Scandal By The Ton (5 page)

"We've only just met, but already I know that I adore you, my dear."

"This is my first venture into Society. Would you introduce me to some of the other ladies?"

"My pleasure. You've already met Lady Georgina, so let me make you known to her married sisters. This is Charlotte, Countess of March, and Louisa, Lady Cornwallis."

"I'm so pleased to meet you." Julia smiled at Louisa. "I see your resemblance to Georgina."

"That is a lovely compliment, since Georgina is the beauty of the family."

"Georgina
thinks
she's the beauty of the family," Charlotte declared. "She manages to delude herself every day of her life. I'm the eldest and know all my sisters' foibles."

Louisa winked at Julia. "Delusion runs in the family."

Promptly at ten, Nicholas Royston, presented himself to Julia and offered her his arm. "I believe the supper room has just been opened. There is always a mad dash at Lady Gordon's entertainments. After the salmon and the famous whiskey punch, inhibitions are lowered and the Scottish reels begin."

Julia took his arm and they followed Lord Holland and his wife into the supper room.

At Royston's direction, a footman poured a cup of punch and handed it to Julia.

"Are you hoping to lower my inhibitions, my lord?"

"I am." He touched his glass cup to hers. "Bottoms up!"

Dottie overheard their exchange and reached for her own whiskey punch. "Once the Scottish dancing starts, it'll be
kilts up
and you'll be treated to a number of bare arses, Julia."

She almost choked on her punch. "That sounds more like a treatment than a treat."

Royston's lips twitched. "Ah, you've seen some of them."

As she had earlier, she whispered, "You've uncovered my secret."

The absurdity of her provocative remark prompted them both to laugh. "'Tis easy to see you've spent a lot of time with your grandmother. Like her, you have a ribald sense of humor."

"There's so much to laugh at." Julia moved down the buffet table, filling her plate with iced shortbread, chocolate bon-bons and
petit fors,
then she selected some black olives."

"You have an eclectic taste-- the sweet with the tart."

She gave him a sideways glance. "Yes, and not only in food."

A short time later, strains of a Scottish strathspey could be heard from the ballroom, and the guests left the supper room
en masse.
When Julia began to follow, Nicholas took her arm to stay her. When they were alone, his arms slipped around her and he drew her close. He dipped his head and took possession of her lips. He kissed her slowly, softly, but thoroughly.

He withdrew his mouth a few inches. "Sweet... and tart."

It was her first kiss, and she'd wanted it to go on forever.

He touched a curl at her temple. "Would you allow me to escort you to the theatre?"

When she hesitated, Nicholas added, "Of course, I include your grandmother in the invitation." He wanted them to be seen in public together. Claire Shelborne's friends would delight in telling her.

Chapter Five

In the carriage on the way home Julia looked at her grandmother who sat with closed eyes. "Don't pretend sleep; I know better. Were you aware that Nicholas Royston would be there tonight?"

Without opening her eyes, Dottie declared, "I didn't have an inkling. It was Providence."

"Divine destiny. Well, you are half right, he is divine."

"Yes, I rather think he's splendid myself."

"But I suspect you encouraged our friendship for your own amusement."

"
Au contraire,
I did it for your amusement."

"He was extremely charming, but his interest in me could be prompted by revenge against my mother."

"Well, I don't mind helping him. I hope she's racked with remorse and jade green with jealousy when she finds out."

"But how will she find out?"

"I shall probably inadvertently let it slip."

"There will be nothing inadvertent about it. It will be deliberate, and you will relish doing it."

"Ah, Julia my dear, you know me so well."

They stepped out of the carriage, and Dottie used her key to open the front door.

Claire was standing in the reception hall, her face livid with anger. "Where the devil have you been? Toby didn't return for me, and I had to prevail upon Lavinia's coachman to bring me home!"

"I accompanied grandmother to an entertainment given by the Duchess of Gordon."

"Surely not one of her balls?"

"Balls? Yes, we saw lots of them during the Scottish reels," Dottie confirmed, "some as big as swan's eggs!"

Claire gasped. "You vulgar old woman, have you no
shame
?"

"Blame? Yes, I accept the blame for taking Julia. When I introduced her to Royston, he was astounded that you had a nineteen-year-old daughter."

Claire's arm went up as if she was about to strike her mother, but Dottie raised her ebony cane, and then used it to blithely salute her daughter. "We bid you goodnight." She pointed to the stairs. "After you, Julia."

When they were upstairs, Julia shook her head. "I haven't heard the last of this."

"Don't tiptoe around her as if she's unexploded ordnance."

"Don't worry, no matter how hard she pulls the strings, my arms won't move."

"Nicholas Royston said he'd invited you to the theatre on Wednesday, and told me you would prefer it if I came along. 
Would
you prefer it?"

"Yes. I need you as a buffer between us to keep him at arm's length. I didn't tell you, but after I delivered the column on Monday morning, Lord Royston was waiting for me outside the building. He grabbed me and thrust me into his carriage, demanding to know who paid me to deliver
Scandal by the Ton.
I was dressed as
George
the newsboy and managed to escape, but not before he realized I was a female."

"What fun. Admit the truth and shame the Devil-- you are enjoying this game!"

"Yes, but I know I'm courting danger. Behind the laughter is the fear that he'll recognize me."

"Put your fears away. I'll deliver the column on Monday."

"Bless you." Julia kissed her cheek. "Goodnight, Grandma; thank you for a lovely evening."

Early the next morning, Julia was awakened when her mother invaded her bedchamber, and swished back the drapes to let in the sunshine.

With hands on hips, Claire demanded, "Where is it? I want to see it."

Julia blinked and sat up in bed. "What is it you want to see, Mother?"

"The gown you wore. When you arrived home at that ungodly hour, your cloak covered it."

Slowly, Julia arose from bed and padded over to her wardrobe. She opened the door, and took out the white tulle gown. She was taken off guard when her mother snatched it from its hanger.

"It's totally unsuitable for a girl your age. The fashion is daring beyond words."

"I disagree. Lady Georgina Gordon wore an almost identical dress, and I'm quite fond of it." Julia raised her hand to take back possession of the gown, but her mother refused to let go, and the diaphanous material tore.

Claire immediately grabbed the torn dress and ripped the material with a vengeance. She flung the pieces to the carpet.

Julia stared at her mother in horror. "Do you feel better now?" she asked quietly.

"Decidedly better." Claire turned on her heel and left the room.

Julia bent and picked up the pieces. Her throat ached with unshed tears, not because of the gown, but because of her mother's vengeful retribution.

When she took breakfast with her grandmother, she kept silent about what had happened. "Since we've accepted Lord Royston's invitation to the theatre, I'm afraid I'll have to go shopping again, since I've nothing suitable to wear." Julia sipped her chocolate. "I wish the stipend I received for writing the column was enough to pay for my clothes. Until now I've always spent it on books."

"We'll go shopping today. Moreover, we'll stop at Coutts Bank, and I shall open an account for you. That way you can select and pay for your own clothes, since I suspect Claire will only buy you dresses suitable for a fourteen-year-old."

"That's very generous of you, Dottie."

"Nonsense, money is for spending, especially if it brings pleasure."

On Wednesday evening, Julia donned one of the new outfits she'd picked out at Madam Martine's in Bond Street. It was a cream colored silk trimmed with jade green, and it had a matching brocade green cloak. Dottie presented her with a pair of jade and diamond ear drops, which looked perfect with her upswept hair that had one long curl falling to her shoulder.

Her grandmother was wearing gray that contrasted with the red wig she had donned. "I want to be sure every eye is drawn to Lord Royston's box at Covent Garden tonight."

"I can't wait. The paper says that George Frederick Cooke's portrayal of Richard III is the best since Garrick," Julia said.

"That remains to be seen-- I saw Garrick," Dottie declared. "I asked Dora to keep watch for Royston's carriage. We don't want the poor devil to come face-to-face with Claire, although now that I think of it, that would be rather amusing to watch."

"It wouldn't amuse me much. It's almost time. Shall we go down and wait, and then as soon as he arrives we can slip out the front door?"

The plan worked like a charm. Nicholas helped the two ladies into the carriage and sat down beside Dottie, so he had an unimpaired view of Julia. "You look lovely tonight."

"Yes, I do, don't I?" Dottie straightened her red wig, and Nicholas and Julia exchanged amused glances.

When they arrived at Covent Garden, Lord Royston took the arm of each lady and led the way to his box. Julia allowed the viscount to remove her cloak before she took her seat, and was acutely aware that his dark eyes swept over her with approval, missing no finest detail.

Dorothy sat next to Julia, so that her granddaughter would be between herself and Nicholas. She lifted her opera glasses to scrutinize the occupants of the other boxes that were all brilliantly lit with gaslight.

Nicholas took his seat and offered Julia a program. "Are you familiar with the play?"

"Yes. Richard III is a tragedy.
Now is the winter of our discontent, Made glorious summer by this sun of York.
The amazing thing about Shakespeare is how it has held up through the centuries. The opening speech reveals Richard's jealousy and ambition, as his brother rules the country successfully."

"I am impressed by your grasp of Shakespeare," Nicholas admitted.

Julia smiled. "I have aspirations to become a writer, though of course I know my limitations."

"The hobby of writing is commendable. Most young ladies are only interested in matrimony."

"I think of it as a profession, rather than a hobby. I have no interest in marriage."

"You cannot be serious?"

"Perfectly serious. I would much prefer to become a writer and take lovers." Julia hoped she had confounded him.
In truth I am basking in his attention. His overt masculinity attracts me like a lodestone. I mustn't let him know how he affects me.

She turned to her grandmother. "Isn't that Charles James Fox in the box opposite?"

"It is indeed. That is his light o' love, Elizabeth Armistead." Dottie lowered her voice. "She's slept with just about every famous man in England. Remind me to give you a list when we get home."

The lights went down and the curtain opened. Julia sat forward, her attention focused on the actors, absorbing the history play that was unfolding on stage.

Nicholas Royston watched her with pleasure. He was amazed that this captivating, intelligent beauty was Claire Shelborne's daughter. He realized that taking revenge on the woman was becoming thoroughly enjoyable.

After the second act, when the lights went up, two young men entered the box. "Nick, I demand an introduction to this beauteous young woman. Where have you been hiding her?"

"This is my brother, Michael. I'm delighted to introduce Lady Julia Shelborne, our neighbor in Hertfordshire."

Julia held out her hand. "How do you do, Mr. Royston, your reputation precedes you."

Mick took her fingers to his lips. "Ah, you read the scandal sheets."

Nicholas gave him a quelling look. "And this lady is Dorothy Ashridge."

Michael said gallantly, "I could never forget seeing Mrs. Ashridge in Hertfordshire."

"Yes," Dottie said dryly, "we've had intercourse upon occasion."

Mick laughed. "Your wit is only exceeded by your beauty, ma'am."

The tall young man with him cleared his throat and Michael said, "Allow me to present you to Prince William, Lady Julia."