The Irish Duke (15 page)

Louisa banished the image of Abercorn and her sister as she had last seen them at Woburn’s lake. She tried to focus on the dancing ladies of the chorus, as they explained in song what was about to happen. But her attention kept straying to the man sitting behind her. His close proximity was a compelling force that seemed to engulf her. Her heart hammered in her breast and her pulse raced erratically. With difficulty she forced her concentration back to the stage, but she pictured Abercorn in the role of the strutting brigand and totally lost the thread of the story. Frustrated and annoyed, she vowed to come and see the musical play again.

When the final curtain descended and the thunderous applause died down, the Duchess of Bedford invited James Hamilton back to Belgrave Square for a late supper.

“Thank you, Your Grace. Unfortunately, I have a previous engagement.”

Louisa heaved a sigh of relief. But as she eyed him making his way backstage, her relief evaporated and was replaced by indignation.
I warrant his previous engagement is with a chorus girl!

 

“I thoroughly enjoyed the play.” James helped Kitty into her cloak. “I had no trouble picking you out in the chorus.”

“With flaming hair like mine, how could you?”

A short walk from Covent Garden Theatre led them to a small hotel on Bedford Street with a private dining room. James was amused when his companion stared about in awe of her surroundings. When she saw only men at the tables, she hesitated. “Are you sure, Lord James?”

“I’m quite sure, Kathleen. Please call me James.”

“I’ll call you James, if you’ll call me Kitty.”

“That’s a deal. What would you like to eat?”

“You order for me. I’ll have the same as you.”

James ordered lamb cutlets with mint sauce. It came with new potatoes, baby carrots, and a green salad. He also ordered a bottle of claret. Kitty had a healthy appetite, and James enjoyed watching her eat. As he drank his wine, his thoughts went back to the meeting he’d had with his Irish attorney Rowan Maloney when he reached his majority.

Though he had inherited his grandfather’s titles when he was seven, the deeds to Barons Court and the other properties in Ireland, England, and Scotland had been held in trust until he turned twenty-one. The income from these properties would now come directly to him rather than his legal guardian, the Earl of Aberdeen.

James had been pleasantly surprised when his attorney handed him a letter from his grandfather to be read when he reached his majority. The patriarch had attached few strings to his bequests, but he had revealed a secret on the second page:

“Kathleen . . . Kitty, now that you’ve had a taste of
wicked London
, as you call it, would you like to return to Barons Court?”

“Oh no, m’lord, I mean James. I absolutely love London! Barons Court is a lovely place, especially for a visit, but I couldn’t live there . . . not after living in London.”

“Well then, I want you to think of it as a safe haven—if you ever need one. You will always be welcome there.”

“Thank you, James. That is most kind and generous.”

“Your mother would never approve of the lodging house where you are living. I want to take you back there to pick up your things. Then I’ll take you to my townhouse until we can find a more suitable place for you.” To forestall her refusal, he had thought up a ready lie. “My attorney in Ireland has informed me that my grandfather bequeathed you a small allowance once you turned eighteen, which I must administer. There can be no better use for it than providing you with a decent, safe place to live.”

“Your grandfather? The only thing I remember about him was his curly beard.”

“You were very young when he died. He left an annuity for his loyal housekeeper and a small allowance for you.”

She gave him a skeptical smile. “I’ll believe you—thousands wouldn’t.”

He glanced at her ruefully. “You can see through my subterfuge.”

“It’s very generous of you, James. I don’t know what to say.”

Abercorn grinned. “Say:
I will leave everything in your capable hands, James.”

Kitty gave him a seductive smile. “It will be my special pleasure to leave everything in your capable hands, James.”

“I
m so glad I was able to persuade your father to acquire this spacious house in Belgrave Square two years ago. The townhouse in St. James’s didn’t even have a ballroom.”

Georgina fastened Louisa’s diamond necklace, then did the same for Georgy.

A knock came on the bedchamber door, and Louisa opened it to find her brother Edward dressed in his naval uniform. “Oh, how very smart you look, Lieutenant Russell. Thank you for coming.”

“Wouldn’t miss my sisters’ debutante ball. I see Jack is here, but do you know if Charles is coming?”

“Jack will be returning to Woburn tomorrow. But Charles arrived from Oxford last night. He passed his examinations with flying colors,” his mother said proudly.

“That means he’ll soon be wearing a uniform. Lord knows why he prefers the army.”

“Cavalry, I warrant. He’s mad about horses,” Lu explained.

“Well, at least we agree he’s mad,” Georgy quipped. “I expect your friend Teddy Holland will be here tonight, Edward?”

“Yes, it will be like an Oxford reunion. George Grey will be here, and James Hamilton.”

“We saw Abercorn at the theater recently. When I sent his invitation, I included one for his brother, Claud.” Georgina glanced in the mirror and tucked in an errant curl.

Louisa’s heart began to pound
. Oh Mother, I wish you hadn’t invited Abercorn.

“Our guests will be arriving any moment. Your father has already gone downstairs to greet them.” She left and came back again. “Before I forget, your subscriptions for Almack’s arrived today, so don’t forget to be gracious to Sarah Jersey and Emily Cowper.”

“I hope Wriothesley is late,” Georgy told Edward. “I’d much rather you promenaded us around the ballroom to thank everyone for coming. The Reverend Bloody Russell is sure to put a damper on everyone’s fun.”

Edward winked. “The rectory at Chenies is quite a distance from London. He could very well be late arriving.”

“Shame on the pair of you,” Lu declared, trying not to laugh. “Perhaps we can persuade him to leave off his clerical collar.”

“I need a drink,” Edward declared. “I’ll meet you in the ballroom.”

“Lu, did you know that Lady Cowper has been Lord Palmerston’s mistress for years?” Georgy was fixated on the
ton’s
indiscretions.

“Where on earth do you hear all these salacious rumors?”

“I listen in when Mother and Lady Holland are talking. No one is spared. They gossip about everyone.” Georgy looked in the mirror. “Your dress is prettier than mine.” Louisa’s ball gown was blush pink, with tiny rosebuds around its décolleté neckline. The bodice was gathered in tiny pleats. Georgy, as usual, had chosen blue.

“You look lovely,” Lu reassured her. “Remember that gentlemen prefer blue.”

“Males have no interest in how a female dresses whatsoever . . . only in the way she undresses.” Georgy laughed. “Are you ready to parade your charms on the marriage market?”

Louisa shuddered. “I shall never be ready for that, I’m afraid.”

“Don’t be such a prude, Lu. Let me at ’em!”

With a sister on each arm, First Lieutenant Edward Russell slowly circled the ballroom. Georgy and Louisa greeted their guests and thanked them for coming. Two hundred invitations had been sent out, and by the looks of the crowd, most had accepted.

When they encountered Lord and Lady Cowper, the sisters curtsied. “Thank you for our subscription to Almack’s, my lady,” Lu murmured. She took a surreptitious glance at the earl.

“Lady Louisa, it is my distinct pleasure to approve you and your sister for membership.”

When they moved on, Georgy said, “One look at Peter Cowper tells you why Emily prefers Palmerston’s bed.”

In answer, Louisa merely rolled her eyes.

Edward stopped before Wriothesley and his wife Eliza, who had finally arrived.

“Georgy—Louisa, I apologize profusely for being late. The carriages are backed up to Kensington Road. I had no idea there would be such a crush.”

“Don’t worry about being late, Reverend. I stepped in and took over your duties.”

Louisa stood on tiptoe to kiss her brother’s cheek. “Take no notice of him, Wrioth. Edward was dying to show off his new uniform. You look lovely, Eliza. Thank you both for coming.”

Georgy looked pointedly at her eldest brother’s clerical collar. “I’m sure Father would be happy to lend you one of his neck cloths.”

“That remark was unworthy of you, Georgy,” Wriothesley scolded. Both Louisa and Edward had the decency to flush.

It took the best part of an hour for the sisters to greet everyone in the ballroom. Then came the ritual first dance. The Earl of Bedford partnered his eldest daughter, while Lord John did the honors with Lady Louisa.

“I predict a most successful season, Lu. There’s a plethora of bachelors here to partner you.”

“I’d much rather dance alone. I don’t enjoy following a man’s lead.”

Johnny smiled at her. “Someday you’ll meet your match and all that will change.”

He saw Abercorn across the room. “Perhaps sooner than you think.”

Lu deftly changed the subject. “Congratulations on your appointment as paymaster of the forces, Johnny.”

“Being a personal friend of the prime minister has its rewards.”

“You know damn well you got the appointment on your own merits. Politics is your great passion. I warrant that’s why you never married.”

“Is that a fact? It just so happens I have my eye on a very pretty widow. And since you brought up the subject of marriage, I know it is anathema to you, but your parents have high hopes for you. Don’t reject out of hand all the proposals you’ll receive.”

“Johnny, are you in love?” she asked eagerly.

“Why do you ask?”

“I once thought I was in love with Edwin Landseer,” she confessed. “But it turned out to be a silly infatuation.”

Johnny frowned. “He didn’t make advances toward you, did he?”

“Good heavens, no! Lanny has always behaved like a perfect gentleman.”
For which I shall be eternally grateful. It was wicked of me to suspect he was having an affair with Mother.

The Duke of Bedford and Lord John switched partners, so that Lady Louisa could be partnered by her father in the first dance of the ball. She saw his mouth tighten and knew his leg was paining him.

Her father stopped before James Hamilton. “Abercorn, I relinquish my daughter into your safekeeping.”

Louisa was speechless as the dark Irish devil took her hand in his and slipped his other arm around her. “You look extremely beautiful tonight.”

She knew she should accept the compliment graciously or at least smile, but she could not bring herself to respond in any way. In a separate part of her mind, she acknowledged that he was an accomplished dancer and in spite of herself she was swept back to the night of the kissing dance. She stiffened with resistance.

“Lady Louisa, you are radiating hostility toward me, yet I can think of no reason why you should be bristling with animosity. Would you care to enlighten me?”

She raised her lashes and glared into his dark eyes. “The afternoon of the Woburn hunt I saw you at the lake with my sister.”

James was taken aback. He had no idea anyone, let alone Louisa, had witnessed his encounter with Georgy. “When I returned from the hunt I went for a swim in the lake. I came upon your sister by accident. We were both acutely embarrassed.”

“You didn’t exact a price for returning her necklace?” she demanded.

“If that’s what you think—if that’s what you truly think of me, we can never be friends.” The first dance ended. James bowed politely and walked away. Teddy Fox was at her elbow, ready to partner her in the next dance. Her thoughts filled with Abercorn, she allowed Teddy to take her hand and lead her onto the dance floor.

“You’re completely ignoring me,” Teddy complained.

“I’m sorry . . . I was concentrating on the dance steps.”

“Is anyone courting you, Louisa?”

“Of course not.” She finally focused her attention on him. “Why do you ask?”