A Scandalous Charade (8 page)

The handsome Lord Haywood’s dark eyes twinkled. “Much Ado About Nothing? That’s where I was headed. Perhaps, Miss Clarke, we were destined to meet in one place or another.”

***

Luke watched Will and Miss Clarke stroll around the Danbury drawing room, heads tilted together in what appeared to be a deep conversation. He felt quite satisfied with his effort so far, and he was surprisingly pleased with Miss Clarke, though she seemed shy. She was a pretty little thing. Besides, Will was an abysmal actor and, despite his reluctance to meet the girl, he did appear to be enjoying his conversation with Miss Clarke. So, perhaps this match was all for the best.

Truthfully, the entire situation couldn’t have worked out any better than he’d hoped. Well, he could have stumbled upon Juliet before now, but…

Where was Juliet?

Certainly, she’d been invited, and he had told her he’d be in attendance. She should be here. He’d so looked forward to beating off her bevy of suitors, starting with his aunt’s fete.

“Livvie,” he said, interrupting his cousin in the middle of giggling at something a young army major had said. “Have you seen either Lady Juliet St. Claire or Lady Teynham this evening?”

Olivia’s intelligent hazel eyes focused on him. “You need another introduction, Lucas?”

With a raised brow, he looked his cousin up and down. “I am perfectly well acquainted with both ladies. Thank you very much.”

She cocked her head and grinned, as though she knew exactly how well acquainted he’d like to be with one or both ladies. Damn! He had nearly forgotten that Livvie was as perceptive as Caroline. He now needed to be careful around her as well.

“Lucas is intimately familiar with most of London’s beautiful women, aren’t you, darling?” came a voice from behind him—a voice he could go forever without hearing ever again.

Luke turned around to face Louisa Ridgemont with a darkening scowl. “My lady, I hardly think this is an appropriate conversation…especially in front of my young cousin.”

But Louisa merely smirked. “Then perhaps we should have it somewhere in private.”

Over his dead body. “Perhaps I should have it with Ridgemont instead,” he bit out.

She didn’t even flinch, just quirked up her dainty little eyebrow mockingly. “I don’t know why you’d want to involve him now, darling. Or have your perversions changed since we last met?”

He was going to kill her. How dare she say such a thing in front of Olivia and her friends? Louisa was getting more and more out of control. He grabbed her arm in his hand and dragged her roughly through the drawing room, down the main hallway, and out the front door. He didn’t stop until they were far from view of the Danbury entrance. She had giggled the entire way, and the sound made his hair stand on end.

“Where are we going, Lucas?”

Luke bent his head down, to look her directly in the eyes. “We are not going anywhere, Louisa.” He shook his finger at her. “This has got to end. I thought I’d made myself perfectly clear.”

She pouted and tried to snuggle up to him, entwining her fingers in his hair. “Darling, why must you be so harsh? I only want to make you happy, just like I used to.”

“Lady Ridgemont,” he spat out angrily, “I was never happy with you. Go back to your husband.”

Louisa backed away from him, and for the first time, her pretty face was furrowed. “We are through when I say and not before. Do keep that in mind.” Then with an angry swish of her skirts, Louisa turned on her heel and stormed back inside the Danbury townhouse.

Luke looked heavenward, hoping for some sort of divine intervention—though honestly he would be the last person deserving of such help.

~ 5 ~

Orchids first arrived at 10:00 in the morning. The next batch arrived at 10:30, and continued every half hour after that. Each one had the same note: Until I see you, Princess.

Juliet didn’t think she’d ever blushed so much in her life, especially when Georgie had raised her brows after the sixth set of flowers were placed on the table in the sitting room. “Jules, is there something you’d like to tell me? Like whom these are from, for instance?”

Juliet looked toward the large picture window on the other side of the room. She wasn’t sure why she didn’t just tell Georgie that the flowers were from Luke. If she believed the notes he’d sent, he’d be making an appearance…and then Georgie would know anyway. But for the meantime, it felt amazing to have this little secret—just something between her and her devilish scoundrel.

And how exactly did the man know that orchids were her favorite flower? She was smiling so wide thinking about it—thinking of him thinking about her—that her cheeks were starting to hurt.

She crossed the room to look out the window. From where she stood, she had a good view of Upper Brook Street below, and she leaned her head against the pane. As she thought about Luke—and he’d made sure he was never far from her thoughts, with a new set of flowers delivered every half hour—he materialized beneath her window, stepping out of his carriage with yet another bouquet of orchids in his hands. Juliet’s heart was racing a mile a minute.

She turned quickly and faced Georgie, as if she could keep her sister from learning the truth by shielding the window from Georgie’s view.

***

Luke noted, with some degree of satisfaction, that Crawford almost quirked a smile when he admitted him into Prestwick House, glancing at the orchids in his hands. The elderly butler did raise his brow when he asked, “Lady Juliet, I presume?”

“If the Lady is in,” Luke responded.

Crawford nodded his head curtly. “She asked to have you sent to the sitting room, if you made an appearance.”

Luke followed the butler down the opulent hallway, adorned with portraits of the last three Dukes of Prestwick. The previous duke was not a spectacular looking man, by any stretch of one’s imagination. He had a large nose, icy blue eyes, and receding ginger-colored hair. It appeared obvious that his attractive offspring must have acquired their good looks from each of their respective mothers.

Crawford opened the sitting room doors and announced, “Mr. Beckford has arrived.”

When Luke entered the soft, blue room, he was happy to note that this room appeared to be much more comfortable than the atrocious pink parlor he’d been subjected to on his first visit. Juliet was standing guard against the large window on the other side of the room, looking positively delicious, while Georgie, with knitting needles in her hands, looked at him over the rim of wire spectacles that were half-way down her nose.

To his complete enjoyment, Juliet blushed delightfully when he stared at her. And blush she should, if she had even a clue of the plans he had for her.

“Mr. Beckford, I would say it’s a surprise, but…” She gestured to the six other grand displays of orchids adorning the room.

Georgie cleared her throat. “Well, you’ve certainly surprised me, Lucas.”

Luke tore his attention from Juliet to focus on her older sister and grinned. She was studying him, and her dark blue eyes narrowed with suspicion. He could only imagine what must be going through Georgie’s mind. “I had so hoped to see you both at the Danbury’s last night.”

“Did you, indeed? I had no idea,” Georgie replied evenly, still assessing him.

He honestly hadn’t thought he’d have a hard time getting around Georgie. She’d always been so fond of him. Though he hadn’t really thought to take Edmund up on his offer to distract the marchioness seriously, he was starting to reconsider that idea. Seeing Juliet silhouetted against the large sitting room window, he wanted so badly to hold her in his arms again. If he could just get rid of Georgie for five minutes, though he’d prefer an hour or two, he could assuage the burning need he felt when looking at his princess.

“Indeed,” he replied, though his eyes had once again found Juliet. She smiled at him, and something stirred deep inside him.

“Mr. Beckford,” Juliet stepped toward him and gestured to the settee, “please do have a seat.”

He sat and was disappointed when she chose a seat in one of the chairs opposite him. But he met her eyes as he stated, “It truly is a shame you missed the event. I had the good fortune to meet Miss Susan Clarke—quite a remarkable young woman.”

“The tea merchant’s daughter?” Georgie asked with an elitist frown.

“Precisely,” he answered, refocusing his attention on Juliet. “I’m sure you’ll be pleased to learn that Lord Haywood found her most engaging.”

Juliet’s dark eyes sparkled, and Luke’s jaded heart leapt. Unfortunately, the next hour was uncommonly painful. His body literally ached to touch Juliet, but he had to listen to Georgie drone on and on from one inane topic to another. By the time Edmund had entered the room, lifting Luke’s hopes by tenfold, he’d had to endure hearing all about Mrs. Wilcox’s gout and Mrs. Langtry’s new ear horn. In short, the young Duke of Prestwick was the answer to Luke’s prayers.

Edmund looked from one face to another, and Luke thought he detected a devilish smile in the young duke’s blue-green eyes. “Ah, Luke, brilliant!” Edmund gushed and rushed to his side. “I do hope you haven’t been here too long.”

Too long listening to Georgie, but not long enough touching Juliet. “Afternoon, Edmund, I’ve just been enjoying your sisters’ company.”

“First names already? I had no idea the two of you were so well acquainted,” Georgie remarked softly, though she kept her cool, blue eyes focused on Edmund.

The young duke flopped down on the settee next to Luke and grinned at his oldest sister. “Oh, we get along famously. By the way, Georgie, Miss Mitford wants a word with you.”

Though Luke didn’t know who Miss Mitford was, he vowed to kiss her feet if Georgie left the room in search of her. Georgie dropped the knitting needles to a basket at her feet, scooted to the edge of the settee, and narrowed her eyes on her brother. “Miss Mitford wants a word with me? Whatever for, Edmund?”

The boy shrugged and scrunched up his face. “I don’t think she’s very happy with me.”

Georgie furrowed her brow. “Edmund.”

“I just don’t think I should have to learn history,” he pouted. “It doesn’t mean anything at all. Memorizing names and dates. I mean what’s the bloody point?”

Luke thought Georgie was going to swallow her own tongue. Her face had turned a deep shade of purple when ‘bloody’ flew out of the boy’s mouth.

She sputtered for a moment, then hardened her features and jumped to her feet. “Follow me, young man,” she said in the calmest voice she could muster—which wasn’t all that calm—and held out her hand for him.

Edmund slid off the settee and hung his head, placing his hand in Georgie’s. She towed the young duke from the room, but just before they vanished around the corner, Edmund winked at Luke with a sly grin.

Luke nearly choked. Had the young duke really sacrificed himself up so that he could have a minute alone with Juliet? Edmund had just earned the top spot on Luke’s Christmas list.

“Did my brother just wink at you?” Juliet asked in surprised awe.

Luke couldn’t help but smile at her. “He’s a brave little lad. Best not let him suffer for nothing.” He patted the empty space on the settee next to him. “Come on over, princess.”

After a quick glance toward the door Georgie and Edmund had vanished through, Juliet tilted her head coyly and smiled. “I don’t think that’s a very good idea, Mr. Beckford.”

Luke chuckled. She was simply adorable. For the first time that afternoon, he was thoroughly enjoying himself. “Don’t tell me you’re afraid, Juliet.”

She tried to suppress a smile. “Shouldn’t I be? If even half the stories about you are true, you’re a very dangerous man to be alone with, Mr. Beckford.”

“Luke,” he prompted with a grin. “Everyone else in your family calls me that, and you’re the only one I’ve sent flowers to.”

At that Juliet blushed, much to his enjoyment. How far did that delightful pink color extend? He was dying to find out. Luke patted the empty space beside him again. “Come on, princess, I promise not to bite. At least not yet.”

Juliet bit her bottom lip, as if the fate of the world depended on her decision. Then she smiled at him, left her seat, and gracefully slid into the spot next to him. “Is this where you want me?”

He wanted her a lot bloody closer than that. “It’ll do for now.” He took her hands in his, all the while keeping focus on her big brown eyes. There was just something magical about her, and being in her presence—touching her—filled him with a giddy joy.

“Thank you, Luke…for the orchids. They’re lovely,” she whispered.

Not half as lovely as she was. “I’m so glad you like them.”

“You shouldn’t have done it though.” She looked away from him. “I’ve never seen Georgie like that. She’s…” A gurgled laugh escaped Juliet’s throat. “I mean Mrs. Wilcox’s gout, for heaven’s sakes.”

Her laugh was delightful, musical to his ears. He laughed right along with her. Then he couldn’t resist touching her any longer, and he brushed his thumb against the side of her cheek. She turned at his touch to stare into his eyes, and he almost kissed her. He’d been thinking about doing such a thing, ever since his last visit to Prestwick House, but something held him back.

They sat there quietly, gazing at each other, and Luke found himself completely mesmerized by her innocent eyes and angelic smile. She was truly like no other woman he’d ever known. When she licked her lips, his eyes followed the movement and he felt like a man dying of thirst—a thirst only she could satisfy.

Very gently, he leaned forward and pressed his lips to hers. She tasted like honey, delicious and sinfully sweet. Pure heaven. Luke groaned from the pleasure of her, and carefully trailed his hand along her side, feeling the delectable curves of her body. She sighed against his mouth and he plunged inside, tasting every inch of her.