His attention was even now wandering to the card tables. Coldness seeped through her. Had she done something to lose him forever? He’d seemed upset when she’d asked him to leave through the window. Had she wounded his pride? “Jack, perhaps I should tell Featherington about us so we can—”
“Don’t be ridiculous. Would you also tell him about Melkinridge and the others?”
She flushed. “No, of course not. I just think it’s horrid you had to leave in such a manner. It pains me to think of it.”
His eyes darkened, an unknown thought flickering across his face. “It was a bit painful.” A secretive smile touched his lips. “But only at first.”
What did he mean by that? She eyed him narrowly. There was something different about him. What was it? “Jack, did you—”
“Ah, Kincaid!” came a deep voice. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”
Lucinda stiffened as a tall, elegantly dressed man with black hair and blue eyes took her hand in his and pressed a kiss to the back of it. “And the lovely Lady Featherington. How nice to see you.”
Jack nodded, wondering why he found every acquaintance so irksome this evening. “Campbell.”
“Ah, Black Jack! I haven’t seen you in forever.”
Lucinda’s brows rose. “Ah, yes. Black Jack. I wonder how that name came to be?” Her chilled tone indicated that she thought she knew.
Campbell smiled, his gaze never leaving Jack’s. “It’s an old childhood name. One given to him by his own mother when he fought his stepfather down the steps of the stately Kincaid manor.”
“I don’t remember,” Jack said tersely.
Campbell shrugged. “That’s how I remember it, anyway. And the name has stuck over the years, which I find very telling.”
Long ago, Alan Campbell had been a playmate of Jack’s. That had changed when Alan had reached his majority. Determined in his ambition to restore his family to greatness, Campbell became a less and less enjoyable companion. He spent his time gathering properties the way some men collected snuffboxes, stepping on quite a few people along the way.
Campbell bowed to Jack, but his gaze lingered on Lucinda. Jack ignored the look; every man present had a fondness for Lucinda. They could have her; he was discovering that he preferred women more spontaneous in nature.
“You look lovely,” Campbell was saying to her.
She withdrew her hand and placed it on Jack’s sleeve. “How are you this evening, Campbell? I trust you are having a good run of luck.”
The man’s mouth twisted. “Since when did the Campbells ever have any luck? Of course”—he slid a sly glance to Jack—“our luck is nothing compared to the MacLeans’. Jack, you know the MacLean family, don’t you?”
“I know them,” Jack said shortly.
“I thought you might.” Campbell’s gaze dropped to Lucinda’s hand on Jack’s arm. “By the way, Kincaid, I forgot to congratulate you.”
“Congratulate him?” Lucinda looked from Jack to Campbell. “What for?”
“On his marriage, of course.”
Lucinda’s hand convulsively tightened, her nails digging through his sleeve.
Jack sent a cold look at Campbell.
Shock and disbelief warred in Lucinda’s blue eyes. “You’ve married?”
“Yes,” Jack said, seeing her stricken look.Good God, she cares for me. Never would he have believed such a thing. “I am sorry.”
“So am I,” she snapped. She let go of his arm.
“I should have told you sooner, but—”
“Who is she?” Lucinda said in a tight voice.
For some reason, he felt Fiona’s name was not for this place, these people. “It doesn’t matter.”
“What’s wrong, Jack, my friend? Shy?” Campbell flashed a smile at Lucinda. “I believe I can answer your question.”
Jack sent the man a furious glare. The bastard had done enough as it was. Damn! He should have told Lucinda about his marriage the second he stepped through the door. But perhaps this was best—now she was furious with him, thus ending the relationship quickly. Though Campbell thought he was causing Jack problems, he might, in fact, be doing him a great favor.
“The lady’s name is Fiona MacLean,” Campbell said.
“I have never heard of her,” Lucinda said.
Campbell shrugged. “She has been a recluse of sorts.”
Jack eyed Campbell dispassionately. “I didn’t realize my marriage was common knowledge already.”
“I returned this evening from my holdings in Scotland. Since my valet is the brother of the upstairs maid in the MacLean house…” Campbell smiled. “Needless to say, your name was on everyone’s lips. I hear the lady’s brothers are not happy with the elopement.”
Jack sent a quick glance at Lucinda, who stood as if turned to stone, her eyes glitter-hard. Still, she managed to say with credible composure, “Jack, you really must tell us all about the wedding. I am sure it was quite spectacular.”
If she only knew. “It was not fancy.”
Campbell chuckled a bit. “Oh, do not hide your light, my friend! I hear it was quite romantic.” The man leaned toward Lucinda and said in a low voice, “He literally stole the lovely Fiona from beneath her brothers’ noses—quite a feat, indeed.” Campbell’s smile tightened. “Of course, with a woman as lovely as Fiona, who can blame him? I might fight a few dragons myself for someone like her.”
“She’s beautiful, is she?” Lucinda’s voice sounded flat.
Jack frowned at Campbell. “How do you know Fiona?”
Campbell shrugged. “I once worshipped at that altar, long ago. Her brothers offered to remove my head from my shoulders for daring to speak to her when they were not present, though they punished me enough. It rained for two weeks at my home after I left.”
“Rained?” Lucinda frowned.
“Oh, yes. The MacLean family is cursed. They can cause the weather to storm, rain to fall, lightning to strike. Yet they cannot direct it. I drew their ire, hence the rain.”
“I don’t believe in such things,” Lucinda scoffed.
Campbell eyed Jack with a smirk. “Now that I think on it, you look a bit damp yourself, my friend.”
Jaw clenched, Jack met Campbell’s gaze evenly. “I bathed before I came.”
Campbell pursed his lips. “I cannot help but think there is a fortune to be made, if one could discover how to control the curse.”
Jack quirked a brow. “Then it wouldn’t be a curse, and the power would cease to exist.”
“Do you think so? Of course, theyall have to perform their deed.”
“What deed?” Lucinda asked.
“In order to break the curse, all members of a generation must perform a deed of great good. Personally, I cannot see that happening. The lady’s brothers are not the softhearted sort.”
“I find them all quite pleasant,” Jack said with a smile, though he felt like planting his fist in Campbell’s face. “I suppose that’s why I am now a member of the family and not you.”
Campbell stiffened. “Had I known the lady could have been persuaded to ride to the anvil, I might have been more insistent.”
The thought burned through Jack, though he knew better than to show his anger. “I will tell my lovely wife you said so. I am certain it will amuse her no end.”
Campbell took a step forward, then caught himself, forcing out a laugh. “I am certain she will. Of course, she has not had time yet to realize what aprize she has gained in her husband, has she? She will learn soon enough.” Campbell’s gaze narrowed. “Has she met the lovely Lucinda? Or are you saving that surprise for a later date?”
“Campbell!” Lucinda said, her color high. “That is quite enough.”
Jack was suddenly tired of it. He used to think innuendo and flirtation the spice of life; now it all seemed insipid and tiring.
He turned to Lucinda. “I believe I’ll join the faro table. There is an open seat.” He bowed to her, then nodded to Campbell. “Good evening.”
/>
For the next few hours, he played without cease, tossing back glass after glass of brandy. Lucinda watched him from the other side of the room, but he didn’t care. They were finished.
Campbell was a more visible irritant. He joined the table next to Jack’s, talking behind his hand to the gentlemen on his right and left, glancing frequently at Jack.
The details of Jack’s marriage would be all over town tomorrow, damn it, along with the story of Fiona’s “abilities.” While no one would believe it, they would unconsciously be on the lookout for signs.
What a bloody mess. If he kept Fiona in seclusion, the rumors would only grow. The only answer was to present her to society quickly, and make her known. Which meant he would have to attend all the boring, bland affairs he studiously avoided.
Damn it all. He was just beginning to realize how much his lifehad changed.
The bright sunlight awakened Fiona, and she opened her eyes to an unfamiliar room. Ah, yes. She was in London. With Jack.
But the bed was empty. She sat up uncertainly and looked at the clock. Nine o’clock. And no Jack.
Blast him. She threw aside the cover and scooted to the edge of the bed. The movement tickled her aching muscles, reminding her of how heavenly making love with him had been.
She swung her feet over the edge of the bed, hugging a pillow to herself. Heavenly.
Now she had to face the other realities of her marriage, namely her absent husband.
“This will not do,” Fiona announced. “I did not come to London to sleep by myself.”
She slid from the bed, her bare feet sinking into the thick rug. Her clothes lay on the floor, a puddle of muslin and silks topped with her boots. She scrunched her nose; if she put her gown back on, it would be a wrinkled mess. Still, she had little choice. She gathered her clothes and went to the washbasin on a stand in the corner. She washed as well as she could and dressed, then put up her hair.
She crossed to the door and flung it open, then stood, listening, trying to discern where she might find some breakfast.
She could hear the rumble of carriages outside, the shout of a coachman, dogs barking, vendors shouting their wares—all the normal street noises of a city. She also caught the faint murmur of voices inside and came out onto the landing, smoothing her gown as best she could.
She had just taken the first step down when a plump lady dressed in the neat gray and white of a housekeeper came into the foyer below. Fiona recognized her from the night before and said, “Good morning.”
The woman stopped dead in her tracks, her face instantly folding into disapproval.
Fiona paused. She had done nothing to merit such a look. It was almost as if the woman—
Realization dawned. Jack hadn’t introduced her to the servants when they’d arrived last night; he’d carried her into the house and straight upstairs to his room. They must all think she was a ladybird.
Fiona’s hands fisted at her sides. Blast Jack for leaving her alone! Well, she’d just have to deal with it herself.
Head held high, Fiona descended the stairs. She nodded pleasantly to the housekeeper. “I am looking for Lord Kincaid.”
The woman’s chin lifted. “If he didn’t tell you where he was going, then ’tis none of your concern.”
Fiona’s back stiffened. “I beg your pardon, but itis indeed my concern. He is my husband.”
The housekeeper gawked.“What?”
Fiona didn’t think she could have shocked the woman more if she’d announced she had just grown another head. “I am Lady Kincaid.”
A door at one side of the foyer opened, and a tall man emerged from a side room, a neat swath of linen folded over his arm. “Mrs. Tarlington, I believe this is—” He stopped when he caught sight of Fiona. “Oh, I am sorry. I did not see—forgive me, Miss—?”
“Lady Kincaid.”
The butler blinked, then bowed. “Good morning, my lady. I am Devonsgate, his lordship’s butler.”
“It is a pleasure to meet you,” Fiona said. “I am looking for his lordship. Do you know where he might be?”
Mrs. Tarlington sniffed but didn’t say anything more.
Fiona gave the plump housekeeper a stern look before turning back to the butler. “His lordship went out last night shortly after we arrived. I thought he would be home before now, but he is not. Unless he is taking breakfast?”
The butler cleared his throat. “His lordship doesn’t take breakfast. At least, not before noon, and only if he arrives home in time, which he didn’t.”
“I see,” Fiona said.
“Yes, my lady. It is not unusual for his lordship to stay out all night.”
That would have to change; she could not imagine that such behavior was healthy.
She frowned, catching sight of herself in one of the large mirrors that flanked the hallway. Her gown was hideously wrinkled, her hair barely contained with her few pins, her face flushed. It dawned on her that the gown she wore was the only one she possessed.
She turned her gaze to the butler. “Before he left, did his lordship make any arrangements for me?”
“No, my lady. He just called for his carriage and left.” The butler gave her an apologetic look. “Usually when his lordship has aguest, he will tell us she is not to be disturbed and to see to it that she arrives home safely. He did not make such a request in your case.”
“Mrs. Tarlington, please send a bath to my chambers and have someone come help me with my hair and gown. I was forced to leave my home in a hurry and did not bring anything else with me, so I shall need to have this gown cleaned and pressed.”
The housekeeper’s lips thinned, but Fiona turned to the butler. “Devonsgate, please send a tray to my room. Just tea and toast will do.”
“Yes, madam. Will there be anything else?”
“Yes. I wish to send a note to his lordship. Do you know where he might be?”
The butler’s expression froze. “I might be able to locate him,” he said cautiously.
“Excellent. Pray send him this message. Tell Lord Kincaid that hiswife wishes him to come home, and if he does not make an effort to do so soon, she will come and fetch him.”
Devonsgate paled, but for the first time, Mrs. Tarlington’s wide mouth split in a reluctant grin.
Fiona turned back to the stairs. “I shall expect the bath and the maid immediately. Breakfast can wait until after that.” She paused, one foot on the bottom step. “Actually, make that breakfast for two. I am certain his lordship will waste no time in returning home.”
Thatshould set a precedent of no small order. Feeling better, Fiona walked briskly up the steps.
Mrs. Tarlington said, “Well, I’ll be! His lordship has a wife!”
Devonsgate stared up the stairway after Fiona, his mouth agape.
Chapter Eight
Don’t think the MacLean was not affected as well. He was. He took one look at the White Witch, and he tumbled head over heels. MacLeans are like that, ye know. They only love once, but och! What a love that is!
OLDWOMANNORA OFLOCHLOMOND
TO HER THREE WEE GRANDDAUGHTERS ONE COLD NIGHT
“My lord?”
Jack looked up at a footman who seemed to have appeared out of nowhere. “Yes?”
“My lord, I have a message for you.” The footman glanced about the table, then back to Jack. “Animportant message.”
Jack blinked blearily around the room, noting with faint surprise that the company had greatly thinned.
“What time is it?” he asked.
“It is almost ten o’clock, sir.”
Jack squinted at him again and recognized the livery. “You’re one ofmy fellows?”
The footman gave a sigh of relief. “Yes, my lord.”
“Well, then, what’s the message?”
The footman again glanced at the other gentlemen, then bent near Jack’s ear. “It’s aprivate message, my lord.”
“Ah!” said the duke of Devonshire, filling his and Jack’s brandy s
nifters again. “Aprivate message, is it? Then by all means, tell it!”
The footman looked pleadingly at Jack. “Perhaps we could retire to the hall?”
“Hell, no,” Jack said. “I’m winning!”