Masquerade Secrets(9)

"Yes I did. Lady Elinor has a singular voice."

"Indeed. I wish I had half the talent."

He felt a gentlemanly comment form in his mind, the comment that was expected of him, but he just couldn't give it. "Few do."

He felt a corner of his mouth quirk at the annoyance she tried to keep  from her face. Did she think she could manage him? He wanted to laugh.  People had tried to manage him since birth, and no one had been able to.  A petty woman looking for a husband wasn't much of an opponent compared  to the greedy, self-serving men he often avoided.

"Ah, I see your brother has returned."

Viscount Lawrence rejoined them, taking Lady Victoria's vacant seat. "I  apologize for my absence. I assume Lady Elinor was as spectacular as  ever?"

Bradford nodded, grateful to have him as a buffer. "Quite. She seems to  get better every time she performs." He paused for a moment. "I hope all  is well. I assume that no one is ill since you aren't in haste to  leave."

"A small problem is all. It should be righted by morning." He grinned,  downplaying the urgency in which he left the performance. "I am glad I  was able to return before you left, I had hoped to issue an invitation  to you in person. It has been some time since I've had a gathering at my  estate, and I was hoping to get a small party away for two weeks. May I  count on you as a guest?"

The thought of leaving for the country appealed to him, but he had to  find the woman. What excuse should he give? His search for the lady was  not something he wanted Lady Victoria to find out about. He could only  imagine the sabotage she would employ to deter him from his goal.

"Would you not miss the ladies?" Viscount Lawrence was as good looking  as his sister and was known to be much favored amongst the women in the  ton. With his raven hair and crystal blue eyes paired with his charming  persona, there weren't many women willing to turn away from him.

Viscount Lawrence grinned knowingly. He had no doubts as to his  reputation. "I had hoped to include as many ladies as I do gentlemen. I  don't intend for this to be a hunting party."

Those words had him postponing his regrets. Should he accept? It was  just as likely that the lady would be included in Viscount Lawrence's  invitation as not. If he chose to stay in town, he could lose the  opportunity of the intimate surroundings the country would offer.

It was more likely that if she were included, that he would recognize  her in the relaxed atmosphere than in the large, formal gatherings of  the ton.

About to give his answer, he heared the rustling of skirts followed by  the crisp scent of apples. Good Lord, she even smelled like them. All  thoughts of finding the other woman left his mind as Lady Aubrey took  her seat beside him.

"Lady Aubrey, how well you look this evening." Viscount Lawrence offered  her a grin that had most women drooling. Bradford had an overwhelming  desire to glare at the man, but quickly suppressed the urge.

A tinge crested her cheeks, making her appear more ravishing than before. "Thank you, my lord. You are most kind."         

     



 

"I speak only the truth." He threw her one last grin, and Bradford  decided to ignore it since the Viscount didn't show any interest other  than flirting. "Now, back to the house party. I thought it might be nice  to get away from the constant musicales and soirees, no matter how  delightful. Can I count you in our numbers, Wathersby?"

With a nod, he accepted. It was too good of an opportunity to find the  woman and get to know her in such a relaxed atmosphere to refuse. "It  would be my pleasure."

"Excellent."

The gleam that entered Lady Victoria's eyes was enough to make him  shudder. He had no idea what plans she was concocting, but he knew none  of them would be good. Her interference could make his search more  difficult, but he had no doubt that he could handle Lady Victoria.

Viscount Lawrence's grin returned to Lady Aubrey. "Your family has been  invited as well, Lady Aubrey. I expect your invitation will arrive on  the morrow."

"I'm delighted. I must confer with my family but I believe you may count on our attendance."

The joy in her voice had his muscles clenching. Why her acceptance shot  relief through him he couldn't say, but it worried him slightly. She was  lovely, but he couldn't be distracted by her. He had given a pledge to  another woman just last night. He was true to his word. There wouldn't  be another for him besides her.

Why, then, was his desire for Lady Aubrey so raw, so elemental, his mind teased.

Unable to stop himself, he looked at her, soaking her up one last time.

Her eyes met his. He thought he saw a flicker of longing in her eyes to match his own, but it was quickly snuffed out.

"If you will excuse me, I have an appointment that I must leave for," he heard himself say lamely.

"Of course. I'll see you at my estate in a week." Viscount Lawrence bowed his head.

Whatever had been constricting his breath seemed to loosen as he moved  closer toward the door. At least it did before he glanced back and saw  the stricken look on Lady Aubrey's face. He didn't know what had caused  it, but it moved something within him. Turning back toward the doorway,  he rubbed the sudden ache in his heart.





CHAPTER 4



As Viscount Lawrence predicted, the invitation to his house party  arrived at the Langston residence the next day. With the prospect of a  large group of unmarried men under the same roof as her two unmarried  daughters, Aubrey's mother was in a frenzy. This was apparently the  opportunity that her mother had been waiting for to find perfect matches  for her daughters. At no other time was it allowed to have such close  contact with members outside their family. And the close bonds that  could form between a man and a woman at such a party had her mother  completely occupied with overseeing the packing of their belongings with  enthusiasm.

In fact, Aubrey was glad for the peace and quiet she would receive in  the country. Just the thought of what she had been through to prepare  for the two weeks of husband hunting this invitation provided, had her  bending over with fatigue.

The only positive aspect of it was that she had been unable to dwell on  what had happened, or rather what had not happened, between herself and  Bradford. However, with several hours of travel ahead of them, there was  little else to do but think of the upcoming meeting she would have with  the duke.

She had already accepted how naïve she had been to believe he would  recognize her and confess his undying devotion. One night couldn't erase  all of the years she had known him, all the years he had felt nothing  for her.

Maybe her sister's optimism had rubbed off on her. Charlotte was just  entering society and would undoubtedly receive an obscene amount of  proposals. But Aubrey couldn't afford to dream like that. She had been  out for several years and had only ever received one proposal from a  fortune hunter that had made it clear he was forced to extend such an  offer.

She had promised to stay a spinster if marrying someone like him was the  alternative. In fact, she had become somewhat resigned to such a fate.

At least she had until she had been kissed by Bradford.

She hadn't felt the same since. It had been little over a week and she  could still remember the feeling of his arms around her, the spicy scent  of his skin, and the rich taste of his lips. It had been more than she  had ever imagined she could feel in a man's arms.

And she wanted to feel it again.

It was hopeless. If she hadn't learned that during last week's musicale,  she needed to. At that moment the cloudy sky erupted, dumping buckets  of water onto their moving vehicle. The horses slowed, finding the  instant mud under their hooves difficult to maneuver through.         

     



 

Her mother looked up from her needlepoint. "Oh dear, I fear this weather will make us quite late for dinner this evening."

Charlotte smiled as if the weather was a boon. "If anything, it will  make our entrance all the grander for being the last to arrive."

"Quite right, my dear," her mother said with growing enthusiasm. "All eyes shall be on the two of you."

Charlotte bounced with excitement at the prospect, but Aubrey didn't  join her. All she wanted was peace and time to recuperate in the  country. Bradford had unlocked a longing within her that she hadn't  known existed. She needed to find a way to close it off and resettle her  mind back to a life of spinsterhood. It was too dangerous for her well  being to believe, even for a moment, that there might be a chance at  happiness with Bradford.

While her sister would be pursuing a marriage with one of the bachelors  at the party, Aubrey had every intention of escaping into the serene  outdoors as often as possible.

The rain finally stopped after a few hours, the clouds parting to show a  glimpse of the setting sun. With any luck they would be late enough  where they would need to take a dinner tray in their rooms.