London Temptations: Historical Regency Romance Collection Page 59

  “I am sure you would not mind if one more gentleman attended,” he said as Phillip narrowed his eyes. “You cannot expect me not to seek to attend when you have spoken so much about it, Lord Wiltshire.”

  Phillip glared at the man, wanting to retort that he had not spoken about the evening a great deal but knowing full well that this was what Lord Astley sought.

  “I am certain that the other gentlemen would not mind if I joined them,” Lord Astley continued, a smirk on his face as he looked from one gentleman to the next, who all either nodded and looked away or returned his gaze with a steadfast one of their own. “What say you, Wiltshire?”

  Taking in a long breath, Phillip gritted his teeth tightly together and prayed that he was giving the impression of reluctance when, in truth, he was delighted that all had occurred in such a way.

  “Very well,” he said darkly as Lord Astley grinned malevolently at his success. “Attend if you wish, Lord Astley.”

  Lord Astley chuckled and some of the other gentlemen shot Phillip sympathetic looks, clearly aware of what had just occurred and the difficult position he had found himself in.

  “I certainly do wish to attend, Lord Wiltshire,” Lord Astley remarked, inclining his head before turning on his heel to depart. “I am looking forward to it very much indeed.”

  13

  Lucinda could hardly breathe, such was the frantic beating of her heart. Her aunt, ever calm and composed, was sitting in a chair by the fire, a teacup and saucer in her hand. Her uncle, Lord Crampton, had gone to join the card party and, as yet, had not returned.

  “You must stop pacing,” Lady Crampton said gently, looking at Lucinda with sympathy. “There is nothing we can do at present. They will be some hours yet.”

  “I cannot simply stand here and wait,” Lucinda cried, throwing up her hands as nervousness ran through her frame. “I must know whether or not things are going as planned.”

  A sympathetic smile crossed Lady Crampton’s face. “And we shall go to watch them play very soon,” she said softly, “but it cannot be now. Not every gentleman has arrived, which includes Lord Astley. The butler will come and inform us when he does.”

  Lucinda nodded but did not stop moving from one side of the room to the next. Her fingers were twisting together over and over as she fought against the nervousness that built up within her, fearing that, whatever occurred, it would not be enough to drive Lord Astley from her. Yes, she would gladly elope with Lord Wiltshire, but that would not remove the danger of Lord Astley’s threats from them.

  “Might I ask if you are anxious about your father also?”

  A little surprised at the question, Lucinda turned to face her aunt, who was watching her with a steady gaze.

  “What do you mean?” she asked as Lady Crampton took another sip of her tea. “What is it about father that should trouble me so?”

  Lady Crampton tipped her head just a little. “The fact that he might well be engaged in some nefarious scheme,” she said as Lucinda shook her head. “The knowledge that he might well have encouraged Lord Astley to injure Lord Wiltshire in such a manner.” She lifted one shoulder. “Such knowledge could be quite burdensome.”

  It took a few moments for Lucinda to consider what had been said, but then she quickly dropped into a chair and shook her head.

  “I have long known that my father cares nothing for me, Aunt,” she said honestly. “I have lived under his shadow, under his burden, for many years and have found him reproachful, easily angered, and without care for another living soul. None of what he has done has astonished me. I feel no great pain, but rather only a sense of deep sorrow. Sorrow that he was not the father I had hoped for him to be. And with that sorrow comes a great deal of gratitude.”

  Lady Crampton looked astonished. “Gratitude?” she repeated loudly, but Lucinda only laughed, nodding.

  “Indeed, Aunt, but not toward him,” she explained as Lady Crampton began to smile. “But toward both you and Lord Crampton. I would have had no one without your stalwart presence and support. I would have been wed to Lord Astley without hesitation and would have, thereafter, faced a life of difficulty and pain. But because of your willingness and your eagerness to help me, I now find myself here, praying that I shall be freed of both my father and Lord Astley so that I might marry the one gentleman my heart has clung to these last few weeks.”

  Lady Crampton swallowed hard, looking away from Lucinda as she blinked back tears. Lucinda smiled gently at her aunt, glad that she had been able to express herself in such a manner. She was all too aware of just how little she would have had without Lady Crampton and, having been aware of it, was all the more grateful.

  “I only wish I could have stepped in sooner,” Lady Crampton said hoarsely. “I care for you as though you were one of my own children, Lucinda.”

  “I know,” Lucinda replied, a catch in her voice as she smiled. “Thank you, Aunt. For everything.”

  A scratch at the door informed them both that it was time for them to remove themselves from the library and Lady Crampton rose quickly, just as Lucinda got to her feet.

  “It is time,” she said, coming to embrace Lucinda for a moment. “Let us hope that all comes to a close now.” She held Lucinda’s shoulders and looked into her face with a somewhat firm expression. “And no matter what happens next, whether or not we discover something of importance, I want you to know that you shall always have me here to support you, my dear girl.”

  “I thank you, Aunt,” Lucinda replied, her heart filled with both relief and nervous anticipation. “Come now. Let us go.”

  The room was quiet as Lucinda and Lady Crampton stepped inside. Gentlemen were busy playing cards around various tables and did not notice them as they walked quickly to a small, shadowy corner which had been laid out for them. Many gentlemen were already in their cups, Lucinda decided, hearing the raucous laughter from some and the screeches of disappointment that were not in the least bit contained.

  “Where are they?” Lady Crampton whispered as they sat down quickly, the lack of candlelight hiding them from the view of others. “Can you see either your father or Lord Astley?”

  Lucinda opened her mouth to say that she could not, only for the door to open again and Lord Astley himself to step inside. Her hand clutched her aunt’s arm and together, they watched him approach a table where Lucinda recognized both her father and Lord Hoskins. The cards were being dealt and Lord Hoskins, who appeared to be in very high spirits indeed, was grinning jauntily and laughing aloud at something another gentleman had said.

  Her heart began to pound as Lord Astley moved toward the card table, his eyes roving over the room for a moment or two. Lucinda feared that she might be seen and shrank back, but his gaze passed over them without any difficulty and he sat down in the vacant seat next to her father. A little anxious, she sat back in her chair and tried to breathe slowly so as to calm herself somewhat. This evening could bring with it a good many answers or it could leave them with nothing. She had to hope for the first and reject even the thought of the latter. Her future depended on it.

  It was some hours before Lucinda finally had something to take notice of. Both she and Lady Crampton had grown a little bored, sitting stiffly in their chairs and watching the card games with very little interest. All seemed to be going just as anyone would expect, with both her father and Lord Astley losing just as much as they won. The other card tables and the other gentlemen bore no interest for them, save for Lord Wiltshire. He had not been seated at the same table as Lord Hoskins and her father but had been playing at another table entirely. However, not long ago, he had thrown up his hands in evident defeat, had given his coin to the winner, and had risen, clearly no longer able to play. It was, of course, as Lucinda had expected, and she now watched him keenly as he drew near to the card table where her father and Lord Astley sat, his eyes trained solely upon Lord Astley himself as he stood opposite to where they sat. Lord Astley did not appear to be aware of his presence, however, for no
t once had he lifted his eyes from the cards in his hand or from the table, not even allowing his interest to flicker elsewhere. Lucinda strained to see a little more, praying that something would occur soon. If it did not, then the card game—the entire evening, in fact—would have been for naught.

  And then, she saw it.

  Her father, whose back was to her, dropped one hand to his side. His other hand remained holding his cards but, much to her astonishment, as she watched, she saw a flash of something appear in his free hand. Something that was then added to his other cards.

  He is cheating.

  The thought brought her no pleasure, no rush of satisfaction, but rather the dull awareness that her father did whatever he wished without care or consideration for others.

  “Good gracious,” one of the gentlemen at the table exclaimed as Lord Swinton set out his hand. “Have you won the round, Lord Swinton?”

  Murmurs of agreement took place at this remark and Lord Swinton himself laughed aloud, seemingly quite pleased with his success—but Lucinda only felt sick with disgust.

  “I saw that also,” Lady Crampton murmured, putting a hand on Lucinda’s arm. “But what of Lord Astley? Does he—”

  Her words were cut off as Lord Wiltshire suddenly lifted his eyes to hers, his gaze fixed and penetrating through the darkness that surrounded them. Lucinda held her breath for a long moment, her heart beating so quickly she feared it might remove itself from her chest, only to see him nod slowly.

  “Then he, too, has seen something of importance,” Lady Crampton murmured, knowing, as Lucinda did, that Lord Wiltshire was watching Lord Astley, whilst Lord Hoskins did what he could to study both Lord Astley and Lord Swinton. “It seems that we are to have a discussion this evening, Lucinda. “

  “It seems we are,” Lucinda replied, a little heavily. “Do you think that either of them will admit to what we have seen?”

  Lady Crampton shook her head. “I cannot say,” she answered honestly. “I cannot speak for Lord Astley, of course, but I can say with certainty that your father will be a little intimidated with not only myself and Lord Crampton present, but also you, Lord Wiltshire, and Lord Hoskins.” She gave Lucinda a sad smile and patted her hand. “Let us hope that our presence will be enough to force him to reveal the truth. And if it is not…” She trailed off, looking at Lucinda askance.

  “What, Aunt?” Lucinda pressed, not wanting her aunt to hold her back. “What is it?”

  Lady Crampton sighed heavily and shook her head. “And if our presence does not convince him, then perhaps the threat of his deceit being exposed to the ton will do so,” she said, and Lucinda swallowed hard, aware of what her aunt meant. Lord Swinton cared more for his name and his reputation amongst the beau monde than he would ever care for her. That was the truth of it and, whilst it stung a little, Lucinda did not allow it to take a hold of her.

  “We will use whatever we have to,” she told Lady Crampton firmly, and her aunt nodded her agreement. Rising to her feet, Lucinda brushed down her skirts carefully and then gave her aunt a quick, tight smile. Nervousness had taken a hold of her entirely, but she was not about to give in to it or run from what she had to do nex.t

  “Shall we?” she asked as Lady Crampton rose also. Her aunt said nothing but merely nodded, smiled, and gestured for Lucinda to step forward. Harnessing her courage, Lucinda set her shoulders, lifted her chin, and walked toward the card table without hesitation. Murmurs of surprise rose from all around them as the gentlemen, who thus far had not been aware of their presence, suddenly noticed the two ladies gliding through their midst. Such was the concentration on Lord Astley’s face, in fact, that he did not even glance up as the two ladies approached, despite the exclamations of astonishment that echoed up from around him.

  “Father,” Lucinda said clearly, making both Lord Swinton and Lord Astley look up sharply. “There is something that must be discussed at once. Please do accompany myself and Lady Crampton to the library.” Her heart was pounding furiously but she maintained the outward appearance of calm with an effort. “You also, Lord Astley.”

  She expected the sneer that immediately climbed onto Lord Astley’s face, expected the scoffing and the bark of harsh, unkind laughter. But she remained precisely as she was, Lady Crampton by her side and her dear Lord Wiltshire watching her with a confident, encouraging smile on his face.

  “I hardly think you have any right to make any demands, Miss Williams,” Lord Astley said as the other gentlemen at the table looked at each other in astonishment. “Do hurry along now. This evening is not for the likes of you.”

  “I think you will find that I am the one best suited to say who is welcome here this evening, Lord Astley,” Lord Wiltshire remarked calmly. “And given that Miss Williams and I are soon to be wed, I must say I am very glad to have her presence here.”

  The whole room, which had been almost silent up until this moment, burst into a furious uproar at this news. Lucinda could not help but laugh, despite the tension that was coursing through her veins, almost overwhelmed with the reaction of those around her. Come the morrow, it would be all through London and practically everyone within the beau monde would know of her engagement to Lord Wiltshire—even though he had not yet properly proposed.

  “Lucinda!” Lord Swinton’s voice was filled with wrath, his eyes blazing with furious anger as he grasped her hand tightly, the smile dropping from her face in an instant. “What is the meaning of this?”

  Lucinda pulled her hand away. “As I have said, Father, you need to attend with us in order to discuss a matter of importance.”

  “I shall do no such thing.”

  Lady Crampton leaned a little closer. “I think you should, brother,” she said icily. “Unless you wish everyone at this table—nay, everyone in this room—to know precisely what you have in your pocket.”

  This brought such a change in Lord Swinton’s countenance that for a moment, Lucinda wondered if he might faint. His color faded to grey, his eyes widened, and one hand gripped hard at the table, his gaze roving from Lucinda to Lady Crampton and back again.

  “Very well.”

  She could hardly believe her ears. In a moment, her father had conceded and was now rising from the table without any seeming hesitation. Having not expected his agreement to come so soon or so swiftly, Lucinda took a moment to catch her breath, glancing at Lord Astley, who was watching Lord Swinton with fury in his gaze.

  “And you also, Lord Astley,” she said, aware that there was a slight shake in her voice but making certain to remain as determined as before. “At once, if you please.”

  Lord Wiltshire came toward her and settled a hand on her arm for just a moment, before he stood by Lord Astley, gesturing toward the door. “As Miss Williams has said, Lord Astley,” he said firmly. “Else there will be more than one secret exposed tonight.”

  Lord Astley took longer to acquiesce than her father had done but, much to Lucinda’s relief, he eventually pushed back his chair and, with a growl of evident anger, stalked out after Lord Swinton. Lord Crampton and Lord Hoskins followed quickly, leaving Lucinda and Lord Wiltshire to walk together.

  “Pray, continue,” Lord Wiltshire called, a broad smile on his face. “There are one or two matters that have come up of a most urgent nature, but it will not take me too long.”

  Lucinda let out her breath slowly as Lord Wiltshire led her from the room, pausing for a moment in her steps as she fought to regain her composure.

  “Are you quite all right?” Lord Wiltshire asked, looking deeply into her eyes as his hands ran down her arms, concern evident in every part of his features. “You were marvelous, my love.”

  The tender way he spoke to her brought such a flurry of joy to her heart that it tore away some of her anxious thoughts. “I saw him cheat,” she said, looking up into his face. “It is true enough, then.”

  “It is,” he replied gently. “But we must hear it from them both now.”

  A sudden worry caught at her mind. “It m
ay come to nothing,” she said, her hands pressed flat against his chest. “What if they do not care? What if—”

  Lord Wiltshire silenced her worries with a kiss, holding her gently as though cradling the most precious of gifts. Lucinda leaned against him, her worries fading as he kissed her with a sweetness that left her reeling.

  “It will all come aright,” he whispered against her lips, his forehead resting gently upon hers. “And once it has done so, I will have something of great importance to ask you.”

  Lucinda smiled up at him, her hands now around his neck. “I think I already know what my answer shall be,” she whispered, making him laugh. “But I shall wait for you to ask me properly, just in case.”

  14

  Phillip walked into the library with Miss Williams on his arm, aware of how tense she was, yet being immensely proud of all she had undertaken thus far. The way she had spoken to her father and then to Lord Astley had brought him such a sense of pride, making him think all the more highly of her. At their first meeting, he had thought her more beautiful than any other lady of his acquaintance, but now he knew that her character outshone every other creature on earth. She had endured so much and yet had such a great determination within her. The strength she displayed and the lengths she had intended to go to in order to protect him awed him—it made her all the more extraordinary and Phillip was overwhelmed by all that he felt for her.

  “There is to be no wedding.”

  The first words spoken as they entered were by none other than Lord Swinton, who was standing in front of the fireplace, his hands clasped behind his back and a look of such anger on his face that Phillip could practically feel the heat of it.

  “I am to wed your daughter, Lord Swinton,” he replied mildly. “Despite Lord Astley attempts to threaten her, despite his attack upon my person, I shall not be dissuaded. I love your daughter like no other and shall not give her up.”