Chapter 4 #3
Lady Lavinia was attractive, titled, and respectable.
Most importantly, she was here. She’d come with her cousin, Lord Notley, one Will’s few friends with any claim to respectability.
Lady Lavinia had ended her third season without an offer, and she seemed to be encouraging Will’s attentions.
He was well aware she cared far more for his piles of English pounds than she did for him, but his money for her respectability seemed a fair trade.
He didn’t have the first idea how to launch his sister into proper society, and Madeline’s prospects were gloomy enough already, despite her fortune.
After all, the infamous Tainted Angels were her brothers.
“Does Lady Madeline look forward to her debut?”
Will let out a humorless laugh. “Hardly. My sister fancies herself madly in love with the scoundrel intent on ruining her. Last night she tried to escape Cliff’s Edge to go to him. We were chasing her when we came upon you.”
“Ah. I did wonder if it was something like that.”
“She’s sure to make another attempt, but aside from locking her in her room for the next few months, I don’t know how to stop her.” Will’s shoulders hunched. “I care very much for my sister, Miss Hervey, but she’s a mystery to me.”
“Well, of course she is, my lord. She’s a young girl in the throes of her first infatuation.
It’s enough to throw any brother into a panic, isn’t it?
” She nibbled on her lip for a moment, thinking, then said, “It’s not my place to say so, Lord Archer, but I expect your sister feels quite alone right now.
Perhaps it would help if she had a friend, or at least another lady to talk to. ”
Will thought of Lady Lavinia, but immediately dismissed the idea. Madeline hadn’t warmed to her the way he’d hoped she would. “I’m rather short of ladies at the moment.”
“Indeed, you’re not. Two ladies fell right into your path last night. It seems to me we’re in a perfect position to help each other.”
Will quirked a brow at her. “I doubt that.”
“Listen, will you? An amateur theatrical might be just the thing to cheer Lady Madeline, and reconcile her to a holiday at Cliff’s Edge. Miss Bishop and I would be pleased to stage one, for a small fee, of course.”
Will’s lips gave an unwilling twitch. He couldn’t help but admire her pluck. “How small is this small fee? Twenty pounds?”
“No. Six pounds, for an evening’s entertainment. Nothing improper, of course. I could even write in a part for Lady Madeline, if you like.”
Will stretched his legs out in front of him as he considered Miss Hervey’s offer.
He was tempted to accept, but he didn’t think Lady Lavinia would like it.
The season was nearly upon them, and it wasn’t as if he had dozens of proper, respectable ladies lying about, breathlessly awaiting his offer of marriage.
He couldn’t afford to offend her, and he didn’t trust himself to hide his attraction to Miss Hervey from her.
After all, if Florentina had noticed it, anyone could.
“Thank you, Miss Hervey, but I’ll have to decline.” He rose from the bench and held out his arm to her. “Come. The carriage is waiting to take you back to London.”
She didn’t argue, but her face went so pale Will hesitated. She looked so forlorn, so defeated when she took his arm, he instinctively covered her hand with his. Hers was small and cold under his palm, her frayed gloves offering little warmth.
An image of her groveling at Silas Bragg’s feet rose in his mind. It was so disturbing he opened his mouth to tell her he’d give her the bloody twenty pounds—
“Penelope!”
Will stopped on the path, and he and Miss Hervey turned to find Miss Bishop waving at them from the long drive that led toward the estate’s entrance. Oliver and Christopher were with her, and beside her, holding her arm…
Maddy.
Will’s eyes nearly fell out of his head. Maddy hadn’t willingly left her bedchamber for a month, since the day they’d arrived at Cliff’s Edge.
“We’re on a search for holly berries to freshen the greenery in the drawing room,” Miss Bishop called, with another wave. “Come with us!”
Miss Hervey turned to him with an innocent smile. “Well, my lord, your sister seems content enough to remain at Cliff’s Edge for the time being. It’s curious, isn’t it? I wonder what could have happened to change her mind.”
Will gaped at his sister, stunned. Maddy’s arm was wrapped snugly around Miss Bishop’s. Her cheeks were pink from the cold, and a shy smile lit her face.
He had no idea what Miss Bishop had said to coax Maddy from her melancholy, and he didn’t care. The bleak cloud had lifted. Nothing else mattered to him. He turned to Miss Hervey. “One more night only. No foolishness, no tricks, and you leave tomorrow morning without further argument.”
He’d find some way to excuse it to Lady Lavinia.
“Oh, yes! Of course, my lord. Whatever you like.” She gave his arm a quick squeeze.
He glanced down at her, admiring the way the sun turned her hair to a halo of red and gold, and then, before he knew what was happening, before he could prepare for it…
Penelope Hervey offered him a smile that made his knees buckle.
Dear God. How was he going to resist her for another day?
Will tore his gaze away from her, turned his face to the sky, and muttered a quiet prayer for a Christmas miracle.