Gayle Buck (23 page)

“Lady Caroline comes to dinner tonight, Carey. She will be accompanied by her maternal aunt, Mrs. Burlington. I do not believe that either of you or Nana has previously had the pleasure of making Mrs. Burlington’s acquaintance. She is a somewhat difficult woman, being both malicious and free-handed with her opinions,” Lord Trilby said.

Once again Viscount Weemswood was a step ahead of the other gentlemen in the quickness of his understanding. He unleashed a disgusted expletive and threw himself back into the wing chair in a careless fashion.

Mr. Underwood’s mouth fell open in astonishment. “You don’t mean to say that the talkative aunt is in on it too?”

“Quite the opposite, Carey. Mrs. Burlington labors under the mistaken impression that the engagement is genuine. My fear was that if Mrs. Burlington chanced to mention an engagement to you, without some forewarning you gentlemen would express such astonishment that must instantly shed suspicion on my and Lady Caroline’s farrago,” Lord Trilby said.

Viscount Weemswood let out a crack of laughter. “Whose farrago, my lord?”

Lord Trilby stared at the viscount without a trace of expression. “If you will have it so, mine is the sole responsibility.”

“What if this pretty scheme of yours goes awry, my lord?” Viscount Weemswood asked softly. “What matters then your declaration of responsibility? Somehow I do not think that will be of much comfort to Lady Caroline. It will be far too late.”

“Damn you, Sinjin!” Lord Trilby’s voice was thin. His eyes blazed with rare fury at the viscount, who but smiled in the face of the earl’s wholly unwarranted reaction.

“I cannot believe in any of it!” Mr. Underwood exclaimed.

“This is not at all the thing, my lord.” Lord Heatherton’s voice was heavy with disapproval. “I am sorry to say that I have grossly misjudged your character, and so has society in general. Lord, if I were to breathe but half of what I have heard today to m’mother, she would instantly bar the house to you. Yes, and begin to receive Sinjin and Carey with open arms as the more respectable.”

There was an instant of astonishment before Lord Heatherton’s companions roared with laughter. His lordship’s long expression loosened into a smile. “Well, so she would,” he said, which brought further guffaws and a dissipation of the former tension.

Lord Trilby bowed to Lord Heatherton. “Thank you, Nana. You have delivered to me a singular set-down, one which I most richly deserve and that I embrace with alacrity. I had feared myself to have become too respectable. It relieves me to learn that I would share, along with Sinjin and Carey, your esteemed mother’s stern disapprobation.”

“Well, you don’t, for m’mother doesn’t know about this business. No, nor will she. Wouldn’t do at all, for m’mother knows everyone in London,” Lord Heatherton said.

“We shall all take strictest care that Lady Caroline’s part in this regrettable charade is never known,” Mr. Underwood said.

A faint smile began to form in his eyes as he reviewed in his mind the personages who would be in attendance that evening. “My word, Miles, you could not have contrived a more uncomfortable party if you had tried.”

“I fear that I must agree with that sentiment. I can only hope it is gotten over quickly, and with my great-aunt none the wiser.”

“I’ll lay a monkey that within the fortnight the Grand-duchess of Schaffenzeits will be in possession of all the particulars of your deception, my lord,” Viscount Weemswood said.

Lord Trilby met his friend’s eyes and he laughed. The fact that Viscount Weemswood had reverted to form told him all that he needed to know. Of the three gentlemen, he had been most uncertain of the viscount’s support. For the first time in over an hour he relaxed. “Done, sir! That is one wager that on my honor I cannot refuse.”

“Done!” Mr. Underwood exclaimed. “I’ll put my faith in the earl, and more to the point, in Lady Caroline’s quick wits.”

Mr. Underwood looked over at Lord Heatherton, whose brows had drawn together in a prodigious frown. “What of you, Nana? Will you back our host as well?”

Lord Heatherton shook his head even as he glanced apologetically at the Earl of Walmesley. “No, I shan’t. Elderly ladies are deuced shrewd at ferreting out just what one most particularly wishes to keep close between one’s teeth. One need only consider m’mother to see that.” None of Mr. Underwood’s many persuasions could sway him from his position.

Lord Trilby suggested a round of cards, and the hours were whiled away pleasantly enough in good-natured raillery and respectable stakes. The card game came to an end when the gentlemen were notified of the arrival of their valets.

The gentlemen went their separate ways to dress for dinner. Not one did not wonder what the evening might hold.

Chapter Twenty-four

The snow continued to fall and the temperature to drop. It was thought by those interested in such matters that by late evening a thin cover of winter white might form over the countryside. Lady Caroline, looking out her window at dusk, thought the pristine snow would make the drive between Berwicke and Walmesley breathtakingly lovely in the moonlight.

As she was helped to dress by her maid, Lady Caroline thought she should have been dreading the dinner party at Walmesley more than she was. Strangely enough, as the time to depart approached closer, she began to actually look forward to the appointed hour.

Despite her nervousness at the thought of performing once more for the Grandduchess of Schaffenzeits’ benefit, despite her anxiety over what Mrs. Burlington might feel herself compelled to do, despite her dismay that Lord Hathaway would make up one of the company. Lady Caroline was feeling remarkably cheerful.

The game had become peculiarly intoxicating, she thought. She was to play a gentleman’s intended to fool one person while at the same time pretend to the gentleman that she was not in love with him. It was a thorny role indeed.

At last she added the last touch to her appearance, placing about her neck a diamond-and-emerald necklace. The maid did the clasp and Lady Caroline’s hands slid lightly over the jewels in their settings.

For a long moment Lady Caroline looked at her reflection in the cheval glass. Her fine eyes glowed with satisfaction and excitement, rivaling the sparkle of the emerald ear studs and the jewels about her throat.

“I have seldom seen you appear so lovely, my lady,” her maid said.

Lady Caroline smiled. “Thank you, Spencer.”

That was it, of course. That was the reason she was actually anticipating the evening. She had dressed for Lord Trilby and she knew herself to be at her most beautiful.

Her gleaming chestnut hair was arranged in a flattering knot of curls, soft tendrils escaping to wisp about her brow. She wore an emerald-green satin gown overlaid with silver lace tissue, and it showed her figure to excellent advantage, molding to breast and thigh as she moved. The color emphasized the rise of her creamy throat and shoulders and an elegant show of rounded bosom.

Fräulein Gutenberg would not be the only swan this night.

Spencer handed a velvet cloak to her mistress, which Lady Caroline laid over her arm.

With a departing word to the maid, Lady Caroline gathered up her muff and reticule and went downstairs. She had taken longer with her toilet than was her habit and she fully expected that her aunt would greet her with unbridled impatience.

Lady Caroline swept across the threshold of the drawing room, saying cheerfully, “Here I am at last, Amaris. Now we may be off.”

Mrs. Burlington turned, exclaiming, “My dear Lady Caroline, I was just telling . . . Oh, but you do not know. Only look who is here!”

But Lady Caroline had already seen those standing across the room. “Ned! Lady Eddington!” She left the doorway and went quickly to meet her brother, who stepped forward to greet her. As he caught her hands, she demanded, “Whatever are you doing at Berwicke?”

Lord Eddington laughed at her. “A fine welcome, I must say!” He raised his sister’s hands higher so that he could better admire her attire. “You look as fine as sixpence, Caroline.”

Lady Caroline laughed, disengaging herself so that she could offer a hand to her sister-in-law. “Lady Eddington. I cannot tell you what a welcome surprise this is.” She glanced inquiringly at her brother, then again at Lady Eddington. “But I thought you meant to stay in London for the remainder of the Little Season.”

Lady Eddington flushed slightly. “Our visit was cut short. It proved not to be as convivial as I had hoped it would be.”

Lord Eddington lifted his wife’s small hand and pressed it comfortingly. “Never mind, love. You must not think about it any longer.” He addressed his sister and Mrs. Burlington. “There’s no need to wrap it up in clean linen for you two, I know. The truth of the matter is that the pair of them acted in a deuced scaly fashion toward my lady and I would not tolerate it. Neither of you would believe what that cold fish-eyed harpy had the audacity to say
to her. I was never more inflamed in my life. My lady’s father and I had words, and in the end . . . well, here we are.”

“Oh, no, how dreadful for you both! But you are home now and may be comfortable again,” Mrs. Burlington said. She was immensely pleased by the turn of events. It was a pity, of course, that Lady Eddington had quarreled with her family, but perhaps it was all for the best. Lord and Lady Eddington would not be going up to London as often as they might have done otherwise.

Lady Caroline smiled with ready sympathy at her sister-in-law. “One’s family can be such a trial to one at times. Pray do try to disregard the unpleasantness, for I am certain that your visits will not always be so difficult.”

“Thank you, Lady Caroline.” There was a shadow in Lady Eddington’s expression, but she recognized her sister-in-law’s attempt at kindness for what it was, and her lips curved faintly.

“We were not blue-deviled the whole time. We spent a jolly afternoon at the Tower Zoo. There was Astley’s Circus too, and the theater,” Lord Eddington said, anxious to bring the happy light back to his bride’s eyes.

Lady Eddington awarded his lordship with a widening smile. “Quite true, my lord! We could pass hours enumerating the little pleasures that we enjoyed.”

“We shall have all of tomorrow to visit at our leisure, my lady, but now you and Lord Eddington must hurry and change out of those travel clothes, for we are due at Walmesley for dinner,” Mrs. Burlington said.

“What, is Trilby down from town as well? Well, this is something grand. We shall pay our respects hot-foot,” Lord Eddington said.

“Oh, no! You must not!”

Three pairs of startled eyes found Lady Caroline.

She was embarrassed by her own unthinking discourtesy. Despite her heightened color, she managed to produce a creditable smile. “Lord and Lady Eddington have but just arrived after a long tiring journey, Amaris. I am persuaded that mingling in company this evening is the last thing that they would wish.”

“Now, there you are out, Caroline,” Lord Eddington said frankly. “I am of no mind to kick my heels here and sup on slivers of yesterday’s ham when I could be at Walmesley enjoying a bang-up dinner and cheerful society. It would be just the thing to chase away the pall that has hung over us since leaving London. Do you not agree, my dear love?”

“Oh, yes, indeed! I do adore to be in company,” Lady Eddington said, perceptibly brightening at the thought.

“There! Didn’t I tell you?” Lord Eddington said with satisfaction.

“Really, my lady! It is almost as though you do not
wish
his lordship and dear Lady Eddington to accompany us,” Mrs. Burlington said, her eyes narrowing in speculation.

Lady Caroline felt the situation slipping inexorably away from her, but she made a gallant attempt to salvage it. “The grandduchess is such a high stickler, Amaris, as you well know. I cannot help but wonder whether she would—”

“What grandduchess?” Lord Eddington interrupted. “Oh, I say! Never tell me that old dragon of an aunt of Trilby’s is in England again. I never met her myself, of course, but what one has heard over the years positively curls one’s toes. Why, I would have thought she had perished ages ago!”

“Great-aunt, and her grace is still exceedingly lively,” Lady Caroline corrected, distracted. She could not think what to say to persuade her brother and sister-in-law to remain at Berwicke, but it was of paramount importance that they do so, for their presence at Walmesley could hardly be thought of as a welcome fortuity.

The problem was that dear Ned knew her and her mannerisms too well. It could complicate matters immensely if her brother were to come to suspect that something was afoot between herself and the earl. Lord Eddington’s character did not lead him to indulge in deep reflection. He was more likely to blurt out whatever was on his mind at the most inopportune moment.

“Pray recall, dear niece, that when Lord Hathaway was presented to the Grandduchess of Schaffenzeits, she very graciously extended an invitation to his lordship on the basis of his acquaintance with us. In that light, I do not think there can be the least objection to the inclusion of family members to our party,” Mrs. Burlington said.

Lady Caroline was forced to concede the logic of her aunt’s argument. “Very well, then. We shall all go, if that is truly your wish, Lady Eddington.”

Assured that it was indeed Lady Eddington’s fondest desire, Lady Caroline sighed defeat. She cast a glance at the mantel clock. “Dinner is for ten o’clock, Ned.”

Thus adjured, Lord Eddington reassured his sister that he and his lady would scramble into their evening clothes without delay.

As Lady Eddington accompanied him out of the drawing room, she protested laughingly, “Surely we shall not
scramble,
my lord!”

“Not precisely that, no. Lord, just wouldn’t we look a pair of quizzes with our buttons askew and our shoes mismatched.”

The young couple laughed together as they mounted the stairs. Standing below in the entry hall, Lady Caroline envied their lightheartedness.

Lord Eddington threw back over his shoulder that they should all go together in the large coach. “For I do not mean to ride squeezed up against the window in the smaller carriage, Caroline,” he warned.