The Study of Seduction (Sinful Suitors, #2)(36)

That sent Clarissa’s mind racing again. Was the woman showing jealousy? Warning Clarissa that she’d have to work hard to deserve Edwin? Clearly, the actress admired Edwin for more than his investing, but could it have gone so far as to be intimate? How could Clarissa find out without being vulgar?

“He speaks well of you, too,” Clarissa said. “And I have long been an admirer of yours myself. There aren’t many women who can conquer the theater world so thoroughly.”

The actress dipped her head. “How kind of you to say.”

Her servant murmured something in her ear again, and she said to him, “Go tell them I’ll be along shortly.”

As soon as the lad darted out, Clarissa said, “I understand that you and his lordship are very old, very dear friends.”

It came out more coldly than she’d intended, and that seemed to give Madame Vestris pause. She stared at Clarissa. “Are you asking if I am his lordship’s mistress?”

The blunt words brought Clarissa up short. But at least the woman wasn’t beating about the bush. “Well, are you?”

When the actress didn’t answer at once, Edwin snapped, “No, she is not.”

Clarissa glanced at him. “I should like to hear it from the lady, if you please.”

“Have you ever known me to lie?” Edwin asked, his hand tightening on hers.

But Madame Vestris laughed. “Forgive me, my lady, for toying with you. I am not, nor ever have been, his lordship’s paramour.” Humor gleamed in her eyes. “Though not for lack of trying. After all, Lord Blakeborough is that rarest of gentlemen—handsome, generous, and intelligent. An intelligent man always deserves an intelligent woman, don’t you think?”

“Indeed he does.” She thrust out her chin. “Fortunately, he has found one.” While she knew it was foolish to tout their faux engagement, she felt oddly possessive of her pretend fiancé. She liked Madame Vestris . . . but not well enough to see the woman romantically involved with Edwin.

The actress softened her tone. “You have nothing to fear from me, Lady Clarissa. His lordship is indeed an old friend, but it was never anything more. And these days our friendship centers around his investment in my concern, naught else.”

Her servant appeared in the doorway, and she looked up. “Yes, yes, I’m coming.” She took Clarissa’s hand and pressed it warmly. “I hope to see more of you, my dear. You are always welcome in my theater. Now, forgive me, but I must get the players in their places.” Then she swept out in a swish of silk skirts.

Her servant looked at Edwin. “Can you and the lady find your own way back, sir?”

“Yes,” Edwin said. “Go on.”

As the servant rushed off after his mistress, Edwin led Clarissa out into the passageway. They had to push their way past actors and actresses rushing the opposite direction to take their places onstage for the beginning of the final portion of the Revels.

Edwin stood aside to let a clown pass, and Clarissa said, “Do you really know where we’re going?”

He smiled indulgently at her. “I always know where I’m going.” Then he took her hand and drew her down another hall.

There were fewer people here, and as she and Edwin traversed it, those remaining players vanished into the other passageway. When she and Edwin passed an open door to an empty room, she stopped him. “We need to talk, and this is as good a place as any.”

Glancing either way down the hall, he nodded and drew her inside, then pulled the door mostly closed, to give them some privacy. Through the walls, they could hear muted voices and the sounds of music starting up, but here they were alone.

“So,” she began. “Now that Durand has called our bluff, what do we do next?”





Ten


Edwin didn’t know how to answer her. Between that damned Frenchman’s baiting of them and Clarissa’s surprising reaction to Lucia, he was at a loss. But Clarissa was looking at him expectantly, and he had to say something.

“We behave as if we’re engaged.”

She huffed out a breath. “I figured that out myself. But for how long? The whole world is sure to hear of it before the night is over, and we’ll be bombarded with questions. I merely need to know what to answer. Have we set a date for the wedding, for example?”

“Of course not.” He scrubbed his hand over his face and added acerbically, “Forgive me, but I haven’t thought through the details of our pretend wedding, only the ones for our secret pretend engagement. I didn’t expect Durand to press the issue. It doesn’t make sense.”

“Yes, I recall your saying that it wouldn’t suit his plans.” She halted to stare at him. “Perhaps you should have mentioned that to him. Because apparently he thinks it suits his plans quite well.”

“Clearly his purpose was to catch us off guard and have us admit that the whole thing was a lie.”

“I realize that. And while I’m glad that we didn’t perform to his expectations, it doesn’t change the fact that we are now publicly engaged.” Her gaze grew shuttered. “Which neither of us wants.”

“No.” It was very nearly true. But part of him couldn’t help imagining Clarissa naked in his bed, with her sensuous lips smiling coyly and her arms reaching up to pull him down beside her. Her breasts would be there for sucking, and her lovely thighs—