Scandal at Dawn (A Regency Rhapsody Novella) (6 page)

Emily crossed her arms. “Don’t even touch that door, or you shall scream.”

His blue eyes clouded with confusion. “Don’t you mean ‘I shall scream’? That is,
you
shall scream?”

“No. I mean you, the Honorable Mr Griffin, shall scream. Or shout, if you prefer a more masculine version.”

“Terminology aside, why would I do that?” He looked genuinely concerned.

“Because I’ll hurt you.”

He laughed then, but backed up a step. The young lady did not appear to be bluffing. “You? Hurt me?”

“I’ll think of something.” Emily kept her voice light. “Stamp on your foot. Possibly scratch your eyes out.”

His eyes widened. “You’re serious?”

“Quite.” Emily tilted her chin up. “Good
evening
, Mr Griffin.”

“Very well. I can see where I’m not wanted. What’s your name, by the way?”

“I doubt this constitutes a proper introduction.”

“I was thinking more in terms of knowledge being the best defense,” he admitted, with another smile, somehow contrite but still hopeful.

Her lip quirked before she could stop it. “Emily St George.”

“Now there’s a name I won’t forget in a hurry,” he promised. Robert proceeded down the hall, content Olivia and Adrian were in safe hands. He restrained himself from glancing backward. Either the lady would be looking at him with those searing eyes, which would unnerve him…or she would not be, which would shatter his ego.

* * * *

Inside the room, Olivia and Adrian were oblivious to the exchange in the hall. After tantalizing her with kisses for a few minutes, leaving her breathless and hopefully more receptive to his words, he broached the idea of marriage, knowing she would raise objections.

“You’d be the lady of the manor, dear heart,” he hastened to forestall the most likely hurdle. “You would only have to direct the housekeeper and servants regarding what you want. You need not worry that a handicap would prevent you from doing what needs to be done.”

“But what about…your circle of friends? Your family? They don’t know me.”

“They will soon enough. Who couldn’t love you?”

Olivia shook her head. “It’s not so simple. Even to function, I have to learn the house, the grounds. I fear I’d be a disaster. I’d embarrass you. You don’t understand how it feels at all. I should blindfold you for a day, and see how you like it!”

He stroked her wrist with his thumb. “If you were the woman to blindfold me, I would raise no objections at all.”

Belatedly, Olivia realized the implications of her threat. “Oh! I didn’t mean it like
that
.”

“Too bad.”

“Adrian!” Olivia was both scandalized and intrigued. The thought of teaching him how to feel the way she felt…that was an idea that made her blood race.

He laughed softly, his breath warm against her neck. “I am open to new experiences, darling. Whenever you wish to teach me.”

Olivia was having trouble breathing normally. “I doubt there’s anything I could teach you.”

“That’s where you are wrong, my love,” he promised.

Three sharp raps sounded from the other side of the door, the signal from Emily that their time was up.

Adrian gave Olivia one last, lingering kiss, leaving her in delighted haze. “Have I convinced you I’m serious?”

“You’ve given me much to consider,” she replied, her mind swirling. He kissed her hand, and then moved away so he could escape the house without being noticed.

Emily opened the door just as Adrian slipped out of the french doors to the gardens. “Olivia?” she asked, approaching her cousin, who wore a dazed expression. “Are you all right?”

“I’m lovely,” she sighed.

“Well, you look a mess, darling.” Emily fussed around her, adjusting her gown and hair. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say you
were
ravished. I trust it was worth it.”

Olivia said, smiling, “He’s going to offer for me.”

Emily stood back, making final repairs to her appearance. “By God, he’d better,” she muttered. “After all this subterfuge.”

“Was there any problem?” Olivia asked, concerned, as Emily led her back down the hallway.

“Only a rather vexing lost gentleman who thought I wanted to chat,” Emily assured her. “I probably should not have threatened him as I did.”

“Oh, Emily. Your tongue will get you into trouble.”

“Well, tonight it kept you out of it, so be content.”

The girls returned to the musicale just as the second half was beginning. Emily noticed a few curious looks, but they appeared to have pulled off the trick successfully. Leading Olivia back to their seats, Emily breathed a sigh of relief. Now she could enjoy the music. However, she found her mind wandering back to the Honorable Robert Griffin, particularly the way he had smiled at her before he spoke. She glanced around, but didn’t see him. Perhaps he never found the music room. Oddly, she wished she could find him to apologize. She should not have threatened him. Her sharp tongue was not always a virtue.

* * * *

A few days later, Adrian arrived at the St George house at three. He knew the women were out, since the stableboy was very informative after receiving a few coins. Their absence was actually a good thing.

“Good morning, Alice,” he said, surprising the maid by remembering her name.

She tried to look cold, but failed. “Miss Blake is not at home, sir. I am sorry.”

“Don’t be. It’s Mr St George I’ve come to call on.”

“Oh!” Alice said, flustered. “I’ll…I’ll see if he’s at home, sir. Do you mind waiting in the hall a moment?” She hurried away. Obviously, her instructions regarding him had only covered keeping him away from Olivia. Now she had to find out if the master would be “at home” to Adrian.

He did not wait long for the maid to reappear, hurrying down the corridor. “This way, sir.” Alice led him not to the drawing room, but to a smaller study. St George was enthroned there, seated at a desk piled high with law books and papers.

“Lord Norbury,” he said, unsmiling. “Won’t you sit down.” It was not a request.

Adrian sat in a leather chair opposite the desk. “Am I disturbing you at your work, sir?”

“No matter. This conversation would have to happen at some point.”

“You expected me?”

“I trust you have come to apologize.”

Adrian raised an eyebrow. “For what? I thought I made it clear I don’t regret a thing I’ve done…toward Miss Blake, that is. The rest of my life would require more explanation, but you’re not a priest, and I’m not looking for absolution.”

“I don’t doubt it,” St George noted sourly. “So you haven’t come to apologize?”

“No.”

“Then why have you come?”

“For your permission to ask for Miss Blake’s hand.”

“
What?
” St George was beyond astonished.

“Well, you are her guardian, are you not? Or would you prefer I ask Mrs Blake?”

“You’ll do no such thing! I would never allow my niece to marry you!”

Now Adrian was taken aback. “Why not? I can provide for her, as you well know. I explained to you last time that I enjoy her company.”

“Based on a dance and a single carriage ride? Absurd!”

“Well, in fact…” Adrian shrugged slightly, ready to admit their acquaintance was not solely limited to those encounters.

St George did not let him continue. “I don’t even want to know what clandestine meeting you might have had with her! Not to mention the gifts to the house. Have there been letters as well?”

“Only a few.”

“I’ll burn the ones in her possession.”

Adrian was getting angry. “Let me remind you, St George, I am discussing marriage here. Last time I checked, that wasn’t scandalous. Rather the opposite.”

“You honestly expect me to believe that you could make her happy?”

Adrian stared at him. “What does that mean?”

“A man of your reputation wouldn’t know the first thing about a partnership like marriage. I know all too well what you think of women. You might be amused by marriage for a few weeks, but you’re a rake through and through. You’d never remain faithful to Olivia, and you’d destroy her happiness when she learned about your deeds. And then where would she be? Blind, without her own family, and trapped in a loveless contract with a man who has no respect for Society. What kind of guardian would I be if I allowed
that
?” St George leaned back then, sweat beading on his brow.

Adrian tried to keep hold of his emotions. “I think you have not heard me out, sir,” he began quietly. “I have a reputation, true. But those deeds are in the past. I was younger then. I have changed. I truly care for Miss Blake.”

St George only shook his head. “No. It is not past. A duel just last month, over an affair with a man’s
wife
. I’ve been hearing things about you, Norbury. Recently. And what about an incident at Lady Worthington’s home this week?” He stared hard at Adrian, who blinked in surprise.

“What did you hear?”

St George nodded grimly, convinced of Adrian’s guilt. “I heard enough. You were there. So was Olivia. I hoped it was not true, but I can tell you haven’t changed.”

“You mustn’t blame her.”

“I don’t. She is innocent, led down a dark path by you for your own amusement.”

“That is not true.”

“Maybe one day you
will
change. Maybe another man would trust you with his child. But not me. I’ve heard too much. Good day, sir.” St George deliberately opened a book and began to read it.

Adrian stood, furious. He had expected an argument, but not a complete refusal to even hear his side of the story. And who had St George been hearing all this from? It had been a long while since Adrian had done anything to bolster his shady reputation. He wanted another chance to convince St George. “Have you spoken to Miss Blake about this?”

“Certainly not. The faster she forgets about you, the better.”

“How kind of you to make up her mind for her.”

“That will do, my Lord,” St George snapped. “You are in my house! I will run it, and my family, as I see fit.”

Adrian walked to the door, but he turned at the threshold. “I understand your position, sir,” he said quietly. “I see there’s nothing I can do to convince you you’re wrong. But I want you to know that since I met Miss Blake, I’ve only ever wanted to ensure her happiness.”

A strange expression crossed St George’s face, but he only said, “Good day, Lord Norbury.”

Adrian left without another word.

His mind was in a turmoil. Despite his words, he became convinced there was
something
he could do to prove to St George he was worthy of Olivia. Both St George and Robert Griffin had mentioned many rumors and tales of Adrian’s past had resurfaced recently. He doubted that was a coincidence. He had to find the source of these rumors and put a stop to them.

Robert had a few ideas of his own, after Adrian found him and related his news. “Maybe a past mistress or lover, looking to get back at you?”

Adrian shook his head. “Why wait so long? None of these rumors are new. And they’re circulating among the wrong crowd. A woman’s rumor mill operates through the salons and through her friends. St George heard them via his clubs.”

“So a man, then…” Robert quickly revised his theory. “A husband.”

“A husband with a grievance seeks out a duel. He wants to defend his own name and honor, not tarnish mine further.”

“Yes, but dueling with
you
rarely ends well for your opponent. Perhaps this man is too frightened to confront you directly.”

Adrian nodded. “That’s a theory. But again, I don’t think I’ve offended anyone in the past few months.”

“Well, someone thinks differently,” Robert stated flatly.

The pair spent the evening visiting their own clubs, knowing it would be difficult to get any man to speak of the rumors directly.

“Oh, rumors,” said one acquaintance they’d finally found liquored up enough to talk freely. “They flare up now and then, don’t they? But who believes them? I mean, I heard you seduced some virgin this week, spirited her right away from her chaperone at a ball or some such. Wish I’d hear those whispers about my exploits,” he added, grumbling.

Robert threw a long look at Adrian. “Seems not every rumor is an old one.”

Adrian was furious. It was one thing to hear his own scandals thrown up against him. But to know that Olivia was a victim too…he suddenly understood St George’s fear in a way he hadn’t before. Olivia’s reputation, unlike his, couldn’t withstand even a hint of impropriety. He had to find the source of the rumors to protect her, even if he never saw her again.

“Norbury?” Robert asked, watching him. “What’s the plan?”

“It hasn’t changed,” he said. “It’s simply more urgent. I’ll find who’s responsible for these stories, and then I’ll run a sword through him.” Adrian turned on his heel and stalked out of the club.

“It has a certain direct charm,” Robert muttered, hurrying after his friend. In the street, he thought out loud. “The odd thing is, why bring Miss Blake into this at all? If someone wishes to harm your chances of courting her—perhaps he’s a rival?—it would be counterproductive to hurt her reputation as well. I mean, unless there is someone in London who has equal cause to hate you both! And who do you both have in common? You and Miss Blake live in separate worlds.”

Adrian stopped suddenly, staring at his friend.

“What?” Robert asked.

“Someone we have in common. Someone who wants revenge for what he perceives as his embarrassment. Someone petty enough to hurt a woman he barely knows.”

“I take it you have a candidate.”

“I do,” Adrian growled. “Now we just have to find him.”

* * * *

It didn’t take Adrian long. In a popular gaming hell, he sighted a figure in a long black velvet jacket, standing near the dicing table. Robert followed his gaze. “Jonathan Crombie? That no-account? You used to associate with him, didn’t you?”

“Years ago. When I was less discriminating about the company I kept.”

“Well, your choice of friends is better now, if I do say so myself. But why should he suddenly go against you now? And how could he have ever met Miss Blake?”

Adrian didn’t answer. He stalked up to the black-clad figure. Just as Crombie tossed the dice in his hands, Adrian said in a mild voice, “I should think you’d get sick of losing.”