Prologue
May,1812, London
Miss Diana Vailpinched her cheeks to bring more color, smoothed the few wrinkles from her lilac gown and did a turn before the mirror to make certain all was in place before she exited the retiring room. With each step, she became giddier for she was to meet James Bryant, the Earl of Somerton, in the gardens behind the Hearne grand ballroom.
“James,” she sighed to herself. She called him James and he called her Diana, though never in front of others, as it simply wasn’t done. Soon, that wouldn’t matter, or at least she hoped, as he’d been courting her nearly all Season. It wasn’t yet an official courtship, but only because her half-brother, Viscount Lynwood, was not in London to grant permission. Regardless, James may not have said the words but after the kisses and caresses they’d shared the night before in Vauxhall, she was confident a betrothal was in her future.
To think Diana had dreaded this Season. She was four and twenty, no longer fresh from the schoolroom and feared she might eventually land on the shelf. Instead, she’d met James, he’d courted her, and Diana had fallen in love, ready to secretly meet him.
“What do you think Somerton is about?”
Diana paused just outside the door leading to the card room.
“Since I’ve known him, he’s vowed that ‘if Noah could become a father at the age of five hundred, then I can surely wait to begin producing offspring until age forty’.” The quote was said by several gentlemen, and in unison, as if they knew it by heart.
Diana stepped away from the entrance to keep from being seen, taking care that her shadow would not cast across the entrance so as to give her away. However, she remained close enough to hear what was being said.
“His mother is pressing him to marry and has been encouraging young women to make his acquaintance since the beginning of the Season,” one gentleman said. “I assume Somerton simply picked Miss Vail to court so that the others, and his mother, would leave him be.”
Diana grabbed the wall for support. What they were saying couldn’t possibly be true.
“I’d wager that Somerton does not become betrothed until the time he set for himself,” someone else declared. “Does anyone wish to wager against me?”
Diana couldn’t make out the mumblings, but it was clear that no one was willing to take the bet.
Was it true? Did James have no intention of asking for her hand? Was she simply someone to be used during the Season so he was not bothered by others?
“Though I will wager that he’ll bed her mother before the Season is through.”
Diana’s mouth popped open. Not that she was shocked by her mother’s reputation. It was well known that she enjoyed her lovers since becoming a widow, and it was quite embarrassing. However, Diana couldn’t imagine thatJameswould be one of those men. He was soon to be seven and twenty and her mother was five and forty, far too old to be taking lovers to her bed, especially ones that were young enough to be her son.
“Lady Lynwood does eye Somerton like a cat approaching a bowl of cream.”
Heat scorched Diana’s cheeks at their raucous laughter.
“I’m afraid the time for that wager has already passed,” someone said. “Just the other day I heard Lady Lynwood telling my mother over tea that Somerton was the best lover she’d ever enjoyed.”
This could not be! James had not bedded her mother! He couldn’t have.
Darkness began to seep into her vision, but Diana forced it away.
“Perhaps Somerton isn’t courting Miss Vail to discourage other misses,” someone offered.
“What do you mean?” another asked.
“I saw the two exit the dark walk last night. By the loose curls and the smile upon Miss Vail’s face, one must wonder if Somerton wanted to experience a younger version of the mother. And perhaps the daughter is more like the mother than any of us realized.”
Mortification settled into Diana’s bones.
The kisses and caresses she’d allowed last night came back to her in a flash. She’d allowed liberties that no miss should, but she’d believed his intentions honorable. Further, Diana had thought James was as much in love with her as she was with him, even if he hadn’t spoken the words.
“Nothing more will come of their association once the Season comes to an end, as I heard Lady Somerton will never accept Miss Vail as a potential bride for her son, which makes one wonder what Somerton is truly about,” someone else insisted. “Is it to discourage others? Or, to prove to his mother that she doesn’t have control over his life? Or did he wish to learn if Miss Vail was as free with her affections as her mother? Possibly all three?”
Others in the room laughed and Diana wanted to die of humiliation.
Had he just been toying with her affection? A slow seduction until he finally gained from her what he apparently had gotten from her mother? He had tried last night, but when he attempted to pull at her skirts, she’d stopped him.
Diana’s stomach clenched and she put a hand over her mouth for fear that she’d toss up her accounts. Thank Heavens she had learned the truth before it was too late. However, she fully intended to give James…the Earl of Somerton, a seething set down before she removed him from her life.
