‘Indeed,’ Hester rose to her feet and looked
at Morvyn in amusement. ‘I know you must have had an exhausting
night of it last night, but would you care to dine with us this
evening? It will be a small gathering. Just Porter and I. Oh, and
Grace, of course.’
‘I find that I am at my best in small
groups,’ Morvyn murmured. ‘That is very kind of you, Hester. I
should like that very much.’
‘Yes,’ Hester gave him a wicked smile, ‘I
rather thought you would.’
It wasn’t until later in the evening, when
the four of them had settled in the drawing room after dinner that
the subject of Lovington came up again.
Hester and Grace were enjoying hot chocolate
while the gentlemen sat over their brandies when Hester looked at
her husband a little anxiously. ‘We will get the Woodward necklace
back, won’t we Porter?’
‘Of course we will,’ he said cheerfully. ‘It
will be gracing your neck within forty-eight hours.’
‘I did actually owe him some money, you
know. Those IOUs…’
‘I doubt he will have much need of money,’
Morvyn told her gravely, ‘where he is going.’
‘To jail?’
‘To the gallows. We do not treat traitors
kindly.’
‘It is no more than he deserved,’ Hester
said stoutly and, while Grace agreed, she wondered if such a fate
might not make Lovington a very desperate man.
He had everything to lose if he failed, for
surely nothing was more precious than his life.
Chapter Eleven
Grace looked at her reflection doubtfully,
wondering if she were hungry or if that were butterflies flitting
around her stomach.
If she were being truthful with herself, she
was inclined to think it was butterflies, for Lord Lovington had
wasted no time in claiming his prize. It was to be handed over at
midnight at the masquerade ball at Vauxhall Gardens.
Grace rather felt as if she had come full
circle. It had been a week and a half since she had been there and
her world had entirely changed. For the better, she would be the
first to admit. Ten days ago, she had not known what an excellent
man the Marquis of Morvyn was. Ten days ago, she had not known that
she could feel this way; so alive, so alight with love that every
day felt as if it were a gift.
The woman in the mirror smiled and suddenly,
she relaxed. She was in no danger, after all. Porter had said they
would have men everywhere and, much as Lovington must think that a
masquerade would help him if he should need it, it would help those
who were watching him even more. A great deal could be concealed
behind a mask or a domino.
The only thing they had had to overcome was
the substitution of Grace as the messenger, but that had been taken
care of earlier that afternoon. They had been trying to think of a
way of letting Lovington know that it would be Grace who would give
him the seal in a manner that did not look contrived. It was Hester
who suggested an ‘accidental’ meeting.
‘You say you have men watching him so you
know his movements,’ she’d said, all practicality. ‘If he goes out,
follow him. Knowing Lovington, he will head towards the park or
Bond Street where he can be seen. Can’t Grace bump into him with
the news that I have taken a cold or some such thing and cannot go
tonight?’
It had been an excellent suggestion. Grace
had dressed in a walking gown, suitable for a trip to either the
park or some shopping, and then they had waited. When a runner had
arrived with the news that Lovington had gone to Hyde Park, she had
hurried from the house, Lucy in tow. Ignoring the look on Morvyn’s
face as she went. It wasn’t easy for him, she understood that, but
it would all be over soon and then they could focus on other, more
enjoyable things.
Grace could hardly wait.
She and her maid entered
Hyde Park, searching for her quarry. He was not difficult to
discover, promenading along the main thoroughfare, and Grace slowed
to an amble, looking about as if she were admiring the neatly
trimmed greenery. She did not want to hail
him
, although she would do so if
necessary, but wanted him to greet her first.
Luckily, he did.
‘Lady Pemberton,’ he called and she paused,
looking at him with what she hoped was just the right amount of
artless surprise.
‘Lord Lovington. We meet here again. You
must enjoy being surrounded by nature as much as I. Do you not find
that it restores the spirits?’ It was a crack-brained thing to say,
but hopefully he would think a creature from the wilds of the
English countryside would find the park a natural retreat.
‘I come more for the entertainment,’ he
said, tilting his chin towards Mr. Herrick who was walking nearby,
a very great dandy who disported himself for all to see on a daily
basis in the most extraordinary clothing. Today it was a pair of
biscuit colored breeches with enormous gold tassels on the sides of
his hessians, a waistcoat in a violent shade of mustard, and a blue
jacket in which the shoulders were so well padded that he looked
like he had no neck. It was difficult to say if he did or not, as
the folds of his neckcloth were so complex it more or less buried
whatever did lie behind.
Grace smiled. Mr. Herrick was a well-known
sight around the place. He and his set were a source of endless
amusement. ‘It is certainly something to see, but I am glad I ran
into you, sir. Hester has taken to her bed with a cold. She swears
that she will be well enough to go tonight, but I do not think
so.’
Lovington’s face darkened as the polite mask
faded, replaced by something a deal more unpleasant. ‘That is most
unfortunate. I was counting on her being there.’
Grace was surprised. Usually his lordship
was the picture of cool composure and nothing seemed to faze him,
but he certainly did not like the news that she had brought him.
She moved a little closer. ‘I understand that you wish to collect
something. Why not pay a call later on today? You would, of course,
bring Hester’s IOU’s and the necklace.’
Lovington stared down at her. It was
impossible to say what lay behind those cold black eyes, but her
words seemed to bring him back to himself a little. ‘I do not think
so. I have no desire to be seen at Lord Woodward’s house shortly
before something he values is discovered missing. No, I have a
better idea.’
Grace looked up at him, expression
inquiring. ‘Yes?’
‘You must bring me what I require tonight
instead.’
All things considered, it had been exactly
the result Grace had been after. She had agreed immediately,
telling him that she was relieved that Hester could stay home. ‘For
you know how easily a cold can turn into something worse and she
was so very ill back in January.’
‘I will send around the domino that you will
wear tonight. It will be quite distinctive so I should have no
trouble finding you among the crowd.’
‘A domino?’ she repeated doubtfully. ‘But
where am I go?’
‘Vauxhall Gardens. There is another
masquerade tonight.’
‘Very well.’ She did not much care for a
repeat trip there but, under the circumstances, she’d had little
choice but to accept.
All in all, it had been a successful outing;
for now it was Grace that Lovington was expecting to meet that
evening. With a last look at herself, Grace rose and collected the
purple domino with its distinctive pattern of golden stars that
Lovington had sent around. It was quite unlike anything she had
ever seen before. To compliment it, she had chosen her purple satin
gown. Grace was to meet Lovington in one of the many small groves
in the gardens. He had gone into a great deal of detail as to how
she was to find it in the note that had arrived with the domino.
Initially, Morvyn had disliked the idea of Grace meeting the man
away from the crowds, but Porter had insisted it was a good thing.
It would make it so much easier to have men in place. Every word
could be overheard and, the best thing of all, Grace would be
watched at every moment.
So it was with some surprise that she found
Morvyn dressed for a ball when she descended the stairs. She had
thought that, like Porter, he would be moving behind the
scenes.
Porter shrugged wryly, catching her look.
‘Your escort for the evening awaits.’
‘Is that not going to be a little awkward,’
she demanded, looking from one man to the other.
‘He knows I am smitten,’ Morvyn said firmly.
‘It is the most natural thing in the world that I should accompany
you.’
‘Yes, but it might make things more
difficult. He will be concerned about my being able to get away
from you.’
‘It is Vauxhall Gardens,’ the marquis
replied, unperturbed. ‘Of course you will be able to slip
away.’
Grace accepted his presence with mixed
emotions. She was, naturally, delighted that he was to accompany
her. She could not help it. Her body hummed with a quiet,
relentless joy whenever the man was anywhere near her, but this
whole affair was almost over. She did not want anything to put
Lovington on his guard now.
Morvyn must have seen the doubt in her eyes
for he took her hand in his and raised it to his lips, brushing
them against her skin. A shiver rippled through her. ‘Stop
worrying,’ he murmured. ‘We are almost done with this. And
then...,’ The smile he gave her made Grace shiver with anticipation
all over again, ‘Well, then I can focus on what truly holds my
interest. Uninterrupted. I will have your undivided attention and
you, my love, will most assuredly have mine.’
Oh
… Well, when he put it like that.
They did not reach Vauxhall
until nearly ten. Lovington wished to meet at midnight and Grace
had no heart for an entire evening of dancing. It did not matter.
The place was often the
ton's
second destination for an evening, popular with
married people who wanted to conduct their dalliances with a degree
of discretion. The many secluded areas made it a haven for the
illicit, especially in summer. Tonight, clear but cold, should mean
that there wouldn’t be too many people wandering the many paths,
although one more masked woman on the way to – or from – a covert
meeting would hardly draw comment.
All things considered, Lovington had chosen
well.
In the privacy of the carriage, Morvyn
slipped an arm around Grace, pulling her against him, and she
reveled in his solid warmth.
‘I could not let you go alone,’ he murmured
against her hair. ‘I know I am a fool, but I do not want you doing
this at all. If anything should happen to you…’
‘Nothing will happen to me,’ she replied,
raising her face to look at him. It was dim inside, but she could
see his face well enough. Certainly well enough to kiss the corner
of his mouth. His breath caught and she kissed the other corner,
just to balance things up. ‘I will be perfectly all right.’
‘You had better be!’ He half turned, other
arm winding around her to pull her even closer. Pressed against his
chest, desire caught and flared instantly. When he bent his head,
searching for her mouth she was there, lips ready for him, as
hungry as he was to discover what she needed most. The kiss
deepened, his mouth moving over her own hungrily and Grace
flattened herself against him a little more, breasts pressed
against the hardness of his chest, the by now familiar prickle of
need making her ache to be touched by him. Anything that would help
ease this dull, throb of want that echoed through her.
When he finally raised his head, releasing
her thoroughly kissed and much abused lips, he gave an uneven
laugh. ‘Good God woman, how does this happen to me? I am on
fire.’
‘I am in no better state!’ Grace exclaimed,
sitting back and smoothing her gown with unsteady fingers. It was
difficult enough to get any privacy with the man and here, in the
shadowy interior of the carriage, she felt as if they were truly
alone. It was an illusion, of course, for they would reach Vauxhall
within a short space of time, but she could not stop herself from
thinking of how she would like to spend that time.
Morvyn glanced outside. ‘We are no more than
ten minutes away. Not enough time to do what I wish, no matter how
I wish it.’ He had divined her thoughts all too easily or, and this
was more likely, his own thoughts were running along the same
lines. Instead, he put his arm back around her shoulders once more.
‘Dearest Grace, this week has been an exercise in self-control as
never before. If I do not discover a way to have you to myself for
a few uninterrupted hours soon, I may not be responsible for my
actions.’
Grace gave a small gurgle of laughter. ‘Poor
Sherry. But I can assure you, it is not just you who is
suffering.’
‘Good,’ he whispered, ‘for I would hate to
think that I am on my own in this.’
They arrived shortly after and, as Grace had
found the previous week, it was remarkably crowded, the dance floor
filled with couples, the galleries overlooking it playing host to
several hundred people. Grace had donned her purple domino in the
carriage and, with a deep breath, took Morvyn’s arm and entered the
main pavilion.
The two hours before midnight seemed to take
forever to pass. Grace danced with a variety of partners, but more
often than not it was the marquis who joined her on the floor and,
while she was in his arms, Grace managed to forget why she was
there.
Shortly before midnight, they stood a little
to one side, watching the people around them.
‘I wonder where he is?’ she murmured, eyes
skimming the crowd. Truthfully, the man could be anywhere. Tall
figures dressed in black were plentiful enough.
‘He will be here somewhere. Watching us. Are
you thirsty? Can I get you a cool drink?’
‘That would be most welcome,’ Grace smiled
up at him. Truthfully, the dancing had made her warm.