The Marquis At Midnight (11 page)

But having seen the man once again, there
was a part of her that remained far from convinced that her own
heart was impartial in matters relating to the marquis and asking
him to call on her was merely feeding this foolish attraction she
felt towards him. The less exposure she had to his peculiar brand
of magnetism, the better it would be for her.

Morvyn watched Grace Pemberton walk away and
tried not to feel as if he had been given a gift. He did not want
to be happy about the prospect of seeing her again, not when he
knew it would be a painful conversation but he was, just the same.
More than happy. It was as if the dark cloud that had been hovering
over his head had shifted, letting through a ray of sunshine.

‘Morvyn!’

Turning, the marquis saw Lord Woodward
approaching. He nodded a greeting. ‘Woodward.’

‘Was that Grace I saw you with?’

‘It was. She asked me to call on her this
afternoon.’

Porter arched an eyebrow. ‘And why is
that?’

‘It’s regarding Pemberton,’ Morvyn said,
rather shortly. ‘She has questions.’

Lord Woodward was quiet for a moment. ‘What
are you going to tell her?’

‘The truth. Or as much of it as I think she
can bear. You know she blames me for Pemberton’s death?’

‘I didn’t, no. Nonsense, of course.’

Morvyn shrugged. ‘It may be nonsense but I
have come to see how she might do. I saw him the day before he died
and what I said to him…’ Morvyn shook his head, as if chasing away
a memory. ‘I am on my way to the club. Will you join me?’

‘Why not? I could do with a break.’ They
began walking towards St James Street. Woodward gave his friend a
sideways glance. ‘I like Grace. She has spirit.’

‘She certainly does.’ Morvyn agreed
dryly.

Porter grinned. ‘I should get her in among
those fusty lords that have been endlessly debating for the past
three weeks. She’d soon sort them out.’

‘Still hard going?’

Porter shrugged. ‘We’ve bashed the worst of
it out. Part of the problem is that the diehards still cannot
believe that France is a threat to England. They want to focus
their attention on what’s happening in Europe, but I have an
unpleasant feeling Bonaparte isn’t going anywhere in the
foreseeable future. Tightening the coastal borders against the
French can only do so much.’

‘We have an excellent navy. Don’t
underestimate them.’

Porter grinned. ‘Not likely. Are you going
to Richmond tonight?’

‘No. Abercrombie has more than enough on his
hands to want the likes of me there, stirring things up.’

‘May I ask if you are otherwise
engaged?’

‘I had nothing planned.’

‘In that case, I believe my wife and Lady
Pemberton are going to some ball or other,’ Porter gave him a
disarming smile, knowing full well that Morvyn was not the most
sociable of men. Balls were usually an anathema to him. ‘I was
wondering if you could escort them. I know you went to the Hartwell
affair, but could you see your way clear to tolerating another such
outing?’

‘You wish me to escort Lady Pemberton and
Lady Woodward to a ball?’

‘If you would be so kind. I have been absent
far too much of late and I am staying in Richmond tonight. These
absences have been playing on my mind.’

Morvyn was silent for a moment. While it was
true that he had no plans to go to a ball that night, it was
extraordinary how attractive the prospect was if the company was
pleasing. This was his second gift for the day. He would give a
monkey to see Grace’s face when she learned that her host had asked
Morvyn to accompany them. ‘Lady Pemberton will not welcome my
company,’ he predicted.

‘Oh nonsense. Grace is a sensible woman. I’m
sure she will be perfectly reasonable.’

Grace Pemberton reasonable? From what little
he’d seen of her, he rather thought his friend was mistaken. The
woman was in no way reasonable.

Just the same, his day was suddenly looking
far more promising than it had been.

Considering the
circumstances, Grace felt ridiculously nervous. Several times she
had been tempted to write a quick note requesting that Morvyn
did
not
call round
to Curzon Street, but that would have been far too capricious of
her. Her behavior was bordering on the flighty and it was time to
be sensible.

Not that there was anything sensible about
the care she had taken over her toilette. She had changed into one
of her most becoming gowns, a rose silk that she knew looked very
well on her. Try as she might, she could not rid herself of the
desire to look her best for her visitor. It was an unfortunate time
to turn into a dithering female, but there was no getting away from
the fact that Morvyn brought out the woman in her, a part of her
she thought she had left behind years ago. No matter how much she
told herself that she detested the man, she could not resist
looking her best.

‘You want him to think you’re pretty,’ she
told her reflection accusingly. Wide brown eyes stared back at her,
bright with nervous expectation. Grace turned away in disgust.

This was utterly foolish. It really was, but
she did not change her gown and she took one last look at her hair,
just the same.

At two o’clock, Marsh came to the morning
room where Hester, with Grace’s assistance, was making a list of
things that needed to be done in order to conduct a ball. It was an
excellent form of distraction, at least for Hester. Grace,
conscious of the impending visit of the marquis, was not nearly as
distracted and on several occasions, Hester had been forced to
repeat herself to gain her attention.

Both women looked up when Marsh entered.
‘Lord Lovington has called, my lady. I have shown him to the green
drawing room.’

Hester and Grace looked at each other.

‘Well, we thought he would arrive some
time,’ Grace said, rising to her feet.

‘Should… Should I see him?’

‘Oh, I don’t think so. Marsh has not said
you were receiving, have you Marsh?’

The butler shook his head. ‘Lady Woodward
informed me she was not receiving the gentleman on Wednesday.’

‘There you are, then,’ Grace said
cheerfully, ‘I shall see Lord Lovington and make your
apologies.’

Hester was still looking nervous, the idea
of Lord Lovington in her house enough to make her uneasy. ‘Thank
God Porter is not here!’

‘I shall try to be rid of the man as soon as
possible. At least if I see him, I can confirm where he will be
tonight. While we are almost certain he is going to the Linwood’s
ball, it would be typical of the man to go to the rout. Or even
stay home.’

‘You will be careful of him, won’t you?’

‘Heavens, Hester, he is hardly likely to eat
me.’

‘Yes, but he is such a slippery man. You
talk to him and end up saying things you had no intention of
saying.’

‘I am certain that we will have very little
to discuss. Do not fret, my dear. I shall return shortly.’

Grace went to join Lord Lovington in the
green drawing room and found him standing before the fire,
surveying his surroundings dispassionately.

He looked up with surprise when she walked
into the room and Grace fixed a polite smile in place. ‘Lord
Lovington. How pleasant to see you.’

‘Lady Pemberton,’ he returned, bowing.
‘Indeed, it is delightful to see you again.’

‘Unfortunately, Lady Woodward is resting.
She has a headache and I am loath to disturb her.’ Grace said
mendaciously, gesturing towards a chair. She saw a flicker of
annoyance in those flat, black eyes, but it was gone in a moment.
He waited until she was seated, before taking the chair
opposite.

‘I am sorry to hear it. I was wondering as
to her health. I thought she would be in Mrs. Restorick’s theatre
party last night. I was almost sure she said she would attend.’

‘She has been feeling
a
little
delicate,’ Grace shook her head. ‘Poor thing, she does rather
rattle about. Lord Woodward thought it might be a good thing if she
spent a few evenings at home and the weather has been so unkind,
has it not?’

‘Quite. I am sorry to hear that the dear
lady has been so afflicted. How fortunate that her husband is
looking out for her best interests. Although, a little birdie told
me that he was staying in Richmond tonight? At Lord
Abercrombie’s.’

Is that what a little
birdie had told him? Grace wondered at the man being so well
informed. Even more, she wondered
why
he was so well informed. To her
general dislike of the man she added a healthy dose of mistrust.
Lovington was up to something. What that something was, it was
impossible to say.

‘I believe Lord Woodward is away tonight,
yes.’

‘And is Lady Woodward going to attend the
Duchess of Linwood’s ball?’

‘We are both going. Will you be there, my
lord?’

‘I will be. I most certainly will.’ He
paused, eyeing Grace speculatively. ‘I believe the lady has taken
you into her confidence?’ he asked abruptly.

Grace hesitated, surprised by this head on
attack. She had thought Lovington more subtle than this. ‘We are
very close.’

‘I thought as much. If that is the case, may
I just offer a word of advice?’

‘Good advice is always welcome, my
lord.’

‘Oh, my advice is always excellent, I can
assure you. Remind your friend that it is unwise to cross me.
Incredible as it might seem, I do not take it well.’

Grace looked at him, brown eyes wide. ‘My
lord?’

‘You do not strike me as a fool, Lady
Pemberton. I think we understand each other well enough. Tell Lady
Woodward that I am quite prepared to go to Lord Woodward to reclaim
the monies she owes me if it becomes necessary.’ The soft voice was
as amiable as ever. They might well have been discussing the
weather. ‘I just hope it will not become necessary. We can chat
about it further tonight.’

‘Lady Woodward has every intention of
repaying whatever monies she owes.’ Grace informed him coolly. ‘You
may be assured of that.’

‘That might not be necessary,’ Lovington
smiled, but it never came anywhere near his eyes. ‘I might have
another way for the lady to recover her IOUs. A way that might
allow her ladyship to bid adieu to our relationship quite quickly.’
Grace said nothing, merely looking at him steadily. ‘As I said, I
will speak of it with her further tonight.’

Not if I have anything to
do with it
, Grace thought with distaste. If
Grace had her way, Hester would not be going within ten feet of the
man. She found it hard to believe that Lovington would go to Porter
with Hester’s IOU’s. He was not interested in money, so much was
certain.

So just what
was
he interested
in?

Unable to tolerate being in the same room as
him any longer, Grace rose abruptly. She had, at least, discovered
that he would be at the Linwood ball so her task was complete. ‘I
will tell Lady Woodward that you called,’ she murmured. ‘I am sure
she will be devastated to have missed you.’

Lovington rose slowly to his feet. ‘Until
tonight, then.’ His eyes flickered over her and for the first time
she felt as she was being assessed as a woman. She didn’t care for
it at all. ‘Perhaps I might secure a dance?’

The idea of having those long, pale hands
anywhere near her made Grace shudder. ‘Perhaps. Good afternoon,
Lord Lovington.’

She did not exactly
run
to the door, but it
took a great deal of effort to retain her poise. Opening it, she
was confronted by Marsh who was almost directly on the other side.
Behind him, in the entry hall, stood the Marquis of
Morvyn.

Of course, he would have to
arrive
now
.

Marsh, apparently not in the least
disconcerted by the near collision, took a decorous step backwards.
‘The Marquis of Morvyn, my lady.’

Grace drew a deep breath. ‘My Lord
Morvyn.’

‘Lady Pemberton.’ His eyes travelled past
her to rest on Lovington, who had appeared behind her. His
expression did not change, but there was a subtle shift in his
body. Grace could sense it. He was suddenly tense, wary. ‘Lord
Lovington.’

‘My dear Morvyn,’ Lovington purred. ‘How
delightful to see you again so soon. We are always bumping into
each other these days, it seems.’

‘So it seems.’

‘Are you here for an afternoon call? How
very civilized of you. And here I thought you fought shy of such
tedious social niceties.’

The malicious edge to the words was
unmistakable, but Morvyn appeared entirely unruffled. ‘Apparently
not, as I am here to pay a social call.’ He bowed to Grace, ‘Lady
Pemberton, you are looking very well.’

‘Thank you, my lord.’

Lovington’s eyes travelled between the two
thoughtfully. He smiled. ‘I have taken up far too much of Lady
Pemberton’s time. Be sure to give my best to Hester. Such a pity
she is indisposed.’

‘I will tell her that you called, Lord
Lovington.’

There was silence as both Grace and Morvyn
watched Lovington leave. It felt, Grace thought wearily, rather
like they were ensuring he did not take the silver on the way out
the door.

‘I deeply dislike that man,’ Morvyn observed
crisply, as he handed his coat and his hat to the waiting
footman.

It was such an unexpected declaration of
honesty that it surprised a laugh out of her. ‘So do I. Marsh? May
we have a tea, please?’

‘Yes, my lady.’

She led the way back into the green drawing
room reflecting that, this time, her guest was far more pleasing,
even if she did rather dread the interview ahead. However, the
encounter in the hallway had united them in mutual dislike of
Lovington and paradoxically, it helped to ease the tension.