Wicked Nights With a Proper Lady(24)

When he caught up to her, she gave him a curious glance over her shoulder. “And will you in turn share your deepest and darkest secrets, my lord?”

“Only those decent enough for a lady’s ear.”

“That hardly seems fair.”

He chuckled and caught up to her so they were walking side by side. Their party was a quarter of a mile ahead, already sitting in the shade of an ancient elm tree. He didn’t offer his arm again; instead, he clasped his hands behind his back as he walked leisurely by her side. At least she let him match her pace.

“Have you been a paid companion since we parted ways?”

“I have.”

“What decided your path?”

* * *

So many things, including you, she wanted to admit but wouldn’t dare. Why should he care to know?

“My aunt—the one who sponsored me—took a terrible fall the summer we met. She was confined to her bed for six months. Naturally, I stayed with her. It was the least I could do after everything she’d done for me. Both my parents had passed when I was eighteen of fever, so I had nowhere else to go. And by that point in my life I had already turned down my only prospects for marriage.”

There had also been a very brief time in her life when she’d wanted Leo to come after her, profess his undying love and beg her hand in marriage. Thank Providence she’d come to her senses and had shaken off the sentiments two weeks after those thoughts had snared and consumed her mind.

“So you never attended any balls after your aunt’s injury?”

“I couldn’t when Aunt Hilda was unable to make an appearance with me. And I could never leave her to care for herself after everything she’d done for me.” She sighed. Her aunt had been a genuinely wonderful person, and she missed her a great deal. “Her health declined rapidly after her fall.”

Every so often Barrington’s arm would brush against hers. She chose to ignore it and continued on as if he weren’t doing something to put her off balance.

“It’s a lot of responsibility for someone so young.”

“Most of my friends had already married and started families at that point in my life. Don’t insult me, Barrington.”

“I didn’t intend to. It would have been too much to take to task for me at that age. You did a commendable thing for your aunt.”

“There was nothing commendable about it. I did it because I loved my aunt, not because it was my duty.”

Finally, they came upon their party, who were all seated on a small periwinkle blanket spread out on the grass. It wouldn’t surprise Genny if Lady Carleton had chosen such a tiny scrap of material intentionally. It made luncheon rather cozy and more intimate than Genny liked.

No one said anything about her and Leo’s late arrival. Though it wasn’t as though the rest of the company hadn’t watched them as they approached.

Ignoring Leo, Genny carefully picked her way around to a solitary seat between Mr. Torrance and Lady Hargrove. To her everlasting dismay Barrington squeezed in next to her.

“Do allow me to finish my conversation with Miss Camden.”

Mr. Torrance obliged by pressing closer to Ariel and Charlotte.

“What is it you discussed?” Lady Carleton asked.

Genny opened her mouth to say they were finished talking, when Barrington cut her off. “I wished to know more about the life of a chaperone and companion. I never thought to ask one about the position, and I admit I am curious to know what would make a lady seek such a life.”

“There are many reasons involved for a lady to choose such a path.” Lady Carleton took a sip of her lemonade and picked up a few cherries from a bowl set between them.

“I’m only just understanding this from my conversation with Miss Camden. It’s enlightening and I never knew her to be such an esteemed woman. It’s quite the task to take on, looking after an ailing relative.”

“Perhaps you don’t give women enough credit? We are hardier than most gentlemen like to think,” Genny said as she pushed her elbow out to move him over a few inches.

It wasn’t as though she were some simpering miss, and he did make it sound as though women in general didn’t amount to much in his eyes. Or maybe she was just so annoyed with him for sitting beside her that she couldn’t give him the benefit of the doubt in this instance.

Leo’s palm clasped at his chest in shock. “I don’t know where I would be in life without the guidance of women in general. I adore them at any age and in every form.”

“We tend to choose more honorable paths than some pleasure-seeking men,” Genny said.

Of all the things to blurt out. Genny felt her cheeks heat. Mr. Torrance guffawed, and started a chorus of laughter among their group, saving her further embarrassment.

Genny glanced in the direction of her cousin, begging silently for her to take over the conversation, but she was too busy laughing with the rest of them.

“My approach on life has always been that it is too short to not enjoy all it has to offer,” Leo said.

“How philosophical an approach, but more typical of a man’s prerogative,” Lady Hargrove said.

“While I have never thought to define the roles between the sexes, you are right.” Leo stretched his hands above his head and leaned against the tree behind him. “It’s a shame women cannot enjoy themselves as freely as men.”

“You sound like a suffragist, Lord Barrington,” was Charlotte’s observation.

“Hardly. I only trouble myself with politics that directly involve me.” He winked at Charlotte. “Life is also too short to discriminate between beliefs and whatnot. Everyone should enjoy life as they see fit. Before you know it, you’ll be hobbling around on a cane, too angry with yourself for not doing the one thing you always thought you ought to try.”

Was that comment directed at Genny, or was it just a general observation?

“Lord Barrington,” Mr. Torrance interjected, “has the typical belief of most men who appreciate the finer company of women.”

“I certainly wouldn’t want to spend the rest of my days with the stuffed shirts found in Parliament,” Barrington joked.

“I’d have to agree with you, Lord Barrington,” Lady Carleton said. “Though my husband has always been an exception.”

“Ah, yes, he was never one of those stuffed turkeys.”

Genny nibbled on the fruits set out before them so that she wouldn’t make any other verbal gaffes, letting the conversation flow around her.

Leo caught her gaze once and gave her a slow smile. There was nothing innocent in the look he gave her. He purposely brushed against her arm or leg every time he reached for something else to eat in the array of food on display. There was nowhere to escape, so she did her best to pretend he simply wasn’t sitting next to her.

The next three weeks might prove to be the longest in all her life.





Chapter 12

The Countess of F___ has made an appearance after a lengthy absence, looking slightly thinner than she has previously. She entered a club—which shall remain nameless in these chronicles—and didn’t exit said club for a good three hours. Upon her exit, notably on the Duke of A___’s arm, there was a slight miss in her steps. Perhaps melancholy can strike even the most jaded, coldhearted person in the haute ton?

The Mayfair Chronicles, July 18, 1846

It was a late and rather warm starry night. Leo was pleased to have figured out Genny’s evening habit only two days into the house party. Tonight wasn’t her first excursion out of doors past the setting of the sun, but her third straight night in a row.

She wore a white nightgown, all spread out over the grass like gossamer silk. Her peignoir was sprigged with little pink flowers and lay open at her midriff. Her hair was down and bound in a long braid that hung over one shoulder, and her fingers played with the tufted ends tied with a pink silk ribbon.

The only reason he’d known she’d come out to stargaze to begin with was because his room was conveniently situated next to hers. It was the last pair of rooms that unfortunately didn’t have an adjoining door.

Genny’s room was beside his and Lady Charlotte’s on the far end of the hall with the other young, unattached ladies and their mothers.

Leo walked across the lawn, hands in his pockets. He was down to his shirtsleeves and vest this evening because the weather demanded it and there was no one else awake to see him in a state of undress.

He stopped by the top of her head and looked down into her blinking eyes. A frown marred her pretty face at his appearance.

“I guess it was too much to ask that I could be left alone for even a short while?”

“I heard your door open, so I came to investigate…”

Not that he’d tell her he’d witnessed this very sight last night, but had stayed at a distance, feeling as though he needed to give her more time before he approached.

“So you followed me outside. You could have turned around at any point and gone back to your own room.” She glared at him. “How long have you been watching me?”

“Not long.” He moved to stand beside her, hitched up his trousers at the knee, and made himself comfortable on the grass next to her. He lay back, resting his head in his threaded fingers, and stared up at the stars with her.

He felt her eyes on him before she let out a resigned sigh and did as he did—stargazed. A smile touched his lips. Was this acquiescence? Had he known she’d give in to him so easily he would have joined her last night.