Pleasures of the Night by Heather Boyd
Chapter 26
Teddy flicked the summons he’d received from Wharton across his thumb the next morning, puzzled by the summons from his friend. He’d been invited to arrive at ten o’clock, when he hoped to discover how Eugenia and her mother-in-law had fared last night at Wharton House. He quite hated that he’d been sent away yesterday, but how could he complain he’d a right to stay?
Not that he truly had any rights where Eugenia was concerned yet. But he had been instrumental in saving her from a marriage to an imposter.
He was not quite sure his involvement had gone completely unnoticed, either. It was his carriage and his men who had delivered Eugenia back to Wharton House after all.
He peeked across Cavendish Square from his carriage, a little worried, to be honest, about what sort of reception he might receive. But he noticed a string of carriages lined up to drop off their passengers.
Feeling somewhat relieved to not have to face Wharton alone, he gave his driver instructions to deposit him at Wharton’s door as soon as possible.
He received a warm welcome from Wharton, who was pacing the front hall upon his arrival.
“Good to see you,” Wharton said as he rushed to shake his hand. “No hard feelings about driving you off yesterday?”
“None at all.”
“Good. Well, it seems everyone has answered my summons to discuss the latest development. We’re in the library.”
“What development?”
“I’ll not repeat myself,” Wharton warned, and left him to follow behind.
Teddy feigned nonchalance as he strolled inside Wharton’s library, but quaked when he saw quite a crowd had been gathered. There were all of his friends and a number of ladies, too.
Miss White was present, sitting on a chaise beside Aurora and Sylvia Hillcrest at the front of the room, but Eugenia was nowhere to be seen.
He found that troubling.
He took a seat at the back of the chamber and crossed his arms over his chest, worried about where she was hiding herself. If Wharton had thrown Eugenia out over hiding her married name or the imposter that had tried to take her away, there would be trouble.
It was probably time he started asserting himself in society. Even if the idea of it sat ill with him.
“Thank you all for coming,” Wharton began, calling everyone to order. “I consider you all good friends who deserve to hear the truth from me directly, rather than from nasty gossips later.”
“That would be appreciated, Lord Wharton,” the elderly Lady Bisley declared, looking around. “I hardly get out of bed for anyone at this hour.”
Wharton cleared his throat. “Not long ago, a man came to my door claiming to be married to Eugenia Hillcrest.”
A hiss of shock swept through the crowd, although most would have heard something by now. The rumor mill ran at full power during the season.
“Now, while it is true that Eugenia was married once, she believed the man dead and buried four years ago.”
“She must have been very young indeed,” Lady Bisley observed.
“She married at three and twenty, and I’m sure you could do the mathematics to decide her age now.”
Teddy did, discovering Eugenia was slightly older than him. How had they managed not to have discussed their ages?
Wharton continued, “Her relationship with her late husband amounted to a brief courtship and one night as a wife before a separation. She was informed from all reliable sources of the death of her husband by drowning two weeks after the marriage. She never had cause to question the information she was given.
“She went about her life trying to put that brief happiness and loss behind her, moved to be nearer to her cousins, but due to her grief clouding her judgment, she continued to describe herself as a spinster, possibly out of embarrassment that her too brief romance hadn’t lasted.”
“What a foolish thing to do. My best days were always as a widow, not a wife,” Lady Bisley said out loud, causing the room to erupt with laughter.
“It was never with malicious intent that she kept the truth from her relations or from society,” Wharton promised. “It is a mistake she regrets very much.”
A murmur of disapproval swept the chamber.
Wharton held up his hand for silence. “Now, I know what you’re thinking, and I want to apologize to any man who is inconvenienced if they thought Miss Eugenia Hillcrest was an innocent. I know you’d likely preferred to have known she was a widow all along, but it is probably best for our friendship that I never had to call one of you scoundrels out.”
More laugher, but of the nervous kind, could be heard. Wharton played his audience well.
“Mrs. Bagshaw was always in the company of her cousins or my mother here, and to my knowledge, never developed a tender for any one of you, or you for her, I suspect.”
“I always found her quite charming and a model of maidenly decorum.” Lady Bisley peered about the chamber at all the rogues. “I should hope none of you have any cause to regret not seducing one more widow.”
A burst of laughter swept the room.
Wharton huffed. “Eugenia is and always will be dear to my mother and me.”
Hurlston raised his hand. “What happened to the fellow who claimed to be her husband? Is he in custody or will he escape the consequences?”
“Since Mr. Robert Bagshaw is quite deceased, and Regis Bagshaw has been pretending to be him for some time, he remains in custody until such time that a particular magistrate who traveled all the way from Dover can be heard. Robert Bagshaw’s elderly mother has confirmed she buried her son, and that it was her husband’s bastard son parading about using his name. It was an offensive masquerade, and I intend to see him prosecuted for every offense possible.”
Lord Sullivan slowly raised his hand. “Where is Miss Eugenia Hillcrest now?”
“In disproving Regis Bagshaw’s ruse, Eugenia has, at last, made the acquaintance of her mother-in-law. The elder Mrs. Bagshaw is now in need of a home and loving family to care for her. They have removed to Albemarle Street until such time as Mrs. Bagshaw senior has become accustomed to life in the city and greater society.”
“Was that her idea or yours?” Teddy asked, pretending to be learning all of this only now like everyone else.
“Entirely hers,” Wharton promised with his hand over his heart. “She considered it a kindness for Mrs. Bagshaw, who was ill at ease here in our home after just a few hours. I did try to talk her out of going,” he promised.
The room erupted in more laughter. “Easier to part the sea than change a woman’s mind,” someone called out.
“Not an easy feat,” Lord Sullivan mused out loud. “The former Miss Hillcrest has always been a woman of decidedly firm opinions.”
“As I have discovered. Stubbornness is possibly a Hillcrest character flaw, too? What do you say, my love?” Wharton asked as he smiled down on his future bride sitting in the front row.
Sylvia protested, “We are no more difficult than a certain marquess.”
He laughed at that and turned back to address the gathering. “Now I understand there’ll be some talk of a falling out between the two families, as happened once before, but I assure you, I consider Eugenia to be part of my family already. Under my protection still, if not my own roof. I will take offense if I hear any ridiculous assertions of strife or disrespect—and don’t any one of you think to seduce her. You may circulate that threat to any and all who care to keep their health.”
There were more laugher and other questions, but Teddy tuned them out. He should have guessed that Eugenia would return to her home immediately. She’d thrown out enough hints about missing being mistress of her own abode.
As the gathering broke up and people started to disperse, Aurora approached him. “Sir. Might I speak with you a moment?”
He inclined his head. “Miss Hillcrest. Of course.”
“Did you know she would leave us?”
“I had a feeling. You did not want to go with her?”
“One of us must stay with Sylvia to prevent tongues wagging even more than they must be already about our living arrangements.”
“Everyone is aware of Sylvia’s devotion to the marchioness, and the marchioness’ dire need for Sylvia,” he promised. “I’m sure you made the right decision, but it cannot have been an easy one.”
“It’s only been a few hours since she left, but I miss having Eugenia here already.” She suddenly looked behind her.
Scarsdale was watching. She flicked her fingers at the man, and he stalked off in a huff.
Aurora sighed. “He’s such a pest. I’ll have to speak to Wharton about his lurking today.”
Teddy nodded, glad to hear it. “I’m sure he’ll take care of the problem for you, but remember you still have Sylvia here.”
“She’s often preoccupied, and will be even more so when she’s finally wed. When she does marry, I’ll almost be alone, I suppose.”
“You’d be welcome no matter where Eugenia lived,” Teddy promised and then winced as Aurora’s eyes lit up with excitement. “And I’m sure you’ll always be wanted by Sylvia, too. I don’t know what to advise other than patience and trust that everything will work out.”
“Hmm, I suppose you’re right. You’ve always been so easy to talk to, Mr. Berringer, but I just worry about the sort of men who might call upon my cousin when I’m not there. She’s a widow now, you know. Are you going to call on her today? I’m sure she’s missing you.”
He glanced at Eugenia’s cousin and saw a hint of teasing in her expression. The woman was aware of their affair and clearly approved of it continuing. “I’m not sure if it’s the right time.”
“You should go today before someone else tries to take your place,” she warned. “As a spinster without funds, she was popular enough for conversation, but imagine how the line of scoundrels will form once the word spreads that she’s actually a widow. Even with Wharton’s threats.”
Teddy inhaled sharply as he realized Aurora was probably right. He pressed his lips together. His heart was already entwined with Eugenia’s. There hadn’t truly been enough time to talk about their future yet, but there would be one. He wasn’t about to let the perfect woman slip through his fingers. “It is fortunate that I have my foot in the door, so to speak.”
“I’d suggest you speed your feet to her door as a matter of urgency today, sir. I clearly heard someone here mention calling on her just now. You wouldn’t like to be pushed out of the running from someone with a larger foot or a heavier purse.”
“How is it that you understand your cousin so little?” he whispered. “A sense of humor, a trim figure, and a wicked imagination are what Eugenia’s heart desires. Apparently, I possess all three, so no one stands a chance.”
“I hope that’s true.” Aurora linked her arm through his, and they took a turn about the room together. “Tell me more about this wicked imagination of yours.”
Teddy laughed. “Not in this room and not without Eugenia present.”
Aurora pouted. “So unfair.”
“Stop flirting with me. There is only room in my heart for one Hillcrest, and it is not you, I’m afraid.” And since he knew a thing or two about how close the cousins were, he added, “You can ask Eugenia about me, and she’ll answer if she decides she wants to share the details or not.”
Wharton approached. “We’re going out.”
Aurora clapped her hands. “Where are we going?”
“Never you mind,” Wharton chided. “This is a gentlemen-only outing.”
“Oh, you men have all the fun,” Aurora said before she flounced off and disappeared out the door.
Aurora Hillcrest was incorrigible. “Where are you going?”
“The club, Madam Bradshaw’s, and other places where gossips gather. I want to stay ahead of the rumor mill this time.”
Teddy considered going along to help with that, but he wanted to see Eugenia more. The hours of their separation weighed on his mind—along with his need to learn her plans for the immediate future from her own lips. “I have an appointment.”
Wharton nodded. “Very well. I will see you another day, then. Please ensure anyone you speak to has the right story, especially his grace.”
“I’ll make sure I tell him everything he needs to know.”
Teddy headed for the door and accepted his hat from the butler on his way out. He’d sent his carriage away and might have had a long walk ahead of him to Albemarle Street. But he hailed a hack and settled back to think. The journey gave him time to consider all he’d heard today.
Despite Wharton’s views on the subject, Eugenia likely wouldn’t return to live under his roof anytime soon, which would make calling upon her at Albemarle Street easier, and also more noticeable if he did it too often.
And if his activities were commented upon, word would spread back to Wharton, and Exeter, too. He hadn’t told his cousin who he’d fallen in love with yet. He’d also been quite clear with Eugenia that he hadn’t been ready for marriage when they’d started up.
If he didn’t propose immediately, or she wasn’t keen on the idea at first, they would have to be extremely careful continuing their affair. But their relationship had changed. They could never be occasional lovers again, or even mistress and protector as Aurora assumed he might want to be.
No, they were at the start of something that would last a great deal longer than a few nights of mutual pleasure.
All he needed to do was make it clear that Eugenia was the woman for him.
Nothing less than marriage would do. He needed her to have no great fortune or experience of society. Like him, she could learn what she needed to know over the coming years of their marriage. Teddy watched the passing parade of grand houses as the carriage continued south with a feeling of excitement growing inside him. If they were married soon, whenever he turned around, she’d be somewhere nearby, and whenever she desired to see him, too, she could.
He wasn’t so foolish as to assume she’d readily agree to wed in haste, of course. She had a mother-in-law to think of now, and becoming a duchess one day was probably as frightening to her as becoming a duke had been for him in the beginning.
If they spoke of their fears with each other, as they’d already been doing so far, he could avoid the marriage mart completely but probably not a courtship. Eugenia deserved to be singled out for attention like any other woman.
But in full awareness that his intentions for his life had dramatically changed because of her.
He found himself at her door and out of breath all too soon. Why not propose to her today and let her know he was here to stay? He’d already found his match in bed. He liked Eugenia’s stubborn streak, and they had many similar friends and experiences. Loved her passion and wit. She was clever. One day, she would become a formidable duchess, he suspected. Which had never been his first consideration when it came to picking a wife but was likely a good idea.
He could even see them growing old together, surrounded by their children, and having his cousin Sinclair and Kitty watching on in their old age.
Teddy rapped on Eugenia’s door, smiling broadly. When it opened, he was surprised to find she now had a butler he recognized.
He hastily reached for his card and presented it with a flourish to the ginger-headed footman who’d accompanied Eugenia to his carriage several days ago. “I should like to speak with Mrs. Bagshaw. The younger,” he added quickly, for clarity.
“I’m afraid she has a gentleman caller at the moment and is not to be disturbed, Mr. Berringer.”
That took him aback. It hadn’t taken very long for the scoundrels to come calling. He put his foot in the doorway and stepped inside. “I will wait.”
“Very good, sir. May I show you to the drawing room?”
He heard a burst of Eugenia’s laughter and a deep-throated male response and bristled with not a little jealousy. Clearly, whoever was with Eugenia possessed a sense of humor. Teddy hoped to God the fellow was portly and dull in every other sense, rather than some libertine trying to take his place. “Yes, please do.”