Silk and Shadows(29)
To Sara's surprise, as they waited for a servant to admit her, Charles pulled her close and kissed her. This was not like the rather messy embrace he had given her on their betrothal. It was more like the light kiss Peregrine had given her on the balcony. Yet she experienced nothing like the reaction she had felt then. Indeed, she felt nothing at all.
* * *
As his carriage drove away from Haddonfield House, Weldon's trembling hands clenched and unclenched, mute testimony to his fury. It was true that Lady Sara St. James was exactly what he wanted in a wife. Her enormous dowry would be very useful and, while her appearance was rather subdued, she had a refined beauty that would do him credit. Her cool, passionless nature aroused him, and he was generously prepared to overlook the fact that she was crippled.
Most important of all was her birth and breeding, which would help him attain the rank he had desired for so long, the rank denied him because he was a younger son. But how dare she defy her future husband! He was appalled by the willfulness she had shown tonight. It was not at all what he expected of a lady. He must appease her until they were wed, but then she would learn the folly of opposing him. A gentleman's wife was to be cherished and protected; in return, she must be obedient to his will in all things.
And Lady Sara would be, very soon.
Ironic that their disagreement had been over a filthy, immoral foreigner. He knew better than to think that a lady of Sara's refinement would behave improperly with a man who was little better than a savage, a man who had boldly requested a tour of the London flesh-pots. On that tour, he had shown his baseness.
An Englishman knew how to separate the sacredness of the marital relation from the profane lust one felt for prostitutes, but the prince—if indeed he was a prince—had proved that he had no such understanding. God help the wife of a beast like him, for she would be used like a whore.
Tonight had confirmed Weldon's belief that Lord Ross Carlisle was a bad influence on Lady Sara. It was he who had asked his cousin to befriend the Kafir, and doubtless he encouraged her in other immodest behavior. After the marriage, the intimacy between the cousins must be severed. It would be wrong to cut the connection entirely, for Lord Ross was the son of a duke, but it would be made clear that his lordship was not welcome in the Weldon house. Lady Sara would obey her husband in that, as in all other things.
Weldon took out his handkerchief and wiped the perspiration from his face. Knowing that he would not sleep tonight unless he found release, he rapped on the roof of the carriage to get his driver's attention, then gave orders for a new destination.
The carriage turned toward Soho, to Mrs. Cambridge's flagellation establishment. She had a brother and sister there, twins, both of them very pretty. He would punish them for Lady Sara's sins. Weldon smiled into the darkness. It would be a most satisfying end to the evening.
Chapter 6
Rescuing Jenny Miller from the whorehouse turned out to be a simple business. After leaving the ball, Peregrine had returned to his hotel and changed from formal evening wear to something equally dark but more anonymous.
Earlier in the day, Peregrine and his servant, Kuram, had made a discreet scouting expedition around Mrs. Kent's brothel so that no time would be wasted in finding the correct place. Kuram had also arranged to hire a hackney for the night. The vehicle was like a thousand other London carriages, and it would take a discerning eye to notice that the dusty horse was much better quality than would usually be found at such work.
Peregrine let Kuram drive while he himself rode inside the hackney, thinking about Lady Sara St. James. She was a constant surprise to him, unlike any other woman he had ever known. Besides her intelligence and quiet courage, she had the same directness that Lord Ross did. That quality meant she should be easy to manipulate, because those who are naturally direct do not usually assume others to be devious.
It would be an interesting challenge to end Lady Sara's betrothal in a way that would be easy for her and painful for Weldon. But instead of considering ways and means, he found himself thinking back to the kiss they had shared. When she had responded with a potent blend of innocent wonder and sensuality, he had realized that underneath her proper exterior and inexperience was a passionate woman.
Over the years, Peregrine had learned that he could attract a woman's attention and interest by sheer force of will. It was a matter of concentration, of focusing all his intensity and desire. When he made the effort, even the least receptive females became very aware of him, while the most susceptible could be lured to his hand like a trained hawk.
Fortunately, Lady Sara had proved to be very susceptible indeed. Even when he made no special effort, there was a powerful current of attraction between them, but when he had consciously set out to capture her interest, she had softened and opened like a flower. If they had not been in a public place, he would have been delighted to continue what they had begun. Though she had demurred, he did not doubt that she could have been easily persuaded to change her mind.