A Scandalous Deception (11 page)

“Is an old friend of mine,” Alex finished.
“I’ve known him longer than I’ve known you. So don’t make me choose
between my loyalties.”

How Alex could stand to be bored by the man
was a complete mystery. And then there was Caroline. It wasn’t even
possible Staveley took care of her as he ought. The man couldn’t
have a clue what to do with a lady like her. So vibrant, so
delectable, so…

“Ah, Kelfield!” Simon Masters, the Earl of
Thurlstone, interrupted Marc’s thoughts as he ambled over to the
pair. “Surprised to find you in Town this season.”

Truly, it had been a while since Alex had
braved London after the scandal his hasty marriage had caused.
Though it wasn’t terribly sporting of Thurlstone to say as
much.

“Surprised they admitted
you
membership here.” Marc lifted his whisky glass toward the
disreputable earl in a mock toast.

Thurlstone lifted his own glass toward Marc.
“Why not? They let you walk through the doors.”

The earl did have him there. “Touché.”

“Over here, Heaton!” Thurlstone called across
the room, gesturing to some fellow Marc hadn’t ever seen before.
“American,” the earl confided before his friend joined them. “Can’t
win at Hazard to save his life.” Then he lifted his glass toward
the American in greeting. “Do join us. John Heaton of Boston, this
is Kelfield and Haversham.” Then he chuckled to himself. “Actually,
you’re in very bad company, Heaton. Between the three of us, any
scandal in London the last decade has had one or more of our names
attached.”

The American laughed as well. “Or very good
company depending on who you’re asking.”

Kelfield smirked. “I like him already.”

“Might have been the source of a scandal or
two myself back in Boston. In fact, one of my oldest compatriots is
due in London within the week.”

“We’ll have to see what sort of trouble we
can all get into together then,” Thurlstone teased. “Well, except
for Kelfield. His wife has him on the straight and narrow these
days.”

Kelfield settled back in his seat, a smug
ducal expression upon his face. “I am quite happy with my path,
gentlemen. And if you had a wife like mine, you’d be happy
too.”

If Marc had a wife like Olivia Kelfield, he’d
never go home. A haughty harridan he could do without.

Lissy flipped the pages of
La Belle
Assemblée,
but she wasn’t truly looking at the fashion plates,
her mind was still awhirl about what to do with Fin. It was still
difficult to believe that he’d actually hit the Marquess of
Haversham, without so much as a warning.

Be reasonable
, Phoebe’s words echoed
in her mind. But Lissy didn’t know how to be reasonable with him.
He was overbearing and controlling and most stubborn. Blast him!
She shouldn’t even have to try to figure out a plan to deal with
him. He should simply just leave her in peace. He should simply
trust her to make reasonable decisions of her own. He should…

“My lady.” Crawford, her grey-haired and
loyal butler, cleared his throat from the doorway, breaking Lissy
from her musings.

She looked up from her periodical and nodded
at the servant. “Yes, Crawford?”

The man stepped further into the pink parlor,
a silver salver in his hand. “From Mr. Beckford, my lady.” He
presented the tray to her.

Luke? Lissy couldn’t remember ever having
received a letter from her brother-in-law. He was hardly the sort
who penned letters. She snatched the note from the salver and broke
the seal. Quickly, she scanned the contents.

Dearest Felicity,

I hate to interrupt your season, but I must
beg you to return home at once. Juliet’s delicate condition
prevents her from writing to you herself. She is in desperate need
of your company. I am afraid this confinement has been more
difficult than the last.

Please come home at your earliest
convenience.

Lucas Beckford

Oh, good heavens! Lissy’s heart twisted with
pain. Was there a complication with Juliet’s pregnancy? The memory
of her own lost child, all the pain, agony and despair she’d
suffered washed over her anew. She leapt from her seat. “Crawford,
please have Annie pack my things.”

“Is something amiss, Lady Felicity?” The old
man’s brow furrowed, and concern shone in his dark eyes.

She shrugged and started for the room, but
she had nowhere to go, so she turned back around. “I hope not. Luke
thinks Juliet would benefit from my company. Please have Donaldson
ready the coach. I’d like to depart as soon as we are able.”

“Depart for where?” came Fin’s baritone voice
from the threshold.

For a brief second, Lissy’s heart stilled.
Fin would make certain everything was all right. He always did. But
then the memory of his unacceptable behavior from the previous
night leapt to the forefront of her mind. “Who allowed you
entrance?” she asked tartly.

“Monroe.” Fin quirked her a smile. “As
Crawford was busy attending you. Now what did you say? Where are
you departing for?”

“I’m headed home to The Chase,” she replied
coolly. “Not that it’s any of your concern.”

“Oh.” A look of relief flashed in his eyes,
which only served to spark Lissy’s ire once more. He needn’t look
so pleased about her imminent departure. Starched stickler,
indeed.

“So you’ll have to find some other lady to
reprimand in my absence. Perhaps you could take up a daily regimen
at Gentleman Jackson’s so you can punch fellows whenever the whim
should strike.”

Fin turned his attention to Crawford. “Leave
us, please.”

“Of course, sir.” The butler turned on his
heel and strode back into the corridor.

Before Lissy could soundly reprimand
him
for dismissing her servant, Fin crossed the room and
clutched her hands in his. “Sit, Lissy. You look like you might
faint.”

Did she? All she could do was stare up at
him, unsure how to respond to that.

“Good God.” He frowned, distorting his
handsome features. “You’re trembling.” Fin dropped onto the nearby
settee and tugged Lissy down beside him. “Tell me what’s wrong.
You’re headed for The Chase. Is Juliet all right?”

“I-I don’t know,” she said, barely
recognizing the scratchy sound of her own voice.

“Oh, sweetheart.” Fin’s dark eyes softened as
he brushed a tear from Lissy’s cheek.

Heavens, she was a ninny. She hadn’t even
known she was crying. “Sh-she has to be all right.” And she did
have to be all right. Edmund and Juliet were all Lissy had left in
the world. The only people who truly mattered to her.

Fin drew her into his arms and held her,
comforting her more than his words could have ever done. “Shh,
Lissy. I’m right here.”

He had always been right there. He’d always
been a pillar of strength. He’d always made certain she was all
right, that Edmund was all right. Her tears fell faster now, his
jacket must be soaked through. “L-Luke said…”

“What did Luke say?” he asked, pulling back
slightly from her. Fin’s warm brown eyes soothed her, calming her
from within, and she took a steadying breath.

Lissy pushed her brother-in-law’s letter into
Fin’s hand. The viscount read the missive quickly then turned his
attention back to Lissy.

“All he said was that this confinement has
been more difficult than the last.”

“I know,” Lissy admitted, feeling a bit
sheepish under his scrutiny. “But his tone was urgent, Fin. Jules
must not be doing well at all, not if she couldn’t even write her
own letter.” At that thought, panic seized her heart once more.
“She can’t even write her own letter! And if something happens to
her…”

“Juliet is the strongest woman I know,” Fin
said softly. “She’ll come through whatever this is.”

“But the baby,” Lissy began, then she bit her
tongue to keep from telling him something she shouldn’t tell
anyone. She shook her head to keep from thinking of her own lost
child and said instead, “Cordie miscarried a few months ago, you
know. I don’t want to think the same could happen to Juliet.”

Fin tucked one of Lissy’s curls behind her
ear and said, “She’s had one child successfully, I’m certain she’ll
be fine.”

“Cordie has had a child as well, Fin. I don’t
think that necessarily guarantees success.”

He took a long slow breath and squeezed her
hand. “I hate to see you so upset, sweetheart. Why don’t I escort
you to Derbyshire?”

Somehow Lissy found herself nodding. She
could use his strength, his even presence. But she didn’t truly
want to travel to Derbyshire with Fin, did she? Wasn’t she still
furious with him? He’d probably end up behaving like his usual
controlling self, and she didn’t want to suffer his condescension
all the way to Prestwick Chase. “Well, I—”

“Very well.” He kissed her brow. “We’ll take
my coach, if you don’t mind. It’s a bit faster, I think.”

Faster
was
definitely a plus. Very
well, she’d travel with Fin. Besides, his strength could be a
blessing. Lissy nodded once more. “Speed would be best, all things
considered.”

“Then it’s settled. We’ll leave today.”

Fin stepped over the threshold of his Charles
Street home. He smiled at Ames, his butler, and requested the man
have his carriage readied for travel, then he made his way to his
study. Before they left for Derbyshire, he’d need to send the Prime
Minister a note explaining his absence, and he’d need to send his
regards to Caroline Staveley since he’d miss her soiree the
following evening. But first, he’d need to get Lissy’s
panic-stricken expression out of his mind. But how to do that? The
fear she wore this morning was worse than the fury she’d sported
the night before, her beautiful face distorted with concern.

All night long, Lieutenant Avery’s words had
echoed in Fin’s ears. Had Lissy truly been unhappily married? Was
she truly distrustful of men? Well, aside from Beckford and
himself? Had Captain Pierce harmed her somehow during the duration
of their short marriage?

From the sideboard, Fin poured himself a
generous glass of whisky.

Drink in hand, Fin dropped into the
overstuffed leather chair behind his desk and took his first sip.
The image of Georgie’s tortured expression whenever the subject of
Teynham arose flashed once more in his mind. Had Lissy endured a
similar marriage? The mere thought of such a thing had him balling
his hand into a fist.

For as long as he’d known Lissy, she was the
sort who was forever giggling or dancing or enjoying some sort of
merriment. Lighthearted. Carefree. Had the late Captain Pierce
robbed her of that? And had Fin been blind to it all?

Seeing her so distressed this morning had
torn at his heart. Just the suggestion that there could be
complications with Juliet’s pregnancy had been too much for Lissy.
He’d never seen her look quite so distraught. He’d had the
overwhelming urge to kiss her fears away and vow that all would be
right with the world no matter what. And he had a feeling that were
he to do so, were he to kiss Lissy, that he’d never want to stop,
not for the remainder of his life.

Damn it all. He’d only ever felt that way
about one woman in all of his life. And now he felt it again,
though slightly different. Had he somehow fallen in love with
Lissy? As the thought entered his mind, a bit of peace settled
across him as though he’d arrived at the correct conclusion. That
peace was swiftly followed by a wave of panic. God in heaven. He’d
fallen in love with Felicity Pierce.

What the devil was he supposed to do about
that? She was Georgie’s sister, for God’s sake.

A scratch sounded at his door, breaking him
of his reverie. Fin glanced toward the sound, happy to focus on the
interruption rather than on his plaguing thoughts. “Come,” he
called.

Ames pushed open the door. “Your coach is
ready, sir.”