Chapter Sixteen
F eeling smug about the possibilities tonight’s ball held, Matthew handed Fortuity up into the carriage. “There you are, my love. Have I told you how positively breathtaking you are tonight?”
She cut a sideways glance at him, narrowing her eyes with suspicion. “As a matter of fact, you have. Twice before, actually. What are you up to now?”
“Can a man not admire his wife’s beauty? Repeatedly?”
“When he is genuine—yes. When he is distracted by whatever nefarious doings he has plotted with my sister—no.”
“I would never plot anything nefarious, nor would Lady Blessing. Effectiveness is our goal, nothing more.”
“Effectiveness?”
“For us.”
She scowled, then puckered her tempting lips into the most adorable pout he had ever witnessed. “I repeat my earlier question: what are you up to? What is this plot the two of you have hatched? I would like to be prepared.”
“There is nothing for which you need to prepare, and I am simply looking forward to an enjoyable night out with my wife.”
“Liar.”
“Is that kind?”
“No. It is truthful.”
She didn’t sound angry, so he hazarded a smile and patted his waistcoat that held the key element for the trap. “Rest easy, my love. If tonight goes as planned, the Duchess of Esterton will worry us no more, nor will the ton continue laying odds on your meek acceptance of a roving husband or your refusal to ever allow me back into your bed.”
“What do you intend to do?
“You shall see soon enough.”
She snorted a very unladylike huff. “I believe you are enjoying this.”
“I am indeed, my lady. That woman has caused us untold misery, and it is time for it to end.” He took her gloved hand in his and frowned down at it. “I hate gloves. They bar me from the enticing feel of your bare skin against mine.”
“I do not care for them either. But one does not go to a ball without one’s gloves.” She rolled her eyes and made a face. “Or so Mama always used to say and now Anne ensures I remember.” She leaned into him and offered up her mouth along with a suggestive nudge against his chest. “A kiss would help me endure the sacrifices I am forced to make for propriety.”
He happily complied, groaning at the sweet taste of her and drawing upon every strength he possessed to break the connection and lift his head. “Such a wicked temptress, you are, my love, making me yearn to stay home rather than attend another of Lady Atterley’s infamous balls.”
Fortuity gave an equally put-upon sigh. “I would rather stay home as well, but Blessing is so looking forward to seeing the results of this scheme the two of you devised, since you were good enough to wait until after her churching and Aurora’s christening to launch it.” She nudged him in the ribs this time. “I cannot believe you plotted with my sister rather than me.”
“Thorne begged me to because your Blessing was not at all pleased about being barred from overseeing the construction of her new observatory for the four weeks of her lying in. Plotting the duchess’s downfall served as a distraction to maintain peace in the Knightwood household.”
“Well…I did get the pleasure of enjoying little Aurora’s company while the two of you worked out the details of your nefarious plan.”
“I told you, it is not nefarious. Only effective. Or should be.”
The thrill of the hunt surged through him as the carriage rolled to a stop, and Lady Atterley’s footman opened its door and let down the steps. Matthew alit, then helped Fortuity disembark. She truly was lovely this evening, bedecked in her gown of lavender that shimmered with silvery threading embroidered in an elegant trail of ivy that swirled around her as if she were the queen of the fae. But it was more than just the gown. An unexplainable glow emanated from her, as if something magical glimmered within her.
He halted her before they continued up the steps. “You steal my breath away, Fortuity. Please know this is not just the idle babbling of distraction. You are my world—now and forever—and the strength and depth of my love for you sometimes frightens the blazes out of me. I would be lost without you.”
Her lips parted with a surprised but silent oh , and a sheen of happy tears glistened in her eyes. She rested a hand on his cheek and tiptoed for a tender kiss. “I love you with a fury as well,” she whispered.
A polite clearing of a throat behind them interrupted the moment.
Matthew glanced back at Lord and Lady Billersford. “Do forgive me. I am completely besotted with my wife and sometimes forget my surroundings.”
Crusty old Billersford nodded and affected an understanding smile that he obviously did not mean. As he and his wife stepped around them, Matthew overheard Lady Billersford curtly question her husband, “Why do you never say things like that about me?”
Fortuity pressed her fingers to her lips, her shoulders quivering with amusement. “You have done it now, Matthew, gotten that stodgy old goat on the bad side of his wife. They shall not have a pleasant evening now.”
“I very much doubt if they were going to have a pleasant evening to begin with.” He tucked her arm through his and kissed her cheek. “I know public displays of affection are frowned upon, but if they dislike it, they can either look away or go straight to the devil. I love my wife and do not intend to hide it.”
“You are in rare form this evening.”
“I have merely found my feet as a devoted husband.” And he had. He couldn’t imagine life without Fortuity beside him. “Come, my darling. Stay close. Lady Atterley’s ball appears to be quite the crush.”
“Indeed, it does.”
Matthew scanned the crowded ballroom from the top of the grand staircase that led down into it. “Your brother and most of your sisters are already in place beside the terrace doors. Do you see Knightwood and Blessing?”
“ Already in place beside the terrace doors ? Have you enlisted my entire family in this escapade?” Fortuity looked all around, then pointed across the way. “Essie and Thorne are there, making their way over to join the rest.”
“Good, and Blessing suggested we gather as many as possible. It appears she has been quite busy in that regard.” A sense of satisfaction filled him. This ploy would take control of what Olandra felt was her power: the manipulative and damaging gossip of the ton. “Several are following Knightwood and your sister. Her recruitment has been quite successful.”
Fortuity clutched his arm tighter as they descended the steps and slowly made their way through the crowd surrounding the dance floor. “A hint of what is to happen would be most appreciated,” she murmured for his ears alone.
“We are taking control and acting , my love, rather than reacting. ”
She glared at him.
He didn’t wish to make her nervous, but if he took the time to explain, the ploy might fail. Instead, he made a show of whirling her out onto the floor to get her across the room to her siblings even quicker. “Our first dance was a waltz. Remember?”
“I might recall that,” she said, with a slight snippiness to her tone.
“I need you to trust me, my love. Can you do that?”
She gave him a pained look. “Do I have a choice?”
“You always have a choice,” he said as he spun them closer to the Broadmere family. “And I hope you always choose me.” Thankfully, that melted her. She relaxed in his arms and relinquished her worries with a patronizing smile.
“You know I always choose you.”
The music ended at the perfect moment, enabling them to halt in front of the Broadmeres. “Your Grace,” Matthew said to Fortuity’s brother as he handed her over. “Thank you for your assistance this evening.”
“It is always my pleasure to take on my sister’s enemies,” the duke said, then smiled and glanced at the rest of the sisters. “We may often squabble among ourselves, but the Broadmeres always defend our own. Our forces are at your service.”
Matthew bowed to Fortuity, then kissed her hand again. “Stay with your family. They know what to do.”
“But—”
He shook his head. “Trust me, my love.”
She looked up at him and gave a resigned sigh. “Godspeed to you, Matthew.”
He waited until the Broadmeres, Knightwood, and the friends they had gathered all filed outside through the terrace doors leading to Lady Atterley’s impressive garden, the place where many a searing scandal had started, and where Olandra’s machinations would end. He rubbed his hands together and eyed the crowd. Time to invite the guest of honor to the scheme.
Olandra, the dowager duchess, was easy to find. Not only did her annoying laugh drown out any amount of conversation or music, but her coppery red hair shone like a beacon. She loved a crowd and fed on attention and ratafia, which, if she drank enough of it, increased both the pitch and volume of her laughter. What the devil had ever made him think he loved that woman?
“My lord.” She curtsied low as he approached, her overly bright eyes attesting to the number of glasses of ratafia she had already consumed. “How are you this fine evening?”
“Quite well, Your Grace.” With the slightest tip of his head, he glanced in the direction of the terrace doors. “However, I feel the need for some fresh air. The room has grown unbearably warm.”
“Indeed, it has.” Olandra snapped open her fan and unabashedly waved it in front of her ample bosom, which was about to spill out over her neckline. “Would your wife mind if I joined you?” she asked loudly with a covert glance around to ensure everyone overheard her.
“I am sure my wife would not mind at all.” Matthew couldn’t refrain from smiling. Fortuity would indeed be delighted when she witnessed what he and Blessing had planned for Olandra.
As they made their way through the crowd and stepped out onto the terrace, Olandra preened like the proudest of peahens. “I am glad my latest message to you finally drew your attention,” she said in a low, sultry tone while leaning closer. “Your tastes have changed, my lord. Now, I know it takes a more brazen approach to draw your attention.”
“Brazenness always draws attention,” he said, trying not to recoil from her touch as they made their way deeper into the east side of the garden toward the known privacy of the half-circle of columns and statuary. “But one must be careful about the attention one draws.”
“Oh my. That sounds wonderfully wicked.”
He brought them to a halt and reached inside his waistcoat for the most recent note she’d dared to send. “I must say, it was quite bold of you to pelt my townhouse with so many pleas since your arrival in London.” He held up the folded bit of parchment bearing her seal. “Have you no shame, Your Grace?”
She frowned at him, blinking as though dust had blown into her eyes. “Shame?” She tittered with a nervous laugh. “As I said in all my previous notes, I never forgave myself for making the wrong choice.” She moved toward him, her frown becoming an astonished scowl when he stepped back from her. “You loved me, Matthew. I should never have thrown that away.”
“I lusted after you then, Your Grace. No more. No less. And that foolishness on my part has long since passed. You will cease this harassment that I have decided should be laid bare for all to witness.” He glanced around the perimeter of the clearing and gave a curt nod.
The Broadmere siblings, Knightwood, and a great many more guests than had previously been led outside by Blessing stepped out of the shadows. He held out the note to his smiling sister-in-law. “Would you be so good as to read this aloud for everyone’s enjoyment, although, I must warn you, this one is particularly scandalous and some might even find it offensive.”
“My pleasure, dear brother.” Blessing held the note higher to better catch the light of the torches.
Olandra dove and tried to snatch it away, but Blessing dodged her, then started reading in a loud, clear voice that carried quite well.
My dearest Matthew (yes, I still call you dearest even though you have proven to be most stubborn in your faithfulness to that bland little wife of yours),
Since you refuse to respond to my correspondences, perhaps something a bit more salacious might interest you—
“Shut your mouth, you vile creature!” Olandra charged toward Blessing again, but Knightwood caught her by the wrist and dragged her back. “This is all a lie!” Olandra screeched while trying to yank free. “A wicked contrivance. Why would you shame me this way, Matthew?”
Matthew gave Blessing’s husband an appreciative nod. “Pray, keep our guest of honor in place, Knightwood.”
“Happily,” Knightwood told him, before turning to Olandra. “And you may shut your mouth, Your Grace, and never threaten my wife again or rue the day you were born.”
“Thank you, dearest,” Blessing told Knightwood, then turned back to the crowd. “Shall I continue, dear friends? I must warn you, the contents are quite—”
Shouts for her to read on interrupted her.
Blessing gave a theatrical bow and read,
Lord Fetterill and Lord Alcester host the most scrumptious of pleasure parties. After all, with their wives confined by the family way, they must find other means of satisfying their voracious appetites. Join me, my darling. Threesomes, foursomes, and every contrived fantasy is most wonderfully explored at these exclusive events. I promise you will not regret leaving the boredom of your marriage bed to join me in their garden of fleshly delights, full of willing—
“How could you do this to me?” Olandra screamed at Matthew. “You loved me enough to ask me to marry you! I had you first!”
“You are an abhorrence, Olandra, and you never had me the way my Fortuity has.” Matthew went to his precious lady love, took her hand, and drew her into his arms. “I love my wife more than I ever dreamed I could love anyone,” he said while losing himself in her blue-eyed gaze, “and I will do whatever it takes to keep her happy and in love with me.”
“I love you, Matthew,” Fortuity said, “more than you will ever know.”
The gathered onlookers clapped and hurrahed as he kissed her with every ounce of tenderness he possessed for her.
Olandra’s enraged shriek split the air. “I hate you all!”
“Well, drat,” Thorne said with a hearty laugh. “Her Grace appears to have escaped.”
“Oh my,” Fortuity said as they abruptly ended their kiss and she turned toward the sound. “The Duchess of Esterton will surely do herself harm, running like that.”
With her skirts clutched in her hands, the dowager duchess raced across the garden, up the steps, and disappeared into the house.
Matthew turned Fortuity to face him. “Now, everyone knows the truth, my love, the complete and utter truth.”
“Again, I love you,” she said ever so softly. “That is the complete and utter truth.”
“I love you more,” he replied before gathering her even closer and bending his head to enjoy more of her sweet kisses. Lady Atterley’s ball could be damned. He had his Fortuity—that was all he would ever need.