’s breakfast parlor. ‘Why? Could it be? Is that really you, my lord?’

Hamersley half stood, inclining his head respectfully. ‘Lady Landon.’

‘Well!’ There was a wealth of meaning in that one word. ‘I had not expected
you
to be attending.’

‘Why should you?’ His lordship said amiably. ‘I’m such a flighty fellow.’

Lady Landon gave a little titter, the kind she made when she was in the presence of an Eligible Man. Lucy knew what would come next and sure enough, ‘How very nice.’ She made a pretence of looking around the room, ‘Dear me, I don’t see Phoebe. Have you seen your sister, Lucy?’

‘I expect she is still in bed.’

‘Nonsense! The girl is such an early riser. Up and about with the larks. I’ll just see what’s keeping her. Be sure to… ah… keep his lordship entertained.’ And she hurried from the room, no doubt to rouse poor Phoebe from her bed and ensure that she looked her best.

Hamersley watched her rapid retreat with surprise. ‘Dear me. Did I miss something?’

‘Mama has gone to get the pretty one for your attention. I am to keep you occupied so you don’t wander off. I can see some apples in that dish over there. Would you like me to juggle?’

Hamersley laughed. ‘Can you?’

‘No, but sometimes I drop things in a very amusing manner.’ She shook her head at him. ‘You have made a foolish mistake, coming here. Mama has been looking for an earl or a duke for Phoebe. Now you will be besieged.’

‘An earl or a duke? She’s very optimistic.’

‘More like forceful, although dukes have been very hard to come by this Season. She had hopes of the older Wentworth dropping dead, thereby promoting his halfwit son into the title, but I do believe the son is proving to be skittish.’

Hamersley leaned back in his chair and grinned. ‘I am not going to marry your sister.’

‘A good thing, too. Mama would be on your doorstep every second week. She’s a fearful snob.’

‘Miss Landon,
how
long have you been on the marriage market?’

‘Seven years, although it is not very polite of you to ask,’ Lucy returned severely. ‘Why?’

‘It just seems unusual that nobody has appreciated your forthright approach and charming air of candor. Believe me,’ he added gravely, ‘if more ladies demonstrated your wit I might have married years ago.’

‘Liar,’ she replied. ‘You are not married because you have far too much fun
not
being married. Be nice to Phoebe. She really is a darling, despite our mother.’

‘I will try to be good, although frankly, I find it difficult not to flirt with innocent young things. They never know how to take me and their confusion is so entertaining.’

‘If you confuse my poor sister, then she won’t have to worry about that. I will deal with you.’

‘Good God,’ she heard him mutter, ‘it’s as if Julia is in the room with us.’

Lucy smiled, appreciating the reference. It was, she reflected, proving to be remarkably easy to talk to Hamersley despite their rocky beginnings. In fact, if she had known he was so entertaining, then she would not have given him that set down last time they had met, although the circumstances had been a little different.

‘Not particularly. None of the Hamersleys are particularly nice. We’re far too feckless for that, too careless with other people’s feelings, but she has her likes and dislikes and she certainly likes you. She told me not to upset you.’

Lucy gave him a wide smile. ‘Nice
and
sensible. How fortunate you are in your sister.’

He smiled at this and looked down at his riding clothes ruefully. ‘I suppose I should change before the other guests arrive. I smell like my horse.’

‘I don’t suppose it will matter. House parties are supposed to be a little more relaxed, are they not? Riding clothes in the country are perfectly acceptable.’ She looked at him thoughtfully. ‘Did you really arrive down here to quiz me on the identity of Lady Libertine?’

‘I did.’

‘A rather futile occupation as I have nothing to tell you. You might have to excuse yourself early for I’m sure you will find yourself frightfully bored. I have seen the guest list.’

‘An hour ago I might have agreed with you,’ he said easily, ‘but I doubt anybody could be bored in your company, Miss Landon.’

It was such a pretty compliment that she looked at him in surprise. ‘Why, thank you or are you merely commenting on the fact that I do not know when to hold my tongue?’

‘Please do not do so on my behalf,’ he urged softly. ‘I so rarely get to hear what a lady really thinks. It would be a pity to spoil my education.’ His voice had taken on a rough edge, the smooth polished abruptly stripped away so that he sounded, oh good Lord, was he aroused?

Something had changed. Lucy could feel it. The unexpected, crackling between them with a hiss and sizzle that sucked the breath from her lungs. For a moment their eyes locked and
something
caught fire, singeing the air around them. Lucy felt her mouth go dry while an unfamiliar ache of need pulsed through her, so hard that it was a wonder her entire body didn’t lift out of the chair.

It was as if they had made some kind of connection without a word being said. A disturbingly sudden connection, deeply intimate, and Lucy moistened dry lips while he followed the motion with his eyes, making her heart stutter in her chest.

Lucy wanted to say something, to break the sudden silence that seemed far too fraught with subtle nuances, but she could not think of anything that had a hope of making sense. Her head was a jumble of thoughts that weren’t quite thoughts at all. Everything suddenly tangled up inside her head. It wasn’t thought that was ruling her, but sensation.

Deliciously hot and disconcertingly wanton!

The extraordinary spell seemed to go on forever. The sound of approaching voices broke it, bringing Lucy back to the moment – the breakfast table at Fendleton Hall – with a jolt of surprise. She dropped her eyes to plate, trying to collect herself, aware that her cheeks felt warm.

That her entire
body
felt warm.

Pins and needles prickled across her skin. The subtle ache that had somehow come to life within her, continued to beat out an unfamiliar, mysterious rhythm deep inside her.

I don’t know what this is
, Lucy thought dazedly,
but now I understand why Lady Caroline was lurking in the fernery.
The Earl of Hamersley was potent!

It took her a moment to realize that her mother and sister had come into the room and that her mother had been addressing her. Lucy caught the querulous rise of her voice when she did not respond.

‘Lucy! Are you deaf, girl?’

Lucy came back to herself with a start of surprise, but, smooth as silk, his lordship intervened, rising from the table and coming forward to greet the new arrivals. ‘I must congratulate you on your charming daughter, Lady Landon. Miss Landon is an excellent breakfast companion.’

Lady Landon immediately softened. ‘What a gentleman you are! I am glad that you have not been bored. My lord, let me present my youngest daughter, Phoebe.’

Lucy looked around at that, almost certain that her flushed skin had settled a little. Mama had been busy for poor Phoebe was dressed in her new sage green crepe, her pale golden hair dressed simply, but becomingly. She looked a little dazed, but then, that was hardly surprising. To have achieved so much in so little time must have left the poor girl breathless.

Lucy looked at her sister curiously, wondering what Phoebe would make of the man. Would she be able to feel the strange pull that he must be able to exert at will? She wanted to retreat for a while, to regroup and settle her frazzled nerves. Lucy was not accustomed to having her senses assaulted and was quite impressed by his prowess.
Perhaps he can do that any time he wishes
, she thought in astonishment. Imagine being able to charm such a response out of a lady whenever one wished. It was... remarkable!

Far from being overcome, Phoebe was her usual self, a little shy, a little quiet. Her sister had once confessed that she wished she were more like Lucy, who never seemed to be at a loss for words. As pretty as she was, Phoebe had a retiring disposition and found socializing with new people to be difficult. It was a different story if she was with friends, of course. Then she could relax and be herself.

Lucy had found the revelation to be very funny. It was easy to be oneself (as much as one was able) in company if the company never took much notice and with each year, Lucy had found it even more so. Sometimes she thought she would end up as one of those peculiar old women who sat in corners with a hearing horn, bellowing inappropriate comments at the least auspicious time.

Hamersley dropped the briefest of very correct kisses on Phoebe’s hand, talking easily, amiably, clearly keen to put her at her ease. Lucy had expected him to flirt and tease – just as he had threatened, for he was famous for his enthusiasm for blondes – but instead he was courtesy itself. Lucy glanced at her mother and found her to be watching the proceedings with satisfaction. Finally, a man worthy of her little girl; an earl was exactly what she was after and really, Hamersley was much finer looking than many that were on offer.

Lucy contemplated her next move. Experience had taught her that she was now redundant to the conversation, if only because her mother did not like her to be overly talkative on such occasions.

She rose from her chair, but the movement earned a quick, sideways look from Hamersley who was helping to seat her mother and was standing quite close beside her. He’d turned his head and arched an eyebrow at her. ‘Going somewhere?’

‘To change,’ she said sweetly, gesturing towards the hem of her gown. ‘My tramp across the fields, you know.’

It was a wonder she could talk to him at all, but, while it was true that her body was singing a very unfamiliar tune, she still seemed to be in possession of her faculties.

‘Nonsense.’ His voice had dropped a little, so that only she could hear him, and then, even more softly, but with a great deal of emphasis, ‘Do not dare to leave me here!’

Lucy blinked up at him for a moment and then grinned. ‘Oh, but I must. Only consider what people will think if they see me in such a state.’

‘What?’ Her mother practically trumpeted from Hamersley’s other side. She was clearly annoyed that she could not hear the conversation. ‘What was that you said, Lucy? Do not mumble, girl!’

‘I will get you another cup of coffee,’ the earl said firmly, placing a hand on her shoulder and pushing her firmly back into her chair. A shudder of delight lanced through her body at the touch, skin tingling where his fingers had pressed, warm and strong, through the material of her dress.

Mental note
, Lucy thought, dropping back down abruptly, relieved the presence of the chair meant she did not have to stand upon her wobbly legs,
do not let him touch me again
. It crossed her mind that perhaps she had picked up a fever on her early morning jaunt. It had been very brisk outside and she had often been told that infections could happen very suddenly, but she didn’t
feel
sick. In fact, she felt quite ridiculously – well, invigorated – almost.