Laurie Brown (22 page)

She just wanted to go home.

Unfortunately, she ran into Estelle before she could find Mrs. Binns.

“Well, well, well. If it isn’t the belle of the ball.”

Josie looked over her shoulder, but no one else seemed near.

“No need to play coy with me,” Estelle said with a snide smile. She played with the handle of her punch cup. “It appears I
underestimated you.”

“I doubt it will keep you awake at night.”

“Your name is on everyone’s lips. They are already calling you an original.Mrs. Binns is
in alt.
”

Josie had never heard the term
in alt
before, but she refused to ask Estelle for a definition and assumed by her usage and displeased expression she meant Mrs.
Binns was thrilled.

“Lady Jersey has all but guaranteed you will be at the first assembly of the season at Almack’s,”

Estelle said with a scowl.

Josie snorted. She didn’t have time to discuss theoretical impossibilities with the malicious bitch.“Whatever. Have you seen
Mrs. Binns? No?

Fine.” She started to walk on by, but Estelle blocked her path.

“Our conversation is not over.”

Josie crossed her arms. She decided not to knock the other woman into the middle of next week, but only because she wasn’t
worth the effort.

“I wanted to wish you enjoyment of your brief success,” Estelle said.

“Really?”

“Yes.” Estelle heaved a dramatic sigh.“Adoration is brief among the
ton
. Once everyone learns you are the cause of a duel, your fleeting fame will fade into infamy.”

“Impressive alliteration, but you have the facts wrong. There will be no...what do you mean I’m the cause?”

“Lord Waite challenged Lord Hargrave to a duel over some unspecified insult to you. Pistols at dawn.”

“What?” She hadn’t changed history after all.

That’s why Deverell still felt the bullet in his heart.

Estelle continued speaking even though Josie paid her little heed. “Without specific details, wild stories will abound and
word will pass like wildfire. Soon everyone will know.Tonight, most likely.”

With Estelle’s help, no doubt. “Don’t be so quick to spread tales or you may be named a gossipy fool,” Josie warned the other
woman.“There will be no duel, especially not one over me.” She wasn’t sure how she would stop it, but she would.

Mrs. Binns came up to them, positively glowing and with a wide smile.“Such a wonderful party.”

“Have you seen Lord Waite?” Josie asked her.

“Why, no. Oddly enough, I...”

“I need to speak to him immediately. Hey!” She jumped back too late. Estelle emptied her cup of punch down the front of Josie’s
dress.

“Oh my, I am so sorry.”

“You did that on purpose.”

“Such a terrible accident,” Estelle continued, ignoring Josie’s accusation. “Someone must have bumped my arm.You should put
some cold water on that stain before your gown is ruined.”

Josie curled her fingers into a fist.

Fortunately for Estelle’s nose, Mrs. Binns took Josie’s arm and steered her toward the door.

Dora met them at the bottom of the stairs. “I saw everything,” she said. “That...that witch did it on purpose.”

“I know,” Josie said.

“Don’t you worry. I’ll have it cleaned up in no time,” the maid assured her.

As she started up the steps, Josie turned to Mrs.

Binns.“No need for you to miss any of the ball.”

“That’s all right.”

“No. I insist you go back and enjoy yourself.”

“Well, I did want to speak to Lady Georgina, and she usually retires before the supper.”

“Fine.You do that and I’ll join you later,” Josie said even though she had no intention of coming back to the ball before
the séance. Inspiration had hit her during the short walk. She had a plan for stopping the duel, but she needed to think it
through first.“We’ll be back in no time. Isn’t that right, Dora?”

The maid nodded, glancing warily at her mistress. Mrs. Binns, however, accepted the ruse and returned to the ballroom.

“What are you up to?” Dora asked, as they walked up the stairs.

“Nothing. Nothing at all,” Josie lied.

Dora left the room with the damaged ball gown.

Josie tied the belt of her dressing gown and stepped from behind the screen. Deverell sat in the chair by the window.

“Did you hear what Estelle said?” she asked.

“Dev has challenged Hargrave to a duel.”

“One cannot simply let an insult pass without...”

“But the insult was to me, not him.”

“So you intend to challenge him to a duel yourself? A fencing match with knitting needles?

Fisticuffs in petticoats?”

“Don’t be patronizing. I don’t want there to be any duel at all. And if I choose not to retaliate, that should be the end
of the matter. Insult to me equals my decision to act or not. Get it?”

“Dev is the master of the house where you are a guest, and therefore he is responsible for your well-being and safety.”

“I’m safe. I’m well. An insult is not worthy of a duel. He could be shot.You could be shot. Because of some overblown sense
of responsibility?”

Deverell shrugged.“I hate to say I told you so.”

“No, you don’t.You relish saying it.Well, in this case I won’t let you be right. I will stop this ridiculous duel.”

“How?”

“Dueling is illegal. I’ll get the cops or whatever you call them from the nearest town to stop it.”

“A blind eye is turned to matters of honor.

And Dev owns the nearest town. The sheriff works for him.”

“Then I’ll talk Dev out of it.”

“Not bloody likely. The challenge has been given. If he backed out now, he would never be able to show his face in society
again.”

“A fate worse than death?”

“There are such universal truths, you know.

There are fates worse than death.”With that cryptic comment, he disappeared.

Sinking into the chair he’d vacated, she put her chin in her hands. Her plan was to meet Dev after the séance according to
the terms of the deal and talk him out of the duel. She would still try, but if he was anything like the ghost there was little
hope of changing his mind. She needed a plan B.

What else could she do? How far was she willing to go?

Her gown had been saved thanks to the housekeeper’s secret cleansing formula, but Josie didn’t return downstairs until minutes
before the séance was scheduled to begin.Wearing the simplest dress Dora deemed appropriate for evening, Josie paused at the
head of the stairs. Her mind was made up and she was committed to her plan, but she would need strength to pull it off.

“I don’t like this,” Dora said. “Not one bit.”

“But you’ll do as I asked?”

The maid hesitated before she nodded. “Oh, miss. Be careful.”

Josie ran down the stairs and paused to raise her chin and paste a smile on her face before entering the library.

“There you are,my dear.”Mrs. Binns rushed over and draped the sash of charms around Josie’s neck.

“I heard about your gown,” Honoria said.“I am so sorry your evening was ruined.”

“Such a terrible accident,” Estelle added, her pitying expression unable to mask the malevolent glee in her eyes.

Josie shrugged, refusing to give Estelle the satisfaction of knowing just how much she’d upset her.

Not with the attempt to ruin the ball gown, but with the news of the duel. “No sense crying over spilled punch. Shall we start
the séance?”

“We’re waiting for Dev,” Estelle said.

“What about me?” Dev asked as he entered the library at the stroke of the hour.

Estelle looped her arm through his and drew him into the room.“Only that we would not start without you.”

“I was afraid you had decided not to attend,”

Honoria said.

“What? And miss out on such a promising event?” He took a folded slip of paper from his vest pocket.“In fact, I have a question
regarding a deal I recently made. I want to know if the party involved will hold up the other end of the bargain.”

Josie rolled her eyes at his not-so-subtle reminder.

“I am sure Amanu will be happy to help with your business decisions, won’t he, Madame?”

“Of course he will,” Estelle answered for her friend.

As before, the gypsy was dressed in her voluminous robes and lavish turban that revealed only the golden mask. She sat on
the thronelike chair.“We can begin.”

Dev seated each woman in turn, surreptitiously passing Josie a note in the process. She opened it in her lap and glanced down
at the bold handwriting.

The door at the end of the gallery opens onto the
garden path.

Innocuous words to anyone else.

“You may light the Candle of Omniscience,”

Madame intoned.

Repeating the procedure of the previous séance, the footman put out the lamps and left the room.

Josie put her hands on the table as directed, and when the slips of paper were placed in the brass bowl and set afire, she
added Dev’s note.

The lone candle sputtered and flared. Madame X chanted in tongues and moaned and rocked.

“Hear me, Amanu. I command you to come forward and do my bidding.”

“Yes, my queen,” the spirit guide answered.

“Speak the beckoning enchantment and I will appear.”

Madame mumbled and fell forward onto the table in a trance. In a few moments the glowing specter rose behind her chair.

Josie watched closely and saw a slight hitch in his rising as the man stepped up onto the door of the chair’s secret cabinet.
Funny how you saw things differently once you knew how they were done. At least she knew he wasn’t seven feet tall.

She hoped her traps would provide additional information about how the man got into the locked room.

“There is great unrest among the spirits you seek,”Amanu said.“They are angry because you do not listen to their advice.”

“Daniel is upset with me?” Honoria asked in a shaky voice.“Tell him not to be angry.Tell him...”

“The spirits are not your servants. I am not your servant. If you do not intend to heed the spirits’ advice, I will not bother
to come again.”

“No, please,” Honoria cried.“I will. I will. Please tell Daniel I will do everything he wants me to do.”

“Now, Mother, I think...”

“Hush,Dev. I cannot lose this last link with your father.”

“You must not allow the unbelievers into my presence again,” Amanu said. “The spirits are hurt by skepticism.”

“I won’t. I promise. Is Percy there, too?”

“That is all I can say for now.” The specter folded his arms, bowed his head, and sank away from sight. The candle sputtered
and the table shook.They waited.

Moments later Madame X sat up. “You may blow out the candle and light the lamps,” she said in a weak voice.

“He was a bit bold for a spirit, don’t you think?”

Mrs. Binns said.

Estelle shot her a disgusted glare and rushed to help her friend. “This session has been especially hard on Madame. I must
get her to our room immediately.”

After they left, Dev said to his mother, “These séances are getting out of hand.You must see...”

“What I see,” Honoria said, turning to her son with tears in her eyes, “is that you are one of the unbelievers. I cannot ban
you from any function in your house, but I would appreciate it if you would refrain from hurting your father’s spirit again.”

“Madame X is...”

“Perhaps we will continue this discussion another time. Right now I have duties that require my immediate attention. As do
you.”

Dev bowed his acquiescence.

“The supper dance will be called soon,” she reminded him.With that, Honoria left.

“May I escort you back to the ball?” Dev said, offering his arm to the elder of the two.

“Yes, thank you,” Mrs. Binns said, laying her fingertips on his forearm.

“No, thank you,” Josie said. “Dora is waiting with my repaired ball gown,” she explained to Mrs.

Binns. The truth, if not the whole truth. “You go on. Dora will take care of me.”

As if he understood her plan, Dev placed his hand over Mrs. Binns’s to prevent her from pulling away. “Then I will see you
later,” he said.

“You can count on it,” Josie answered.

Sixteen

D
EV PACED THE GARDEN, SECOND-GUESSING
his decision to keep his appointment with Josie. She disturbed his equilibrium, made him think about things he had long ago
decided were not for him. Marriage. Children. His plan did not include becoming leg-shackled to one woman so early in his
life.

Especially that woman. She challenged his preconceived notions of the perfect female. Josie was neither meek nor mild, and
definitely not demure or unassuming, sedate, modest, or even proper. She had none of the expected talents. Couldn’t paint
or play the pianoforte. Although he must admit she danced beautifully.

What was dancing when the woman was too intelligent, argumentative, aggravating, and outspoken? She was also passionate and
endlessly fascinating. He should be going to London instead of subjecting himself to self-torture.

But she was trying to prove Madame X was a fraud, and he had just witnessed the control the gypsy had over his mother. If
he didn’t do something, there was no telling where that would lead. And Josie, for some unknown reason, seemed to have a plan
for accomplishing exactly what he needed to do.

He would just have to maintain a distance from her. No romance in the garden as he’d originally planned. No moonlit kisses.
Definitely, no kissing. One touch of her lips and he would be lost. Just get the information from her and then get the hell
out of there.

Josie approached the moon garden with trepidation. If she couldn’t talk Dev out of the duel, was she willing to proceed with
the rest of the plan?

Willing? Ha!
Eager
was a better word.

Okay, she admitted she’d had her dreams of meeting him in the garden and making love. But she’d always been able to distinguish
fact from fiction and maintain a certain amount of personal dignity. However, she’d recently stumbled on one of those universal
truths, one Deverell had never mentioned.
When the right man beckons, any woman
is a one-night-stand kind of girl
.

And if in the process of living out her fantasy she happened to keep him from attending his dawn appointment, so much the
better. Even if her motivation wasn’t noble, the end would be. At least she would return home knowing she’d saved his life.

Her steps faltered. Home. How would she live the rest of her life without him? Wouldn’t she be better off not making love?
Shouldn’t she protect her heart? No. If all she had was this one night, then she would make enough memories to last her a
lifetime.

She opened the door at the end of the gallery and stepped into the darkness with firm resolve. The occasional shuttered lantern
barely illuminated the rose arbor. Her eyes adjusted to the dim light as she followed the path to her right. One foot in front
of the other.

When she reached the end of the darkened tunnel, the garden itself seemed brilliant. All the white flowers glowed in the moonlight,
giving the enclosed area a fairy-tale ambience. Dev waited in the far corner, seated on a white marble bench near a seashell
fountain. She ran the rest of the way.

He stood as soon as he saw her.“Thank you for being on time. Promptness is often underrated, but I consider it a virtue.”
Josie skidded to a halt. Not exactly the welcome she’d anticipated. Perhaps her fantasy was just that after all.“Uh, sure.”

“Please have a seat.”

“I think I’d rather stand.”

“Would you care for a tour? I shall endeavor to answer any of your questions. In a moon garden the plants are specifically
chosen for white-colored blooms that remain open at night and for their scent.”

What was wrong with him? She hadn’t come to the garden for a freaking tour. Could he have meant literally a walk in the garden?
Had she misunderstood his intent? No, something had changed. Perhaps he was thinking about the duel and regretting his rash
action. “Dev,” she said, reaching for his arm.

As if he did not see her hand, he turned and pointed to a flowering bush. “These roses are not particularly attractive, but
the scent is heavenly.” He stepped to his left, putting the bench between them, before indicating another plant. “This...”

“I don’t care about the flowers.We need to talk.”

He faced her with a solemn expression. “I agree.”

“I was quite disturbed earlier this evening.” That was a bit of an understatement. She’d been devastated when she’d heard
about the duel. She would try to talk him out of it, but if that didn’t work...“Very disturbed,” she added for good measure.

“As was I.”

“It must be stopped. I can’t allow...”

“I am in absolute agreement.”

Well, that was easy enough. Josie suppressed a sigh of disappointment.

“Things have gone beyond what is reasonable,”

Dev continued.“The problem is, how do I stop it?

I was hoping you...”

“Me? I should think you would know more about this than I!”

“You’re the one with all the strings and...things.”

“What in the world are you talking about?”

“Your trap...things.” He paused and gave her a quizzical look.“Why? What are you talking about?”

“The duel. I came to talk you out of...”

“Oh, that.” He waved off her concern in a motion the ghost had used many times. “Closed issue. I will not discuss it further.”

At least that was the response she’d expected.

“Then what were you...the traps.You were talking about the séances.”

“Of course.”

“And for some reason you no longer believe they are a harmless diversion and you want them stopped.”

“Were you not there when that so-called spirit guide manipulated my mother? Now I’m essentially banned from any future proceedings,
so I won’t even know what that...that...”

“Person. An ordinary man. Actually, a rather short ordinary man.”

“Be that as it may, I won’t know what that person is telling Mother to do and therefore will not be able to defend against
it...him.”

“Hopefully my traps will give us enough information...”

“Let’s go check them now.” He reached for her hand but quickly pulled back.

“What is wrong? That’s twice you jumped away rather than touch me. Am I suddenly a leper?”

Dev ran his finger around his collar.“I am doing my best to maintain a respectful distance.”

“Why?”

He looked at her as if she was crazy. “Because you are a guest in...”

“Oh, don’t treat me like a fool.Why now? You haven’t been
respectful
from the moment we met.”

The corners of his mouth twitched. “I’ve seen the error of my ways.”

“Try again.”

“Because I’ve realized you are deserving of my respect.”

She knew that wasn’t the reason either, but if she called it bullshit, she’d be admitting de facto she wasn’t worthy. Score
one for Dev in the verbal battle. She nodded her defeat, but one skirmish did not win the war. “If you want the information
on the séance, it will cost you.”

He raised an eyebrow.

“I’m here because we made a deal. I have another to propose.”

“I can tell you the answer before I hear the terms. Since you have an interest in exposing the gypsy as a fraud, I need only
wait until you do so and I will have what I want. At no cost.”

Rats. He was right again.

She sat on the nearby bench. If she wanted to keep him occupied past dawn, she would have to try another tack. Never having
done anything like this before was a distinct disadvantage. What was it women of his time did? Pretend to faint and fall into
his arms? Sprain an ankle so he would have to carry her inside? She doubted she could pull off either convincingly. Better
to approach the problem head-on.

“I came here expecting you to try to take advantage of me. Which would have made matters so much easier since I have no idea
how to seduce you.”

“You what?”

“I want you, and I thought you wanted me.”

“I do, but...”

“Then what’s the problem?”

“It’s just not done.We cannot simply...”

“Hop into bed together? Of course we can. Look, I’ll be leaving soon, probably tomorrow and...”

“Why are you leaving?”

Josie took a deep breath and decided not to tell the truth. “I’ve had word that my father is ill...”

“I thought you father was dead?”

Oops.What did she expect? She was making the story up on the fly.“I meant to say my stepfather is ill and I must return home
immediately.Therefore tonight is the only chance I’ll have to be with you.

No strings attached. No expectations of the future.

Purely enjoying the pleasure of each other’s company. How’s that for a deal, Lord Waite?”

“If something sounds too good to be true, it usually is.” He paused.“However, I must admit I am intrigued.”

“Since we’re discussing this like two modern adults, I do need to make sure you don’t have any sexually transmitted diseases.
I hear syphilis and...”

“I assure you I am disease free.”

“Well, that’s my only concern.” She slapped her knees and stood.“How do we start?” She stepped toward him.

“Whoa.” He held up his hand.“Aren’t you concerned at all about your virginity?”

“I’m not a virgin,” she admitted. At his shocked expression she explained,“Where I live, virginity is not prized as it is
here.”

“Ah! You are a freethinker, a follower of the free love doctrine. I have read William Blake, and also Percy Bysshe Shelley’s
Queen Mab.
His recent
On
Love
was quite interesting, although I can’t say I agree with his views.” But it did allow him to see her in a different light.

“If we’re going to discuss philosophy all night, I vote for a comfortable chair and a bottle of your best brandy.”

Dev chuckled.“Perhaps another time. Oh, right, there will be no other time.”

“It’s now or never.”

And he’d be crazy to let a stray, impossible vision rob him of the pleasure she promised. “I’m intrigued. How did you intend
to seduce me?”

Josie shrugged. “I guess I was just going to play it by ear.”

“No, no, no. A proper seduction takes thought and planning.”

“Really. How would you do it?”

“First you must choose a romantic setting.”

“A moonlit garden.”

“Music provides a relaxing atmosphere.”

She cocked her head to listen to the soft echoes from the ballroom.“Done.”

“I would provide wine and foods with aphrodisiac properties. I would select the choicest bits and hand-feed them to you,my
fingertips lingering on your lips.”

“We’ll have to skip that part.”

“Too bad. It can be quite sensual.”

She shook out her fan and cooled the blush on her cheeks. “What would you do next? In this hypothetical seduction.”

“Hmmm.That would depend on how receptive you...the woman is to my attentions. Possibly a dance would follow. A waltz, of course.
A private waltz can be...erotic.”

Josie cleared her throat.“We’ve...a...done that.”

“Not this way.” He removed his gloves, tossed them on the bench, and stretched out his hand.

“May I have the pleasure of this dance?”

She followed suit, rolling down her elbow-length gloves and awkwardly yanking them off. She stepped into the circle of his
arms.“I can’t see what difference...oh.” If his hands were warm before, now they were hot, hot, hot.

“The trick is to remember to keep your feet moving.” He led her into the simple box step.

Instead of holding her at arm’s length, he pulled her close.

He leaned back to look at her face.“You are not wearing a corset.”

“I don’t care for them.”

“Too bad. I rather enjoy taking off a woman’s corset. Sort of like unwrapping a Christmas present.”

“This way is quicker.”

“My sweet little adventuress.” He leaned over to whisper in her ear.“I never said I was interested in quick.”

He kissed the spot behind her ear, and she wrapped her arm around his neck. He slid his right hand down her back, branding
her with his fingers.

Her thighs tingled. He sucked in her earlobe, and she let go of his other hand to run her fingers through his hair. She tipped
her head to the side and leaned back to allow him better access as he nibbled, and licked, and nipped the line of her jaw.

His lips seared hers with a fiery kiss. Her knees buckled, but he held her in place with one arm around her back and the other
hand cupping her derriere.

“I can’t dance when you do that,” she said.The words came out in a breathy whisper.

He untangled their bodies, set her on her feet at arm’s length, and cupped her face in his hands.“Are you sure you want to
continue?”

She returned his intense gaze. “I want to make love with you. Show me,” she said, although even she wasn’t exactly sure what
she meant.

Still he did not move. “Whatever has gone before, for either one of us, is not important.This is our first time because it
is our first time together.”

“Do you say that to all...”

“No. Only you.” He dropped his hands and turned away.“Forget it. Silly thing to say.”

She walked round him, and when he would not look her in the eye, she took his face in her hands.“I think it was the perfect
thing to say.” She tipped her head to the side and smiled shyly up at him.“Good Sir, it is my first time. Please forgive my
mistakes.”

He gathered her into a gentle hug and kissed her forehead. “There is nothing to forgive.The mistake is mine. My pride is at
fault. I wanted you to forget any other man as I have forgotten all other women.”

“Done.”

He released her and stepped back.“That easily?”

“Well, there weren’t that many, and all were unremarkable.” She already knew she would never forget him. “I expect you will
be quite different.”

“Is that a challenge to make this a memorable night?”

“If you wish to take it that way.” She grinned.

“So far it’s been pretty good.”

“Pretty good? I see I shall have to try harder.No pun intended.”

She raised her eyebrows.“I’m game.”

“I presume that means you are ready to begin again.”

“It means I’m ready for anything.”