The Deceptive Lady Darby (Lost Ladies of London 2)

By now, Christian would know if the Reverend Wilmslow was the one responsible for sending the vulgar letters to Cassandra. Still, she couldn’t shake the feeling that the blue book held some importance, too. Why else would Cassandra hide it in a drawer? That’s why Rose brought it to London, in the hope a servant at the address in Bloomsbury might offer an explanation.

“You know what Oliver said. I’m to put the goings-on at Morton Manor behind me and concentrate of settling back into society.” But how could she forget all that had happened there? How could she not at least try to help the man she loved?

Sym

pathy flashed in Nicole’s eyes. “It’s because he cares. What really matters is your happiness. Let me speak to him. Perhaps I might make him see what helping Lord Farleigh means to you.”

Rose captured Nicole’s gloved hand. “Thank you. At least if I’m doing something constructive, I might stop crying.”

“The only time you smile is when you speak about Lord Farleigh and the children. Come, let us take some refreshment and you can tell me about the day you had a picnic by the lake.”

Excitement fluttered in her chest. Talking about her adventures at Everleigh brought the moments to life. “If we wait for Oliver to finish his conversation, we’ll die of thirst.”

“He’s doing what he promised, making sure everyone knows you spent time with him in Italy.”

“And what shall I do if someone asks me a question about my visit?”

“Be vague. Mention the spectacular architecture, the warm weather, the insects. Say you came down with a sickness and spent a month in bed.”

“Lie you mean?” Lies had cost her everything. And while she knew she should try to forget Christian, she was deceiving herself to think she ever would.

“Sometimes lies are necessary.” Nicole spoke with conviction. “I pretended to be a paid companion to escape a cold-hearted brother eager to wed me to the highest bidder. You pretended to be a maid to escape from a father determined to keep you a prisoner. Please tell me what part of that is wrong.”

Nicole made deception sound logical. “When you think about it, the similarities between us are striking.”

“My case is worse if you consider your brother only learnt the truth after we’d been intimate.” A blush touched Nicole’s cheeks. “But don’t tell him I told you that.”

“And yet Oliver did not turn you away.” A lump formed in Rose’s throat. “That makes my case far worse.”

Nicole frowned. Her curious gaze scanned Rose’s face. And then she gasped. “You’ve been intimate with Lord Farleigh?” Despite Nicole’s hushed voice, Rose feared the whole world could hear.

“Shush. Why don’t you ask the butler to make an announcement?”

“When you say intimate, do you mean it in the strongest possible terms?” Nicole wiggled her eyebrows as if it were a covert form of communication.

Rose shuffled closer. “Intimate in the way a wife is with her husband.”

Nicole shot back and plastered her hand over her mouth. She took a moment to compose herself. “No wonder you cried all the way home. For heaven’s sake, don’t mention this to your brother.”

“I may be a liar, but I’m not an imbecile.” While others would deem her reckless and foolish, loving Christian was the only thing in her life that felt right.

“I know you speak highly of Lord Farleigh, but trust me, a gentleman would not take a woman of your calibre to his bed and then let her leave.” Nicole clutched Rose’s arm. “Lord, I may punch him if I ever see him again.”

Having witnessed Nicole punch the guard at Morton Manor, she prayed Christian was agile and light on his feet.

The low hum of voices in the room suddenly grew in speed and pitch. Rose peeked around the potted fern curious as to what had captured the crowd’s attention. Two gentlemen and a lady stood at the large wooden doors leading into Lord Warner’s ballroom.

The lady to their right gasped. “Goodness, Felicity, it seems the night won’t be so tedious after all. Please tell me he’s not a mirage. Please tell me that’s Vane. I’ve waited two seasons to try my chances with him.”

“Step in line, dear.” The woman’s companion snorted. “The vultures are already circling. See.” Numerous ladies edged closer towards the new arrivals. “I see he’s brought his sister. Terrible shame what happened. I fear for any man who so much as looks at her in the wrong way.”

“They say one night with Vane and a woman is ruined for any other man.”

“I wouldn’t know, but like you, I wouldn’t mind finding out.”

While the ladies’ conversation proved entertaining, Rose wasn’t looking at the gentleman with the devilish grin. Nor did she care much for the woman with hair as dark as ebony. The other gentleman stole her attention. The one with green eyes that held her spellbound. The man who caused her body to flame at the merest glance, caused her heart to pound wildly in her chest.

Rose tapped Nicole on the arm. “You know you want to punch Lord Farleigh.” She focused on the magnificent vision before her. “Well, I think you may have your chance.”