Dancing With A Devil (31 page)

“
I’m looking for a priest named Nicolaus Comier.”

“
But that is me!” he exclaimed, his deep voice echoing in the empty room.

Trent felt his lips pull into a smile. “Excellent. Finding you is the least uncomplicated thing I’ve done in a long time.”

The priest tipped his head. “I’m glad to be of service, monsieur.”

Trent dug into his coat pocket and pulled out the only picture he had ever had of Gwyneth. It was the size of the ends of two of his fingers and encased in a silver locket. He ran his hand over the smooth outer surface before opening the locket. He handed it to the priest. “Do you know this woman?”

The priest held the locket close to his face and squinted. A memory of when he had accidentally found her locket flashed in his head. She has asked him to hand her some unmentionables. The rough wood of the drawer scraped his fingers as he pushed the skirts aside to look for the unmentionable. Something cool was at the bottom. He took the locket out and grinned. He would have her picture fitted into a nicer one and surprise her.

Forcing his attention back to the church, he found the priest staring at him. “I knew her. She’s dead. Of consumption. I helped her brother burn her body. I’m so sorry. Was she a friend of yours?”

No. “Yes. I had heard she was dead, but I wanted to be certain.”

The priest clasped a hand on Trent’s shoulder. “I’m sorry. Would you like a minute alone? Or I could stay and pray with you?”

“
Alone would be good,” Trent replied. He would feel an utter phony praying with the priest over Gwyneth. Once he was alone he sat in the first pew and stared at the tiny picture of her face. He had dropped the locket when Gwyneth knocked him over the head with the end of a pistol. When he had gone back to the house after escaping prison and seen her burned body, he had picked up the locket, which was lying by the door on his way out. He did not know why. Maybe to remind himself never to be a damned fool again for love.

She was dead. He did not feel happy, thank God. He felt sad for her. For himself. Placing the locket on the dark pew, he stood and walked out the door.

England

Audrey stood in the middle of her entrance hall while directing which trunks to load onto the carriage first and which should be settled last. Somewhere above stairs, the sound of her aunt’s humming, as she undoubtedly dressed for their trip to London, drifted down to Audrey. Her stomach tightened with nerves. Soon she would be in London and attempting to reenter Society and find a husband. It was imperative nothing went wrong.

A knock at the door made her smile. Lord Thortonberry was punctual as always. She wasn’t sure how she could ever repay him for all his kindnesses. These past few days, he had been an invaluable help getting the house ready to depart for the Season. The man didn’t have a pretentious bone in his body, and she’d grown to value his friendship, even as she’d come to suspect he might possibly want to be more than friends.

She still wasn’t sure how she felt in that regard, since her heart had yet to flutter when he entered the room. Then again, considering the devil who’d last made her heart flutter then broke it, a calm heart was probably a good thing.

“
Shall I get the door, my lady?”

Audrey glanced at Mr. Barrett, who precariously balanced an enormous trunk on his shoulder. “Goodness, no. I’ll get it. You can take that trunk to the carriage.”

She strolled to the door, opened it to a smiling Lord Thortonberry and waved him in as Mr. Barrett made his way out the door. Lord Thortonberry frowned as he stepped inside. “I wish you would allow my servants to come over and assist you.”

“
No. I don’t want any charity.”

Something kindled in Lord Thortonberry’s eyes, but exactly what she was seeing, she wasn’t sure. He held out a small purse to her. “My solicitor sold your jewels.”

She took the purse and struggled to resist the urge to look inside to see if the jewels had brought enough money to survive the next couple of months.

A gentle smile pulled at his lips. “I hope you don’t mind, but I took the liberty of requiring my solicitor check with me before accepting an offer for your gems.”

Audrey's brows pulled together. “Why did you do that?”

“
I wanted to make sure he secured the best possible price. I think you’ll be pleased. Why don’t you look?”

Her fingers tightened involuntarily around the silk purse. “I’ll wait.” She was dying to peek, but her situation was already far too embarrassing without displaying her desperation.

He plucked the purse out of her fingers and opened it before she could protest. Withdrawing the money with a flourish, he handed it to her palm-up with a stern expression on his face. “There is no shame in wanting to make sure you have enough money to live on. Please don’t ever feel embarrassed over such a thing with me.”

His words tugged at her heart, but in a warm, fuzzy way, much like how she felt when Sally, Whitney and Gillian had shown up here. She glanced down to hide the confusion stirring within her. She cared for him as a friend, but if he asked to court her, could she think of him as more?

As she counted the money in her hands, her heart raced and an unstoppable grin spread across her face. There was enough money to live on for the next four months if they were very careful. Looking up, she caught him gazing intently at her. Her breath caught in her throat. She’d seen that look before in Trent’s eyes and thought it had meant he cared for her. Seeing it now in Lord Thortonberry’s eyes did not rouse the same breathless joy within her as when she’d believed Trent loved her, but she did feel something for Lord Thortonberry. Maybe she would never feel for a man what she’d felt for Trent. Maybe what Trent had inspired in her only came along once in a lifetime, or maybe she just needed to truly forget the devil in order to really open her heart to another man. Not that Lord Thortonberry was asking for her heart.

“
Lady Audrey.”

His deep voice startled her out of her musings. Heat singed her cheeks. What must he think of her standing here staring into the air and not talking? “I’m sorry. I was woolgathering.”

“
Over Davenport?”

The heat burning her cheeks made its way rapidly down her neck and chest. She didn’t need to glance down to know her chest was splotchy. Clearing her throat, she prayed she sounded convincing. “Certainly not. I never think of that scoundrel.”

Lord Thortonberry’s eyebrows shot up and an amused smile pulled at his lips.

Perhaps the use of the word
scoundrel
had given her away. Drat it all. She longed to be able to say truthfully she’d forgotten the glittering green-eyed thief of hearts.

Lord Thortonberry’s gaze raked over her twice before he spoke. “He’s not worth you, nor the heartache you still nurture for him.”

Her heart pounded viciously against her breastbone. Lord Thortonberry may well be right. After all, she’d had the same thoughts, but it didn’t change how she felt. Still, maybe if she tried harder, she could really forget Trent. She swallowed, her throat dry with her nerves. “Do you have a suggestion?”

“
As a matter of fact, I do. I propose you need to fall in love with another man.”

His gold-flecked eyes smoldered. If she’d been uncertain previously, she wasn’t anymore. Lord Thortonberry wanted her. Her stomach knotted with anxiety. With a little encouragement, he would probably court her and all her financial problems would be solved. She knew exactly what to say, but the words stuck in her throat.

When the front door swung open and Mr. Barrett strode in with an armful of packages, her relief was so immediate her legs trembled. “Mr. Barrett, what do you have there?”

“
These packages were just delivered for you, my lady.”

She frowned and waved a hand toward the hall table. “Set them there.” She followed Mr. Barrett to the table. There were seven packages in all, each labeled from Madame Marmont’s dress shop. Behind her, she could feel Lord Thortonberry gazing over her shoulder.

“
Are you going to open your packages?”

His breath wafted over her. She inched a little closer to the table to put a respectable distance between them. “Yes, of course. My friends must have sent me something, though I told them not to.” With trembling fingers, she quickly opened the first package. She couldn’t stop the delighted gasp that filled her when she saw the sapphire gossamer gown nestled in the tissue. On top of the gown was a small card. As she read it, confusion swarmed her.

Dear Lady Cringlewood,

I do so hope these gowns, unmentionables, etc. meet all the requirements that were set before me by your admirer. The silver gown will be done in time for the upcoming ball, as your admirer specifically requested. If you will come see me when you reach London, I will fit you to make sure it’s perfect for him and you.

All the best,

Madame Marmont

Audrey froze, very aware of Lord Thortonberry standing so near she could hear each breath he took and feel the heat of his body. He was the only man who knew she was coming to London, and he understood very well she couldn’t afford new gowns. His thoughtfulness and generosity touched her to her core. Slowly, she turned toward him and inhaled sharply at just how close he was. She started to fidget but forced herself to stand still. “You shouldn’t have had these gowns made, but I vow it’s the nicest thing any man has ever done for me.”

He swallowed repeatedly, his throat visibly moving in his neck as he did so. Did he think himself a fool for what he had done, since she hadn’t commented earlier on his proposal that she fall in love with another man? The last thing she ever wanted to do was hurt him. “Lord Thortonberry―”

“
Can I speak first, Lady Audrey?”

She pressed her lips together and nodded.

He raked a hand through his hair. “I’ve cared for you for years.”

“
What about Lady Caroline?” she squeaked.

“
It was a ruse to get close to you. I’d tried everything else I could think of, but you never noticed me.”

Her cheeks heated instantly. “I noticed you,” she whispered.

“
As a friend.”

That was true. She couldn’t deny it.

He gently grasped her elbow. “I know you think you loved Davenport, even though you deny it, but I’m begging you to give me a chance. He’s not here, and I don’t want to hurt you, but I don’t see him as the type to ever marry you. I want to marry you.”

“
You do?” Her heart thumped wildly, but more out of fear than excitement.

“
I do. I’ve known forever that you’re perfect for me. You’re strong, determined and brilliant, and you have my heart in your hands.”

“
Lord Thortonberry,” she chided, trying to tug her elbow away. How she’d longed to hear similar words from Trent. Why must she hear them now and not feel as she should?

“
Please.” He tightened his grip on her elbow, not painfully but with enough pressure that she stilled and met his beseeching gaze. “I’m right for you and good for you. I would never let you down and I would always treasure you, if you would just give me the chance.”

How could she not? She nodded. “All right. I promise when I’m in London for the Season to give you a proper chance.”

A smile of relief spread across his face and he hugged her to him just as her aunt entered the room. Without a word, her aunt shook her head and tsked. Audrey disentangled herself while glaring at her disapproving aunt. “We better get going. I think a storm may be coming and we don’t want to be caught in it as we make our way to London.”

“
Yes, all right,” Lord Thortonberry agreed.

Audrey nearly sighed with relief. Her aunt took her by the elbow and pulled her toward the door. As they stepped outside, Aunt Hillie pressed close to her and whispered under her breath, “The weather looks perfectly lovely to me.”

Audrey tensed. “Do be quiet. If I say the weather looks dreadful can you not simply agree?”

“
Do you wish me to agree with every ridiculous thing you do or say?”

“
Yes,” Audrey snapped and stormed toward the carriage, wishing she felt more like the giddy girl she had when she’d gone to London to see Trent instead of like a beleaguered lady going off to participate in a dreadful task otherwise known as the Season.