Wicked Nights With a Proper Lady (29 page)

A quilt was folded on an upholstered bench at the end of the bed. Sheets of soft pale satin covered his mattress, perfect for the summer climate. An array of pillows at least three deep adorned the head of the bed. Genny toed off her damp slippers and curled her toes into the plush carpet beneath. Turning, she spied a large painting set above the mantel. It looked to be a family portrait. A young Leo sat in his stepmother’s lap. Her hair was dark. His father stood to the left with one hand around his stepmother’s shoulder; his other hand was held forward and clasped in Leo’s smaller hand.

“I was five when that was done. My stepmother said it was a miracle the artist finished it at all since I could barely sit still long enough for him to make significant daily progress.”

“It’s a lovely portrait. I only have a small locket, each side containing a painted image of my parents.”

Leo pulled her hair over one shoulder and rubbed his knuckles over the little bone at the back of her neck. He kissed her there. “I have something for you.”

His arms came around to the front of her, and he held out a gold chain with a ring dangling from it. As he clasped it around the nape of her neck, the weight of the ring fell to mid-breast. She picked it up and looked at the filigree ring. Three large gems were lined up in the center and delicate details swirled in gold around them.

“They’re garnets. It’s the ring my father gave to my stepmother. I’m giving it to you.”

She turned in his arms, tears filling her eyes. “I can’t possibly accept something so meaningful and cherished by your family.”

When she reached behind her to unclasp and remove it, he stayed her hands.

“Yes you can. It will soon be your engagement ring.” He paused, as though waiting for her to gainsay him. “You haven’t changed your mind, have you?” His thumb wiped away the dampness from beneath her eyes. “What is all this crying about?”

She smiled through her tears. “I can’t help it. I worry that Lord Ponsley will be against our union.”

“Then we will forget formalities and ride for Gretna Green.”

Gathering up the ring and chain, she tucked it beneath her night rail. “Thank you.” She stepped up on her toes and pressed a kiss to his mouth just as the clock struck two. “We have to go back.”

He placed a light shawl around her shoulders and led her back to the Carleton Estate.

It wasn’t a night Genny would ever forget.

On reaching her room, she whispered in his ear, “Thank you for tonight.”

“And every night to come.” He kissed her quickly on the lips before ushering her into the safety of her room. She poked her head out to watch him walk down the corridor to his own chamber. A shadow caught her gaze but when she turned toward it, there was only a sheer curtain blowing in the breeze of an open window.

Chapter 19

Now for that scandal I promised … It has finally unfurled and is blooming into something so salivating that I can hardly contain my excitement. A certain duke, broken off from his mistress for well over a year now, has been spending an inordinate amount of time at the residence of a new lady. This is no courtship, dear readers, but a liaison if the extended late hours are anything to judge by. What man would steal into the back of a house—through the servants’ entrance no less—if it weren’t for something forbidden?

The Mayfair Chronicles, August 4, 1846

There was no doubt in his blasted mind—because really, what had he been thinking before now?—that he had to tell Genny the full truth. Even though he’d decided not to go through with the wager, or however the hell one defined his agreement and involvement in this charade, he still had to confess his intentions. This wasn’t something he could keep from Genny any longer. She had a right to know the truth. And to judge him for said truth.

And he had to be the one to tell her. Because, so help him, if she ever found out through another source, there would be no chance for forgiveness. This was assuming she’d forgive him. Last night had been meaningful for them both, though, so perhaps it would hold some weight in her final judgment against him?

They lay in his bed together; Leo traced teasing lines over her shoulder and her side. She brushed her fingers in small circles over his chest. The weight of the ring he’d given her lay between them.

The slow tick of the mantel clock was a constant reminder that the night was growing late. This was, he imagined, worse than a countdown for a public hanging. Time stood painfully still as he tried to find the words to tell Genny the whole truth. He had to stop stalling and spit out the hated words.

His arms wrapped tightly around her, and he kissed her as though this were the first and last time he’d have the opportunity to do so.

He pulled away from the kiss slowly. “The hour grows late.”

She looked up at him with those forgiving, innocent eyes and it made him hate himself a little more. “I wish I could stay all night.”

“I wish the same thing.” He pulled away from her and reached for his trousers tossed near the bed on the floor. With a reluctant sigh, she gathered up her chemise and pulled it over her head.

“We only have a week left,” he mused aloud.

“Don’t remind me that our time grows short.”

He pulled his shirt over his head and took Genny’s hand and tugged her down to sit on the edge of the mattress with him. “There is something that needs to be said between us. Before you leave tonight.”

“You sound so solemn and very serious.” She rested her head on his shoulder and took his hands in her own.

Looking down at her, he saw the ring he’d given her around her neck. It glared at him accusingly. Would she forgive him once the truth was out? Would she still go through with the marriage?

It was hard to find the right words so he started at the beginning. “Do you remember when I asked you how you knew Lady Charlotte?”

She sat up and looked at him. Her happy, sated demeanor vanished and puzzlement filled her normally inquisitive expression. “Yes, I recall that day.”

“You were right to distrust me when we first came upon each other at the Randalls ball.”

She slid her hands away from his and folded them in her lap. He felt the loss of her touch like a slap to his face.

After a moment of silence, she said, “Precisely what is it you’ve done?”

He didn’t wish to expose anyone else’s involvement in the Lady Charlotte charade, but there would never be a chance at forgiveness if he didn’t reveal everything.

“Tristan and I made a wager of sorts.”

Leo watched her expression closely. Her smile completely vanished, and it was as though she were already putting the truth together for herself.

“What have you done?”

He rubbed his hand over his face. “Lest you judge me for any harm where your cousin is concerned, know that I made sure the wager wouldn’t succeed.”

Genny folded her arms over her chest. “I’m afraid you’ll have to be more specific.”

“When the Earl of Fallon passed, he left Jez in quite a state.”

“And what has this to do with my cousin?” Her tone was clipped.

“He left Jez without a centime to her name. Mr. Warren stands to inherit everything that is rightfully hers.”

“With her reputation, I don’t understand how you think her deserving of Fallon’s fortune.”

Leo reached for her but she evaded him by leaving the bed. “She’s a better sort than I ever was, Genny. Society has painted a less forgiving picture of her. This is what often happens to the fairer sex when they are treated as equals among men.”

“You’ll not convince me of her good name.” Genny wiped away the few tears that trickled down the side of her face. “Now tell me the rest.”

“She remains the dowager until Mr. Warren takes the seat, marries, and sires children of his own.”

She moved farther away from him. “And Charlotte stands to inherit everything that was once the dowager’s.”

“Yes.” Because Genny had figured out the truth on her own, it didn’t make telling the rest any easier. Regardless, she deserved to hear the whole sordid tale. “We were to court your cousin and sway her decision to marry Mr. Warren.”

“I trusted you, Leo.” The way her face scrunched up in sadness and anger was like a punch to his gut. “You let me trust you.”

He stood from the bed, shoved his hands in his pockets so he wasn’t tempted to reach for her, and walked toward her. “I never wanted to hurt you.”

“I see…”

Her lip quivered, and he wanted nothing more than to pull her into his arms and comfort her, but he knew she wouldn’t allow it right now.

“So you willingly planned to seduce my cousin and ruin her chance for a decent marriage. What was the wager?”

“First man on top won my breeding mare from the Americas.” He cringed at his own wording for that. There were a million other more appropriate ways to phrase it.

She came forward and struck him across the face so hard with her open palm that his head whipped to the side. He’d seen it coming, but really, how could he dare stop her? He deserved that and so much more for the damage he had contemplated doing.

“How dare you,” she said. “How dare you lie to me all this time. I can’t believe I trusted you. How stupid am I?”

He couldn’t keep from touching her, he reached out to hold both her arms in his hands, but she yanked away from him. “Have I done you any wrong so far?”

Looking into her sad eyes, knowing he was the cause of her sorrow, he felt as if his heart were pierced in two.

“You have,” she said.

“I meant everything I said to you yesterday. Everything, Genny.”

“I can only imagine what you thought on seeing me again. You probably thought to have a good go and get the better of me, didn’t you?”

When he didn’t respond, she said it more loudly, “Didn’t you!”

“Believe me, Genny, I never wanted to hurt you.”

Tears flooded her eyes again. “But you have.”

He watched as she fought to keep those tears at bay, her mouth quivering and on the verge of sobs.

He had done this to her. He had made her a miserable wreck.

Was there any way to make her change her opinion of him? He doubted it as he watched those damnable tears finally spill over the rims of her eyes and slide down her cheeks.

He had been the sole cause of her sorrow. Her hatred.

And he deserved it.

She turned away, giving him her back as she wiped her eyes on the sleeve of her robe. “How did I ever trust you? For even a moment, how could I dare let my guard down?”

It wasn’t a question she wanted an answer to; yet, he needed to give her more. “I asked you to trust me, Genny. What reason should you have not to?”

“Because…” Her voice caught on another sob. “Because you made me believe that there was more than just a liaison between us. That you genuinely cared about me.”

“Tell me how I can fix this?”

She turned back to him with tear-swollen eyes, her cheeks damp. “You can never make this better.”

When he reached for her to pull her into his arms, she stepped away.

“There has to be a way.”

“You have to leave, Leo.” She shook her head back and forth. “I can’t see you ever again. I
never
want to see you again.”

“There has to be something…”

“There is
nothing
between us now.” She pulled the ring and chain off over her head and balled it up in her fist. “I don’t know how you thought I could forgive you for this. I can’t. Not now. Not
ever
.”

“We have three days left.” That was three days to convince her that his feelings for her were genuine and that he would make up for the wrong he’d done for the rest of his days if that was the only way she could forgive him.

“If you respect me, have any feelings toward me … you’ll go back to London and leave me to live my life out alone.”

He shook his head. No, he’d never leave her. “Because I care a great deal for you, I cannot abide by your wishes.”

She wiped away the wetness on her cheeks with the back of her hand. “You can and you must.” She held out her fist with the ring he’d given her.

“It’s yours.” He didn’t want it back. Taking it from her meant a life without Genny. He stepped away from it. “It’s my promise to you.”

She turned her hand palm down and let the necklace and ring fall to the carpeted floor. “You are nothing to me.”

He did not believe her harsh words when they were accompanied by a fresh deluge of tears.

“You have ruined any possibility of a future between us.” She sounded broken.

“Genny,” he said, feeling more helpless as the minutes wore on and he made no progress in convincing her to stay and work this out with him.

“Don’t.” She held up her hand and visibly swallowed back another torrent of tears. “I don’t want to see you here in the morning.”

“You’ll feel differently after a night’s rest.” She was understandably upset right now. But she’d told him she loved him—that had to count for something.

“How dare you think that I would so easily brush away a plot against my cousin! All you have proven is that I’m a fool for ever trusting you again.”

She stormed past him in a flurry of rage, but he caught her arm before she could turn the door latch to leave without giving him so much as an option to make this better. He needed to fix the wrong he’d created.

“Genny … you can’t leave like this.”

She pulled out of his grasp, glaring at her arm and his hand as though he’d burned her with a hot iron.

“I never want to lay eyes upon you or your friends again. And if you are here come morning, I will take it to mean that your intentions to play with my cousin’s feelings and life are still strong. And
that
I simply cannot abide. We are no longer lovers and certainly no longer friends,
Barrington
.” She put her chin up defiantly. “From this point forward you are dead to me.”

He was clenching his jaw so tightly that it cracked. “I refuse to give you up so easily.”

“I will find a way to publicly expose your deed if you don’t. And I will make sure that your friend
Jezebel
is never invited to another social event so long as I am in London. I might only be a lowly paid companion, but I do have friends in high places that can make life difficult for your friend.”