Scandal of the Season (22 page)

“Put the pistol in your reticule,” he said. “That way if we need a weapon during dinner, we have one.”

Victoria did as he ordered and they left for the dining room. They ate a quick meal of cider and meat pies. She noticed the way Somerton constantly scanned the room. From what she could see, there was no one here from the party. He finished dinner and rose.

“Stay here for a moment. I need to speak with the innkeeper.”

Victoria finished her meat pie and cider. Somerton returned and sat back down.

“Well?” she asked.

“Only three other people have arrived to stay the night. Now that it’s dark, it’s highly unlikely many other people will come. The innkeeper pointed out the newer people. None of them were at the party.”

Victoria breathed a small sigh of relief but knew Ancroft was across the street and someone might be there.

A soft knock finally rapped on their door at ten that evening. Anthony walked to the door, opened it barely a crack and then let Nicholas inside.

“What did you discover?” Anthony asked as soon as Nicholas had taken a seat by the fire.

“That it’s damned cold outside.” Nicholas looked abashed when Victoria cleared her throat. “I apologize, Miss Seaton.”

“Was Hardy there?” she asked and then joined the men closer to the fire.

“No.”

“Did you see anyone you recognized?” Anthony pressed.

“Only Lady Farleigh.”

“Lady Farleigh? Why the devil was she at the inn when there were still two more days to her party?” Anthony stood and paced by the fire.

“She received a note this morning that her sister, Mrs. Hatfield, is very ill. They don’t expect her to last the week. Lady Farleigh was distraught when she entered the inn with her maid.”

Anthony nodded. He’d met Mrs. Hatfield several times and she had never been in the best of health. “Poor Hannah. I know she loves her sister.”

“So what do we do now?” Victoria asked.

“We go back to town and let Ainsworth handle this,” Anthony said with a shrug.

“Good night, then,” Nicholas said and left the room.

While Victoria slept, Anthony paced the room again. Something felt wrong. Not just the slight twinge Anthony usually had when something wasn’t right. He had missed something on this case. Of course, he had no one but himself to blame. He had let Victoria preoccupy his brain and other parts of him during the entire mission.

Once he returned her to her home on Maddox Street, he could get her out of his mind. He sank into the chair by the fireplace and raked his fingers through his hair. Just bringing her home would never get her out of his mind. He had to figure out what to do.

Marriage was out of the question. With her background, he would only sink lower in the eyes of Society if her secret became public. A part of him did not care. But another part knew he had an obligation to marry an upstanding woman who could give him heirs.

He stared over at her asleep on the bed. He knew she still held secrets from him just as he did with her. Perhaps that alone was telling. If they couldn’t be perfectly honest with each other then perhaps they were not meant to be anything but lovers. Not that he would ever be able to tell even his wife the truth about his mother.

That scandal could never get out.

His mother was right. He needed a respectable woman. Perhaps Victoria would agree to become his mistress until he married. He’d made the decision long ago that he would never keep a mistress once he married. After seeing what that situation did to his mother, he couldn’t do the same thing to his wife.

Looking over at Victoria, he knew she would never agree to become his mistress. She had the responsibilities of the orphans she cared for. Once they arrived in London, their time together would be done.

Knowing tonight might be his last night with her, he slowly stripped off his clothing. He wanted to make love to her, watch her face as she reached her passion. Love her one last time.

Victoria awoke to a strong hand on her breast and warm lips on her neck. His thumb stroked her nipple until it rose up for him. She moaned softly as he moved his lips to her ear and gently pulled her lobe into his mouth.

She rolled over on her back and gazed at Anthony’s intense face. The look on his face made her quiver with desire. His gaze followed her neck down to her breasts and lower still.

“Anth—”

He cut off her question with a kiss that stole her breath. His tongue slashed hers with passion and heat. Rolling on top of her, he moved his mouth to cover her nipple with moist heat. She arched and moaned as he suckled her deeply.

She never wanted this to end. The sensation of him being on top of her, his mouth on her. He slid his tongue down her belly until he reached her folds. When his mouth touched her there, she was lost. Her desire doubled as he slipped a finger into her wetness.

She gripped the sheets when she felt the passionate sensations building deeper inside her. He wasn’t going to stop, and she could no longer control the feelings. Closing her eyes, she shattered from the upheaval he caused in her.

Lying back on the bed, her breathing shallow and fast, she opened her eyes to see him smiling down at her. But before he could enter her, she wrestled him over on his back. He arched an eyebrow at her but said nothing.

Kissing him, she tasted herself on his tongue. Tonight she wanted to taste him and give him as much pleasure as he had given her. She slid her hand up his erection as she brought his nipple into her mouth. Hearing the groan from him, she grew bolder, letting her fingers caress him from top to bottom. She continued her downward path with her mouth, across his chest and to the muscles of his stomach. He clenched his muscles when her mouth found its intended target.

Bringing her mouth down on him excited her even more. She slid him in and out, loving the sensation of his hard shaft against her tongue. His moan of pleasure sent moist heat to her folds.

With a groan, he moved her off him and rolled her onto her back. He filled her completely. He thrust into her over and over until the waves of pleasure washed over her again. He stilled his actions and followed her over the peak of desire.

Victoria rolled off him and turned away from him. Her breath caught in her throat when she realized why their lovemaking felt more intense. It wasn’t just that she loved him.

It was their last time together.

Tomorrow, she would return home and back to the routine of caring for the children. He would return to his home and probably start his search for a wife.

A respectable woman.

Something she would never be.

But she was strong and no matter what, she would not cry in front of him. She’d had no expectation of marriage. The simple reality was she was not the type of woman a peer married. She was the type of woman a peer kept as a mistress.

He turned on his side and pulled her close to him. Wrapping his arm around her, he said nothing. They both knew this was their last night. They both knew nothing more would ever come of their relationship.

After an unbearable ride back to London, Anthony watched as Victoria stepped down from the carriage. He fisted his hands in frustration. She looked back at him when she reached the door to her home. She gave him a forced smile then walked inside.

He moved to chase after her, but restrained himself. Tomorrow he would return with the money he owed her for the job and to pick up his sister’s necklace.

“Where would you like to go, sir?” the driver asked.

“White’s.”

“Yes, sir.”

He would send a note to Ainsworth to meet him there. Then after his meeting, he planned to get completely and utterly drunk. There had to be a way to numb his heartache. Somehow, he had to forget her.

He walked into White’s a few minutes later and found a quiet table in a corner. After sending the note to Ainsworth, he glanced around the room glad to see no one he cared to speak with today.

Ainsworth arrived in his typical fashion, quietly slipping into the seat across from him. And getting straight to the point. “Did you find the missive?”

“Yes.” He slid it across the table and watched Ainsworth’s white brows furrow.

Ainsworth looked up. “Did you see who gave him the note?”

“A footman in service for the Farleigh’s. I don’t believe he had anything to do with it. There is a woman involved but I am not sure how. Personally, I believe the note may have come from Lord Brentwood.”

Ainsworth took a long draught of whisky. “Brentwood? Why?”

“None of this makes any sense to me, Ainsworth. The only person at the party high enough for a succession possibility was Lord Ancroft. I can personally vouch for Ancroft.”

“Are you certain about Ancroft?”

“I have known him since Eton and would bet my life on it.”

“So was he assisting you at the party?”

Anthony knew Ainsworth wouldn’t like the answer. “Yes. He helped me keep an eye on Hardy.”

Ainsworth leaned forward and whispered harshly, “You let a possible suspect assist you?”

“I trust him with my life.” Anthony picked up the whisky bottle and poured a large glass for himself.

“You are getting sloppy, boy. Do you think I don’t know that you brought a woman with you, too?”

Damn. He should have known Ainsworth would have another man there. “There was no other way I could attend that party. Lord Farleigh has always been jealous of Hannah and I. So I brought a woman who pretended to be my mistress.”

“Pretended, my arse.” Ainsworth chortled.

“Who was your other man?”

“Brentwood.”

“What?”

“And as you say, I trust Brentwood with my life.” Ainsworth picked up his glass and sipped. “He arrived in London an hour ago after following Hardy from the party.”

That at least explained all the conversations Brentwood was attempting to have with Hardy. Conversations that Anthony should have been having if he hadn’t been so obsessed with Victoria.

Anthony shook his head. None of this made any sense. “Now what?”

“Hardy will be arrested. This would have gone much better if we knew who gave him the note. Now we shall have to coerce the information out of Hardy.”

“Do you want me to continue?” Anthony felt responsible for not doing as thorough of a job as he usually did for Ainsworth.

“I might need to call on you again.” Ainsworth put up his hand to stop Anthony from interrupting him. “Only to complete this job. Then I know you are finished.”

“Thank you.”

“I kept you longer than most of my peers because you have been one of the best. But I understand you have responsibilities to your family. A wife to find. And children to have. You’re not my first peer, Somerton. I know how long I usually have with them, and I should never have kept you this long.”

Anthony nodded. Until Brentwood’s name was mentioned, Anthony had no idea that Ainsworth had several peers working for him. It made sense. A titled gentleman could go places many others could not. Ainsworth patted him on the shoulder and left.

One drink had not even started to numb Anthony’s heart so he poured another glass and sipped it slowly. When he reached for the bottle to refill his glass a fourth time, Lord Selby sat down across from him.

“You look like hell, Somerton.”

Bloody hell. Now he had Selby here to once again tell him how wonderful married life was. “Go away, Selby.”

Selby only laughed. “I’ve known you for years. And yet, I don’t ever remember seeing you look so miserable. Nor have I ever seen you foxed.”

“I am not foxed.” He knew it would take much more alcohol to get him there.

“Perhaps not yet.” Selby picked up the bottle and poured a glass for himself. “But you are at least halfway there.”

“Go home to your wife.”

“I would love to but she is visiting with her Spinster Club friends at my sister’s house.”

Anthony closed his eyes against the pain of knowing exactly where Victoria was then. “Since three of the five women are married, perhaps it is time to rename the club.”

Selby laughed. “I suppose since I named them the Spinster Club, I should be the one to rename them. Hmm, perhaps ‘The Ladies of Scandal’ or ‘The Scandalous Ladies’ Club’.”

“I don’t believe all five have had a scandal,” Anthony reasoned.

“Well, there is my wife. Yes, she qualifies. My sister, there is another one. Lady Elizabeth is the newest member of the group. That leaves the Misses Seaton and Reynard. Miss Reynard reads peoples futures and is the illegitimate daughter of an unnamed earl. So she just makes the qualifications for the club. The only person who doesn’t seem to fit in with these scandalous ladies is Miss Seaton. But if she continues to associate with the other ladies, it’s bound to happen.”

If he only knew, thought Anthony. Between being a pickpocket and going away with him as his mistress, Victoria would be the president of the club.

“So now, back to you. What fine lady has you drinking at the early hour of five in the afternoon?” Selby asked, then helped himself to more whisky.

“No lady has done this to me nor will a lady ever do this to me.” Anthony slammed down his glass on the table.

“I would have said the same thing two years ago. And I never would have believed that Avis Copley would be the woman to bring me down.” Selby shrugged and then laughed. “But it was damned worth it.”

Anthony’s hand gripped his glass so tightly he thought it might break.

“Tell me, Somerton. Did Miss Reynard match you with someone?”

“Bloody hell,” he mumbled then rose from his seat. That explained why she wouldn’t give him Victoria’s name. Sophie always said the timing had to be perfect or things would not work out. “I am going to kill her.”

Selby laughed. “I knew you had that look. I had a feeling about you and Miss Reynard.”

“What the bloody hell are you talking about, Selby?”

“You and Miss Reynard. I’ve seen the looks you two give each other. And I’ve seen you sneaking out of rooms at the same time.”

“Go to the devil, Selby.”

Anthony stormed out of White’s and took a hackney to see his half sister. He pounded on the door until her butler finally answered.

“Good evening, Lord Somerton.”

He pushed past the butler. “Where is she?”

“She is out, my lord.”

Dammit! Selby had told him the ladies were at Lady Blackburn’s home. “I shall wait for her.”

He walked down the hall to the small parlor she kept for meeting her clients. A footman entered behind him and moved to light a fire.

“Bring me some whisky and a glass,” he ordered. Each moment that passed, his anger and frustration grew. Selby had best be wrong. But as time passed, Anthony started to believe this was Sophie’s doing.

After an hour of drinking more whisky and waiting, he heard the front door open. A low murmur of voices echoed down the hall until the soft click of her heels rang out on the marble floor. He crossed his arms over his chest as she entered the room.

“I heard I have company at this late hour.” She sat down on the sofa and stared at him. “What do you want, Anthony?”

“Did you match us?”

She gave him a sardonic smile. “I don’t do the matching. I just know whether or not the couple belongs together.”

His anger at her vague answer rose. “Did you?” he shouted.

A footman ran down the hall to the room. “Is everything all right, ma’am?”

“There are no problems here. I can handle Lord Somerton, Wills. Now shut the door behind you.”

“Yes, ma’am.” The door closed firmly behind the young man.

“Anthony, if you fell in love with her it is probably because you put yourself in a situation that would have anyone thinking about sex and love. Yet you believe I matched you two? According to you, I have no powers.”

Hearing the words he’d spoken in anger to her when she was trying to match Lady Elizabeth only increased his ire. There were times he wanted to hate his half sister. Times when he wanted to blame her for what happened between his mother and father. But he knew it wasn’t her fault, only theirs.

He looked over at her and noticed a touch of sadness in her gray eyes. “She and I both know it’s not meant to be. We are from completely different backgrounds.”

“If you love her, it shouldn’t matter.” Sophie brushed a tear from her cheek. “Look at Elizabeth.”

He shook his head. “No, the old duke never publicly denied Elizabeth was his daughter. So in the eyes of the
ton,
she was the duke’s daughter. This situation is entirely different. And you know it.”

“She needs you, Anthony.” Sophie paused. “And you need her.”

“I won’t ruin Genna’s chances for a good match. She deserves that after growing up without a mother.” He had to get out of here. He rose to leave the room but Sophie’s words stuck in his head. “Besides, I would only hurt her.”

“You already have. You need her, Anthony.”

“I cannot,” he said, pounding a fist on the door.

“She might just save you,” Sophie whispered.

Anthony spun around and looked at his half sister again. “Save me from what?”

“Yourself.”

Victoria finally arrived back home at six. The children were still excited by her return and they wouldn’t leave her alone. Especially Bronwyn. Victoria promised Bronwyn they would read together after all the other children were in bed.

But first, Victoria had to catch up on what had been happening. Christopher and Katherine, the two youngest children had been taken to an aunt’s house while she was gone.

“Maggie, are you certain this woman was their aunt?”

“Yes, and she said she would be happy to meet with you upon your return. It took her a fortnight to hear about the fire and then another month to discover what happened to the children. But Christopher recognized her.”

“Very well. I will send her a letter requesting a meeting in the morning.”

A knock sounded on the front door. Cautiously, Victoria looked out and then sighed when she noticed Sophie there. Opening the door, she said, “What are you doing here?”

“I think you know.”

“Come on in. Are you here to take one of my children too?”