Treacherous Temptations(38)

“Aye,” Jenny confessed with a blush. “He’s such a gentleman, miss. I ne’er had one to talk so sweet to me and treat me like he does.”

Her words echoed Mary’s own thoughts about Lord Hadley. “I fear we are the same, Jenny, in that the head of an honest country girl is too easily turned by a fine gentleman. But what if you were to get with child? Have you considered that?”

“Aye. We was careful but I think he’d do right by me. I still can’t regret it, for he says he won’t go with his lordship if he returns abroad. Miss Molly, ye’ve always been a good mistress to me, if there’s aught you wish to know about his lordship, mayhap James…”

“No, Jenny,” she replied. “I thank you for offering, but whatever his secrets, I wish to hear them from Lord Hadley’s own mouth.”

“I still say you should follow where your heart leads.”

“My heart would only lead me astray,” she said sadly. “Even if Sir Richard gave consent, which I know he never would, I could never marry Lord Hadley.”

“What e’er you decide, miss, I only wish ye happy.”

“Happy? I don’t know that true happiness is in my future. I would do best to aspire only to peace and contentment.” With this melancholy thought, Mary took up her new ivory fan to present herself to the countess before her much-dreaded evening at the opera.

…

“You summoned me?” Hadley entered Lady Blanchard’s boudoir with a thunderous scowl. This was the last place he wanted to be, and Barbara the last person he desired to see, but intuition told him neither she nor Sir Richard were to be trusted with Mary. He almost hadn’t returned to Blanchard House at all after his meeting with Cornbury. With so much to do in London, he had considered taking rooms elsewhere, someplace where his movements might be less conspicuous. He had also thought it prudent to give Mary space and a chance to think, but he couldn’t seem to put her out of his mind, nor did he dare let her out of his sight.

“Leave us!” The countess signaled her maid and footman with an imperious wave. She wore an indecently cut violet evening gown that all but revealed her red-rouged nipples. She flaunted her flesh to little effect where Hadley was concerned, for Barbara was a dish for which he’d completely lost his appetite.

When they were alone, she cocked a brow. “Your little adventure by barge yesterday, was it fruitful?”

“I have no intention of feeding your lascivious fancy, Barbara.”

She approached him with a pout. “You have grown selfish Hadley, for once we shared everything.” She slid her hand up his thigh to cup him.

He grasped her wrist and jerked it away. “History that will not be repeated.”

“More’s the pity,” she frowned. “But you haven’t answered my question. Have you taken her yet?”

“She needs more time.”

“Time?” she laughed. “Time is a luxury we no longer have! I have done my part, Hadley. Did I not help to contrive an entire day without Sir Richard’s knowledge? You had ample opportunity. I begin to fear you are not the man you once were.” Her gaze slid back to his crotch. “Is that the real problem? Is it what has kept you from my bed? Have you gone soft, Hadley?”

“I refuse to rise to that.”

“The question remains whether you can rise at all.”

“Damn it, Barbara! The girl needs to be handled with care or all will amount to naught.”

“Yet our very future is riding on this!”

Her remark was cut short by a light rap on the door. Mary entered with a look of uncertainty wrinkling her brow. “Do you also attend the opera this evening, Lord Hadley?” She addressed him in a voice stiff with reserve, as if they were strangers.

“Alas, not,” he replied, “I have a prior engagement, but now that I have seen you, Miss Edwardes, I am filled with regret. You are enchanting this night.”

Dressed in ivory satin and lace with seed pearls, with hair simply arranged in cascades of red curls, the effect was luminous and lovely. Mary Elizabeth Edwardes was a sight that stole his breath. He was almost dumbstruck by her transformation.

Her gaze flicked to his and then darted away. “Do you really think so?” She instantly bit her lip as if repenting the question.

He crossed the room to take her hand. “Indeed I do.” He caressed her knuckles bringing her hand to his lips. “You are a veritable angel, Mary, and were we in a more private place I would be tempted to kiss much more than your hand. Would you let me, I wonder?” he asked sotto voce.

“No,” she answered with a rosy hue infusing her cheeks. “I would not.” She retrieved her hand.

“Another regret,” he said and stroked one of her loose red curls. “But perhaps I shall later convince you otherwise.”

She glared. “You are presumptuous.”

He smiled. “I am persuasive.”

“I wish you an enjoyable evening, my lord.” Mary turned her back to him to face the countess who eyed Mary with enough virulence to poison the air.

Barbara’s ill-concealed jealousy was already a thorn in Hadley’s side, and one that experience told him would fester quickly unless he found a way to pluck it out. Although he already courted more than his share of danger this night, he knew he must find a way to look after the girl, for Barbara was vindictive as hell and would surely make Mary suffer in myriad intangible ways.