On A Wicked Dawn

  She opened her lips to airily dismiss such details, then hesitated.

  He noted it; his gaze traveled her face, then, lips twitching, he faced forward. “Indeed. There are the families’ expectations—both yours and mine—to satisfy. Let alone society’s.”

  “No—society’s expectations we need not regard. Neither you nor I need do so, not with our age and standing, and at this stage of the year, so late in the Season, the ton will accept our wish to marry quietly.”

  He inclined his head. “So what have you been planning?”

  Although even, his tone warned her there was no point pretending she didn’t have it all worked out. “I’d thought, if you’re agreeable, to be married at Somersham.”

  His brows rose. “In the old church, or the chapel?”

  He’d visited often enough to know Devil’s principal estate. “The church—that’s where most Cynsters have been married. Old Mr. Merryweather—do you remember him? Devil’s chaplin?—he’s rather ancient, but I’m sure he’d be delighted to officiate. And, of course, all the staff there are used to managing that sort of gathering—they’ve had plenty of experience.”

  He glanced at her. “But not, I imagine, at such short notice.”

  “Honoria will cope, I’m sure.” She ignored the suggestion, heavy in his manner, that Honoria might be holding herself—and her staff—in readiness. “So the ceremony, the wedding breakfast, and my gown are easy to arrange.”

  He looked back to his horses. “The invitations?”

  “I’m sure your mama will already have given the matter some thought. She’s hardly blind.”

  “And your mother?”

  “Likewise.” She glanced at him, but he didn’t meet her eye. “Four days is the minimum if we send the invitations by messenger.”

  “Today’s Thursday. . . .” After a moment, he glanced at her. “How about next Wednesday?”

  She considered, then nodded. “Yes—that will give us an extra day or two . . .” She paused, then looked at him. “We’ll have to make some announcement.” When he merely nodded, his gaze on the road, she inwardly grimaced and broached the one hurdle she could see. “We’ll have to be prepared, when we speak with my father, to explain the matter of your funds.”

  The glance he threw her was so swift, she didn’t catch it; his leader jibbed, and he had to pay attention to the reins.

  She drew breath and forged on, “If it was just my father, that would be easy enough, but there’s also my cousins—Devil and the others. They’ll check, I’m sure, and they’ve all sorts of contacts . . . we’ll need to be prepared to defend our case, even though I’m quite sure they’ll all agree in the end. But if they do become difficult, there’s no reason, within the family, that we can’t make it plain that we’ve been intimate. It’s hardly likely to shock them after all, but it will force them to see that we’re in earnest and quite committed, and . . . well, you know what I mean.”

  Luc didn’t look her way; she could tell nothing from his profile, his expression was as impassive as ever. “In birth, title, and estate, you’re precisely the sort of gentleman they always wanted us—me and Amanda—to marry. The fact that your current funds are low is not significant, given the size of my dowry.”

  She’d said all she dared, all she felt she must. Biting her lower lip, she considered his stony profile, then concluded, “They may grumble at first, but as long as we make it perfectly plain we’re determined to wed, they’ll agree.”

  His chest swelled as he drew in a breath. “We said Wednesday.” He looked at her, his eyes narrow, his gaze hard. “I want you to promise by all you hold holy that you will say nothing to anyone about our engagement until I give you leave.”

  She stared at him. “Why? I thought we agreed—“

  “We have. That’s definite.” He glanced at the road, then back at her. “I want to put some arrangements of my own in place first.”

  She blinked, but could understand . . . she nodded. “Very well—but if we’re set on Wednesday, then how long will it be before we’re free to speak?”

  He flicked the reins; the greys lengthened their stride. He glanced at the sky. “Impossible to do anything tonight. It’ll have to be tomorrow.” He glanced briefly at her. “I’ll do what I need to do, then I’ll call on you tomorrow afternoon.”

  “What time?”

  His lips set. “I don’t know. If you go out, leave a message—I’ll find you.”

  She hesitated. “All right.”

  A minute passed, then he looked at her, met her gaze. “Believe me, it’s necessary.”

  There was something in his eyes, some trace of awkwardness, a tinge of vulnerability, that made her reach out, lay her palm on his cheek, then stretch up and touch her lips to his.

  He had to glance at his horses the instant their lips parted, but he caught hold of her hand, then, reassured as to the greys, raised it to his lips and placed a kiss in her palm. He curled her fingers as if to seal the kiss in; his fingers about hers, he held her fist for a moment, then released her.

  “Tomorrow afternoon. Wherever you are, I’ll find you.”

  He should have told her. By all the tenets of acceptable behavior, he should have spoken, and explained he wasn’t the pauper she thought him.

  The next morning, as he descended the front steps of his house and set out for Upper Brook Street, Luc faced the unpalatable fact that the tenets of acceptable behavior did not extend to Amelia’s reaction. Without a cast-iron guarantee that she would still agree to be his bride once she’d learned the truth, he wasn’t about to offer it.

  Indeed, after their sojourn at Hightham Hall, he was even more wary of rocking their rowboat at this point in time, of giving her any excuse to balk or back away from the altar. One afternoon and one night had altered his perspective; where before he’d thought her desirable, very likely the right lady for him, after those two interludes, he knew.

  He was absolutely adamantly set against giving her any chance of escaping him. Of doing anything other than becoming his wife.

  On Wednesday next.

  After that, he’d have plenty of time in which to find the right moment to tell her the truth.

  Assuming she ever truly needed to know.

  That last phrase whispered through his brain; he thrust it aside, refused to dwell on it, knowing it for the coward’s way out.

  He wasn’t a coward—he would tell her, one day. Once she loved him, she’d understand and forgive him; that’s what love was all about, wasn’t it? All he had to do was encourage it in her, and all eventually would be well.

  Reaching the front steps of Number 12 Upper Brook Street, he glanced up at the door, then determinedly climbed to the porch and rang the bell.

  He’d sent a message earlier; Lord Arthur Cynster, Amelia’s father, was expecting him.

  “Come in, my boy.” Arthur rose from the chair behind the desk in his library and held out his hand.

  Going forward, Luc shook it. “Thank you for seeing me on such short notice, sir.”

  Arthur humphed. “I’d be given short shrift if I hadn’t.” Blue eyes twinkling, he waved Luc to a chair beside the desk. “Sit down.” Resuming his seat, Arthur grinned. “What can I do for you?”

  Luc returned his smile easily. “I’ve come to ask for Amelia’s hand.”

  That—getting out the words he’d never thought to say—was the easy part. Arthur beamed, and said the expected things; he’d known Luc from childhood and viewed him from a position similar to that of a distant uncle.

  Amelia’s wish to marry at Somersham Place the next Wednesday—“That’s her choice, and I’m happy to indulge her”—had Arthur’s brows rising, but he accepted his daughter’s stubbornness without a blink.

  They eventually got to the financial aspects.

  Luc drew a folded letter from his pocket. “I asked Robert Child for a declaration, in case you’d heard any rumors that the current position of the Calvertons had been adversely impacted by my father’s a
ctivities.”

  Arthur blinked, but accepted the document, opened it and read. His brows rose. “Well, my word. No need to worry on that score.” Refolding the letter, he held it out to Luc. “Not that I’d expected to.”

  Luc reached for the letter; Arthur didn’t immediately let go. Luc met his gaze—very blue, very worldly—over the document.

  “I didn’t imagine you had any financial worries, Luc. Why, then, this letter?”

  Arthur released it and sat back, waiting, patient and paternal. It had been sometime since Luc had faced such an interview.

  He knew better than to lie—wouldn’t have done it anyway. “I . . .” He blinked, then steeled himself. “The fact is Amelia imagines I’m very much less wealthy than I am. In short, she thinks her dowry plays a part, indeed, is significant, in cementing our union.”

  Arthur’s brows had risen high. “But that’s clearly not so.”

  There was a smile—a definite smile—flirting at the corner of his future father-in-law’s lips; Luc felt the ground firm beneath his feet. “Indeed. However, I don’t, at this juncture, wish to . . . rattle her with that revelation.”

  Leaning back, he gestured to the paper lying folded on his knee. “She’ll court no danger of penury by marrying me, but you know what she—indeed, ladies generally—are like. We came to our understanding unexpectedly and rapidly—there wasn’t a suitable moment, earlier, to correct her misapprehension. Now . . . as she wishes to marry so soon, I would prefer not to broach the matter at this time—“

  “On the grounds that she’s likely to dig in her heels, insist on reexamining every last detail, and generally make your life a misery because she misunderstood, and very likely not agree to marry in June, and subsequently hold the fact against you for the rest of your days?”

  He hadn’t followed the outcome quite that far; it was no difficulty to look aggrieved. “In a nutshell, yes. So you see the problem.”

  “Oh, indeed.” The twinkle in Arthur’s eyes suggested he saw more than Luc would wish, but was prepared to be understanding. “So how do you see us proceeding?”

  “I was hoping you would consent to keep the matter of my wealth in confidence, at least until I’ve had a chance to break the news to her.”

  Arthur pondered, then nodded. “Given we’re concealing wealth rather than the lack of it, and given it’s in her own interests in the sense of the timing, I can see no reason to refuse. The only problem I foresee is the settlements. She’ll see the figures when she signs.”

  “Indeed, but I would suggest that, with your agreement, there’s no reason the figures she sees can’t be percentages.”

  Arthur considered, then slowly nodded. “No reason at all we can’t do it that way.”

  Arthur heard the front door shut behind Luc. Relaxing in his chair, he fixed his gaze on the clock on the mantelpiece. Less than a minute had elapsed when the door to the library opened and Louise entered, bright-eyed and eager.

  “Well?” She came around the desk to perch on the edge, facing him. “What did Luc want?”

  Arthur grinned. “Precisely what you told me he’d want. They’ve apparently set the date for next Wednesday, if we’re willing.”

  “Wednesday?” Louise blinked. “Drat the girl—why didn’t she mention that this morning?”

  “It’s possible Luc might not have wished to have his thunder stolen.”

  “Most men prefer to have the way paved.”

  “Not all men, and I wouldn’t include Luc in that category.”

  Louise paused, then nodded. “Indeed. That’s to his credit.” She fixed her gaze on Arthur. “So everything’s settled, all is in order, and you’re satisfied he’s the right man for Amelia?”

  His gaze drifting to the door, Arthur smiled. “I have absolutely no reservations whatsoever.”

  Louise studied his smile, then narrowed her eyes. “What? There’s something you’re not telling me.”

  Arthur’s gaze shifted to her face; his grin widened. “There’s nothing you need know.” Reaching out, he caught her by the waist and drew her onto his lap. “I’m just delighted that there’s demonstrably more to what’s between them than simple lust—and that’s how it should be.”

  “More than just lust?” Louise looked into his eyes, her own gently smiling. “Are you sure?”

  Arthur drew her lips to his. “You taught me well enough to recognize the signs—Luc’s chin deep in love, and the intriguing thing is, he knows it.”

  On gaining the pavement, Luc checked his watch, then, somewhat grimly, set out for his next appointment. Grosvenor Square lay at the end of Upper Brook Street; he was admitted to the mansion midway along the north side by a majestic figure.

  “Good morning, Webster.”

  “My lord.” Webster bowed. “His Grace is expecting you. If you’ll come this way.”

  Webster led him to Devil’s study and opened the door. “Lord Calverton, Your Grace.”

  Luc walked in. Devil rose from a chair by the fireplace. Although they knew each other reasonably well, their acquaintance stemmed from their families’ social closeness, from moving in the same circle. Devil, his brother and cousins—the six who’d formed the legendary group known as the Bar Cynster—were all older than Luc by several years.

  As Luc joined him, Devil grinned. “I hope you’ve no objection to talking before my daughter?”

  Shaking Devil’s hand, Luc looked down at the moppet, dark curls jouncing as she bounced on the rug before the hearth, huge pale green eyes shifting from his face to her sire’s and back again. Taking the wooden cube she was chewing from her mouth, Lady Louisa Cynster favored him with a huge smile.

  Luc laughed. “No, not at all. I can see that she’ll be discreet.”

  One of Devil’s dark brows quirked; he resumed his seat, waving Luc to the chair opposite. “Will discretion be required?”

  “In part, yes.” Luc met Devil’s gaze. “I’ve just come from Upper Brook Street. Arthur has consented to a match between myself and Amelia.”

  Devil inclined his head. “Congratulations.”

  “Thank you.”

  Luc hesitated; Devil prompted, “I take it that isn’t why you’re here?”

  Luc met his gaze. “Not precisely. I came to request that neither you nor any other of Amelia’s cousins mention to her just how wealthy I am.”

  Devil blinked. “You recently landed a windfall—Gabriel checked. He was jealous. In fact, he proposed that, if the breeze did blow that way and you became one of the family, that he should conscript you, and Dexter, too, into the business.”

  Luc knew which business Devil was referring to; the Cynsters ran a combined investment fund rumored to be fabulously successful. He inclined his head. “I’d be happy to consult, if Gabriel wished it.”

  Devil eyed him shrewdly. “So what’s the rub?”

  Luc explained, much as he had with Arthur; Devil, however, was less easygoing than his uncle.

  “Do you mean she thinks you’re marrying her for her dowry?”

  Luc hesitated. “I doubt she thinks I’m marrying her only for that.”

  Devil’s eyes narrowed even more; he sat back in the chair, his gaze unrelenting. Luc met it without flinching.

  “When are you going to tell her?”

  “After the wedding—when we’re at Calverton Chase and things have settled into some semblance of normality.”

  Devil thought long and hard. Louisa, as if sensing her father’s disaffection, crawled to him, grabbed hold of the tassel trim of one large boot, and hauled herself up, waving and batting her block. Distracted, Devil lifted her onto his lap where she sat propped against his chest, green eyes wide, the block once more in her mouth.

  Devil leaned back. “I’ll agree not to say anything, and warn the others not to queer your pitch on one condition. I want your assurance that you will definitely tell her—specifically, in words—before you and she return to town in the autumn.”

  Luc raised his brows. “Specifically, in
words . . .” He turned the phrases—with the particular emphasis Devil had given them—over in his mind. Realized just what Devil meant. His expression hardened. “You mean . . .”—he spoke softly, distinctly—“that you expect me to declare myself—to her—before we return to town?”

  Devil held his gaze—and nodded.

  Luc felt his temper rise—felt trapped, caught, not just by Devil, but by fate.

  As if sensing his thoughts, Devil murmured, “All’s fair in love as well as war.”

  Luc allowed one brow to rise. “Indeed? Then perhaps you can advise me—how did you tell Honoria?”

  Silence greeted the question—a stab in the dark, but Luc sensed he’d struck true. Devil’s gaze didn’t waver from his, yet he couldn’t tell what was going on in the mind behind the eyes.

  Sensing the clash between her father and him, Louisa squirmed around to stare up at Devil’s face, then she looked across at him, her block firm between her pudgy hands, lips parted as those huge eyes searched his face. Then she flopped back, with force, and pointed her block at him.

  “Dgoo!”

  It sounded very like “Do!”—a dictate handed down by some imperious empress. Startled, Devil glanced down, a grin dawning.

  She turned her head, pointed the block at him, frowned direfully and repeated her stern order. “Dgoo!”

  It came out with even greater force—as if to underscore that, Louisa repeated it, then grabbed her block with both hands, wedged a corner into her mouth, and, with every sign of dismissing them—mere ignorant males—from her mind, settled her cheek against Devil’s waistcoat and chewed, and pondered other things.

  At less than one year old, there was absolutely no possibility she could have understood any of what they’d said. Yet when Devil raised his head and met his gaze, Luc widened his eyes in instinctive fellow feeling.

  The tension, the battle of wills, that had raged, restrained but nonetheless real, between them moments before, had evaporated, replaced by a wary sense of unease.

  Luc broke the ensuing silence. “I’ll try to do as you ask . . .”—he drew breath—“but I won’t promise, at least not as to when.”

  They were talking about a declaration, not of financial status, but of emotional reality—a reality neither of them, it seemed, had yet put into words. Almost certainly for the same reason. Neither of them wished openly to acknowledge the vulnerability they both knew to be fact—and in both their cases, there was no one, in truth, who could force them to it.