The Decadent Duke (29 page)

“And I didn't expect
you
at the masquerade,vFrancis said.

“My curiosity about Kimbolton overcame my better judgment.v

“Lady Jersey called you
decadent
.vHe chuckled.
“You
, of all people. I was infuriated that Prinny's whore and her pathetic cuckold of a husband hinted you had a hand in Elizabeth's death. I was so affronted that they dared pass judgment on a Russell, I called him a liar in front of the whole company.v

“Thanks, Francis. I can fight my own battles.v

“Oh, I didn't go as far as challenging him to a duel. I simply lied through my teeth. I loudly announced that you deeply loved your wife. Told him your grief had almost consumed you. That should put a stop to the whispers.v

John's jaw clenched. “Not if I know the gossipmongers.v He kept a rein on his temper. “I hope the incident didn't ruin your stay with the Gordons.v

“Not at all. The courtship is going swimmingly, old man.v

“You are officially courting Lady Georgina? With a view to marriage?v

“Marriage? Well, I wouldn't go that far—not yet. But one thing is certain. The young vixen is madly in love with me.v

Why the hell did I ask?
“The boys opened their Christmas gifts from me earlier. Johnny and I will be leaving at dawn, so I shall wish you happy Christmas now. Good night, Francis.”

 
“I know you're the Lord of Misrule, George. But who are you dressed up as?” Charlie Cornwallis asked his wife's brother.

“Good King Wenceslas, of course,” Huntly replied, tipping his crown over one eye. “Here to hand out the presents.”

The Gordon clan was gathered around the Christmas tree in the great hall at Kimbolton. Georgina was flanked by her sister Louisa and her favorite niece, Mary, and each lady's pile of gifts grew apace. She was curious about a present that simply said it was from
Father Christmas
. She tore off the wrapping eagerly, but was appalled when she saw the contents: a frilly white corset, lace stockings, and a pair of silver sequined garters. “Bloody hell!” she muttered.

“What did you get?vMary's curious eyes shone with excitement.

Georgina quickly covered the box. “Just some stockings, darling. What did you get?v

“It's a hat! A grown-up hat with lovely feathers. Georgy, it must be from you!”

vDidn't you read the card?”

“I don't need to read the card. Only you know the wishes inside my heart,”Mary said worshipfully.

“Rubbish. I only gave you a hat of your own so you won't ruin all mine.”

When the gifts were opened, Louisa showed Georgina all the lovely things she'd received, and Georgina displayed her presents for Louisa . . . except the one from the bloody Duke of Bedford. She smiled to mask her growing anger.

“You missed the masquerade ball.” Georgina gathered her gifts to take them upstairs to her chamber.

“People in masks frighten me,” Louisa confided. “How did the visit with Francis Russell go?”

“It lived up to Mother's expectations, if not mine.”

“What about
his
expectations?” Louisa asked anxiously.

“The duke is doomed to disappointment,” Georgina said flatly.

“Good . . . he is a complete sensualist,” she whispered confidentially.

Georgina glanced down at the boxes she held. “I never would have guessed.v

When Georgina reached her chamber, she was seething and sat down to pen a note.

“If I make it plain I am only interested in his wealth, the disgusting swine will stop pursuing me.”

She rewrapped the box, addressed it to the Duke of Bedford, Woburn Abbey, and asked the Manchesters' majordomo to see that it got to its destination first thing in the morning.

As darkness began to fall the following day, a small package was delivered for Lady Georgina by a footman from Woburn Abbey. Her mother took delivery and brought it to her immediately.

“Well, aren't you going to open it? It's from the Duke of Bedford,” she said breathlessly.

He's called my bluff
. She tore off the paper, and lifted the lid of the small velvet box. The ring was a large oval amethyst surrounded by diamonds. Georgina's heart sank. Then she summoned her bravado, slipped it on her right hand, and said, “Very pretty.v

“It's an engagement ring! It goes on your left hand, Georgy. It is the official Russell colors of purple and white.”

“Mother, it is
not
an engagement ring. It's a mere trifle. It is a little joke between Francis and myself.”

“A secret shared by two.” Jane could not hide her excitement.

Dear God, she'll have the news spread from Land's
End to John o' Groat's, unless I can think of something to stop her.
“Mother, you must not say a word, or you will ruin everything.”

“I know how to keep a secret.” “I gravely doubt that. If word gets out, the Duke of Bedford will end the friendship immediately.”

 
“My speech will be short and sweet.v John Russell held up his hands for silence. “My son and I could not have spent a happier Christmas anywhere in England than right here in Tavistock.v

The parish hall was crowded to the rafters with the constituents he represented in the House of Commons, from young babies in arms to elderly, weathered ancients bent over their walking sticks. Many had offered him their condolences on the death of his wife, though they had never met her. They accepted death as a natural event and did not overly dwell on it. John's people loved and revered him because each and every year he had made their lives easier with the bountiful gifts he bestowed.

“You make my work worthwhile. When I see you happy, healthy, and prospering I'm rewarded a thousand times over. It's a great honor to wish each of you a merry Christmas and a happy new year.v

John had a lump in his throat as he watched his son run about in a paper hat, laughing and playing with the other children. His older sons would not have mingled well with these sweet, innocent village boys and girls, for already William and Francis had an air of sophistication bred into them at the elite Westminster School. But Johnny, hungry for laughter and companionship, was having the time of his life.

An image of a laughing Georgina Gordon came full blown into his mind.
She has a vivacity and
joi de vivre
that few noble ladies possess. “Tis no wonder my brother is attracted to her
. His mind conjured her as he had last seen her . . . green eyes, half closed with desire glittering through the slits of her mask. He could still feel her silken breast in his palm, still taste the wild honey sweetness of her mouth.
If Francis proposes, she will become my brother's wife.
John refused to think about such an eventuality. He vowed not to conjure Georgina Gordon again.

That night when he slept, however, he had little control over his conscious will. John experienced his recurring dream again, and again his female companion's identity was no longer hidden. When he kissed Georgina, her mouth tasted of delicious laughter and sensual anticipation.

“I believe you've gone queer in the head, Georgina. Why on earth would you not wish to go to Woburn for New Year's?” Jane did not give her daughter time to answer. “The Duke of Bedford made a point of asking me personally, and was generous enough to include all members of our family for the New Year's Eve celebrations tomorrow night, and to stay over for breakfast on New Year's Day.”

“I don't feel well.” Her excuse was feeble and she knew it.

“You were well enough to lead the children on a ghost hunt last night . . . all of you dressed in white sheets and shrieking your heads off. You were well enough to climb over all the furniture this morning, playing a game of mountaineers and yodeling at the top of your lungs.”

“Perhaps that's why I don't feel well.”

“Not another word. This is my chance to thoroughly acquaint myself with Woburn Abbey. Playing hard to get is becoming tiresome. You must move on to the next phase of the campaign.”

I thought becoming engaged to Bedford would be a lark. But suddenly it's not so funny when he expects me to marry him.
“What is the next phase of the campaign, pray tell?”

“Why, he lays siege to your castle's defenses, of course.”

“Ah, this is where I pour boiling oil on him.”

Her mother fixed her with agate eyes. “This is where you surrender, Mistress Impertinence.”

In a pig's eye!
“I will go on condition that Charlotte and Charles's brood and Susan and William's children are included, and are allowed to stay up to watch the fireworks to welcome in the New Year.”
There is safety in numbers.

“His Grace assured me that all the Gordons were invited. You'll have to ask Charlotte and Susan if their offspring have permission to stay up until midnight.”

Georgina was off in a flash.
I've always been able to talk my sisters into anything, and today will be no exception.

 
When they arrived at Woburn Abbey in the early evening of the next day, Georgina was delighted that they were not the only ones invited to the celebration.

“Henry, Beth, I had no idea you would be here,” Georgina cried.

Lord Holland kissed her cheek. “Your radiance will outshine the fireworks.” He looked at the children who spilled from three coaches. “The Gordon ladies are certainly prolific breeders.”

“Isn't Charlotte due any day?” Beth asked. “The fireworks might bring on labor, and she'll give birth at Woburn Abbey.”

“Not a chance! Who else is invited?” Georgina asked.

“Prinny and Lauderdale. We were making a race out of it, and when our carriage passed theirs, George shook his stick at me.”

“Good God,” Georgina exclaimed. “I hope he keeps his stick away from me, especially if it's the one with the big knob.”

“You are so wicked,” Beth said, laughing.

Mary slipped her hand into Georgina's and her aunt introduced her to Lady Holland. “This is Mary, Mary, most contrary. I'm presently giving her lessons in how to be wicked.”

“You have the perfect teacher, my dear,” Beth declared. “Since the weather turned so mild, we are dining al fresco tonight. The buffet tables are set out on the terrace overlooking the west lawn. It's so pretty; all the trees are lit with Chinese lanterns.”

“Let's go and have a look,” Mary urged.

When the pair reached the west lawn, they encountered young Francis and William Russell, who were helping Mr. Burke light the candles inside the lanterns.

“I remember you,” Mary said. “You are the old man's sons.V

“Old man?” William puzzled.

“That's what my aunt Georgy calls your father.”

“Ah, yes I remember.” He looked at Georgina and laughed. “That day at the river, you shouted, '
Go to the devil, Old Man.
' ”

While Georgina tried not to look embarrassed, Mary asked eagerly, “Is your brother Johnny here?”

“Not yet. He's been to Tavistock with Father, but we expect him to return tonight. It'll be a shame if he misses the fireworks.”

Georgina went still.
Dear God, John will be here tonight. That's two Russells I must try to avoid.
She looked up and saw her mother approaching, holding the arm of the duke.

“Welcome to Woburn, my dear Lady Georgina. I am delighted that you accepted my invitation.” He glanced down at her hands, saw that she was wearing his ring on her right hand, and took it to his lips. “I see my gift was acceptable.”

“Mmm, very pretty,” she said lightly. “You must excuse me, Your Grace, while I take Mary back to her mother.”

“I will do that, Georgina.” The duchess took a firm hold of her granddaughter's hand and led her away. Over her shoulder she said, “I shall leave you in the capable hands of your host.”

Mr. Burke and John's sons had moved off to light the rest of the lanterns, and Bedford slipped his arm around Georgina. “Happy New Year, vixen.”

She touched one of the paper lanterns. “I had no idea it was Chinese New Year. What is it? The year of the
pig
?” She removed his arm. "“Or perhaps they call it the year of the
boar
?”

“You are a wicked tease. Is that to pay me back for calling you vixen?”

“No, Your Grace. I haven't gotten around to that yet. But when I do, you won't be left in any doubt.” She saw the Prince of Wales and Lauderdale approaching. “Here comes your fat friend,” she murmured outrageously.

“Never let him hear you,” Francis warned. “Even I wouldn't dare refer to his girth.”

“I am relieved to know there is something you wouldn't dare.”

“Your Highness, thank you for coming. The celebration wouldn't be the same without you,” the duke said with deep sincerity.

By engaging Prinny and Lauderdale in amusing conversation, Georgina ensured that she and Francis were not alone for the next two hours. When the fireworks began, Georgina excused herself. “I promised to watch the display with my niece and nephew. I cannot break my word to them.”

She found Mary and Charles and they sat down on the terrace steps to watch the illuminations. It wasn't long before Johnny Russell joined them.

“Lady Georgina, I'm so happy to find you at Woburn.”