Knowing that her sister would be proud of her went some way to mitigating her terror.
However, her training enabled her to hide her fear when Lord Debenham entered her dressing room in the wake of one of the chorus girls who’d brought news that he was here.
She’d been expecting the usual fearsome scowl, something to indicate he was the devil incarnate as she’d always thought him, but instead, he appeared urbane and pleasant humored.
“Divine as always, Miss Bijou. I am a great admirer of yours having seen every performance since you’ve been in London. It if had been possible, I’d have told you so the night you performed at The Grange.”
“I’m flattered, my lord.” Kitty made sure she looked as relaxed and at her ease as possible, and with just an enquiring half-smile upon her face. A man like this one thrived on fear. She didn’t tell him she was honored by his attention because she was determined not to pander to him. She indicated the hustle and bustle about her with a wave of her hand. “As you can see, I am very busy, but I do have a few moments to spare.”
He looked surprised and then burst out laughing. “Why, I had not expected you to be amusing to boot. Beautiful, aware of your attractions, perhaps vain like my wife, but not amusing!” He slapped his thigh as he sank down on the window seat, the only place in the room available to seat himself. “I’d like to take you to supper, Miss Bijou; that’s why I’m here.”
Kitty could not have been more astonished. “I’m afraid that’s not possible, my lord.”
“You are already engaged? Of course, I’d realized that was entirely possible—”
“No, no, I’m just very tired, and I have another performance tomorrow.”
This didn’t go down well, but he recovered quickly and bared his teeth in a rictus of a smile. “You are teasing me, Miss Bijou. I’m unaccustomed to it. For some reason, many people seem to fear me.”
“Fear you, my lord?” She raised her eyebrows, glancing at him above the tips of her fingers which she was busy examining as she tried to gauge what this conversation was all about. “And why might that be?”
“You’ve not heard rumors about me, Miss Bijou?”
“I hear rumors about everybody of consequence, including you, but rumors are worthless unless they’re substantiated. Just because I’ve heard that you’ve flown to the moon in a pale pink sailing boat doesn’t mean it’s true.”
“I like talking to you, Miss Bijou. By gad, I do! Let me take you Angeline’s for champagne and oysters. Surely you are hungry. Surely you’d like to toast tonight’s success with the finest champagne. I’m a generous man.”
“I’m sure you are, my lord, but really, I do need my sleep though I thank you for your kind offer.”
The more she demurred the keener he became. It was quite extraordinary. Eventually, Kitty realized—quite to her surprise—that she’d whipped up the interest of this man in a way she’d not have managed had she agreed to accompany him from the outset. And surely champagne and oysters in a public place would not be dangerous? She’d ensure he drank the lion’s share and then he might let his guard down. She might discover something valuable.
They were on their second bottle in a darkened corner of the intimate dining salon and, as Kitty had hoped, Lord Debenham was in an expansive mood.
“Ah, Miss Bijou, it’s been a long time since I enjoyed a woman’s company this much. We must do it again!”
She shook her head. “I think that would be unwise. You have family commitments, and I work hard to ensure my reputation is free from the insinuation of casual liaisons, if I may speak bluntly.”
He looked at her admiringly. “Are you suggesting you’d only be interested in a liaison that was not casual?”
“Good lord, sir. I meant nothing of the sort!” Kitty heard her voice as a strangled thread of sound. “I mean that I am not interested in any kind of liaison.” With Lord Debenham? The idea was enough to make her run for the hills. “Besides, the gossips say you and your wife are uncommonly fond of each other.”
The gossips said anything but, however, Kitty was clutching at straws.
He gave a snide laugh. “I can’t imagine which gossips those might have been. Have you seen my wife?”
“She is uncommonly beautiful, my lord. The toast of London, I believe.”
“Uncommonly vain and self-centered, more like it. Now that she is breeding again she won’t want me to touch her. And a man like me needs…affection.”
Kitty’s gasped. Was he truly suggesting what she thought he was?
“You…know nothing about me, my lord,” she managed, her mouth dry.
“Enough to be entranced by the persona I saw on stage, and my favorable impression has been more than bolstered by our little tete-a-tete this evening.”
He moved closer toward her across the small table, and carefully laid his large hand upon her small gloved one where it rested beside the single guttering candle.
“I know you were distressed by the defection of your erstwhile protector, Lord Silverton. I know him well, and I abhor such inconstancy.” He shook his head, his tone more honeyed but tinged with disgust as he added, “As if his marriage should prevent him maintaining his obligation toward you. Though I daresay he’s pinched in the pocket when it comes to looking after the needs of wife and mistress. Which leaves you, Miss Bijou, in very serious need of a protector. I know the pittance paid to artists like you. I know very well that maintenance is impossible without the…ah…assistance of men prepared to be generous. And I am prepared to be very generous, Kitty La Bijou.”