Scoundrel (20 page)

“I suppose we could find someone else,” he began.

Remmington’s head jerked up at the thought of another man courting Lily, even as a sham. A courtship would provide too many opportunities for a man to be alone with her. Already he doubted his own ability to resist her charms. He sure as hell wouldn’t trust any other man to keep his hands off her. “I’ll do it.”

Bainbridge smiled. “I knew you would see reason.”

Remmington refused to look at Lily, or her father. When he had time to sit down and think this through, he’d probably consider himself as insensible as they pretended to be. They had no idea what he’d really agreed to. Even Bainbridge couldn’t know. Or perhaps he did.

“Crofford, I assume this meets with your approval?” Bainbridge asked.

The earl looked hesitant for a moment, then he nodded. Lily’s gaze moved slowly over each man. Only Bainbridge looked pleased by whatever they’d just decided. Her father looked annoyed. If she didn’t know better, she’d say Remmington looked worried. Her eyes widened when the truth finally hit her.

“Isn’t anyone going to ask my opinion or permission?”

All three men answered her at once. “No.”

Lady Keaton’s glass-roofed conservatory was filled to capacity with the brightest names in London society. Twinkling stars blanketed the rooftop, a perfect compliment to the brilliant sparkle of jewels that winked from the folds of snowy-white cravats and glowed in more obvious displays around wrists and necks of all sizes. Hushed conversations hummed in a steady drone, quieted occasionally by the clear, high notes of an Italian tenor. Signór Olivetti’s renowned voice kept the myriad of glass panes that lined the conservatory in a constant state of vibration.

Seated amongst the other fifty guests, Lily watched for Remmington’s arrival from the corner of her eye, plagued by hopes and doubts. That afternoon she’d argued with her father about the latest scheme to keep her safe. She was ready to agree with Remmington’s opinion that her father had no sense at all when it came to that subject, but Remmington had turned on her, too. He’d agreed with the ghastly plan. No one seemed to care that she didn’t want someone with her at all times, someone who would constantly watch her. Not when that “someone” would be Remmington. This was but another assignment to him, a courtship as meaningless as his courtship of Margaret Granger. Remmington had accepted his assignment. Lily dreaded it.

The tenor wound down at last and the guests clapped enthusiastically as they rose from their chairs. Her father offered her his arm and escorted her into the large foyer where other guests milled about. Everyone waited for Lady Keaton to lead the procession to the table.

“Remmington said he might be late tonight,” her father said in a quiet voice. “I had no idea he meant hours rather than minutes.”

As if in response to the earl’s remark, Remmington’s voice called out from behind them. “Good evening, Lord Crofford, Lady Lillian.”

The sound of his deep voice sent a familiar rush of excitement through Lily. She didn’t have to turn around to know he was staring at her. She had a foolish urge to smile. In the moment she took to school her features, she reminded herself that they were nothing more than casual acquaintances in the eyes of the world, that she must not say or do anything that would seem out of the ordinary.

Dressed in black again tonight, he had only a white shirt and cravat to relieve the somber color. Her secret knowledge of what he looked like beneath his jacket and shirt made her blush with remembered passion. His warm expression almost made her think that he might hold some affection for her as well. That was wishful thinking. At this point, he probably thought her the most troublesome creature on earth.

He lifted her hand for a perfunctory kiss that only reminded her of others they had shared that were far from innocent. He smiled at her, and that smile made her heart do strange things.

“You’re late,” Crofford told him under his breath.

“Forgive me, sir. I assure you that it was a matter of the utmost importance.”

The answer seemed to appease some of her father’s irritation, but his voice remained gruff. “I want her home at a proper hour. I warned Lady Keaton that I might not be able to stay for dinner.” He raised his voice, aware of those around them. “I knew my gout would act up again tonight. Now that you are here, Remmington, I believe I will be on my way.” He gave Lily a kiss on her cheek and murmured, “Keep yourself safe.”

“I will, Papa.” She tried to reassure him. “I shall see you later tonight.”

Remmington tucked her arm beneath his and gave her hand a warning squeeze. “Smile, Lily. He is on his way home, not on his way to Calcutta.”

Lily summoned an artificial smile. Her father walked away, and she was left alone with Remmington.

“Your Grace!” Lady Keaton waved over the heads of several guests to catch Remmington’s attention. She tugged on the arm of her escort so they could move closer to her distinguished guest. “So good of you to come. You will, of course, be seated to my right at dinner.”

“I’m afraid I promised to sit in for Crofford tonight as Lady Lillian’s escort. With your permission, I shall sit in the earl’s seat tonight.”

Lady Keaton looked disappointed, then her smile brightened. “Oh, no need for that, Your Grace. We shall simply move the person I planned to seat between you and Lord Gordon to make room for Lady Lillian.”

“If it isn’t an inconvenience.” Remmington’s tone said he knew it wouldn’t be.

He waited until Lady Keaton and her escort passed them, then he led Lily through the doorway into the dining room. They made their way past a sea of silver and china to the hostess’s end of the table.

“I cannot help but wonder whose place I am taking tonight,” Lily whispered as the other guests were busy taking their seats. She glanced toward the opposite end of the table. A footman led Margaret Granger to her new place at the foot of the table, and Margaret looked furious over the slight. Lily also noticed that many of the guests stared at them while others murmured behind their hands or strategically placed fans. The gossip was beginning already. She tilted her head toward Remmington. “This has all the makings of an extremely unpleasant evening.”

He pulled her chair out, murmuring his response in her ear as she took her seat. “Smile, Lily.”

She smiled before she realized what her expression would convey. Others at the table would assume they’d just shared an intimate exchange. He’d just made his “interest” in her plain enough for anyone to see. The smile froze on her face as he took the seat to her left. “You aren’t going to be subtle about this courtship, are you?”

He offered her a small platter of pineapple rings. “No.”

Lily gritted her teeth and picked up the serving fork, stabbing the rings with a little too much force. “You’re only using me to discourage Margaret Granger.”

Remmington helped himself to the pineapple. “That isn’t the only reason I agreed.”

She waited for him to explain, but he remained silent. “Would you care to tell me your other reasons?”

He held her gaze for a moment, then his lids lowered and he began to study her mouth. His voice sounded distracted. “I’ll tell you later. In the gardens.”

When his gaze dropped even lower, Lily whispered furiously under her breath. “Stop that!”

Their eyes met and he grinned. His eyebrows conveyed a shrug. “Sorry.”

“Lady Lillian?” a feminine voice called from across the table. Lily glanced up to see Lady Caroline Samms and Lord Bryant seated across from them. Lady Caroline smiled sweetly, but there was no missing the sarcasm in her gaminelike face, and she raised her voice to be heard above the din of the meal. “My dear, it’s so good to see you here. I heard you were in Ireland. It’s such a restful place to recuperate from great tragedies such as Lord Osgoode’s untimely demise.”

The entire end of the table fell silent. Caroline Samms was notorious for digging up everyone’s scandal but her own. She was also Margaret Granger’s best friend. Lily fixed a serene smile on her face and turned her attention from Caroline to Lord Bryant. The corners of her lips curved upward as she gave him a look that smoldered with sensuality. “Ireland is not to my taste. I find the familiar sights of England much more to my liking.”

There were several gasps around the table, but Bryant responded to her provocation. He returned her brazen stare with that famous “under-look” of his that could set ladies’ hearts to beating madly. It had absolutely no effect on Lily. She was too aware of Remmington’s white knuckles on the table beside her.

Caroline tightened her grip on Bryant’s arm until he turned his amused smile in her direction. “How very unfortunate for the Irish.”

Lady Caroline immediately struck up a conversation with Lord Gower at her left, while Bryant smoothed Lady Keaton’s ruffled feathers with his charm and the incident passed. Lily took a long drink of wine to cool her temper. She glanced at Remmington from the corner of her eye and watched him attack a leg of lamb.

“Your mood seems to have soured, Your Grace.”

Remmington’s eyes narrowed on her. “I forbid you ever to look at another man that way in my presence.”

“Whatever do you mean?”

“You know exactly what I mean.”

“Careful,” Lily warned. She tapped his arm with her fan. “Lady Margaret will believe we’re having our first argument. Her eyes haven’t left us yet this evening. I must say, Remmington, your plan to use me is working out splendidly. If I were in her shoes, I would never speak to you again.”

“I could care less what Margaret Granger is thinking or doing at this moment. We were speaking of you.”

Lily patted her hair and smiled agreeably. “Ah, yes, let’s speak of me. Every lady loves to have a conversation centered around herself.”

“You are being purposely obtuse.”

“You know I dislike that word, Remmington. I’ve told you already that I am not fat.” She tapped his arm again with her fan. “Do stop being insulting.”

“Don’t you dare play that game with me, Lily.” He caught the end of her fan under his hand and trapped it against his arm. “And if you poke me once more with this thing, I will snap it in two.”

“So sorry I’m late,” Harry interrupted from behind them. He nodded toward Lady Keaton, then slid into the seat next to Lily. “Lady Lillian, Remmington. Didn’t know the two of you would be attending tonight, but it’s nice to see you both under better circumstances. I take it your, er, father’s problem with the unwelcome guest is resolved, Lady Lillian?”