Benedict did not need to look far. As soon as he scanned the room, he locked gazes with the red-haired vixen. Her stone-like expression never faltered, even when she made her apologies to the dissolute son of Lord Aiken and strode across the room to greet them.
“Mrs Cavanagh, it’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance.” Resentment festered behind Mrs Crandall’s fake smile, a smile that slipped from her face the moment her attention shifted to him. “Benedict. You’re full of surprises. You swore never to marry.”
Mrs Crandall was a fountain of knowledge when it came to gossip and scandal, so there was little point skirting around the truth. “What else can two people do when caught in a compromising position? A position forced upon them by someone out for revenge.”
“Revenge?” The madam slapped her hand to her chest and feigned shock. “I’m sure no one has a gripe with you, Benedict.” She glanced at Cassandra. “No doubt your father picked the wrong enemy in his bid to control the world.”
“That would be the obvious conclusion,” Cassandra replied. “Or perhaps the perpetrator simply wished to hurt me.”
Benedict sipped his champagne and studied the madam as she said in a mocking tone, “Hurt you? You’re married to Benedict Cavanagh. Whoever conspired to bring this about must care for you a great deal. A woman would sell her soul to spend a night in his bed.”
“Or Cassandra is right,” he said, quick to move away from the madam’s passions. “She was the intended target and the person responsible never dreamed I would marry a woman I despised.”
Mrs Crandall laughed. “One might drive oneself insane in their search for the answer. Is it not better to accept your fate? Marriage needn’t stop either of you from satisfying your own need for pleasure.” The woman’s sensual gaze trailed a line from his mouth down to his groin. “And what better punishment for an earl obsessed with his bloodline than to deny him a grandchild.”
Mrs Crandall was a fool if she thought he would forgo the pleasure of being a father just to spite Worthen. Their children would be legitimate. Would never have to suffer as he had done. But then the thought that the earl would always see their offspring as inferior caused a sudden surge of anger.
“I have kept my opinions to myself for far too long,” he said, his voice as stern as he intended. “So I ask you, did you play a part in what happened to my wife?”
Mrs Crandall jerked as if reeling from a slap. “Me? Good Lord. I would never ruin an innocent to get what I want. How the devil do you think I ended up here? Indeed, ha
d I known you would be forced to marry, I may have intervened. I might have saved her reputation. McCreath is loyal to your father. Drummond would do anything to advance his career. Had you both come to me, freedom might have been yours.”
Freedom?
He’d come to believe that freedom was just another word for loneliness.
“And what of Purcell?” Benedict countered. “He met privately with you. More than once. Do you deny it?”
The madam narrowed her gaze. “Who told you that?”
“You’re not the only one who trades secrets.”
Mrs Crandall arched a coy brow. “Then what do you have to trade?” She moistened her rouged lips. “If you want to learn a secret, you must have something to offer in return. I’m sure your wife won’t mind if we slip away for a time. She seems as eager as you to learn the truth.”
“Benedict does have something to offer,” Cassandra interjected. “He has something precious. Something priceless.”
“Priceless, indeed. Few men have his skill in the bedchamber.”
“I am not referring to his prowess.”
“What then?”
“His respect.”
Mrs Crandall appeared bemused.
“Trust me,” Cassandra continued with confidence. “When a man you care about despises you, it’s like a disease eating away at your heart. I would rather have Benedict’s respect. I would rather have his gratitude than his disdain.” When the corners of Mrs Crandall’s lips curled into a smile, Cassandra added, “I imagine there are many men here who can satisfy your physical needs. Men with equal skill.”
Mrs Crandall glanced at the two men watching her from the opposite side of the room before turning back to Cassandra. “There are some who might prove adequate. The question is, would Benedict’s respect ease my craving?”
Benedict captured the madam’s hand and pressed a kiss to her bare knuckles. “Speak honestly to me, help me in my endeavour, and you will have my untold gratitude and respect.”
The woman’s eyes flamed hot. “Has anyone told you, you’re an extremely charismatic man? Even with your clothes on.” She didn’t wait for a reply. “Come. Let me take you both to my private parlour.”
They followed Mrs Crandall to a locked room overlooking Theobolds Road. The room where Trent had threatened the majordomo only a few weeks before. She motioned for them to sit on the sofa, locked the door and moved to the seat opposite.
“So you wish to know why Lord Purcell sought a private audience?” she said, relaxing back in the chair.