Pleasures of the Night by Heather Boyd

Chapter 9

Eugenia followed along behind her cousin Sylvia and Lord Wharton as they patronized the Bond Street shops on yet another ridiculous spending spree. Lord Wharton opened his purse with alarming regularity for his future bride, spoiling her possibly out of guilt, she suspected, for the delay of their wedding date. Sly touches, inviting glances, were part and parcel of any time spent with the couple, though. Those were things she worked hard to not see. But Eugenia frequently exchanged knowing glances with Aurora and, by mutual agreement, increased the distance between them and the betrothed couple.

Wharton had seemed preoccupied the last few days, but that period of distraction appeared to be at an end. Now all his focus had returned to his bride-to-be. Quite obviously so. They were absorbed in each other in a way few married couples could match.

They paused in front of a shop window, and Wharton leaned down to whisper in Sylvia’s ear, causing her to blush.

“We need to get them married soon,” Aurora warned. “Before he starts kissing her in public.”

“She has done that.”

“When? You never told me,” Aurora complained.

“At the Fairmont ball just after their engagement was announced. Lady Fairmont couldn’t keep her hands to herself. Sylvia smiled sweetly, pulled Wharton close for a kiss until the hostess eventually went off in a huff, never to bother him since.”

“What did Wharton do?”

“Laughed and said, ‘that’s my woman. Fearless to the core’.”

“Fearless? Sylvia?”

“I don’t blame her for laying claim so boldly. I wouldn’t want the man I loved and had just agreed to marry being propositioned right in front of my nose, either.”

Wharton turned about and drew Sylvia back with him to speak to them. “Have you shopped enough for one morning?”

“Oh, could we go to just one more shop? Please,” Eugenia begged.

“Eugenia is teasing,” Sylvia hastened to say. “Aurora and Eugenia would always rather be at home reading a good book.”

She smiled. She’d rather be at her old home running their former business and helping gentlemen prepare for marriage.

Wharton nodded. “I have an appointment in the afternoon and must return to Wharton House to prepare.”

Sylvia looked between them. “Are we all happy to go home?”

“Yes, of course,” Eugenia agreed.

They turned to head back to their carriage, and when Sylvia claimed Aurora’s arm and fell behind, Eugenia fell into step beside Wharton. She and the marquess didn’t really know each other well, and she did not feel he needed to make all the decisions for them all, either. But she respected him and understood his highhanded ways were how he usually took care of his family. He juggled a great many important matters and responsibilities on any given day, but he would learn to share the burdens eventually.

She cleared her throat. “Speaking of reading, my lord. I wonder if you recall a request I made to you some time ago.”

Wharton winced. “I do apologize for forgetting to arrange a subscription for you to The Times. You are getting it now, I trust?”

“Yes, we are. Thank you. I do appreciate all you do for us.” She drew in a breath and let it out slowly. “While we’re on the subject of our needs, though, there is one more matter I hoped to speak to you about.”

“Oh?”

She smiled, preparing to be her most persuasive. “In coming to live with your mother at Wharton House, we, my cousin and I, gave up a great many freedoms that we had taken for granted before. We should like, Aurora and I, to have our own footman again.”

He nodded to a passing acquaintance as they strolled along, but then he frowned. “You find mine lacking?”

“Gracious, no,” Eugenia jumped in quickly. “But Wharton House is not really our home. I know you say it must be, but we will always be guests of yours and then Sylvia’s upon your marriage. Your friends come and go at will, and we have occasionally felt unprepared to be at home to your visitors. We should like to have a footman of our own in the household who always knows our schedule, and who knows who we will receive or not. They would also keep us informed of who has arrived to visit you, so we do not stumble into a room and overhear a conversation not meant for our ears.”

“You do conduct a lot of business at home, my love,” Sylvia murmured from behind. “It is not so great an imposition, is it?”

Wharton seemed to chew the matter over for a few minutes. “Who were you hoping to employ?”

“I would have kept on any one of our former staff, were they still available. But I was actually hoping to steal Nigel Bloom from your employ to be our footman.” Wharton seemed not to recognize the young footman’s name. “New man. Young. Ginger hair. Requested The Times from you at my request last Friday.”

Wharton nodded but the frown remained. “Why him?”

“He’s pleasant, capable, and I’ve found him trustworthy so far.”

“We like him very much,” Aurora added. “He is eager to please and hasn’t yet become set in his ways.”

Sylvia smiled encouragingly at her future spouse.

Wharton nodded slowly to her, then looked around at them all, eyes narrowing with suspicion. “How could I possibly refuse so eloquent and coordinated an argument?”

“We’re not arguing. I’ll inform the housekeeper today to find a replacement for Mr. Bloom,” Sylvia replied. She captured Wharton’s hand, brushing her thumb across the back repeatedly, the way Eugenia often did with argumentative men. Usually, they became so distracted by the touch that they forget what they were arguing about. “I promise the change will be no trouble for anyone in the household.”

“I’ll hope not.” Wharton suddenly shook his head and glanced at his bride-to-be. “What of you, my love? Is there anything you need?”

“I am content,” Sylvia promised him with a cheeky smile. “All I need is you.”

Wharton drew Sylvia to his side, and they returned to the carriage but at a much faster pace. Clearly, Wharton was eager to return home, and Eugenia suspected it had little to do with preparing for any business meeting now.

She was brought up short when they reached the conveyance, though.

Thaddeus Berringer was lounging against it, studying his pocket watch.

“There you are at last,” Thaddeus cried as he tucked it away.

Wharton came forward to shake his hand. “Berringer. I didn’t think we were meeting today.”

“We were not, but I saw your carriage and heard from the grooms that the Hillcrest ladies were with you. I thought I could pay my respects and beg for a boon.”

Wharton laughed. “Oh? What sort of boon?”

“I need a lady’s opinion on a purchase and hoped I might seek theirs.” Thaddeus looked at them all, his gaze never settling upon Eugenia any longer than on the others.

Sylvia spoke first. “I’d be only too happy to render an opinion, sir. What are you buying for the duchess this time?”

“It is something for me. I have decided to furnish a property I own, but I am finding the choices overwhelming.” He gestured to a haberdashery shop nearby and raked a hand through his hair. “It should only take a moment.”

Aurora pushed forward to claim Thaddeus’ arm. “I’d be very happy to render an opinion, too.”

Thaddeus nodded slowly and caught Eugenia’s eye. “All opinions would be valued equally. Would you care to assist as well, Miss Hillcrest?”

“Gladly,” she promised. She did not move to take his other arm. That hadn’t been her habit before they’d kissed, and she was determined not to give away her interest in him. “Lead the way, sir.”

He inclined his head, opening a door for Aurora to pass him by. Wharton and Sylvia swept in, arm in arm, and Eugenia followed at the rear.

Thaddeus came up beside her and whispered “carpet,” then he moved past her to direct the others deeper into the establishment, pausing to greet the proprietor and his wife.

Eugenia paused, familiarizing herself with the layout of the store again. Cabot’s Haberdashery had expanded their shop and offerings during the last winter—adding furniture and carpets to their already substantial catalog. She turned away from the others, exploring the changes on her own.

Cabot had a fine eye, and she saw much that appealed to her. But in her situation, there was nothing she should fall in love with since she had nowhere to put it.

Thaddeus drew near. “Did you survey the carpets yet?”

“Not yet.”

“You really should. There’s so much more to see in the new rooms on this side.”

She inclined her head and went where he directed. The chamber was large, and behind an array of low tables sat dozens of carpet squares littering the floors. She turned right at Thaddeus’ subtle suggestion and stopped before a pile of large and thick carpet squares. The top one was done in the Indian style, red and heavily patterned.

Thaddeus’ hand caught hers and squeezed. “Tomorrow. In the afternoon again?”

A thrill went through her at the husky tone of his voice. Another afternoon of kissing a handsome rogue was exactly what she needed right now. “I look forward to it.”

He released her hand as the others joined them, but no one seemed to notice.

A blue rug beneath the red one caught her eye. She tipped her head toward the pile and smiled at Thaddeus. “Will you help me?”

He rushed forward. “Do you see something you like?”

“Perhaps.” She moved to one corner, and he to the other, and together they drew back the heavy upper red square to reveal a beautiful blue rug beneath. The colors were more subtle and elegant than the red. Much more to her taste. “Stunning. Meant to be the focus of any drawing room,” she murmured.

“Definitely appealing, but what of this other blue one?” he asked as he pointed to another farther away.

Eugenia followed him across the room and studied his choice, another rectangular and also in blue, but bolder. She nodded. “Stunning as well. But I think this might suit a gentleman’s chamber.”

“I’m torn now.”

Eugenia laughed. “Was it imperative you decide today?”

“Not at all. But I have to start somewhere,” he said with a laugh. “I have a pair of candelabras and a fire poker to take with me today. So at least I can light a fire there tomorrow afternoon when my visitor comes.”

“At this rate, it could take you a great many afternoon visits to see the house completely furnished, sir.”

He seemed to pause. “Was there some other gentleman’s house you’d rather visit?”

“Hardly,” she whispered. “I thoroughly enjoyed our last meeting.”

“Good, because I plan to keep inviting you to visit me,” he whispered. “If Wharton wasn’t here, I’d ask your opinion on the size of my bed.”

Aurora rushed over just then. “How marvelous is Cabot’s, and how exciting it must be for you, Mr. Berringer, to be decorating a new house with new things. Though I’m not complaining. It was grateful that Eugenia took care of furnishing our old Albemarle Street townhouse.”

“A handsome home it was, too, from what I saw,” Thaddeus murmured, glancing toward Eugenia with a question in his eyes.

“Oh, it is still a handsome home,” Aurora assured him. “There was simply nowhere to put anything of ours at Lord Wharton’s, and she will not consider selling even a single fork yet.”

“One day, I might have my own home again,” Eugenia replied with a shrug. “I will need something to sit your teacup upon when you and your husband come to call on me with your children.”

“I miss your old fainting couch, but don’t tell Wharton,” Aurora whispered. “He thinks his home superior in every way to the comforts of Albemarle Street.”

Thaddeus was studying her closely now. Yes, she could have invited him to meet her at Albemarle Street, instead of going to his empty home and only being able to sit on the floor on blankets. She’d been curious about his new residence, and she hadn’t wanted to decline the chance to be shown around. It was clear to see he was proud of his future home, even if it was empty, as he had every right to be.

She fell into step with him as they toured the rest of the business, pointing out new finds. When Aurora moved away from them, he brushed against Eugenia’s side.

“I wasn’t aware Albemarle was still furnished,” he murmured.

“Furnished but not occupied. I cannot bear to part with my own belongings, so they remain where they belong. Wharton has kindly continued the lease on the property. I think he means to make it clear that Sylvia resides under his roof only because the marchioness needs her, and not him. At some point, Aurora and I will return there, likely when the marchioness resumes socializing and the marriage has taken place.”

“I only saw two rooms when I visited, a drawing room and the library across the hall. Both were pleasingly arranged and looked comfortable.” He grinned down at her. “That is what I hope for, too, so I would welcome any assistance you might offer with my own decoration. What do you say? Will you help me furnish my home?”

“You know, I look about my chamber at Lord Wharton’s home and nothing in it really suits my taste, even if everything is first-rate. I think it is easy to display your own possessions, but a great deal harder to do that for a stranger.”

Thaddeus inched closer. “We’re not truly strangers anymore.”

“In all the ways that really matter, we still are,” she whispered back.

Thaddeus raked a hand through his hair, making it untidier than ever. “I want to know you.”

Eugenia smiled, though she longed to fix his hair for him, so he looked his best. “I would like that, too.”

Wharton appeared, a frown on his face again. “Berringer, what are you whispering about to my betrothed’s cousin?”

“I am attempting to lure her to my home,” Thaddeus answered and then grinned impishly at her. “Solely to take over the chore of decorating from me, I swear.”

Wharton shook his head. “Not likely to succeed there, sir. But if you’ve no other pressing engagements today, would you care to join us for dinner tonight after my meeting? I heard Exeter is from Town for a while. Can’t have you at a loose end, unless you’ve already made plans to go out to Bradshaw’s for the evening.”

Eugenia frowned, looking up at him. “Bradshaw’s?”

She glanced between Wharton and Thaddeus. Thaddeus attended a pleasure house and still found the time to seduce her?

She took a step back, feeling awkward. She’d spend hours with Thaddeus Berringer and all he’d done was kiss and fondle her through her clothes. Eugenia wished she hadn’t learned that he was frequenting a pleasure house where more intimate affairs could be paid for.

“It would be a pleasure to join you all,” he told Wharton. “Who else is coming?”

“Oh, the usual crowd. I’ll expect you at seven, along with all the rest,” Wharton confirmed before returning to Sylvia’s side.

She stood rooted to the spot, and Thaddeus came closer again. “The food is excellent, the brandy, too, and my friends go to Bradshaw’s often.”

“I see.”

“Do you?”

She looked up at him, and she thought he looked embarrassed. “When were you there last?”

He smiled. “Last night. Hurlston took us all in his carriage. We dined, drank, and did not sing a single bawdy song.”

She couldn’t help but smile at that. Gentlemen did a lot of singing while drunk. “I cannot imagine you singing any bawdy songs, or Lord Hurlston, for that matter, either.”

“It is not a performance meant for a lady’s delicate ears,” he confessed. “We really do sing rather badly when deep in our cups, I’m afraid.”

She nodded and made to pass him by.

Teddy pulled her to a stop. “Eugenia, I swear I haven’t been with another woman since you. I wouldn’t do that to you.”

“I’m happy to hear it.” But he could be with anyone he chose, and there wasn’t a thing she could do about it. She’d just been surprised today. There was nothing for her to feel upset about, really. He was his own man, and she was her own woman. They could be with anyone they wanted. For right now, she wanted him and no other. That might change one day, but not today. “Meet me in the long gallery at Lord Wharton’s after supper.”

Since her cousins had started to file out of the shop, she turned to follow them. Thaddeus led her to the carriage, discreetly brushing his fingers against her hand several times, though making it seem accidental. But his fingers squeezing hers very firmly as he helped her in. When he did release her, she was fairly sure he hadn’t wanted to.

“Until tonight then,” he promised.

“I look forward to it,” Eugenia answered, along with everyone else.