Louise Allen - Those Scandalous Ravenhursts Volume Two - The Shocking Lord Standon

‘It did. That and a…friend of mine who has a mind of his own and appears set upon directing mine along quite the wrong paths.’ Gareth cut into the ham and bit into his toast with a fierceness that made her glad she was not the object of his displeasure.

‘A close friend?’

‘Very. A lifelong one, you might say. We are attached.’ He shifted in his chair and silence fell. Jessica tactfully busied herself with buttering toast and mentally reviewing how she was going to tell him about Maude’s sudden fascination with the completely ineligible Mr Hurst.

‘Why are you still dressing like that?’ Gareth demanded, making her jump. ‘Have your new clothes not arrived?’

They had, a collection beyond her wildest dreams, gowns for every occasion. Bel and Eva might have assured her they were entirely appropriate for her apparent station in life and were not at all extravagant in comparison with others she would see, but to her they were simply luxury made manifest.

‘Yes. They are all in my room.’

‘Then why do you continue to dress like a governess? And your hair—you are doing your very best to turn a dashing crop into a prim nothing. You dress like a governess; no wonder you feel you should behave like one.’

‘I am one, and I am not ashamed of it. No, please listen.’ He closed his mouth again as she held up a hand. ‘The masquerade has not yet begun. When it does, you will meet Mrs Carleton, for the first time, in public. You cannot risk showing you are familiar with her—I must be as much of a shock to you as possible.’

She had thought it all through as she had twisted her elegant new ringlets into stiff braids, and she knew she was right. And she also knew that she wanted to flaunt herself for him alone in her new satins and laces and watch his face, see the hot, wicked darkness come in to his eyes again as it had when he had kissed her. And that was dangerous madness, even if all it meant was that she needed approval and reassurance.

‘Very well.’ He sipped his coffee, then added, ‘I will send round the jewellery.’

‘Oh, thank you. My scent is being made up; I enjoyed that very much, although I did not have much to do—Mr Todmorton simply inhaled the air about two inches above my wrist and pronounced!’

‘You mean to say you did not ransack his shop?’ His mood seemed improved now, perhaps he was simply one of those men who needed several cups of coffee in the morning. Jessica nudged the jam across and rang for more toast.

‘I did not. Maude did. Um…’

‘Um?’

‘While we were there, a gentleman came in.’

‘You were veiled?’

‘Oh, yes, there is no risk he could recognise me again. No, it is Maude. I am sure I should not tell you this, but I fear I have absolutely no influence with her and—’

‘Who is it?’ Gareth said with resignation. ‘I would not worry. She will flirt, but then she is not going to come to any harm with most of the men she will meet this Season.’

‘I doubt she will meet this one at Almack’s,’ Jessica worried. ‘His name is Hurst and he owns theatres, the Unicorn included.’

Gareth cast up his eyes. ‘Oh, Lord. She has always been fascinated by the theatre. Not that she can act for a groat. Whenever we are at house parties and someone suggests a theatrical entertainment, Maude has to be persuaded to be the prompter or look after the costumes.

‘All of us Ravenhurst cousins seem to have an ability as actors—purely amateur, with the exception of Sebastian, Eva’s husband, who was a government agent and had as many faces as Edmund Kean—and Maude says she is jealous of our skill. It is just the glamour of the theatre, that is all. It will wear off.’

‘I do not think it will be so easy. She was struck dumb just at the sight of him. I suppose he is probably the most handsome man I have ever seen.’ Gareth’s eyebrows rose. ‘If one finds icicles attractive.’

‘In that case she will get frostbite.’ Her worry must have shown for he smiled, the old, lazy smile that should have reassured her and instead made butterflies dash madly about in her chest. ‘Don’t tell me—we are going to be making up a party to whatever is showing at the Unicorn at the moment?’

‘I fear so.’

‘Well, Maude will have to concentrate all her dubious thespian abilities on extracting herself from our so-called engagement before she can focus on persuading Lord Pangbourne that he wants a theatrical manager for a son-in-law.’

‘True. I am refining too much upon it, no doubt. Gareth…’ She found herself suddenly, ridiculously shy. He sat, politely waiting for her to speak. ‘My final two lessons—sight and sound? How are those to be achieved?’

‘Sight we will do today, this afternoon. I intend despatching you with Bel and Eva and Maude for a nice drive in the park. London is still a little thin of company, but there will be enough for you to work upon. When you return I shall expect a report detailing which ladies you consider to be rivals, which you should cultivate and which may be safely ignored. But, more importantly, I want you to be Mrs Carleton inside your head. I want you to look—really look—at all the men you see. Sum up each one with a view to seduction. Fix them in your mind. What might be their weaknesses, what attracts you to them, how will you approach them, how you would set out to seduce each one and how dangerous each is.’

‘Gareth!’ She stared, shocked. ‘In cold blood, just like that? You want me to look at men and…’

‘Assess them. Yes. You did a good job summing up Mr Hurst, the handsome icicle, did you not?’ He drained his cup and stood up. ‘Thank you for breakfast, Miss Gifford. Enjoy your drive.’

Jessica sat staring blankly at the Dutch still life hanging on the wall opposite. There had been a sardonic note in Gareth’s voice, a set to his mouth that somehow told her that he did not exactly relish setting her that task. On the other hand, thinking about it, it was certainly good tactics to familiarise herself with the prominent players on the stage she was to inhabit for the next few weeks.

The ladies arrived in Bel’s barouche with the top down, all well wrapped up and with hot bricks at their feet and lap rugs over their knees. Maude handed an enormous muff to Jessica as she climbed in. ‘This is for you, I saw you didn’t have one. They are all the crack.’

‘Thank you!’ Jessica struggled to control the fur muff that was about the size of a medium dog, although mercifully lighter. ‘What a lovely day.’

‘It is ideal for the task Gareth has set us,’ Eva shifted in her seat, allowing Jessica an even better view of her pelisse with its fur epaulettes, collar and cuffs. Another Paris fashion, she guessed. ‘Everyone who is anyone will be out in Hyde Park with the sun shining like this.’

Reluctantly, for she was enjoying the crisp air and the sun on her face, Jessica settled her veil securely and they set off. ‘If necessary, I shall introduce you, rather vaguely, as Miss Smith,’ Bel explained. ‘Just bow slightly. People will assume you are a companion, or a visiting relative.’

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