Helen Dickson - A Scoundrel of Consequence

‘So, you are the innocent party and didn’t provoke a fight.’

His eyes glowed in the warm light as he gave her a lazy smile, his mood reverting back to what it had been a moment before. ‘I cannot claim to be innocent, Miss Greenwood, but neither am I the black-hearted scoundrel I have been painted.’

‘I would hardly expect you to admit it if you were,’ Cassandra retorted crisply. ‘However, I’ve heard stories to convince me that you are.’

The tantalising smile grew wider in the face of her derisive stare. Folding his arms, William leaned his back nonchalantly against a pillar. ‘I am deeply curious about you, Miss Greenwood. Tell me, have you always rebelled against the fashionable world?’

‘I suppose I have. I attend these affairs not because I enjoy them particularly, but because they are a means to bring about that which is closest to my heart.’

‘I’m aware of that. When you told me how you collect donations for your cause, I was ready to question your methods, but now I can see that with a flash of your eyes and a few chosen words you have them reaching into their pockets.’

‘That is my intention.’

He gazed at her for a long moment, his devilish, sensual mouth turning upward in the faintest of cynical smiles. ‘You are an extremely forward, quite outrageous and outspoken young woman, Miss Greenwood.’

‘If you got to know me, you would have to become used to my manner and the way in which I deal with people.’ She met his gaze candidly. ‘You don’t approve of what I do, do you, Captain Lampard?’

‘It is not for me to approve or disapprove of what you do, Miss Greenwood.’

‘Nevertheless you’re quick to voice your opinion.’

‘That is in my nature—and my right.’

On a sigh and letting her expression slip to one of utter boredom. Cassandra looked around. ‘I do so hate these occasions. I find little interest in society’s entertainments. I wish I could leave right now. See all the mamas watching their offspring with eyes like hawks, Captain Lampard. Launched upon Society and made to parade for inspection like so many fillies at an auction. They will be sold to the highest bidder—to the largest title and the most wealthy.’

‘I confess I haven’t really thought about it,’ William remarked, not really interested. He preferred looking at her. Her blue-green eyes, attentive, observing, carried a brilliance that held him transfixed. ‘It must be horrendous for the young ladies.’

‘Don’t waste your pity. It’s all they want from life—pretty gowns, jewels. They have no notion of anything else. Their mamas are obsessed with etiquette, fiercely concerned with morals and the approval of their friends and acquaintances, determined that their daughters do and say the right thing—not to dance more than two dances with any one gentleman, and so on. How tedious and tiresome it all is.’

‘I have already decided that you are a very unconventional young woman, Miss Greenwood.’

‘I am concerned with none of that. I do so detest all the restrictions of the social system that enslaves women.’

‘Are you suggesting that you would care to redress the wrongs of our misguided society? Are you so uninhibited by the prejudice of class that you would break the mould of convention that has encased women for centuries?’

‘I despise convention; as you will have gathered, I live very much as I please, but without causing offence to those I love and those who love me.

‘And to add to all that, you rarely dance,’ William said, pushing his long frame away from the pillar and moving close to her, his gaze capturing hers. ‘Will you step out of your self-imposed restrictions and do me the honour of dancing with me?’

Cassandra stared up at him. Those glowing eyes burned into hers, suffusing her with a growing aura of warmth. ‘I—I do not care to dance.’

‘I insist. After all, this is a ball and that is what people do. You—do dance?’

Her smile was feral. ‘Of course I do. I prefer not to.’

‘You distress me, Miss Greenwood.’ His mouth twisted in a lightly mocking grin. ‘You give me no grounds to hope for better things.’

‘Nor should I,’ she returned pertly. ‘I’ve told you, I do not like these occasions.’

He laughed briefly. ‘You seem to take special delight in reminding me. But I am not convinced. There isn’t a woman alive who doesn’t like to dance—and I do not believe you are any different, Miss Greenwood.’ William peered at her closely and took note of her uneasiness. ‘I’m right, am I not?’

Cassandra tilted her slim nose upward as she turned it in profile to him. ‘I meant what I said.’

‘Tell me, Miss Greenwood. Why do you resent me? Can it be that it is because my secretary failed to deliver the donation—or is it more of a personal nature?’

Indignant colour stained Cassandra’s cheeks. ‘You’re right, of course. I do resent you, but not for the reasons you state.’

‘Then would you please enlighten me.’

She looked at him direct. ‘It is to do with my sister.’

‘Your sister?’

‘And your cousin.’

‘Edward?’

‘Yes.’ She turned towards the dance floor and observed Emma about to take to the floor in a lively country dance with Edward Lampard. Her annoyance was raised to new heights. ‘It may have escaped your notice, Captain Lampard, but your cousin and my sister have danced two dances together and are about to embark on a third. My sister is just eighteen years old and her reputation is about to be ruined before she has been launched into society.’

Totally unprepared for the turn the conversation had taken, William’s eyes sought out Edward, seeing him with the same young woman he had been dancing with earlier. ‘That young lady is your sister?’

‘Yes. Unfortunately, the two of them have developed a fondness for each other.’

‘A fondness?’

‘Exactly.’

‘Edward is a sensible, sensitive young man. Speaking as his older cousin, I can only applaud your sister’s taste.’

‘He is neither sensible nor sensitive if he cannot see that he is in danger of ruining her reputation,’ Cassandra argued. ‘Because of the time they spend together, I believe my sister is about to be compromised by your cousin. Everywhere we go we bump into him—be it in the park, at a soirée or the theatre. I am certain these meetings are not coincidence and are pre-arranged in some way known only to Emma and Edward.’

‘Pardon me, Miss Greenwood, but you are contradicting your own words. Did you not imply that you find the rules and restrictions that govern polite society utterly ridiculous? If you feel that way, then why should your sister’s reputation matter to you so much?’

Cassandra sent a cool glance skimming over him. Having her own words quoted back at her was disconcerting. ‘What I said applies to me, Captain Lampard, not my sister. She is a different matter entirely. When I said what I did, I was giving an honest opinion.’

William’s lips twitched with ill-suppressed amusement. ‘Do you have an aversion to my cousin, Miss Greenwood? If so, I find any preconceived ideas you might have about him being a scoundrel insulting and deeply offensive. Perhaps you’re afraid that scoundrels run in the Lampard family—and maybe you see him as some kind of threat?’

‘I do not consider him as much a threat as an inconvenience.’

Laughter twinkled in his eyes. ‘I can see how confused you must be. It is a wholly perplexing problem you have there.’

Cassandra’s cheeks became flushed with indignation. ‘Are you laughing at me, Captain Lampard?’

‘Heaven forbid, I wouldn’t dare. Now, shall we dance? I will even say please if that will persuade you.’