Wildfire Kiss (Sir Edward 1)

“Babs,” Corry said, sitting beside her on the bed and touching her hand, “listen to me in this … for once, don’t rush head-on into matters. Aunt Jane, for all her fussing and stuffiness, is a knowing one. She is vastly experienced and will know what to do with this problem. We may not see an easy solution … but don’t discount Aunt Jane’s ability to handle Sir Edward in fine style. She wouldn’t want you to marry a man to stave off a scandal. She will know what to do.”

“No! How can I do that to her … put such a burden on her?” wailed Babs, distraught. “And besides, she would feel it her duty to tell Papa, who would forbid the marriage and take on society full score. He, Aunt Jane … even perhaps you … all ruined because of me.”

“Babs, the beau monde will chew one scandal today, another tomorrow, and besides, do you think any of us gives a monkey for this silly London society? The leaders of the ton are fools!” snapped Corry.

“I … I cannot …” Babs wrung her hands.

“Love is hanging in the balance. You … you cannot love Sir Edward, and therefore, you must not marry him. Babs, you cannot allow yourself to be defeated in this way. You have been the one always going on about love and love and love … and here you are throwing it all away for what? He is blackmailing you into marriage!” Corry shook her fist with the agitation she felt and got to her feet again. “You are far too strong-willed to be beate

n in this fashion!”

“I am not beaten—I may yet find a way out of this muddle. ’Tis why I insisted on time before making an announcement, but faith, Corry … I cannot allow my family to be ruined. Papa enjoys his cronies, his club … his silly London society.”

“And what of your Lord Wildfire? Do you throw what you feel for him away? How can you?”

“Love is a fleeting emotion …” Babs looked away. Her heart always felt a wrenching discomfort when she thought of the duke who didn’t even want her. She hadn’t told Corry how far she had gone with her beloved Wildfire.

“What fustian are you spouting now? We both know how you feel about the duke. So tell me, Babs, can you allow Sir Edward to hold you, kiss you, touch you—make love to you—”

“Stop, stop, or I will be sick!” Babs cried as she stood up and began pacing the room and wringing her hands.

“I will not stop. It is the very thing you must consider … your love for your Wildfire. You have kissed your Wildfire … how can you go to Sir Edward’s marriage bed?”

“Mercy,” Babs said with a sob. “You do have a way of bringing it home, don’t you? So passionate, Corry … I had not thought my quiet, lovely cousin could show so much fire.” She tried turning it into a tease.

Corry was having none of that. “You need to be saved from your impulsive neck-or-nothing self. You need to tell Aunt Jane—”

A knock sounded at their door, and Corry eyed her cousin. “Are you all right?” Lady Jane said, her voice filled with doubt on the other side of the door.

Babs nodded and called out, “Y-es?”

The door opened, and Lady Jane put in her head.

“Your father asked me to advise you that we all leave for Brighton in the morning. He will brook no argument in this. He was with Sir Frederick earlier, and both of them feel the short trip will do him no harm. His carriage of course is still being repaired, but he will travel with me and your father in the coach.” She sent a look from one girl to the other and asked, “Is there something wrong, my darlings?”

Babs had a sudden urge to run into her aunt’s arms and say yes, yes, her world was broken. She managed a brave smile and said, “Naught … all is well.”

Aunt Jane looked at Corry, who lowered her gaze, and said, “I see …” Then she smiled and added, “Corrine, it would appear you and I have something to discuss, and though I don’t mean to bother you about it just yet, when we are comfortable in Brighton, we shall get to it.”

“Yes, Aunt Jane,” Miss Bretton said carefully.

Babs looked from her aunt to her cousin but refrained from inquiring about this. She could see her aunt looking at them speculatively. Corry was of course quite correct—her aunt was a knowing woman.

They waited for the door to close and looked at one another before Corry began nagging her cousin once more. “Babs, dearest … tell her …”

Babs closed her eyes and saw her Wildfire, his blue eyes bright … gone from her forever, and she burst into tears.

***

The drive to Brighton was a pleasant one and served to banish some of Babs’ worry for a time. She exerted herself to entertain the crowded little group in the coach while her father played at outrider at the back of their carriage.

Sir Frederick had hired the inn’s wagon and driver to deliver his baggage, and this lumbered along behind Lord Waverly.

Lady Babs had convinced herself that she would not break down. She meant first to try and talk some sense into Sir Edward. Failing that, she had to find a way out of this mess. She just had to.

She put on a very good smile with only her cousin the wiser, although Babs caught her aunt studying her from time to time.

They stopped first at Sir Frederick’s lodgings. Lord Waverly walked him to his door, where his man opened the door wide with a genuine greeting of pleasure.