Wicked Nights With a Proper Lady (16 page)

Why hadn’t she realized sooner that Leo could easily secure an invite to Lady Carleton’s annual house party? After all, this was where they had first met.

The heat wasn’t helping with the distraction, either. While she’d forgone the heavy underlayers beneath her dress today due to the scorching temperature, it only made her realize how underdressed she was in the presence of Lord Barrington. How silly it was for her to worry about her lack of underthings when there were ten others in the parlor. But mulling on that thought fired her imagination to go in directions it had no right venturing.

The interior, sheer curtains had been drawn in the room to help keep it cool, though that wasn’t really helping.

It seemed she wasn’t the only one affected. Aside from Leo playing chess near a shaded window with Lady Hargrove, Genny sat across from Lady Carleton. There were two gentlemen and two ladies sitting with them on the opposing settees. Charlotte and Ariel reclined on a sofa perpendicular to Genny, their fans slowly flicking back and forth to cool their flushed faces.

“I propose,” the countess said, “that we spend the rest of this dreadfully hot afternoon al fresco.”

Charlotte and Ariel both sat up, their fans slowing with the welcome idea.

Fresh air would do everyone in the room a world of good. And Genny would be able to put a great deal more distance between her and Leo.

“What a fantastic idea,” Genny said.

So long as there was an elm to sit beneath and lemonade in hand, she’d be content. Agreement went all around the room. Lady Carleton made arrangements with her butler and everyone fanned out of the parlor to retrieve their hats, bonnets, and parasols.

Leo held back with his chess partner, making a final play before standing from the unfinished board. Genny waited for Charlotte and Ariel to exit the room. She wasn’t sure how it happened, but she was suddenly standing in the entrance of the room with only Barrington for company.

“After you, Miss Camden.” One of his hands fell possessively to the small of her back to guide her through the door.

Had anyone else been there, she knew he wouldn’t have taken the liberty to touch her. The intimate touch had her freezing momentarily to the spot. Moving meant losing the feel of his hand against her and, admittedly, she’d been thinking about his hands on her all morning. Her thoughts must be all jumbled from the heat. She did not want Barrington to actually touch her.

Only moments ago she had wanted nothing more than to escape his presence. And hadn’t she promised to pinch herself if she thought of Barrington in too fond a fashion ever again?

She pointed her finger accusingly at him. “Don’t think because you were invited to this house party that you are also invited into my bed.”

She might as well put that on the table for discussion.

Leo’s arm extended above her head to rest on the door frame. The move brought him within kissing distance. “I’m flattered that you think of me often enough to conclude that that was the reason I came.”

Genny brushed a strand of hair from her forehead as she glared at him. What was he about? He could not deny that he had designs on her. Why else would he have held back to speak with her? Why would he attempt to catch her eye when he thought no one was looking?

“You barely register in my thoughts.” She nearly flinched at those words. It was a terribly cruel thing to say, but she needed to set boundaries with this man.

He leaned so close to her that their faces were level.

“Really?”

She didn’t blink or lower her gaze.

“There were great times between us, but if you want more honorable relations then I will do as you wish.”

Then she did blink, not sure that she’d heard him correctly. Folding her arms over her chest, she said, “Ah, so that’s the way of it? You’ll be spending your time here on another
task.
”

Had he intended to seduce another all along, and right under her very nose? How in the world had she ever seen any decency in him? Or been charmed by his flattering words, and pseudo-chivalric ways?

“I’d hate to disappoint you, princess, but you are sorely mistaken.”

She tapped her slippered foot, suddenly uncomfortable with the direction of their conversation. “Surely you jest.”

“Is it so hard to believe that I don’t have designs on anyone else?” He held up his hands as though in surrender.

She chose not to respond and instead stepped through the door intent on leaving him there alone. But she stopped and turned back to him, needing to know one thing: “Is no one to your liking?”

“Only one lady, and she’s made it clear that I am to refrain from any advances.”

“Oh,” was the only intelligible response she could muster.

He meant her, didn’t he? She mentally kicked herself for the little flutter in her stomach at the thought of having his undivided attention. She would
not
allow herself to be charmed by his flattering words.

“You should retrieve your bonnet before anyone wonders where we have disappeared to,” he reminded her.

Yes, she should. Nothing short of a good mile separating them would do. To keep her wits about her, she’d need to remain in the company of the other houseguests
at all times.
She could not find herself alone in his company again.

She sped off to her room without looking back, unable to bear seeing his smiling face, for he most certainly understood her discomfiture. Worse, he knew exactly how to put her out of sorts. She would gather her courage to stand up to him after she had a moment to calm her frayed nerves in her room. He would not turn her into a blushing, stammering, speechless fool.

*   *   *

Leo wasn’t precisely sure what he was doing. All he knew was that he’d craved Genny’s company since his arrival yesterday morning. She had managed to avoid him at every turn, always surrounding herself with other houseguests.

Did she really think warning him off would make him leave? Well, he’d not give her a chance to avoid him for much longer. He waited for her at the bottom of the grand staircase that led up to the bedchambers. He was already dressed to go. Everyone else had a head start toward the afternoon spot. He was the last one who could keep Genny company on the walk and he was glad she would have to take his arm as they made their way outside to their impromptu luncheon.

He smiled up at her as she came down the stairs, face flushed from her exertions to ready herself quickly. Her hair was tucked away in a beige bonnet, and she carried a matching lace parasol. Disappointment flashed in her eyes as her gaze slipped past his shoulder in search of any others. He wouldn’t let her escape him so easily.

“Have they all left?”

He ignored the disappointment in her voice and gave her his most charming smile. “Everyone has a five-minute head start on us. I said we’d be out in a trice.”

“We’ll have to hurry to catch them.” Genny practically skipped down the stairs in her rush to be away from him.

“There is no rush, Miss Camden. I promised Lady Carleton I would take good care of you. We can get to know each other better on our walk.”

She pinched her lips together as she glided past him. “I can’t imagine what it is you wish to know.”

“Everything, Miss Camden. Including your darkest secrets—though I daresay I already know a few, hmm?”

She glared back at him.

He held out his arm for her to take. While they’d been friends and had spent time together four years ago, they’d never touched in public, afraid they might give away just how well they knew each other. Things were different now. They were both older and more mature, and he liked to think wiser.

Instead of taking his arm, she brushed past him and headed for the exit. She opened her parasol and weaved down the stone path in front of him without so much as a glance back in his direction.

When he caught up to her, she gave him a curious glance over her shoulder. “And will you in turn share your deepest and darkest secrets, my lord?”

“Only those decent enough for a lady’s ear.”

“That hardly seems fair.”

He chuckled and caught up to her so they were walking side by side. Their party was a quarter of a mile ahead, already sitting in the shade of an ancient elm tree. He didn’t offer his arm again; instead, he clasped his hands behind his back as he walked leisurely by her side. At least she let him match her pace.

“Have you been a paid companion since we parted ways?”

“I have.”

“What decided your path?”

*   *   *

So many things, including you, she wanted to admit but wouldn’t dare. Why should he care to know?

“My aunt—the one who sponsored me—took a terrible fall the summer we met. She was confined to her bed for six months. Naturally, I stayed with her. It was the least I could do after everything she’d done for me. Both my parents had passed when I was eighteen of fever, so I had nowhere else to go. And by that point in my life I had already turned down my only prospects for marriage.”

There had also been a very brief time in her life when she’d wanted Leo to come after her, profess his undying love and beg her hand in marriage. Thank Providence she’d come to her senses and had shaken off the sentiments two weeks after those thoughts had snared and consumed her mind.

“So you never attended any balls after your aunt’s injury?”

“I couldn’t when Aunt Hilda was unable to make an appearance with me. And I could never leave her to care for herself after everything she’d done for me.” She sighed. Her aunt had been a genuinely wonderful person, and she missed her a great deal. “Her health declined rapidly after her fall.”

Every so often Barrington’s arm would brush against hers. She chose to ignore it and continued on as if he weren’t doing something to put her off balance.

“It’s a lot of responsibility for someone so young.”

“Most of my friends had already married and started families at that point in my life. Don’t insult me, Barrington.”

“I didn’t intend to. It would have been too much to take to task for me at that age. You did a commendable thing for your aunt.”

“There was nothing commendable about it. I did it because I loved my aunt, not because it was my duty.”

Finally, they came upon their party, who were all seated on a small periwinkle blanket spread out on the grass. It wouldn’t surprise Genny if Lady Carleton had chosen such a tiny scrap of material intentionally. It made luncheon rather cozy and more intimate than Genny liked.

No one said anything about her and Leo’s late arrival. Though it wasn’t as though the rest of the company hadn’t watched them as they approached.

Ignoring Leo, Genny carefully picked her way around to a solitary seat between Mr. Torrance and Lady Hargrove. To her everlasting dismay Barrington squeezed in next to her.

“Do allow me to finish my conversation with Miss Camden.”

Mr. Torrance obliged by pressing closer to Ariel and Charlotte.

“What is it you discussed?” Lady Carleton asked.

Genny opened her mouth to say they were finished talking, when Barrington cut her off. “I wished to know more about the life of a chaperone and companion. I never thought to ask one about the position, and I admit I am curious to know what would make a lady seek such a life.”

“There are many reasons involved for a lady to choose such a path.” Lady Carleton took a sip of her lemonade and picked up a few cherries from a bowl set between them.

“I’m only just understanding this from my conversation with Miss Camden. It’s enlightening and I never knew her to be such an esteemed woman. It’s quite the task to take on, looking after an ailing relative.”

“Perhaps you don’t give women enough credit? We are hardier than most gentlemen like to think,” Genny said as she pushed her elbow out to move him over a few inches.

It wasn’t as though she were some simpering miss, and he did make it sound as though women in general didn’t amount to much in his eyes. Or maybe she was just so annoyed with him for sitting beside her that she couldn’t give him the benefit of the doubt in this instance.

Leo’s palm clasped at his chest in shock. “I don’t know where I would be in life without the guidance of women in general. I adore them at any age and in every form.”

“We tend to choose more honorable paths than some pleasure-seeking men,” Genny said.

Of all the things to blurt out
. Genny felt her cheeks heat. Mr. Torrance guffawed, and started a chorus of laughter among their group, saving her further embarrassment.

Genny glanced in the direction of her cousin, begging silently for her to take over the conversation, but she was too busy laughing with the rest of them.

“My approach on life has always been that it is too short to not enjoy all it has to offer,” Leo said.

“How philosophical an approach, but more typical of a man’s prerogative,” Lady Hargrove said.

“While I have never thought to define the roles between the sexes, you are right.” Leo stretched his hands above his head and leaned against the tree behind him. “It’s a shame women cannot enjoy themselves as freely as men.”

“You sound like a suffragist, Lord Barrington,” was Charlotte’s observation.

“Hardly. I only trouble myself with politics that directly involve me.” He winked at Charlotte. “Life is also too short to discriminate between beliefs and whatnot. Everyone should enjoy life as they see fit. Before you know it, you’ll be hobbling around on a cane, too angry with yourself for not doing the one thing you always thought you ought to try.”

Was that comment directed at Genny, or was it just a general observation?

“Lord Barrington,” Mr. Torrance interjected, “has the typical belief of most men who appreciate the finer company of women.”

“I certainly wouldn’t want to spend the rest of my days with the stuffed shirts found in Parliament,” Barrington joked.

“I’d have to agree with you, Lord Barrington,” Lady Carleton said. “Though my husband has always been an exception.”

“Ah, yes, he was never one of those stuffed turkeys.”

Genny nibbled on the fruits set out before them so that she wouldn’t make any other verbal gaffes, letting the conversation flow around her.