Chapter 16 #3
Cynthia reached out a hand and pulled Clio into a tight embrace. ‘Save me. I cannot endure another evening of her salacious confidences alone,’ she whispered before releasing Clio and pasting a bright smile on her perfectly stained lips.
Clio squeezed her hand in a silent promise to remain near. ‘She is rather insatiable. I suppose one must admire her stamina.’
Cynthia’s dry laugh held sharp edges. ‘It’s been so long, I hardly remember.’
Clio wasn’t sure how to respond. Luckily, Lady Langley saved her by joining their duo. ‘There you are! I must say, Cynthia, your brother’s reputation is far more scandalous than the man himself. I dare say I’m disappointed.’
Cynthia’s eyes hardened. ‘Don’t tell me you believe the gossips. They’ll say any manner of lies to keep their sycophants titillated.’
‘Hardly lies when every widow, harlot, and actress south of Cambridge had a tale to tell of their wild nights with Lieutenant General Grey once upon a time.’
‘There are a million justifiable reasons why a man might turn from his marriage bed to seek comfort in the arms of another, Diana. Of all people, you should understand that.’ It was a sharp barb, and Clio’s respect for Cynthia grew.
‘His wife might have a different view.’ Lady Langley’s tone turned frigid.
‘Wife no longer, and I am glad of it. I will not discuss that woman.’
Lady Langley raised a brow as her eyes narrowed like a hound scenting blood. ‘The court certainly agreed with that woman. They felt your brother’s behaviour beyond the pale.’
Unexpected rage welled in Clio. How dare a woman as wanton as the duchess cast judgement upon anyone? A spark from the fire popped, landing on Lady Langley’s skirt. The duchess screeched, knocking the ember free, but not before it singed her gown.
Cynthia’s hand shook as she helped swat the smouldering silk.
‘Beyond the pale!’ Sir Robin blinked at Clio, but try as she might, she couldn’t feel guilty.
She didn’t know why Thomas sought out other women during his marriage, but whatever the reason, she wanted to understand.
Lady Langley was right about his reputation, but it did not align with the man she knew.
And she would not judge him without knowing the details.
‘Let me help you with your gown.’ Clio could see the effort it took Cynthia to keep her voice pleasant as she attempted to assist Lady Langley.
The duchess pulled away from her. ‘I have many close friends, Cynthia. I don’t need help from those not willing to give it freely.’ She turned in a rustle of silk and lace to join a tittering group of ladies on the far side of the room.
‘Blast! I shall have to make it up to her somehow.’ Cynthia turned to Clio, a false smile on her lips as tears of frustration shone in her eyes.
‘Why? In the little I’ve observed of your friendship, it does not seem the duchess brings much to the table.’
Cynthia burst into laughter. ‘One of the wealthiest, most highly titled women in the beau monde isn’t doing her fair share in our friendship?
’ She shook her head, her joy dying as quickly as it appeared.
‘Not all of us are free to flout society’s rules, Clio.
Some must bend their will to husbands, duchesses, and all manner of ugliness.
’ Her harsh words were softened by a small smile.
‘But not you. I admire you, Clio. And I’m honest enough to admit I also envy you. ’
The men rejoined the party, and Thomas walked across the floor to join Clio and Cynthia.
Cynthia deftly changed subjects, her pleasant mask back in place. ‘How was your interview with poor little Anna?’
Clio wished she could have responded to Cynthia. She wished she could have told her that she respected her immensely for standing tall when so much weighed her down. But the moment had passed. ‘Informative,’ she said instead.
‘Confounding,’ Thomas countered as he stood closer to Clio than was entirely polite. But Lady Langley’s guests were far too deep in their cups to notice.
Cynthia looked from one to the other. ‘Marvellous. So, the investigation is going well.’ She didn’t attempt to hide her smile.
‘It would be better if I could talk to Berty alone. Flatter him a bit while he’s soused. There’s a world of information a man will share if he’s properly motivated.’
‘Absolutely not.’ Thomas’ growl had the fine hairs on her arms raising as her inner muscles clenched.
Cynthia looked from Clio to Thomas and back again. ‘I think I shall just… err… make amends with Lady Langley. An unpleasant task is best handled immediately.’ She glided across the parlour floor, leaving only Clio and Thomas.
‘I know you prefer to take charge, but we are a team, Clio. I won’t have you alone with that disgusting man.’
Clio lifted her chin and kept her eyes on Lady Langley. As soon as Cynthia approached her, she flitted to a different group, forcing Cynthia to chase her like a lap dog looking for a treat. Clio wished she had flung a larger coal, one that singed more than just Lady Langley’s skirts.
‘That woman is a harridan.’
He followed her gaze. ‘What’s going on?’
Clio shook her head. ‘The duchess made some unsavoury comments. When Cynthia disagreed, she left in a huff.’
‘Unsavoury comments about what? Or given the duchess, who?’
Bugger.
She couldn’t very well repeat what the duchess said about Grey. Instead, she shook her head. ‘It doesn’t matter.’
He turned to face her, gripping her elbow and forcing her to mirror his movements. ‘It matters a great deal if she has upset my sister.’
‘I come from a very loyal family. We protect each other. Your sister is cut from the same cloth, I believe.’
His eyes hardened as his fingers tightened. ‘Ah. So she was discussing me. Cynthia should not have wasted her efforts.’
Clio couldn’t stop the well of righteous anger at his easy dismissal of such loathsome insults against him. ‘Whyever not? Are you not just as worthy of her protection as she is of yours?’
He held her trapped in his gaze. ‘No. I am not.’
‘Why do you say that?’ She held her breath, thinking he wouldn’t answer. That he would turn and walk away. But he surprised her with honesty.
‘Because my secrets are far more damning than the gossip surrounding me.’
She sucked in air and with it, his scent of starch and spice. ‘What secrets do you have, Thomas Grey?’
His eyes flashed, enigmatic and impossible to read. But he did not share whatever darkness lingered there.
She cursed him for refusing to answer her question. And then it dawned on her. While he and Berty had many differences, there was one way all men were similar: they would do almost anything to get what they wanted. And Thomas wanted her.
She subtly shifted her stance, cocking her hip and letting seduction smoulder in her gaze. ‘I was thinking about that cravat last night. It occurred to me, leather is far more difficult to burn than cloth or rope.’
Her abrupt change in conversation wasn’t the reason his jaw clenched, or his pupils blew wide.
‘Fascinating.’ He ground the word from his lips like crushing stone.
‘I happen to have a few lengths of leather strapping in my room. Excellent for keeping a razor sharp. Or tying up certain ladies who tend to run hotter than most.’
Clio’s nipples hardened against her corset, and she tightened her thighs as a hollow ache bloomed in her centre. ‘Really?’ She tried for nonchalance but failed miserably. Sir Robin’s mocking caw confirmed her suspicions.
‘Shall I show you?’
All of the air was suddenly sucked out of Lady Langley’s parlour. She was supposed to be seducing him, but the damnable man had flipped the coin. Clio swallowed, trying to align her thoughts. ‘Where?’ Such a proposition should have scandalised her, but she was well beyond that now.
‘Later. In your room. Or we can discuss the case, and each retire to our separate beds. The choice is yours.’
But this was her chance to discover what he kept so carefully hidden.
She let out a gusty sigh. ‘I suppose we could test your theory. For scientific purposes. Of course.’
‘Excellent. Until later, Clio.’ He wandered away from her, leaving Clio to lean against the wall and think of glaciers. Icy rain. Cold bath water. Anything to cool the inferno raging through her system.