Every Time We Kiss

“Good day,” Mrs. Whitmore said with a positively evil grin.

What had she gotten Matthew into? She walked with Elizabeth in silence through the hallway. But as soon as the door shut behind them, she put her hand on Elizabeth’s arm.

“What were they about?”

Elizabeth frowned. “I am not certain. Their reaction to the introduction was not what I expected.”

“Something is very wrong.” Jennette walked down the steps and then into their carriage. Once Elizabeth had settled herself inside, Jennette gasped.

“What?”

“Have you heard any rumors about Susan lately?” Jennette whispered. “Scandalous rumors?”

“None whatsoever.”

“I have the oddest sensation that they plan to trap him,” Jennette remarked as her indignation rose.

“Why would they need to do that?” Elizabeth asked, pulling at her white gloves. “She is wealthy, and beautiful, and…”

“And what if she’s with child?”

This time, Elizabeth gasped. “Jennette, what a dreadful thing to say about her.”

“But what if it’s the truth?”

Elizabeth tapped her finger against her lip. “Then Blackburn must be warned so he can be on guard. If you are right, Susan will try to get him into a compromising position to force the issue as quickly as possible. Maybe even at the salon.”

Jennette sat back against the velvet squabs and crossed her arms over her chest. “I shall make certain that doesn’t happen.”

Matthew entered Lady Sheldon’s impressive home on George Street at exactly seven in the evening. When he’d agreed to Jennette’s plan, he had doubted she would be able to secure him invitations to any functions. But now he had the musicale tonight and Lady Elizabeth’s literary salon Thursday. He knew Lady Elizabeth and Jennette were good friends so Jennette had, no doubt, coerced her friend into inviting him.

Nevertheless, it mattered not how he came about the invitations as long as they continued to appear at his house every day. He looked forward to starting his new life. Respectability had been too far out of his reach for so long. Now, it was there, just a little beyond his grasp, not such an impossible feat.

While he followed the footman down the hall, he smiled. As soon as he entered the music room, his smile disappeared. The audible gasp of at least five women sounded when he crossed the threshold, followed quickly by the lifting of fans over their lips.

Not a single friendly face greeted him. Lady Sheldon’s granite expression told him without words that she was only allowing his appearance because of Jennette. Glancing around the room, he noticed she hadn’t attended tonight, leaving him stranded in a sea of frowns. He walked toward the seats in the back and sat down, hoping the chair would swallow him completely.

A commotion at the door forced him to look over just in time to see Jennette enter the room with a swish of violet silk. Several women formed a circle around her, whispering to her.

“I really don’t see why it is a problem,” she answered loud enough for him to hear.

After a few more vehement protests from the ladies surrounding her, Jennette broke from the group and walked directly toward him. “Good evening, Lord Blackburn.”

Damn, she had pluck to greet him in front of everyone. “Good evening, Lady Jennette.”

“I do hope you enjoy the musicale this evening. Lady Sheldon’s daughters have quite the talent for both singing and the pianoforte.”

He couldn’t stop the pleased smile from forming. “I am certain I shall enjoy myself immensely.”

She nodded and then gave the ladies a sardonic look. “I think you shall at that.” She glanced about the room as if looking for someone in particular. After blowing out a delicate breath, she said, “But you do need someone to sit beside you, my lord. You shouldn’t be alone.”

“You could do me the honor,” he said just loud enough for her to hear.

Her black eyebrows rose and her lips twitched as if she found the idea perfectly amusing. “I have just the person.”

She walked away before he could stop her. His preference would have been Jennette, not someone who would sit quaking in the chair next to him. Nonetheless, he couldn’t stop himself from watching her work her magic on some poor young girl whose face suddenly blanched as Jennette spoke with her. After a quick nod, Jennette led her toward him.

“Miss Amelia Sheldon, may I introduce Lord Blackburn,” Jennette said with a smile to them both.