Seduce Me Please (10 page)

“
Tell that to my father when he catches me in trousers.” Agnes quipped tartly, linking her arm through Piper’s and dragging her from the room.

…………………………………
..

Piper chewed nervously on her bottom lip as she stared up at the imposing red brick structure. Considering the massive wood door before her, she almost turned and ran in the opposite direction. How hard could it truly be? She drew out a long breath, she could do this. They would walk in, sit down and just listen. It could be construed as scientific research. Nothing more, nothing less. Doubtless, Parker would see her locked away if he became aware of her adventures for the evening.

“
I can’t believe that you talked me into this!” Chester paced agitatedly in front of the townhouse. “Ash is going to kill me. He’s going to kill me for sure!” He kept a white-knuckled grip on his ruby tipped cane as it tapped a distressed beat along the pavement. “Everyone will know right off that you are a woman! You are one of the most beautiful women in the
ton
. I don’t know why I thought this would be a good idea. You are magnificent even as a man and that makes me feel very uncomfortable to say aloud. This was such a bad idea!” He groaned, looking her up and down. “It’s so obvious that you’re a woman.” He pinched the bridge of his nose in defeat. “I’m a dead man.”

Piper closed her eyes, wanting to laugh. “Parker will never know that we were even here, unless
you
say something to him.” She huffed loudly, jabbing her finger into his chest. “I cannot quit this now, Chester,” Piper whispered fiercely, a flush of anticipation stole into her cheeks. “I must know what occurs at this gentlemen’s literary club. I’ve heard it’s the best one in London. How else am I to produce one of my own to rival the men? For goodness sakes, it’s only a book club.” Her hands planted firmly on her hips. “You act as if I am marching into a brothel or gambling hell. Besides, I have already chopped my hair,” she said with an adorably crinkled nose. “There’s no backing out now.” Her lips pursed smugly.

“
Oh Lord, I cannot breath.” Bent at the waist, Chester covered his face with his hands and moaned loudly. “I’m going to have to flee to the continent! Who told you to chop your hair anyway! Ash is definitely going to kill me.” Her reluctant escort groaned. “This was an ill-conceived idea. Nothing good will come from it.”

“
Chester,” Piper hissed through clenched teeth. “I insist you straighten immediately. You are drawing undo attention our way.”

“
You’re supposed to be the reasonable twin,” he hissed back while straightening his waist coat. “What is wrong with you? You are obviously bored because Poppy is married now and you are no longer able to be her mother hen.” Chester huffed. “Please, I beg of you! Do remember when we get inside you are a distant cousin from Devonshire. And make certain you don’t talk too much.” He shook his head in frustration. “Everyone will know you’re a lady if you do. Do you remember the name we picked out?”

“
Chester!” Piper’s jaw tightened. “I’m not a dunderhead. You don’t have to repeat yourself a million times over.” She rolled her eyes heavenward. “
George Smith
. How difficult can it be to remember the name
George Smith
?” She scowled at him. “Your lack of creativity is astounding. If anything, that ridiculously common name you’ve chosen gives this charade away.” She straightened with a determined set to her shoulders. “I’m going to be twenty in a few months and I’m tired of being the reasonable twin. I’m going to take what I want, no questions asked.” With narrowed eyes she looked intently at Chester. “If you can’t handle it, leave now. You can still make your club for some delicious beefsteak and port.” She tapped her foot on the pavement. “Now in reality Chester, wouldn’t you rather be here? Protecting your favorite cousin? Making sure she doesn’t get herself into any serious trouble?”

Chester grumbled. “At the first sign of trouble I am dragging you home. Is that clear? And try to remember that I had to call in favors to be invited to this club tonight.
Everyone
knows I am not the intellectual type.”

“
Quite right,” Piper muttered under her breath. Rubbing her sweating palms on her legs, she relished the freedom afforded by the men’s trousers. With one last apprehensive glance at the daunting structure, she began her slow march up the steps.

Chester reached around her to swing the brass knocker. “Blast! Let’s just get this over with,” he stated grimly as they entered the foyer. “Quit fidgeting.” He huffed. “Only ladies fidget,” he muttered his tone one of immense irritation. “I’m going to be killed. I’m going to be killed. I’m going to die,” he chanted. “I didn’t even get to meet the new opera dancer.” He puffed out a frustrated breath. “You could have at least waited until after we had been introduced.”

“
I hadn’t realized how bothersome you could be. Quit muttering and whining! If you whine like this all the time, that opera dancer wouldn’t give you the time of day anyway,” Piper gritted out. “You’re the one that is going to ruin this masquerade.” She poked him in the rib with her ivory handled cane. “All you can think about is your manly appetites.” Unexpectedly she chuckled. “What about my manly appetites?” She laughed outright at her humorous observation, strutting around with her chest puffed out.

“
I shouldn’t even be talking of such…things with you.” He scrubbed a hand over his face. “How do you manage to make me forget you are a woman half the time?” He had a puzzled look on his face.

“
You sure do know how to make a girl feel special, Chester.” She bit back a grin and pretended to frown. “That is surely why I am practically on the shelf. All the gentlemen forget that I am a woman."

A liveried footman opened the door and bowed them through. Piper removed her hat and unconsciously smoothed her pomaded hair. Hopeful that she would not be recognized, she quietly began scanning the crowd. Her heart thudding loudly in her ears as this was one of the most daring things she had ever done. A whirr of excitement flowed through her veins, reverberating throughout her entire body.

Both released their hats, gloves and canes to the waiting butler and walked into the parlor where rows of seats sat facing a large wooden podium. A large nest of gentlemen holding books flocked together talking, smoking, and imbibing in too much alcohol.

Just as she expected, men have no self-control.

Piper allowed her bespectacled eyes to thoroughly scan the crowded room when all of a sudden her eyes came to a crashing halt.
Blast!
Not ten feet away stood the dramatically golden figure of Lord Rockwell. His familiar face had been imprinted on her mind. She dreamed ne fantasized about him all the time. Rockwell was everything she envisioned a man to be when she lay awake alone at night. He was manly perfection personified, tall, broad and absolutely perfect.

Lately, she hadn’t even been able to keep up with her reading that thought alone made her cringe. She still had three new books stacked high upon her night table. She hadn’t even cracked open their covers yet. Rather appalling, now that she thought on it.

She felt invigorated and frightened at the same time. Luck most definitely was not on her side tonight. She groaned aloud as she quelled a tiny shiver. Grabbing Chester’s arm she hissed worriedly, “You didn’t tell me
he
attended this club.” A nervous fluttering increased in her stomach. “Why didn’t you mention
he
would be here? You know how I feel about him.”

“
Who?” Chester asked his confusion obvious as he glanced around the room.

“
Him!” She jabbed him in the side with her elbow and motioned with her head towards one of the middle rows of seats. Groaning loudly, “What am I going to do?” She forced herself to exhale.

A flicker of surprise showed in his face. “How was I to know he would be here?
I’ve
never been here before. I daresay he won’t even recognize you,” Chester said. “What does it matter if he is here anyway?”

“
You are such a wet goose sometimes, Chester,” Piper muttered, “You know what I’m talking about!” Her eyes devoured him from across the room. “Had you any idea he wore spectacles?” she mused aloud. “I had no idea he wore spectacles.”

Please God, let her fool everyone. This could very well turn into the biggest disaster of her life
. Earlier Chester pointed out that she looked more like a young woman, now that she was dressed as a man. Just this afternoon she had chopped all of her hair with the help of her maid, Bridget, who almost had an apoplexy. She had applied a horrid smelling pomade to tame her unruly curls and now she stood in a room fool of men who hadn’t a clue a woman had infiltrated through sacred meeting. Piper wanted to laugh.

Pulling down on her apple green striped waistcoat, she took a deep, steadying breath before they sat down a few rows behind Rockwell. She grinned at Chester and whispered, “This is so exciting, isn’t it?”

“
No, ‘tis not! Piper, please stop smiling,” Chester ordered with a scowl as he witnessed her dimple peeking out. He groaned into his hand. “This will never work! Let’s just turn around and go home.” He tugged his snowy handkerchief from his jacket pocket and mopped hurriedly at his sweating brow.

She tried to hold back the wide grin that threatened to spread across her face to no avail. “No! And why won’t it work? I’m already having a grand time!” Piper practically bounced in her seat as she attempted to lessen the smile on her face. “I have never done anything this dangerous in my life!” She leaned close. “It’s all so very exhilarating. I can understand why gentlemen enjoy being spies, slithering around in the dark of night. It gets your blood pumping.”

Chester rubbed the bridge of his nose again and hissed, “It won’t work because you are acting like a woman.” He rolled his eyes. “Sit still!” he said through gritted teeth, glancing at her beseechingly. “‘Tis not as dangerous for you as it will be for me the minute Ash finds out! You may be locked in your room, but I will be dead.”

“
You’re such an old stuffed shirt, Chester!” Piper grinned delightedly again. “The only way Parker will find out is if you go and blabber to him. You have always been terrible at keeping secrets.”

Glancing around the room again, she tried to keep her eyes off of
him
but she couldn’t. Her efforts were all in vain. How was it not known that Rockwell belongs to a literary club? She pondered, her eyes moving curiously around the room. There are several important men in this club. Why hasn’t it been bandied about Town? Was there some kind of code? Could it be the spectacles? Perhaps he was not recognized? Impossible! My, he does look quite attractive in spectacles. A beautiful specimen of manliness. Golden. He practically glowed. Tall, large, lean, well-muscled and golden. Sensation upon sensation streaked through her and her heart beat faster with each glance in his direction.

She deliberately sprawled in her chair just as she had witnessed her brothers do numerous times and watched, wriggling around for a moment to make herself more comfortable. She watched Rockwell that is, her gaze never leaving his profile.

She noted how he sat with his ankle crossed over his knee with one arm slung casually over the back of the chair. How he intently considered the book open in his lap. She sighed. Her fingers twitched with the need to brush back the golden lock of hair that fell lazily over his forehead. She could almost feel the silken tendrils sliding through her fingers. She sighed audibly once again. Normally he was so meticulously put together from hair to boot, it was quite intriguing to see him this way; relaxed and mussed. She noticed his hand flung over the back of his chair, a Cabochon ruby ring glinted on his pinky finger. She could almost see the tiny golden hairs on his extremely masculine hands. Such large hands. She shivered. Her scalp tingled. She was doomed. She was infatuated more with him than ever. This was going to be a long season.

Piper squirmed in her seat astonished at how boring this club was. Were all of these gentlemen truly interested in what was being discussed? The speaker just droned on and on and on, not even bothering to look as if he were excited about the topic he was speaking about. She glanced around and realized that more than one gentleman dozed in his seat. Nodding and jerking themselves awake. Their snores punctuating points along with the speaker and no one even bothered to wake them. Why are they here if they are just going to sleep? Maybe this part was just a ruse and later in the evening there would be scintillating talk of debaucheries and such. The waiting was torturous
and her earlier excitement was quickly dwindling.

Blinking, Piper stifled a yawn with her York tan gloved hand. Her head jerked as she nearly dozed off herself. Maybe she shouldn’t be so harsh on the gentlemen?

Her imaginings of the Bradford Literary Club were more exciting than this. Men always acted as if everything they did was
so
much more exciting and important. She was doing her best to ignore the speakers’ monotone voice but it was practically impossible. She peeped at Rockwell from beneath her lashes and he actually appeared to be engrossed with the topic of discussion. How tedious this all was, she thought, attempting, but failing to stifle a yawn once again. Crossing and uncrossing her legs multiple times just to stay awake. Why even in the ladies literary club there were more exciting novels discussed. Why the last novel discussed was
Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus
. The author of that book at least had a marvelous imagination. Oh why couldn’t they be discussing a travel book or even a military memoir?