Never a Bride (5 page)

Mirabella smiled affectionately at her portly maid. “I think any man should want to look at you. I think you have a pretty face with lovely eyes.”

“Well, you are the only one who thinks that, Miss Bella. And why are you asking me all these questions about clubs and taverns?”

“Merciful heavens, Lily, you have no reason to worry so much about me doing something wrong. I am only trying to learn a few things that you already know. Now, what exactly happens at a bathhouse?”

“I don’t know. I can’t tell you because I haven’t been to one and most women haven’t. Now, Miss Bella, we have to stop this kind of talk. It’s not proper.”

Mirabella stepped out of her shift and drawers and into the warm water, a plan forming in her mind. Maybe going to a bathhouse was beyond the pale even for a female servant, but what about being a male servant in a tavern or a gentleman’s club where men felt relaxed and at ease. It seemed to her that it would be a perfect way to see a man’s neck and to search for a scar. It would be risky, but certainly not any more risky than allowing gentlemen to take her into the garden for a kiss. She had to consider the idea of posing as a servant and give it careful thought.

This kissing business was getting her nowhere fast.

Candlelight threw millions of sparkles and glimmers across the crowded room. Camden scanned the faces of women dressed in colorful gowns and skirts that swept across the dance floor. He’d had a moment’s hesitation when he first walked through the entrance, but he’d managed to shake free of the past before it had grabbed hold of him. He was going to be all right.

He wasn’t really here to let the
ton
know that he was over what had happened six years ago, or to catch his fiancée unaware as Hudson thought. He was searching for the young lady who’d been brave enough to leave a party without a chaperone, talk to a stranger in the dark of night, and kiss the side of his mouth.

Every time she crossed his mind, his heart beat a little faster than normal. She had been so appealing that he hadn’t been able to get her out of his thoughts for more than a few minutes at a time.

Camden smiled to himself. He wouldn’t have thought it possible, but it was true. He had been seduced.

She
was the real reason he was here tonight. No other.

He had always considered himself a man of honor, and duty called. His father was right. It was past time he should have respected the engagement and made his fiancée his bride, but right now he couldn’t muster any enthusiasm to wed that young lady. He had wanted to wait until he made enough money in America so that he could be free of his father and the title, if he so chose.

It had been his choice to allow his father to bind him to a woman he’d never met. Having his father pick a bride for him seemed the best way to avoid falling in love, a trap he never wanted to be caught in again. He didn’t have a problem with the earl picking his bride, but Camden had wanted to set the time for the marriage. And he’d wanted to wait another year.

Few men fell in love with their wives if they didn’t love them before marriage. He was confident he’d never fall in love again. He’d come to know many beautiful women in America, and he hadn’t even come close to thinking he was in love with any of them.

But the intriguing lady he’d met last night had certainly caught his attention. He didn’t mind being amazed or infatuated with the fairer sex. In fact, the thought of enjoying a woman that much again intrigued him. But once love entered a man’s heart, he was committed and bound to drop his guard or act foolishly.

Light from the chandeliers glinted off jewels wrapped around necks, hanging from ears, and adorning the hair of the ladies on the dance floor and those who stood along the perimeter of the ballroom.

“You keep searching the dance floor, Brother. Do you think you’ll recognize her?” Hudson asked.

Of course.

He couldn’t tell his brother that he wasn’t looking for his fiancée.

“No. I’m sure I’ve never met Miss Whittingham. I was just thinking how much some people have changed while I’ve been away. I’ve seen friends and acquaintances who have gained weight, lost hair, married and had sons.”

“Dear Camden, are you surprised London didn’t stand still waiting for you to return?”

“I had no fear of that, but the debutantes do look younger than they did a few years ago.”

“It’s you who has gotten older.”

Camden let Hudson’s comment pass. “What I’m surprised about is that you haven’t yet managed to present me to Miss Paulette Pemberton.”

Hudson carefully scanned the room before turning back to Camden. “We’ve only been here five minutes. Miss Pemberton will be here soon, I’m sure. Don’t look so intense, Camden. No one but family knows you made a vow not to attend another soiree. And I’m sure everyone is looking at you because you have been gone a long time.”

“Knowing that you also think that everyone is staring at me as if I’m a ghost returned from the dead does not help, Brother.”

Hudson chuckled. “It’s only natural that you will be the center of attention. But hear me well. You won’t be disappointed when you see your fiancée. Father did an excellent job in selecting your bride. Miss Mirabella Whittingham is a beautiful lady.”

“How lucky for me,” he said with no conviction in his voice. He continued to look at the face of every young lady who passed.

“America has changed you, Camden.”

“I would think so. They are far less formal than we are, especially when you travel out of the East.”

“Dreadful, I’m sure. I hear that outside of Boston, Philadelphia and Baltimore, they are really quite uncivilized.”

“I wouldn’t go so far as to say that, Hudson. Besides, I rather liked the people in the new country. You should visit there.”

“No doubt I will eventually. But something or someone kept you there six years.”

‘True. One feels freer to plan his own destiny and make his own choices.”

“You almost sound wistful, Camden. Tell me, did a young lady catch your eye in America?”

“Several.”

Hudson laughed. “You know we all suspected it was a mistress who kept you there so long.”

Camden pondered his brother’s words. “A mistress to be sure, but not a woman.”

If all went well this winter with the shipyard company he worked for in America, by next spring he should be independently wealthy. He had been smart to stay away from indulging in a lavish lifestyle, choosing to live frugally while in America. The money he invested should reward him tenfold with the completion of the new steam engine for ships.

Hudson gave him a queer look. “That sounds intriguing. What do you mean? A mistress but not a woman?”

“Stonehurst, it
is
you. I was told you were back in London, and I didn’t believe it. When did you return?”

The familiar voice and the clap on the back of his shoulder brought Camden up short. He turned and faced a man who had been a close friend since boyhood.

Camden grinned. “Albert Farebrother. It’s good to see you.”

The slim built, sandy-haired man beamed as he pumped Camden’s arm and clapped him on the shoulder again. “Have you been back long? Why haven’t you come around to see me? You should have let me know.”

“Just returned last evening. You remember my younger brother Hudson, don’t you?”

“Of course, I remember him.” Albert and Hudson greeted each other. Then Albert said to Camden, “Didn’t waste any time getting back into the swing of things I see, attending a party your first full day back. Bravo for you. No doubt you want to catch up on everything that has happened.”

Camden ignored Albert’s comments. “You’re looking well, Albert. You haven’t changed a dram while I’ve been away.”

“Oh, but I have. My father passed on, and I’m now Earl of Glenbrighton. I married last year and have a son born just months ago—with another babe on the way.”

“I’m sorry to say I didn’t know about the earl. My condolences, and congratulations on your son. You’ve been a busy man.”

Albert grinned. “I’ve a legacy to uphold, you know.”

“Sounds as if you are well on your way.”

“To be sure.” Albert hesitated, looked around the room. He leaned in close to Camden and almost whispered, “I hope it wasn’t bad news that brought you home after all this time?”

“Not at all.”

“Well, I mean, there have been rumors that you wouldn’t return, not even to claim your bride.”

“Really? With all the
ton
has to talk about, why would I cross anyone’s mind? Surely something of magnitude has happened since I’ve been away. Someone far more worthy of gossip than I am.”

Albert straightened and looked from Camden to Hudson. “Well, I’m sure it’s—well you’ve been gone so long. It’s the gossip columnists. They never forget anything.” He cleared his throat. “Glad to have you back, old chap. Maybe we can meet at White’s or one of the other clubs later in the week for a drink and talk over old times.”

“We’ll do it,” Camden answered and watched the new Earl of Glenbrighton walk away. His old friend had seemed uncomfortable and on edge. Intuitively Camden knew Albert was hinting at something he didn’t want to come out and say. No doubt it had to do with Camden’s past.

He looked beyond the swirling colors of dresses and dinner jackets and focused on the flickering flames of a candle on a gilt wall sconce across the ballroom. Unbidden, the years rolled back to Hortense, his first fiancée, and the last party they had attended in London.

He had been captivated by Hortense the moment he saw her. It was her first Season and every young bachelor sought her attention, plying her with sweets, flowers, and calling on her for rides in the park. But from all appearances she was enchanted only by Camden. They danced at every ball for four weeks before his father agreed he could offer for her hand. She accepted. The engagement was announced and the arrangements were being made by their fathers.

It happened at the last big party of the Season and most everyone who was anyone in the
ton
was in attendance. At half past one there was to be a presentation of a copy of the statue Diana the Huntress in the formal garden. Everyone gathered in the great hall for the exhibition. The draperies were pulled back from the windows, but instead of revealing the statue of the goddess, everyone saw Hortense in the arms of another man—kissing madly.

Someone passing by knocked Camden’s arm and brought him out of his reverie. A cold chill of anger shook him. He realized he was standing stiffly and relaxed his shoulders, thankful for whoever had seen fit to walk into him. Blast it! He was over all that. Forgotten! He vowed to never think of it again. Not Hortense or the man who had been with her.

Hudson was having a whispered conversation with a sweet-looking petite blonde standing beside him. They were so engrossed in each other Camden could have sworn that they didn’t realize anyone else was in the room. This had to be Miss Pemberton, the young lady who had caught Hudson’s heart and wouldn’t let go. And from the way she was looking at him, she felt the same way about him.

Clearing his throat, Camden interrupted and said, “I don’t believe I’ve had the pleasure.”

“Oh, yes. Camden, may I present Miss Paulette Pemberton. Miss Pemberton, I’d like you to meet my brother, Viscount Stonehurst, who just returned from America.”

“It’s a pleasure, Miss Pemberton.”

“For me, too, Lord Stonehurst. Welcome home.”

Camden nodded. “You are as lovely as my brother said you were.”

“Thank you. Hudson has often mentioned you, but I was beginning to think you were but a hopeful figment of his imagination. But here you are in the flesh, and almost as dashing as your brother.”

She barely glanced his way before returning her gaze back to Hudson and giving him a smile. It was clear the two were smitten with each other. Right now, anyway. Camden knew that could change without a moment’s notice.

“Oh, Camden,” Hudson said quickly. “Here comes the man who can help us. Mr. Archer Hornbeck is over by the buffet table. He is Miss Whittingham’s chaperone for the Season. We have to catch him before he gets away. Miss Pemberton, I hate to rush off when you’ve only just arrived, but would you please excuse us?”

“I will, although I’m loath to do so.” She smiled up at him, her blue eyes sparkling with young love. “You won’t miss our dance, will you? Promise?”

He smiled down at her. “Not a chance of it, I assure you. I’ll meet you by the punch table as always.”

Camden and Hudson strode through the crowd, knocking elbows, brushing against shoulders and rushing greetings and introductions with the people who stopped them along the way.

“You have a special place to meet Miss Pemberton?” Camden asked when they were once again walking side by side.

“If we don’t, the dance can be half over before we find each other.” Hudson smiled. “I love her, Camden. I want to marry her.”

Camden didn’t want to see his brother make the mistakes he’d made when he was Hudson’s age. No one knew better than Camden the pitfalls of being blinded by love.

“You’re too young to know what you want.”

“Just because things didn’t work out for you when you were younger doesn’t mean they won’t for me. I know that Miss Pemberton is true to me.”

Camden stiffened. “I wasn’t aware you knew that much about what happened with Hortense. You were away at school.”

“Some stories linger longer than others, as you well know. Lord Glenbrighton was right about the scandal sheets.”

“So it was still the talk of the town when you returned home?”

“Maybe it was only because everyone wanted to make sure I knew what had happened to my brother.”

“And do you?”

“I know enough to imagine how you felt. Thank God you were in America for so long or the talk might have never died away.”

“Gossip seldom tells the truth, Brother.”

Hudson stepped in front of Camden and smiled. “Correction. Gossip seldom tells the
whole
truth.”

Camden returned the smile. “Perhaps you are wiser than your years.”

“Perhaps I am,” Hudson said and turned away from Camden and approached a short, balding gentleman. “Mr. Hornbeck, excuse me for interrupting.”

“Yes,” the sturdily built man turned from the group of men he was talking to and looked squarely at Hudson, then Camden.

It was clear he didn’t immediately recognize either man, so Hudson stepped forward and made the introductions.

Camden watched surprise light the man’s pale blue eyes. Camden was certain he saw sweat pop out on his balding head while they exchanged polite greetings.

“Ah—I’m afraid I didn’t know that you had returned to London, Lord Stonehurst. Does Miss Whittingham and her father know you’re here?”

“No, I only arrived late last evening. I spent most of the day catching up with my family.”

Mr. Hornbeck blinked rapidly. “I’m sure.”

“I’ve been watching for Miss Whittingham, but haven’t seen her,” Hudson explained. “Is she here tonight?”

The man looked nervously around the dance floor. “Oh, yes. Indeed she is.”

“How fortunate for Camden,” Hudson said. “We had hoped she would be, but there was always a chance she had attended another party. Perhaps you could present her to my brother. I was going to do the honors, but so far she has eluded us this evening.”