A Scandalous Charade (10 page)

Luke glanced back at Juliet, only to discover her vanishing figure slipping quickly through a side door with Miss Clarke in tow. He frowned at the sight. “I asked you first.”

Will shrugged, though he kept his eyes focused on Luke. “She’ll do. A bit common, but pleasant enough. Now answer my question.”

“A bit common?” Luke asked with a note of annoyance. Miss Clarke seemed perfectly lovely, if a bit quiet. “This from the man who knows the first names of the whores he takes to bed?”

“What are you doing with Lady Juliet?” Haywood’s voice was unwavering.

“Helping you,” Luke finally answered and kept his eyes leveled on his young friend. “In exchange for my keeping her other suitors at bay, the Ice Princess has agreed to help you secure Miss Clarke’s affections. No need to thank me.”

“Oh.” Will breathed a sigh of relief. “You had me worried. You looked like you wanted to devour her out there during your waltz. I thought maybe…”

“Well, it is supposed to look like that, isn’t it?” Luke growled, hoping his friend wouldn’t see through his façade. He had no desire to impugn Juliet’s name. After he finally had her in his bed and their friendship had run its course, he intended to leave her with her reputation intact. No one could know, not even Haywood.

Will grinned. “You truly are a good friend, Luke. I personally wouldn’t spend one more moment in the Ice Princess’ company than was absolutely necessary.”

***

Juliet led Miss Clarke toward one of the retiring rooms. The poor girl had stepped on her own dress and ripped a seam, and though it was a simple repair, she seemed nearly hysterical over the event. Miss Clarke was red-faced and holding back tears, making Juliet’s heart go out to her. She’d never seen a creature so upset over such a little thing before—not even Felicity who was notoriously emotional. “It’s all right, dear, we’ll get it fixed in a trice.”

Miss Clarke nodded sullenly, as one rebellious tear escaped her eye and trailed its way down her cheek. “What would Lord Haywood think if he saw me like this?” She swiped at the tear and increased her pace down the corridor.

Juliet would be surprised if the dolt was capable of rubbing two thoughts together, though she kept that to herself. “I’m certain he wouldn’t give it a second thought, Miss Clarke. Don’t fret. We’ll take care of it, and your dress will be good as new in no time.”

The girl nodded and took a deep breath. “Thank you. I must seem so silly to you. It’s just that… Well, many of the gentlemen that pay court to me are mostly interested in my father’s money.” Then she flushed a bright red. “I shouldn’t have said that. My mother would kill me.”

Juliet smiled warmly. “Probably better than anyone else, I understand perfectly, Miss Clarke.”

“Susan,” the girl prompted.

“Fortune hunters have been treating me in just such a fashion since I was sixteen, Susan. I was probably your age when I decided that I could never settle on anyone who cared more about my inheritance than they did me.”

Susan looked aghast at such a sentiment, and her light blue eyes grew round. “What did your father say about that?”

Juliet snorted. “Papa was already long in his grave by then, and I don’t think my brother-in-law, who was my guardian, cared terribly much what I did as long as I stayed out of his way.” She suppressed the urge to refer to Teynham as a nasty old goat

When Juliet opened the door to the retiring room, she was glad to note it was empty. Susan could use some time alone to pull herself together, so she left her behind a changing screen and went in search of a servant to fetch a needle and thread.

In the end, the chore ended up taking a bit longer than she had anticipated. When Juliet finally returned to the retiring room, loud feminine voices filtered down the corridor. Unfortunately, the room was no longer empty.

Juliet opened the door to find Olivia Danbury’s pretty face flushed with anger and scowling at Henrietta Babbitt. Both girls gasped when Juliet entered the small retiring room, and guilty expressions settled on both of their faces. The changing screen had been dislodged, resting haphazardly on its side against the wall.

Susan Clarke was nowhere to be seen.

Looking at the obvious signs of distress in the room, Juliet’s blood began to boil. What unkind things had these two girls said to poor, insecure Susan? And where had she run to? She smiled at them, but it wasn’t a pleasant smile. She didn’t feel like being pleasant. “Where is Miss Clarke?” she demanded in a tone that befitted her station.

Olivia Danbury’s head fell forward, in what seemed like embarrassment. “We didn’t know she was there.”

“What was she hiding for, anyway? Just to eavesdrop on conversations that weren’t any of her business?” Henrietta Babbitt asked tightly.

Juliet narrowed her eyes on the infuriating chit and curtly replied, “She was obviously trying to avoid vicious harpies. How unfortunate for her that you stumbled across her anyway.” Then she turned on her heel and started back down the corridor.

“It’s certainly not Miss Clarke’s fault that Haywood has sought out her company.” Actually, it was Juliet’s fault. She was the one who had suggested the girl in the first place. She hated to feel guilty, and she was currently awash in the emotion.

She was surprised when Olivia met her eyes, concern etched in hers. “Of course not. It’s my fault. I introduced them. Come on, sometimes she hides in libraries.”

And the library was precisely where they found her, in a secluded corner, mopping her tears with a fairly damp lace handkerchief. Juliet and Olivia exchanged concerned looks as they settled into seats on either side of Susan.

With red, puffy eyes, Susan avoided looking at Olivia and focused on Juliet. “Did you know that Lord Haywood was a fortune hunter?”

Juliet glanced at Olivia who cringed and shrugged uncomfortably. Then she met Susan’s eyes and nodded sincerely. “Yes.”

Susan frowned and looked back down at her hands. “I thought he liked me. Foolish, aren’t I?”

That was a feeling Juliet was all too familiar with, and her heart ached for poor Susan. She had been just a girl herself when she’d first come to terms with the fact that she only represented monetary security to men, that they felt her only purpose in life was to fill their coffers. Even so, her desire to never marry was fairly unorthodox and not for everyone. “I don’t think you’re foolish in the least. And forget about what he likes or wants. What do you want, Susan? Do you want to be a wife?”

Susan dabbed at her eyes again and nodded her head. “Of course. Doesn’t everyone?”

With a wistful smile, Juliet chose to treat that question as if it were rhetorical. “Very well. You would like to get married. I’m just going to speak plainly, Susan. Try not to take offense.” After the girl nodded solemnly, Juliet continued. “Your father is in trade. That is a fact that is unchangeable. My understanding is that he wishes for you to marry a man with a title.” Again, Susan nodded. “Men of the peerage are not going to marry a tradesman’s daughter if their funds are in order. They don’t have to. But men like Lord Haywood who need an injection of money will clamor at your doorstep. In addition to being an heiress, Susan, you are quite beautiful.”

“Th—thank you.”

Juliet patted her hand. The girl was so naïve, and playing a game intended for wolves. She needed some advice. “Speaking from the experience of those around me, marriage is not something to be taken lightly. It lasts forever, or at least until one of you dies. So choose wisely. If you like Lord Haywood, I am certain that he is preparing to offer for you. He can be yours, if you want him. But that is something you will have to decide on your own.”

Susan shook her head and chanced a glance at Olivia. “It doesn’t matter. I’ll never be accepted.”

Juliet scoffed and took Susan’s slender hand in hers. “Don’t waste any time or energy on women like Miss Babbitt. They’re not worth it. Someday, probably sooner rather than later, you’ll be a baroness or a countess or whatever you decide, and you’ll have much more important things to worry about than the opinions of the Miss Babbitts of the world.”

Olivia scooted to the edge of her seat and smiled weakly at Susan. “I am so terribly sorry for what you overheard. I feel just awful. I do hope you don’t think I believe any of those things.”

***

Luke had just gone in search of Juliet. She’d been gone far too long for his comfort. But as soon as he stepped through the doorway he’d seen her disappear through more than an hour earlier, she rounded the corner and he spotted her.

She looked tired.

Luke reached her side and settled his arm around her waist. “What’s wrong, princess? Where’ve you been? I’ve actually had to chat with my Aunt Jane.” He made a sour face.

Juliet shook her head and then stared up at him. “Would you find Georgie? It’s been a very trying night. I’d very much like to go home.”

Of course,” he replied and his hand slid gently up her spine. “If that’s what you want.” She seemed exhausted and he wrapped his arms around her, offering his strength.

Gently he touched the side of her jaw, never removing his eyes from hers. “Go and collect yours and Georgie’s wraps, princess. I’ll gather her up and meet you out front.”

~ 7 ~

As soon as her ancient butler informed her that Lady Teynham was awaiting her in the white parlor, Caroline Staveley made her way to the room. She hated being sick, and she’d felt completely deprived of the glitz and glamour she was normally accustomed to.

It soon became apparent that this was not any normal social call. Caroline didn’t think she’d ever seen Georgie look so distraught. Of course she also hadn’t seen Georgie during the years of her unhappy marriage to Teynham, so it was possible she had been more distraught then than she was at this moment, but Caroline would never know. “Darling, sit down. Whatever it is can’t be all that bad.”

At this command, Georgie fell onto the plush chaise, sighed heavily, and frowned. “Oh, Caroline, I don’t know what to do.”

Caroline took the spot next to Georgie and clasped her hands in her own. It was about time she had something to do other than laying around with the sniffles, and nothing pleased her more than of being of service to those she loved. “Start at the beginning, darling. We’ll sort it out, whatever it is.”

Georgie’s pained look only intensified. “We heard from Felicity a few days ago.”

That should have been good news. Georgie had been worried about her youngest sister visiting her American cousins, and the young girl was far from a regular correspondent. Several months had gone by without word from the girl. “That must have put your mind at ease, somewhat.”

But Georgie shook her head. It seemed as if she wanted to say something, but the words just wouldn’t come out.

As she tended to do when things were quiet, Caroline filled the empty space with her own words. “You mustn’t spend too much time worrying about the possibility of war with the Americans. Staveley says it would be a mistake to engage them, as we’re so heavily involved with the French.”

Georgie’s expression flashed to horror. “Heavens, Caro, I hadn’t even considered war with America.”

Oh, dear. She probably shouldn’t have mentioned it then. Caroline winced at her own stupidity. Being ill had left her sadly out of practice. “Pay me no attention then. I’m sure I don’t know what I’m talking about.” She was determined not to make that mistake again. Best to find out what the problem was before she opened her big mouth. “What did Felicity say?” she asked cheerfully.

“Well, that’s not unheard of,” Caroline supplied helpfully. After all, she had been a bride when she was barely sixteen. “It’s a bit young, but…”

Georgie shook her head. “She’s an immature fifteen. Certainly not ready for marriage. I can’t believe those people let her do this.”

Caroline knew that those people meant the American cousins Felicity was supposed to be staying with. Georgie had had reservations about letting her youngest sister cross the Atlantic, but Felicity had begged for the opportunity to get to know the other side of her family.

Caroline said nothing in response and just squeezed Georgie’s hand.

“And that’s had me rethinking the whole Carraway thing for Edmund.”

Lord Carraway was Edmund’s uncle, on his mother’s side. Recently he’d been asked to make an excursion to India on behalf of the British government. Caroline didn’t know the exact details of the assignment, but she did know that Lord Carraway had asked to take Edmund with him on the trip and that Georgie had supported the idea. But the situation wasn’t the same as Felicity’s. Besides, Caroline was fairly certain Lord Carraway would never do anything to upset Georgie. “Well, darling, I seriously doubt that Carraway would let his nine-year-old nephew marry an Indian princess or something like that.”