Christie Kelley (5 page)

“Avis?”

She glanced up to see Jennette giving her a peculiar look. “Yes?”

“You are attending the Kesgrave party, are you not?”

Selby was friends with Lord Kesgrave so he would certainly be there. She wondered how awkward it would be to see him so soon after they parted ways. Of course, they were bound to run into each other at balls and parties so she’d better get used to the idea. Had she chosen Emory, they could have remained friends. Since she and Selby were not friends to begin with, she had no idea how thing would end between them.

“Yes, I will be there,” Avis answered.

“Well,” Victoria said, looking into her teacup, “I have to admit, I’m happy to hear everyone will be busy this summer. I had an offer to assist a dear friend of mine who is starting an orphanage. I’ve been hesitating to accept, but now I shall.”

“Good, so we will not have any regular meetings until we all arrive back in town?” Elizabeth asked.

Sophie bit her lower lip. “I suppose not.”

Avis wished there was something she could do for Sophie. She wasn’t completely accepted in Society, so she had very few friends. Most summers while the
ton
departed for their summer homes, Avis and Sophie and Victoria stayed in the city. But for at least two weeks, Sophie would be alone.

And Avis would be alone…with Selby.

Avis tried to ignore the strange sensations that overwhelmed her every time she saw Selby, but she couldn’t. Each night she attended a different function and there he stood, against the wall, staring at her. Only with each passing night, the looks he gave her bordered increasingly on scandalous.

Tonight was no different.

Even from across the room she could feel the hot looks he sent her. Everyone else melted away until there was only the two of them, hungering for each other from across the room. She endeavored to look away but found it impossible not to stare at his handsome face. Her reprieve finally arrived when Mrs. Roebuck brought her daughter, Olivia, to Selby. Avis couldn’t help but smile as he took Olivia to the dance floor with a deep scowl on his face. He looked completely irritated with the interruption.

Lady Bolton’s ball was the culmination of the Season. The young women in their pale pastels searched desperately for a mate before they left for their summer estates, while the single men tried their best to avoid them. And then there were the married couples who, after one quick dance with their spouse, spent the rest of the night flirting with others. Was it any wonder she had no desire to marry?

“Oh dear, why is Olivia Roebuck dancing with my brother again?” Jennette asked then sipped her lemonade. “The poor girl is quite pretty, but have you ever tried to talk to her?”

“Unfortunately, I did. She proceeded to tell me all she knew about the greatest authors from history.” Avis looked up at Jennette and shook her head. “She could only come up with Shakespeare and she called him Hamlet.”

Jennette stifled a grin then frowned. “What if she ends up as my sister-in-law?”

“If your brother falls for her trap then he deserves what he gets.”

“True. She would bore him to tears.” Jennette sipped her lemonade again. “But I know he is serious about getting married.”

Avis choked on her drink. “He is?”

“He’s spent most of the Season searching for a wife.”

“Well, there certainly are enough eligible ladies. Why hasn’t he chosen one?”

Jennette shrugged. “I believe he finds them all as dull as Miss Roebuck. He needs a strong woman. One who will stand up to him, a woman with some brains in her head. You have to admit there are not very many of those here tonight.”

“I take exception to that,” Avis said with a grin.

“Indeed you should. I meant, there are not many intelligent women who wish to
marry
here tonight,” Jennette said with a laugh.

Elizabeth came up to them. “What are you two giggling about?”

“Giggling?” they asked together.

“Well, perhaps cackling is the better word,” Elizabeth said with a smile.

“We were discussing the lack of intelligent women my brother has to choose from,” Jennette replied.

All three women shook their heads. Avis went still as she realized Selby was walking right toward them and staring directly at her.

“Ban, please tell me you shan’t marry that girl,” Jennette pleaded when he finally reached them.

He smiled, causing his dimples to deepen. “You have nothing to worry about there.” His gaze slid to Avis. “What are you all discussing tonight?”

“Watching the young women panic as they realize the Season is complete and they haven’t won their husbands,” Elizabeth replied.

“Must be dreadful,” Selby said, rolling his eyes. “I came over because there is one dance left, and I have no partner.” He held out his arm. “Anyone care to save me from another dance with a woman like Miss Roebuck?”

Elizabeth shook her head. “I have danced enough for one night.”

Avis looked away as Selby tried to coax her with a smile.

Jennette spoke up, “I shall save you from all the vapid young women hoping for a final dance with you.” She linked arms with her brother and they headed for the dance floor.

A stab of envy struck Avis’s heart as she watched Jennette go off with Selby. She should have taken his offer but could not. It would appear far too odd if she suddenly decided to dance with him after all these years.

“Now there is a good man,” Elizabeth mused, watching them dance.

“Selby?”

Eizabeth nodded. “Yes.”

“Then why don’t you marry him?” Immediately she wished she hadn’t said that in such a spiteful tone.

“Oh come now, Avis. Even you would have to admit he is a Corinthian, even if he isn’t into the sporting life.”

“Not into the sporting life? Selby has always been an avid hunter.”

Elizabeth blinked as if in surprise. “Really? Last year he refused my father’s invitation to join him at the hunting lodge. He said he had too many other invitations. Then I found out from Jennette that he’d been at the Abbey the entire time.”

“Oh,” Avis replied. While she didn’t mention any more about situation, she did find it odd because she knew Selby loved the hunt. At least he had years ago.

Elizabeth stared at the dance floor and sighed. “Still, with those dark looks and bright blue eyes, it’s a wonder no woman has caught him yet. A man such as Selby might even make me think twice about marriage.”

“Well, I wouldn’t say that,” Avis replied. Not even his potent kisses would change her mind on marriage.

The rest of the week flew by in a rush of activities for Avis. However, there was still one item she had not completed before she left with Selby. She had yet to speak with Sophie about prevention. Avis dreaded this conversation but understood she couldn’t bring a child into this world, especially without a father. Or more importantly, with her as the child’s mother. With her resolve strengthened, she knocked on the door to Sophie’s home.

“Yes, Miss Copley?”

“Is Miss Reynard at home, Taylor?”

The grandfatherly butler smiled at her. “I am certain she is. Come inside and wait in the drawing room.”

While Avis liked stronger, vivid colors in her own home, Sophie loved pastels. The drawing room was a pale green with lovely jonquil curtains. She sat in a moss colored chair while she waited for Sophie.

“Avis? What are you doing here today?”

Sophie entered the room smelling of a floral breeze. Her dress swirled around her legs as she turned to sit on the settee.

“I need to speak with you privately,” Avis said, staring at the open door.

“Taylor, please bring us some tea and close this door.”

“Yes, ma’am.” The door instantly shut, bringing them into a cocoon of privacy.

“Now, what do you need?”

Avis shifted uncomfortably in her seat. It was best to get this over with. “I need you to tell me what you know about prevention.”

Sophie’s black brows rose in question. “I thought Mr. Billingsworth was unavailable?”

“He is.”

“Oh. And I suppose you have no plans to give me any more information than that?”

“Exactly,” Avis said with a little grin.

“All right, I believe I understand,” Sophie replied in a knowing tone.

Avis only hoped Sophie didn’t know what Avis had planned or with whom. Sophie waited while the footman brought in the tea. Once he left and the door was firmly shut behind him again, she began. “My mother told me about two methods of prevention. The first is a small sponge with a string attached to it. The sponge must be soaked in vinegar then inserted into…” Sophie’s face brightened with color. “You do know where?”

“Yes, I believe I do,” Avis replied, feeling her own face flare with heat.

“However, this method will not work until after the first time.”

“Why is that?”

“Oh dear, you do understand what happens between a man and a woman?”

Avis looked away. She knew the rudiments of the act, but nothing further.

“Avis?”

“Yes, I do.”

“Your virginity will be in the way until this man rids you of it.”

“Of course,” Avis replied. She wondered how much that would hurt.

Her face must have given her away as Sophie said, “Don’t worry, you shall be fine. It’s only the first time, or so my mother said. After that, if you have a good man, he will make certain you feel pleasure too.” Sophie spoke with all the confidence of a virgin daughter of an actress.

Would Selby be a good man? Avis certainly hoped so. “What is the second method, Sophie?”

Sophie’s cheeks blotched with color. “The man must withdraw his p—penis before he—he, ahh…explodes.”

Explodes? A man explodes while making love? She really needed to learn more about all this.

“Are you all right, Avis? You look a bit peaked.”

“Do you think it hurts when he…he explodes?” Thinking back to the book she’d read, the men always seemed to find great pleasure in the act.

Sophie frowned. “I doubt it. Why would men always want to do something that hurt?”

“But what about for the woman?”

“Well, based on the noises my mother made, she enjoyed it…or was a better actress than I thought.”

That was certainly something to think about. “Thank you for your time, Sophie. I have a few more errands to run. Do you know where I might find these sponges you talked about?”

“My mother made sure I had plenty. I believe she expected me to follow in her footsteps. I must be a great disappointment to her,” she said with a chuckle. “Wait here and I’ll bring you a few.”

Sophie left to retrieve them from her special cache of prevention secrets. Avis sipped her tea in thought. She had never been one to act out of impulse. Yet it seemed as if she’d lost control of everything since agreeing to Selby’s kiss in her cousin’s study. She should have walked away while she had the chance. Although, she wondered if Selby would have blackmailed her even without his intoxicating kiss, just to get his way.

“Here you are.” Sophie handed her a small, wrapped bundle.

Unable to contain her curiosity, Avis opened the package to find five small sponges with red thread attached. “Five?”

“Wash them out after each use, but make sure they stay inside you for at least eight hours after he…”

“Explodes?” Avis supplied for her, then giggled.

“Yes,” Sophie shook her head and laughed. “I cannot believe I had this conversation with you. I always expected it would be Jennette first.”

Knowing Jennette’s impulsive personality, she nodded. “Me too.”

“Have a care, Avis. Lord Selby is a gentleman and the perfect choice for you, but he might want more out of this affair than you wish to give.”

Avis’s mouth gaped open. “How did you know it was Selby?”

Sophie smiled as her eyes glazed over, as Avis had seen many times when Sophie experienced one of her visions. Avis wished she could see what her friend saw.

Sophie blinked. “The man I have seen for you has dark hair and is very strong, in other words, the exact opposite of Mr. Billingsworth. Plus, I arrived at your home first last week. I noticed Selby’s carriage driving away and made the assumption that you had changed your mind. For the better, I might add.”

“You mustn’t—”

Sophie hugged her tight. “I would never tell Jennette or anyone else about this. Just have a care.”

“I shall at that.” Avis pulled away from Sophie. “Can you tell me what else you see for my future?”

Sophie closed her gray eyes and smiled fully. “You shall be very happy.”

“Any more specific information?”

“No. If I tell you more you shall do everything in your power to thwart your future.”

Avis frowned. “Why would I do that?”

“Because it may not be what you think will bring you happiness.”

With those mysterious words, Avis left, pondering her future and what would bring her such happiness.

Where was she?

Banning glanced around the grounds of the Wayside Inn once more. He had arrived nearly two hours ago and night would be falling soon. She should have joined him by now. His thoughts ran to the obvious—she had changed her mind.

He kicked a small pebble toward the road. He should have called on her before leaving town. It might have been best if he’d skipped the rest of Parliament, allowing them to leave earlier in the week before she had the chance to change her mind. But he could not neglect his responsibilities. He blew out a breath and kicked another stone.

What if she had decided to go away with Billingsworth? The man was a complete cad and scoundrel. The man would take whatever Avis offered and leave her alone and pregnant or worse, alone and battered. He looked up at the sound of gravel crunching under the wheels of a plain black carriage.

“Lord Selby, what a surprise to see you here,” Avis said, stepping down from her carriage. “Is your sister with you?”

He turned at the soft sound of her lilting voice. “No, Jennette is still in town, Miss Copley.”

Her coachman frowned. “Ma’am, I know it is not my place, but I would never forgive myself if some harm came to you—”

“We have been over this many times, Smith. Lady Elizabeth may even be here already.”

“Still, we should wait to make certain.”

Avis glanced over at Banning. “Lord Selby is here. Lady Jennette’s brother would never let any harm come to me.”

Banning took his cue. “Of course not, Miss Copley. Actually, I do believe Lady Elizabeth arrived a short while ago and now rests in her room.”

“Thank you, my lord,” she replied with a slight nod. “There, it is settled. You may take my valise up to my room and then depart. I shall be home in a fortnight.”

“As you wish, ma’am.” The coachman gave Banning a look that said he knew exactly what had just transpired. He took the large valise down and carried it inside.

Banning released a long held breath. He looked around but noticed no one familiar to him. “You’re late,” he whispered harshly.

“Your darling sister paid me a visit this morning. Perhaps if you had prevented the call, I would have been on time.”

“Where are the rest of your things?” he said, now irritated with both himself for getting angry, and Jennette for delaying her.

“Smith took my bag inside already.”

“That’s all you need for two weeks?” He’d expected a trunk, or two. His sister rarely traveled without two trunks, sometimes even three.

“I didn’t believe I would need that much. Unless you have a ball or soiree planned that I wasn’t aware of?”

He smiled at her cheeky tone. “No. Ever practical, Avis, bringing only what you need. We shall stay the night and continue on in the morning.”

“Very well.” She started to walk to the inn. “Goodnight, then.”

So much for starting their liaison tonight. Then again, Chelmsford was a much larger town than where they would stop tomorrow night. There was far more chance of being seen here. He would have to wait until they reached Stowmarket.

“We could have supper together?” he asked, surprising himself.

She stopped and turned toward him with a frown. “I hardly think that would be wise, my lord.”

Perhaps not. “Still, you do need to eat.”

“I will have a tray sent up.”

Damn. “Tomorrow we shall dine together.”

“We shall see about that,” she replied with a smile and then opened the door to the inn.

Banning blew out a frustrated breath as she slipped inside the inn. He had hoped to have some time alone with her even if it was just a quiet conversation over dinner. Anything to get to know his future wife better.

Banning awoke before dawn and ordered a large basket of breakfast items to be packed. By leaving early and eating on the road, they could get to Stowmarket before nightfall. And he had great plans for tonight. He glanced around the hallway before knocking on her door.

Nothing.

“Avis,” he whispered. He heard a groan from in the room. “Wake up. We need to leave. I shall wait for you downstairs.”

He waited for an answer but only received another groan in reply. His coachman had readied the carriage by the time he walked back downstairs. After another fifteen minutes, Avis strolled out of the doorway, yawning, and then clamored into his carriage. Leaving before the sun rose afforded them the most privacy.

“I had them pack us a breakfast.”

She nodded but did not look terribly happy with the prospect of eating in the carriage. Or perhaps it was the idea of eating with him.

“Are you ready?”

Her brown eyes looked away from him and clouded with apprehension. “I believe I am.”

They departed in silence. Avis looked out the window as they headed east toward Southwold. He could only see the profile of her heart-shaped face, but he didn’t need to look at her. He knew her face like his own.

She’d dressed in her usual conservative fashion. The neckline of her high-waisted, sage gown was cut so high that barely the hollow of her slender neck showed. He closed his eyes and imagined her in the emerald dress she’d worn the night of her cousin’s party. He would never forget how beautiful she looked that evening.

“Selby?” she whispered.

He blinked and smiled at the confusion on her face. “Yes?”

“I didn’t mean to wake you—”

“You didn’t. In truth, I was remembering you the night of your cousin’s party.”

“Why?”

“Because you looked more beautiful than I had ever seen you, Avis.”

She swallowed visibly.

He loved watching her face as she realized just how much he wanted her. Her brown eyes widened and a pale rosy color tinted her cheeks.

“Selby—”

“I think you should call me Banning.”

“Right. Banning, we need to come to some agreements about this…this affair.”

What was she up to now? “Agreements?”

“Yes. I cannot get—get pregnant. I brought some personal items that should prevent that from happening, but I was told I can’t use them the first time.”

“What exactly do you want me to do, Avis?”

Her cheeks flushed bright red with embarrassment. “I—I need you to…”

“Yes?” he prompted, hiding the smile that threatened to give him away.

“To withdraw your p—pe—”

“Ahh, I think I understand,” he interrupted to stop her stammering.

“Good. Then you will do the appropriate thing the first time?”

“I shall do whatever you wish me to.” He stared at her until she understood his sensual meaning. Crooking his finger, he said, “Come here.”

She shook her head. “I don’t believe that is a good idea.”

“You want to learn about passion, don’t you?”

“Yes,” she squeaked. “But not in a carriage where the coachman might hear and people passing might see and—”

“I have no plans to make love with you in a moving carriage,” he murmured. “I just want to kiss you.”

She bit her lower lip as she appeared to think this over.

“Avis, what exactly are you afraid of?” Certain she would never admit her fear he expected no answer.

She raised her gaze to meet his. “You,” she finally whispered.

“Me? Why?”

“I am not quite certain. I can’t seem to figure out who you really are. Jennette always told me you were such a gentleman and
overly
nice to women. But you’ve never been that way with me. You kissed me to win a wager. You blackmailed me when I tried to get out of an arrangement you coerced me into.” She threw her hands up in exasperation. “And every time we’re in the same room we end up making rude comments to each other.”

All right, he definitely had to make some changes in his manner with her. “You don’t make it easy.”

“What do you mean? I am a very easy person to know and like! You are the only one I cannot seem to get along with.”