The Lord’s Desperate Pledge Read online

  Mrs. Hemming nodded. “Lady Carradine has been very clever in setting the whole thing up. Rather than it being a gambling establishment, it is a social club that also happens to have gambling. Though, only the type one might find at a ball—no dice games. The atmosphere could not be more genteel and, of course, you know how it is with the ton—once Lady Edith gave her stamp of approval it became perfectly acceptable.”

  Lily was fascinated and wondered if she had ever known her aunt as well as she had thought. Further, the idea that she, herself, might increase what she held, was interesting. It was very interesting. The bets would be higher in London. Surely, the bets must be higher in Lady Carradine’s club than they were at a ball. In Surrey, she could only get so far at a local ball or dinner. Nobody played for particularly high stakes. And then, she could not always win, people would have begun to notice and comment on it. It had been a painstaking process of gathering pound after pound. She had not thought she would play in London at all. At a ball, she would dance. At a dinner, she would likely be asked to play the pianoforte. She had worked hard to come with everything she needed as she had never imagined there would be an opportunity to win more.

  Lily had allocated to reimburse her aunt for the added expense of having her, for a few books, perhaps theater tickets, possibly a dinner, and some left to jangle in her purse as pin money. Her most significant expense had been a carriage, as her aunt did not keep one. It would set her back thirty pounds for the season. She had debated with herself on the practical merits of spending so much in that direction. Especially when a carriage could easily be hired when one needed one. She had finally decided to pay—a carriage rented in such a fashion would be well-maintained and look every bit the private conveyance. Were she to arrive to the sort of fashionable ball she aspired to in a hired carriage, it would be noticed. Her circumstances would advertise themselves loud and clear and no fine wardrobe would overcome it. It had been difficult to let go of so much money, but now her aunt spoke of gambling. Perhaps the pin money she still had might be increased?

  “So you think,” Lily said, “that we might visit Lady Carradine?”

  “I do not see why not,” Amelia said in a satisfied tone. “It is all very respectable, Lady Carradine sees to that. Mrs. Jameson is my regular whist partner there and brought her own daughter to the musical evening just last week. Lady Edith Fairfax is quite the regular. They are both well regarded.”

  “But did Mrs. Jameson’s daughter play cards?” Lily asked, unsure of whether it would be permitted.

  “Goodness, no,” Mrs. Hemming said. “It was a musical evening, you see. In any case, I do not think the girl would have much luck. As far as I could make out, she is as dumb as a post. A shame, but there you have it. Now you, my dear, are a deal more clever and as you said, already quite experienced at it.”

  Lily felt a shiver run down her back. Though she dreamed of attending a fashionable ball, the idea of playing for stakes also appealed.

  “Oh, heavens,” Amelia said, “I nearly forgot. There is a note for you from Cassandra, or Lady Hampton as I suppose she is called now. She’s sent me one too, she intends to call on us on the morrow.”

  *

  Hayes had not seen his friend Hampton since he’d left on his wedding trip. Now, he was to meet him at White’s. They had both agreed to meet in a private room, lest Hayes’s father or the other dukes of the pact were lurking about somewhere. Hampton had not the least cause to avoid his own father, having married suitably, but was sympathetic to his friend’s plight.

  Now, he sat in a rather cramped and dark room, its only window facing an alley. It at least had the benefit of comfortable chairs, well-padded and covered in fine leather, and an ample-sized table of intricately carved maple. A servant had brought him a bottle of claret and two glasses. The man was just leaving as Hampton came through the door.

  The friends greeted each other with enthusiasm.

  “I see you have not paled in the face of marital bliss,” Hayes said, shaking his friend’s hand.

  “God no,” Lord Hampton said. “Best thing I ever did.”

  “I presume your father will say the best thing you ever did is yet to come,” Hayes said, as he poured the wine.

  “Yes, you are right. He is like a falcon waiting to spy a mouse on the subject. His letters are filled with broad hints,” Hampton said. “In fact, I believe he might not have to wait overlong. Lady Hampton has told me nothing, but I have my suspicions. I assume she waits until the danger has passed.”

  Hayes drained half his glass. “Good Lord, Hampton is to be a father. The world has gone mad.”

  “You may think so,” Lord Hampton said, stretching out his long legs, “though it feels remarkably rational to me. In any case, I’d much rather, at this moment, be on my estate, but the Viscountess has insisted we come to town.”

  “Why ever would she wish it,” Hayes asked, “if she is, well you know.”

  “My wife has some idea of helping to launch a childhood friend. A Miss Farnsworth, if I’ve got the name right. I imagine she wishes to do what she can before she must declare a confinement. It sounds like one of those typical situations—fine girl, but with little money or London connections.”

  “All too typical,” Hayes said. “The girl will be out hunting and we bachelors must duck the arrows whizzing through the woods.”

  Hampton laughed. “I see you are still determined to avoid the church, then? You, Dalton, Cabot and Grayson will work to outfox your fathers?”

  “We will. Though how we lost Lockwood, I still cannot understand. Lockwood, to that spitfire of a girl!”

  Hampton raised his hand. “Now, I cannot allow you to disparage the new Marchioness. Lady Lockwood is my wife’s dear friend, despite her rather frightening disposition. When we meet, it is as if somebody had poured ice down the back of my coat. I am continually reminded of Shakespeare’s though she be but little she is fierce. Still, the lady has forgiven Lockwood for our misstep those many months ago and I am assured she will at some point forgive me, so it must be past debate.”

  “I suppose so,” Hayes admitted. “But for her penchant for insults, I suppose she is a pleasant lady. In any case, you may have fallen, Lockwood may have fallen, but I will not.”

  Hampton leaned back in his chair and contemplated his friend. “The problem with a vow to avoid marrying is that all of us have made it and two of us have already thrown it over. Happily thrown it over, I might add. Though, if it is your intention to avoid the state, then as a friend I wish you luck.”

  “Luck is usually on my side, as so many unfortunate gamblers have discovered. In any case, I am not against the institution of marriage, none of us are. Well, perhaps Dalton is. The rest of us simply have our own reasons for being against it right now.”

  “As was I,” Lord Hampton said, laughing. “And yet, you must still frequent those places where a lady might conquer you. I suppose you have been invited to Lady Blakeley’s dinner?” Hampton asked.

  Hayes nodded. “Yes, of course, and I am glad of it. She is one of the more amusing hostesses.”

  Lord Hampton smiled. “Then, bring all your resolve to avoid the vicar’s noose, as I understand my wife’s latest project will be there and she is said to be remarkably pretty.”

  *

  Lily rose and crossed her aunt’s drawing room. “Lady Hampton,” she said.

  “Lily!” the lady cried. “How well you look. Though, I will scold you mercilessly if you insist on calling me Lady Hampton. We have known each other since we were children scrambling over fences.”

  Lily grasped her friend’s hands. “Cassandra, then,” she said. “I know you still sign your letters such, but I could not be at all sure of the rules of town and whether you might take it amiss for me to dispense with your title.”

  “Goodness, I am still the same girl you ever knew,” Cassandra said laughing.

  Lily was not certain that was altogether true. Yes, Cassandra appeared in her person very like s
he had when last they’d met in Surrey. She looked perhaps the slightest bit more substantial, but that was only an improvement—Cassandra had never been very slender. That was not the real change though. Her friend, her now married friend, had an air about her that was somehow different. More confident, more settled, more content. Though she did not look particularly older, she seemed older.

  “Now,” Cassandra said, “let us talk over everything.”

  They sat themselves down on the velvet settee in a cozy corner while Ranier brought in a tray. Ranier, as all good butlers were wont to do, had donned a particular grave air about him as he laid the tea things for a titled lady.

  He closed the door behind him and Cassandra said, “He seems rather wonderful. He might go toe to toe with my own butler.”

  “He is the kindest fellow alive,” Lily said, “despite his terrible scowl.”

  “Just like Dreyfus, then. A hard crust on the outside, housing an inside of jelly. My darling dog May and my lord’s own mastiff, Havoc, barrel their way round the house as they please. You cannot imagine the delightful one-sided conversations I have overheard between my butler and those dogs. They sit very dutifully as he tells them where they’ve gone wrong. He invariably gives it up and gives them a biscuit when he cannot hold up against their doleful stares.”

  Lily poured the tea and said, “Dear May, she’s a lovely girl. Now, before anything, I must say that you cannot think how much I appreciate all you have done. And the Marchioness of Lockwood and Miss Darlington, too! You know well enough what sort of patched together wardrobe I should have arrived in had I not been so spoiled with presents. Imagine, I do not even know those two ladies!”

  Cassandra smiled and patted her friend’s hand. “I think we have all learned, through my own trial, that we ladies must have a care for one another. Someday, you will be in a position to lend your support to another lady and you will do so.”

  “Of course I will, it would be a pleasure,” Lily said. She flushed and said, “Though it seems fantastical to imagine that I would ever have the means of helping another.”

  “You shall, I am sure of it. You must only meet the gentleman who takes your breath away, as I have met mine.”

  “I wonder who that will be,” Lily said softly. It was an idea she had wondered on quite a lot in recent weeks.

  “That, I cannot know, though I hope the thing is done with far less trouble than I encountered.” Cassandra straightened her skirt, suddenly appearing thoughtful. “Speaking of trouble, I would caution you about some rather highflyers that you will wish to avoid. You already know about the Dukes’ Pact from my own difficulties.”

  “And you would warn me against those gentlemen?” Lily said.

  Cassandra smiled and said, “I know, it seems exceedingly strange, as I have married one and dear Sybil has married another. Nevertheless, I warn you against them as I think the four gentlemen who are left can each be dangerous in their own way. I would not wish to see you hurt, Lily.”

  “I shall avoid them, then. I do not suppose it will be difficult, as I am unlikely to travel in the same circles as those high-flying gentlemen.”

  “Indeed, you will travel in those circles. I have seen to that,” Cassandra said merrily. “I have visited all my friends and they will call on you and you will call on them and the invitations will begin to arrive. As a matter of fact, I believe you and your dear aunt will be invited to Lady Blakeley’s dinner on Tuesday. She was exceedingly kind to me last season and I have since learned there is little the lady likes more than to sponsor some worthy young person. I have got her quite enthusiastic over you.”

  “Goodness,” Lily said, “Lady Blakeley! Even in Surrey she is known to be the first in fashion.”

  “Indeed, though do not attempt to imitate her style, only she can carry off a kimono.” Cassandra said, laughing. “Though I am afraid Lady Blakeley does favor a few of those highflyers I mentioned and so we may encounter them at the dinner. Particularly Lord Ashworth and Lord Cabot.”

  “I will not be daunted over it,” Lily said, chin up. “You do remember Mr. Mignon and his dogged advances? I stepped lightly round them until he finally gave it up. If one of those gentlemen attempted to play with my affections, he should find himself quite unsuccessful.”

  “I am glad to hear it. I will stay in town for another week, and then I am afraid I will be retiring to the country. I wish to see you well on your way to success before I depart.”

  Lily was rather taken aback. She had counted on Cassandra to be nearby throughout this new adventure. “You will not stay for the season? Has Lord Hampton pressing business on his estate?”

  “He will do,” Cassandra said, “though he does not yet know of it. For now, it is only my own pressing business.” She gently laid her hand across her midsection and gave Lily a knowing look.

  “Are you really?” Lily cried, all thought of her own discomfort flown from her. What a ninny she was to have noted Cassandra’s more substantial middle and not have guessed it. “Oh, Cassandra, how wonderful!”

  Before Cassandra could reply, Lily’s aunt came into the room. “Ah, Cassandra, Ranier told me you were here. Oh, I suppose I should call you Lady Hampton but that does seem formal. After all, I have been in the habit of seeing you wail over a scraped knee or weep when you were denied cakes. Dear me, though, I suppose I ought to call you whatever it is you wish. You are quite the grown lady now and I suspect you do not care to be reminded of any wailings or weepings that may have taken place in your youth.”

  Cassandra suppressed her giggles, always vastly amused by Amelia Hemming’s winding thoughts. “Cassandra will do perfectly well for me, my dear Mrs. Hemming. Now, I must be off, but rest assured I have Lily’s season firmly in hand.”

  *

  Lily had thought she’d need to muster her courage as she’d entered Lady Blakeley’s house. After all, the lady and her husband were quite famous. Lord Blakeley was outspoken in the House of Lords, the couple held progressive ideas, and there seemed to be nothing the lady would not dare when it came to her mode of dress. How often had Lily seen a sketch of her in some newspaper or other as she sat by a sunny window at Farnsworth House? In those moments, Lady Blakeley had been tall, exotic and very far away from Lily’s own little sphere. It seemed extraordinary that Lily Farnsworth should find herself in the company of such a woman and she had prepared herself to be overwhelmed.

  And yet, the fine muslin gown she wore, embroidered with delicate gold thread, had instilled some little bit of confidence. Then, there had been Lady Blakeley herself. She was just as tall and graceful as Lily had imagined, and daringly dressed as an ancient Roman in elegant waterfalls of white silk. Her appearance was everything Lily expected—what Lily had not expected was to find the famed London hostess so cordial.

  “Dear Mrs. Hemming,” Lady Blakeley said, “I am honored to receive you. And this must be Miss Farnsworth.”

  Lily curtsied at the introduction.

  “Goodness,” Lady Blakeley said, “Lady Hampton told no tales, I see. Very pretty and even prettier manners.”

  “Oh, yes,” Aunt Amelia said, “my brother’s children are all very pretty. All daughters, you see, so I suppose it is well they are pretty. One never knows what to do with a plain girl. But then, one must eventually do something, otherwise they just hang about the house forever.”

  Lily had begun to become alarmed by her aunt’s speech. While many in her aunt’s circle found Amelia Hemming’s racing thoughts charming, she could not expect the great Lady Blakeley to think so.

  Much to her surprise, the lady’s soft laughter reached her ears. “I see you are a woman of good sense, Mrs. Hemming, with the delightful habit of saying a truth most pretend does not exist.”

  Lily was more than grateful for Lady Blakeley’s kind treatment of her aunt and they had passed on to the drawing room.

  Though she had supposed the house would be all luxury, Lily had not guessed it would be all eccentricity. She had never seen a roo
m like it in all her life.

  The wallpaper was red silk, the pattern of Chinese temples embroidered in gold. The carpet was not of a pattern, but rather the darkest indigo and made one feel as though one might fall through it and into a bottomless pit. The pianoforte was painted white, giving it the illusion of floating over the indigo bottomless pit, and stood next to a marvelous golden instrument that appeared to be a foreign harp of some sort. Perhaps most alarming, there was something standing in a corner that Lily thought might be an Egyptian sarcophagus.

  Aunt Amelia looked in that direction and said, “My goodness, I hope there is not some old and dried up fellow lounging about inside. I should not like to think of him dropping out at an inopportune time. But then I suppose whoever put him in there knew what he was doing and we must trust to that workman’s skill. At least, I would like to think so.”

  Before Lily could comment on whether they might view an Egyptian mummy tumbling out of his casket, Cassandra crossed the crowded drawing room.

  “My dear Lily,” Cassandra said, “you are lovely.”

  “As are you,” Lily said. “I am convinced that marriage suits you.”

  “I thought the very same,” Aunt Amelia said. “I imagine Lord Hampton has been plying you with sweetmeats. Of course, I could be mistaken, it might be tarts for all I know of it. People do have their own preferences.”

  Before Mrs. Hemming could expound further on Lady Hampton’s slightly increased girth, she was blessedly called away by Mr. Jacobs, an old friend she had not seen in some time.

  “I am sorry,” Lily said, “you do know how my aunt says whatever little thing comes to mind.”

  “Indeed,” Cassandra said with a smile, “I have always found it very informative to hear spoken what everyone else must be thinking. I fear I cannot hide my condition much longer.”

  “Does Lord Hampton know?” Lily asked.

  Cassandra looked pensive. “It is hard to say, actually. Though I’ve said nothing, he has suddenly taken to inquiring into my comfort an extraordinary amount. I have barely sat somewhere before he is suggesting a pillow for my head or a throw for my lap—he has become an absolute captain of fire screens. Then, of course, he will have noticed that I have not taken out my horse these past weeks. No more wild rides for Cassandra for the foreseeable future.”