Desperate Debutantes - The Hazards Of Hunting A Duke Part 6

He came to the house on Clifford Street but was quite apprehensive. He seemed to think that having never butlered before might be a hindrance to his performance.

"Of course not," Ava a.s.sured him, in spite of having no practical knowledge of a butler's duties. "It's all very simple, really. You open and shut doors, mainly."

That had seemed to appease him somewhat, but nothing could appease Lucille Pennebacker. "He's not a butler, he's a clerk, and he smells of sulfur and rotten eggs!"

"You must remember that we are doing a good deed, Lucy."

"A good deed!" she spat. "You are up to no good, Ava Fairchild. Wait until Egbert hears of it. He'll not have a man smelling of sulfur in his house!"

Ava rather imagined that was true, but she nevertheless made her way to the parish poorhouse to have Mr. Morris's name removed from the rolls and to collect the five pounds the parish would pay her for having removed him from their responsibility. It was not an ideal situation to be sure, but she was hopeful that he could be properly trained.

She was so lost in thought that she didn't notice the three gentlemen emerging from a club on RegentStreet, or that one of them paused to look at her. She didn't notice him at all until he suddenly startedwalking away from his companions in her direction.

"Come on, Middleton!" one of the other men called.

Ava's breath caught in her throat. It was Middleton. She couldn't believe her opportunity after several nights lying sleepless in her bed, wondering how she might insinuate herself into his lofty sphere. But as she had a.s.sumed she would do so after she had come out of mourning, she couldn't think exactly what to do with the opportunity that was presenting itself as Middleton came to a halt before her.

"Lady Ava?" he said, looking at her curiously.

Three years of honing her skills in ballrooms and salons across Mayfair suddenly bubbled up. "My lordMiddleton!" she said, and curtsied deeply, s.h.i.+fting the empty basket in which she had carried fruit to thepoorhouse.

"Middleton!" one of the companions-whom she recognized as Lord Harrison-shouted laughingly. "We'll be late!"

He seemed not to hear him. "You're walking alone?" he asked, peering behind her. "Rather far fromhome at an odd hour, aren't you?" he asked as his two companions started back toward her, too.

"I, ah...why, no, my lord," she said as Lords Stanhope and Harrison joined them. Now there were three gentlemen eyeing her curiously.

"Come on, then, Middleton," Stanhope said with a grin. "You'll incite a certain friend to jealousy if we are late."

"Stanhope, do you not see Lady Ava Fairchild and her basket before us?" Middleton asked grandly,gesturing toward Ava. The three of them peered at the empty basket she'd forgotten she was carrying.

"Oh," she said, glancing at the basket. "I've just come from the parish poorhouse."

"Dear G.o.d," Stanhope muttered.

"All right, then, you've seen the lady's basket," Harrison said. "Forgive us, Lady Ava, but we really must go on. We are late for an important engagement."

Stanhope laughed.

"You must ignore them, Lady Ava," Middleton said with a charming smile. "They've had far too much whiskey and have quite forgotten their manners." He said it with an easy, captivating smile that made Ava begin to feel rather warm in her black c.r.a.pe gown.

"Ach, I cannot wait any longer," Harrison said, putting a hand on Middleton's shoulder. "Someone awaits my appearance," he added with a wink.

"Go, then," Middleton responded, flicking his wrist at the two of them. "I shall be along directly, but atpresent I should like to know what Lady Ava Fairchild is about with her big...basket.""As you wish," Harrison said."But...but I thought-" Stanhope stammered, but Harrison slung his arm around his shoulder, pulled him aside, and said something low. Whatever he said caused Lord Stanhope to jerk his head up and peer closely at Ava before smiling broadly.

"Good day, Lady Ava," he said politely, and he and Harrison strode away, laughing at some private jest.Middleton put his hand on his waist, revealing a strong figure in form-fitting dove-gray trousers, a stripedwaistcoat, and a coat of navy superfine. "Pay them no mind," he said breezily. "But you, my lady, you arevery curious."

"I'm hardly curious, my lord," she said, trying very hard not to notice his muscular form. "I am a memberof the Ladies' Beneficent Society. Perhaps you have heard of it?""I can't say that I have," he said, his smile turning brighter."We are employed in charitable works.""What sort?""What sort?""What sort of charitable works?" he asked as his gaze casually moved down the length of her.

Really, it was very warm beneath her cloak. "Ah...the usual sort."Middleton lifted his gaze from his casual perusal of her and grinned as if that amused him. "The usual sort...feeding poor foundlings? Tending to the infirm?"

Looking for a butler. "Ah...reading the Bible," she said, and focused on smoothing a wrinkle in hersleeve. "To...to the, ah, poor people."

"Aha!" he exclaimed. "A worthy endeavor, to be sure!"Was that laughter she heard in his voice? She glanced up from her sleeve. He was grinning. For the sakeof argument, suppose she were reading the Bible to poor people. What on earth was the matter withthat? "Are you...are you laughing at me, my lord?"

"Not in the least," he said instantly. "I mean to compliment you on your good works." He inclined his head.

"It's quite true, you know," she lied indignantly. "I am in the midst of an important charitable endeavor." He smiled fully at that, and Ava felt the force of it all the way to her toes. "Not just a single act, but an entire endeavor. Bravo, Lady Ava. And where are you off to now? To spread more goodness about? You must allow me the honor of seeing you to it."

"Thank you, but that is not necessary," she said. "Your friends are waiting." Not to mention a certain friend who would be incited to jealousy. What a rogue he was!

"What friends?" he asked, and before she could respond, he said, "Come, then, let me see you home."

The very suggestion alarmed her. If she was to lure him to her, the last place she wanted Lord Middleton was at the door of her home when a jeweler's clerk and Lucille were vying for the chance to open it. There would be the usual introductions, and Lucille would wonder aloud who he was, and Middleton would undoubtedly wonder aloud why there was no butler, to which Mr. Morris would correct him and say he was the butler, and the rest was too awful to imagine. "It's really not necessary, my lord."

"Perhaps it is not necessary, but it is my pleasure and my duty. It is dusk, madam. I cannot think of letting you walk alone after dark. Don't you know that wicked men roam these streets at night?" he asked with a wink.

She had a sense of that, yes, and eyed him suspiciously. His soft chuckle made the hair on the back of her neck stand-not from fright, she realized, but from the expectation of something pleasurable.

"Please do allow me, Lady Ava. It is not often I am in the company of such goodness," he said, crossing one arm over his heart.

He was flirting with her. The Marquis of Middleton was actually flirting with her. Ava suddenly smiled. " Well, then, I suppose one might consider this as doing a small bit of the Lord's work, mightn't one?"

He laughed, a deliciously deep laugh that put crinkles at the corners of his eyes, and held out his hand toher. "I am in your debt," he said, and gestured for her basket. "To your home, then?""Ah, no," she said quickly. "To the, ah...the church.""The church?"

"It's just over there," she said, gesturing down the road as she handed him her empty basket."Thank you, but I can at least claim to know where St. George's church is located. It just seems ratherlate to find anyone there."

"Au contraire," she said pertly. "Charity can be performed at all hours, my lord." She put her hand on the arm that he offered her.

"Then you are to be commended on your devotion, Lady Ava."She glanced at him from the corner of her eye. "You seem surprised," she remarked as they began towalk.

"It is a bit surprising, for I had not noticed you at church services, and one would think a pious person

would attend services regularly."

"Hadn't you?" she asked airily, in spite of the fact that she hadn't attended Sunday services in quite some time. "Perhaps if you were to turn your head to the left and right and say good morning to those around you instead of staring solemnly forward, you might see me."

"Ah. But that would take my attention away from the sermons of our vicar," he said, and looked at her with hazel eyes that had gone dark. "And were I to see you, Lady Ava, I would be tempted...quite tempted...to forget the good vicar entirely. Until, of course, should come the moment I would beg him for salvation for thinking improper thoughts," he said, taking in her figure once more. "In truth, I might be in need of salvation this very evening," he added softly, and lifted a dark gaze to her eyes once again, regarding her with an expression she could only term ravenous.

Ava's stomach dipped to her toes.

She was no stranger to flirting-she rather fancied herself a veteran at it. But there was somethingdifferent about Middleton's gaze-it seemed so intense that she had the feeling she was standing beforehim without a st.i.tch of clothing.

She struggled to think clearly. "In need of salvation, truly?" she asked softly.

He smiled a little. "You should know better than most. I'm in constant need of salvation-you've read the newspapers, I trust?"

He was walking so close to her, his head inclined in her direction, and she couldn't help but think of that kiss for perhaps the thousandth time. "Indeed I have, my lord," she said slowly, her thoughts growing muddled as she looked into his dark hazel eyes. "In pa.s.sing, of course...when I am searching out the news of Parliament."

"Charity and politics, too?" One corner of his mouth tipped up; a smile danced in his eyes. "Most ladies seem to be interested only in dancing and poetry and rumors of who has offered for whom."

"I a.s.sure you, sir, a woman's interests are wide and varied and go well past the dancing and poetry and ...gossip."

"Not in my experience. Many of the remarks made to me by the fairer s.e.x lead me to believe that females think of little more than gowns and shoes and which gentleman stood up with which lady more than twice in the course of one evening."

"Oh," she said with a nonchalant shrug. "I wouldn't know, really. I can scarcely abide ballroom gossip."

He laughed softly. "You are indeed a paragon of virtue, Lady Ava. Perhaps your interests would extend to a charitable auction to benefit the Foundling Hospital? I am lending it my name and I know the effort is in need of good volunteers. I should very much appreciate your a.s.sistance."

His suggestion surprised and elated her. The thought of working alongside him on some important charitable event was almost too good to be true-it was precisely the opportunity she needed to gain an offer from him.

"May I impose on you?" he asked. "It's rather a large event, one to which the full ranks of the aristocracy will be invited to donate goods to be auctioned. I will host it at Vauxhall Gardens in June, before too many of the ton have escaped to the country."

"I should be delighted," she said earnestly. "Anything to further a good cause," she added, thinking of her own cause. "Ah, here we are," she said, nodding to the cross street down which the parish church was located.

He glanced around, looking a bit confused.

Ava laughed. "The church, my lord. Have you forgotten where it is located?" she teased him.

He smiled and took her hand in his. "Thank you for allowing me to escort you," he said. His eyes were s.h.i.+ning as he brought her hand to his mouth and pressed his mouth to her gloved knuckles. His gaze was intent, his lips warm through her glove, and a flood of heat raced up her arm and swirled around inside her.

He lifted his head, his eyes never leaving hers. "And thank you for agreeing to help my charity," he added softly, and slowly turned her hand over, and pressed his lips to her palm. "But thank you most of all," he said, as his hand caressed her arm, "for agreeing to dance with me at your next opportunity." He bent over her arm and kissed the flesh on her wrist that peeked out between the b.u.t.tonholes of her glove.

She felt positively overheated now. "D-did I agree?"

He smiled. "I am certain that you did."

"I don't recall," she said breathlessly.

His smile broadened, and with the authority of a marquis, he whispered, "You will," and pressed his lips to the bare patch of flesh between her glove and her sleeve on the inside of her elbow.

Ava drew a steadying breath. His lips, warm and wet, seemed to burn her skin.

He lifted his head and slid his hand down her arm, his fingers tangling with hers as he let her hand fall away. "Will you be all right from here?"

"The church is only a stone's throw, sir."

"Then I bid you good evening, Lady Ava. Do have a care not to astonish the entire town with your virtue, " he added with a wink, and handed her the empty basket. He stepped away, pausing once to look at her again before striking out, striding purposefully in the opposite direction.

Ava fussed with her basket and reticule as she surrept.i.tiously watched him until he disappeared around the corner. Only then did she turn and march after him, turning right where he turned left, her step amazingly light, her hand still tingling from his kiss.

Was it possible? she giddily asked herself. Could she possibly lure a man like Middleton away from a woman like Lady Waterstone? Could she be the one to gain an offer from the highly desirable and unmarried marquis?

Why ever not? she silently responded, and with a happy smile of hope, she quickened her step.

Alone in his study the following morning, Jared held a letter he'd received from his butler at Broderick Abbey. The contents of the letter disturbed him, and made him think of Ava Fairchild again.

His father was clearly determined to carry out his threat, and with that weighing heavily on his mind, Jared had privately conceded that he would have to marry to keep his father from it. Not Lady Elizabeth, however, no matter how hard the duke pushed him. But someone vibrant, someone whom he would at least enjoy impregnating.

And that someone, he had decided, was Lady Ava. She was the perfect wife. She had the proper pedigree, but no parents or fortune of her own and was therefore in need of a fortune. She was vibrant and merry and quite pretty. He could do his duty by her, then continue on as he always had, avoiding any ugly obligations or entanglements with family.

With that in mind, he pocketed the letter from Broderick Abbey and picked up a pen. On a piece ofvellum emblazoned with the family crest and exquisitely engraved with his name-THE HONORABLEMARQUIS OF MIDDLETON, ESQ.-he wrote: Dearest Lady Ava, Thank you for allowing me to see you safely to church. Hearing of your efforts to read the Bible to the poor was as pleasurable as it was inspiring. I am delighted that amid the many parish works in which you are engaged you are able to find the time to a.s.sist us in the auction for the Foundling Hospital. Your good work is ever appreciated, my lady, but I would be remiss if I did not point out to you that St. George's parish church is on Maddox Street, and not Burgh Street, as you seem to believe.

Sincerely, M.

Satisfied, Jared rang for a servant. When a footman appeared, he handed him the note. "Have this delivered at once with a bouquet of the best hothouse roses you can find," he said. As the footman quit the room, Jared leaned back in his chair and put his hand in the pocket that held the letter from Broderick Abbey.

Seven.

T hat very afternoon, Ava and Phoebe were suffering another of Lady Purnam's calls. She had taken it upon herself to look in on them at least once weekly, if not more often.

She was seated in an overstuffed chair, sipping the tea Lucy had made. "You've one more full week of mourning," she said when Ava remarked she would be glad to put away her black bombazine gowns. "I know you will be tempted to enter society as soon as possible, but I would advise a period of half mourning. Perhaps three months." She put aside her teacup, clasped her hands in her lap and looked pointedly at the two of them.

"Half mourning?" Phoebe asked, exchanging an anxious glance with Ava. "Is it customary? We have been in deep mourning for a full year."

"I am aware of that," Lady Purnam said, s.h.i.+fting uncomfortably in her seat. "But you would do your mother's memory a great honor to continue in half mourning for a period of time. It is the proper thing to do."

"But...is it prescribed?" Ava asked carefully.