Vexing the Viscount

“Emily, I don’t need more people gossiping about me.”

“Shh,” Emily reprimanded. “You will be the viscountess some day and everyone will be horrified that they spread such rumors about you.”

Tia highly doubted that, but tonight she wasn’t going to think about it. She would find Jonathon and bring him home. Together, she and Braden would find an excellent place for him to overcome his opium issues. “Very well,” she finally said to Emily. “You win.”

“I always do,” Emily muttered.

Within an hour, she was dressed and ready to go. “How am I going to leave with Nelson at the door?”

“Leave that to me. Just be ready and when I get him in the library, walk outside. My carriage is right in front.”

She hated sneaking out like this. Braden would be furious if he returned home before she did. Hopefully, Jonathon would be easy to find for once. If she could bring Jonathon home, Braden’s anger would not be an issue.

“We need to leave now. Stay at the top of the stairs until I get Nelson in the library.” Emily opened the door and then ambled down the stairs.

Tia released a long-held breath before following her to the top of the staircase. From her vantage point, she could hear Emily.

“I just need to get my gloves, Nelson. I left them in the library.”

“I will get them for you, my lady,” Nelson replied.

As his footsteps faded away, Emily slowly opened the front door and then waved her down. “Hurry!”

Tia raced down the stairs and out the door before Nelson returned. Amazed that the footman at Emily’s coach just opened the door for her, she scrambled inside before the front door opened. Safely ensconced in her friend’s carriage, she caught her breath while waiting for Emily. She peered out and noticed her friend walking toward her.

Once Emily was inside, Tia asked, “Was Nelson suspicious?”

“Not at all. I told him you had decided to retire.”

Tia leaned back against the velvet squab and sighed. Then she giggled. “I don’t think I’ve ever done anything like that before.”

“I should hope not,” Emily replied. She smiled over at Tia. “But we were quite good at it, weren’t we?”

“Yes, we were.”

“So who are the Edmondsons’?” Tia asked.

“A younger couple who run with a very fast set. Their parties are known for gossip, especially who sneaked off with whom.”

“What do you mean?”

Emily laughed. “You’re not that innocent, Tia. Different couples will pair off, find a room, and have sexual congress.”

“At the party?”

“It happens all the time. Just at most parties it is much more secretive. At Society balls, a woman would be subject to scandal, which is why the fast set stays in London. Those Society matrons are all out at their country estates, haranguing the girls out there.”

“So as Middleton’s mistress, it wouldn’t amiss to attend this party?”

“Not at all. I’d be surprised if Middleton wasn’t invited.”

Tia nodded. She wondered how many times he had taken a woman to a room at one of the Edmondsons’ parties. Based on what he’d told her, it most likely happened a lot. She refused to think upon that any longer. He had changed.

“We’re here,” Emily said with a note of excitement.

Tia followed Emily out of the carriage and up the few steps to the house. Before the door even opened, the raucous sound of jovial voices emanated from the home. This definitely was not a sedate Society ball. A tremor of fear came out of nowhere and sliced through her.

The door opened and they entered arm in arm. To say the party was a crush would be an understatement. They could barely move through the corridor to the salon. The sound of music came from a back room. Tia silently wished Braden could have been here to dance with her. She’d so enjoyed that at Lady Whitfield’s ball. What was she thinking? Braden would be furious with her, not wanting to dance.