Chapter Three
Beckham House
Hanover Square
Mayfair, London
“Why am I so nervous?” Caroline paced in front of the drawing room windows, for Felix had promised in a letter he’d had couriered over yesterday that we would escort her and Aunt Georgiana to the rout tonight.
Her aunt snorted from her location in a chair. “Because you haven’t seen the major in weeks, and now that you finally will, it is going to happen at a society event.”
“There is that.” When she peered out one of the windows, it was too dark outside to see out onto the street.
All she saw was her reflection. “How does this gown look on me?” It was one she’d not worn before, and as she slipped her gloved hands down the front of the navy velvet bodice, she then shook out the navy silk skirting shot through with delicate silver thread, she kept her gaze on her aunt.
“It is stunning on you and goes well with your dark hair.” The older lady touched the ostrich feather placed strategically in her upswept white tresses. “I’m glad the bodice has a lower neckline. And the silver beading here and there looks like stars in the heavens. A good choice, I think.”
“Thank you.” With nerves still fluttering, Caroline touched a finger to the silver and pearl brooch at her throat.
Tied about her neck on a navy satin ribbon, it helped her to feel more stately.
A bracelet of small pearls around her left wrist matched.
“Mama insisted I have three new gowns made for this holiday season, even if we didn’t know if we would accept invitations. ”
“Well, it will certainly catch the major’s eye.” Aunt Georgiana shook her head. “If your troublesome brother didn’t beg off from his responsibilities tonight to look after his own pleasures, Major Kourier wouldn’t have needed to come by.”
“Yes, well, Andrew never has been one for commitment.” Caroline drifted toward her aunt’s chair. “Lucky him, though. Who wishes to do the pretty and act lovely and polite when one doesn’t feel like it?”
Her aunt snorted again. “You’ll need to stifle your dislike of being in society, my girl. It is a large part of your life.”
“What if I don’t wish for it to be?”
She shrugged. “It doesn’t matter. Whether you eventually wed the major or a different man, at least some part of your social commitments will revolve around the whims of the people in charge.
Best to play nice with a saccharine smile now and then have the room to wiggle out later with a plausible excuse.
The powers-that-be can build or destroy a reputation if they want to, and you never know who you will need on your side at some point. ”
“Truly?”
“Oh, yes.” The older woman nodded. “You need to be skilled in how to the play the game, my girl. Hate the players, perhaps, but learn who they are and how they can eventually help you reach your goals.”
Caroline frowned. “That sounds so callous.”
“Perhaps, but that is society, and you can’t avoid it.”
There wasn’t time for more conversation, for the butler appeared at the door.
“Lady Kearney, Major Kourier is here to escort you both.”
Aunt Georgiana rose to her feet. “Show him up. We have a few moments to chat before we must leave.” She grinned at Caroline as the butler went down to presumably fetch their guest. “Do the pretty, girl. Remember, your goal is to bring him up to scratch,” she said with a slight wink.
Seconds later, Felix came into the room, and heat immediately came over Caroline’s body. She thought she might melt into a puddle on the floor, for he was so handsome in his evening clothes beneath a great coat with his cane and top hat over his blond hair.
“Good evening, Miss Ives,” the major said but his attention quickly flicked to her aunt. “And who is this ravishing creature?”
“Don’t think to ply your charm on me, Major,” Aunt Georgiana said, but there was a decided sparkle to her eyes. She gave him her hand. “I’m Lady Kearney, great-aunt to Miss Ives, and my basic function here is to make certain you don’t pull my great-niece into more scandal than you can help.”
“Ah.” He nodded as he brought her gloved hand to his lips and then kissed the back. “It is good to meet you, my lady. Are you and Miss Ives ready to go down? My closed carriage is waiting at the curb.”
Aunt Georgiana eyed him with speculation. “Rushing us, Major?”
“Of course not, but I also don’t want you to miss out by arriving late.”
“Don’t get cheeky.” She rapped his hand with the closed spine of her fan. “We can go.” Then she left the room ahead of the major and Caroline.
When he fell into step beside her, the scents of citrus, cedar, and leather assailed Caroline’s nose. “It is good to see you again. How do you fair, Caroline?” he asked in a low voice, but that deep rumble tickled through her chest.
“Oh, I am well enough.” In the distracted portion of her brain, she wished they weren’t going to be in public.
She’d rather like to have him to herself and kiss him until she’d had her fill, but instead, they dutifully followed her aunt down the stairs and into the entry hall.
“I’m afraid there isn’t all that much to keep my mind engaged. ”
“I understand. Unfortunately, I have been busy with consulting, which is why I haven’t had time to call.”
“Mmm.” She nodded and accepted a wrap of white rabbit-fur lined with cream-colored satin from the butler. “I suppose crime doesn’t sleep.”
“Indeed.” It was all he said, for Aunt Georgiana watched them like a hawk as she accepted her own wrap of gray fox fur, complete with the tail. “Come, you two. We have no time to linger.”
With a mysterious grin, the major escorted them both outside.
At least the rain from the day before had stopped.
In its place had come sharply colder air.
No doubt it would snow soon. Once both she and her aunt were in the carriage, Felix entered the vehicle and settled next to Caroline.
He gave an address to his driver, and shortly after the door was closed, the carriage lurched into motion.
No. 22
Grosvenor’s Square
Mayfair, London
As the carriage waited in the line to drop off guests, Aunt Georgiana addressed both Caroline and the major.
“Tonight, I plan to be busy with my friends, so don’t bother me overly much, girl. I am hoping to win some pin money at cards as well. I trust you’ll keep yourselves entertained,” she said as she bounced her gaze between them, then gave Caroline a subtle wink.
“Of course, Auntie. I hope you have a lovely time with your friends.” Did that mean she had given her permission for she and the major to perhaps sneak away for a private talk or even more private kiss?
“I will. I personally know the host of this evening’s rout, and I haven’t seen her for more than a few years.” When the carriage moved forward, the older woman glanced out the window. “You know your father wishes you to circulate, yes?” she asked of Caroline.
“I do.”
“However, since your brother broke protocol and defied your father’s orders to make certain you meet with a man he had chosen, I’d say those rules don’t need to be followed.
” A half-smile pulled at one side of her mouth.
“You and the major may talk to whomever you wish tonight. It matters not to me, as long as you enjoy yourselves.”
Once they were finally let out of the carriage, the major escorted them both into the townhouse that fairly buzzed with activity.
“I’m going to find my friends. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do, my girl,” Aunt Georgiana whispered into Caroline’s ear just before she disappeared into the milling crowds and headed for the main staircase.
“We should probably follow, at least until the drawing room,” she said as she rested a hand on his arm. Oh, how strong he was beneath her fingertips!
“God, I despise these things,” he fussed in a low voice as they gained the next level.
“So do I.” But instead of going into the drawing room, they lingered in the corridor outside. She drew her gaze up and down his person. “You look well. Healthy.”
“Thank you.” He nodded. “You are lovely in that gown. It’s almost as if you were enrobed with the nighttime heavens.”
Flutters moved through her heart. “What a lovely thought.” She smiled up at him, and all the while, she had to restrain herself from touching him or showing any intimacy with him.
“How have you kept yourself between consults?” Outside of a few dinners, him coming to call a few times, or walking through Hyde Park in a group with others, she hadn’t been able to speak with him privately over the past couple of months.
It had slowly killed her soul bit by bit.
“Well enough. I’ve consulted on a few cases, took dinner with Inspector Bright and his wife a few times.” When he reached out, to possibly cup her cheek, he seemed to recall where they were and then retracted his hand.
“Right.” She nodded, for the last time she’d been in the Brights’ company, they were involved in chasing down a serial killer, and a genius one at that. “How do they fair after the horrors at All Hallow’s Eve?”
Basically, the inspector and his wife had thrown an All Hallow’s Eve ball for Mrs. Bright’s niece’s Come Out season, and what they discovered was the serial killer involved in the disappearance of young ladies throughout London had been directly tied to one of their party guests.
Things had gone from bad to worse when the killer had taken both the niece and Mrs. Bright hostage with clear intent to kill them.
Thankfully, Felix had assisted Inspector Bright and they’d apprehended the killer.
Shadows danced over Felix’s face. “They are doing well enough, I think. Miss Swanson is just now coming back to herself, from what I’ve heard. I believe her father is taking her to Brighton for Christmas. She’ll be right as rain after some down time, shopping, and long walks on the shore.”