It had been several days since he’d seen her—days filled with belatedly responding in the affirmative to the invitation Lady Rosalie had sent out weeks ago for her house party, while contriving to have her also send an invite to Father, and one to Lady Quick and daughter—and the thought of touching Caroline again was becoming all consuming.
It had only gotten worse since their walk in the park, when he’d learned so much more about her and her outrageous plans.Now she was all he could think about.
The memory of her eager response intruded upon his breakfast.The ghost sensation of the clutch of her fingers in his hair plagued him in the bath.The idea of how he might draw down the top of her dress next time, revealing the creamy swells of her breasts, came upon him so suddenly while his valet was dressing him that Fitz had to excuse himself to the privy to deal with his cockstand before he embarrassed the poor man into giving notice.
This fixation upon Miss Caroline Quick was rapidly becoming a problem.Probably because she’d kissed him once with all the innocent passion of a nymph cavorting in the woodland, and then said they mustn’t do it again.
He was only fixated because he hadn’t had her yet.Fitz reasoned that the only way out was in—he would have her, at least enough of her to sate this craving, and then it would be over.Their parents would wed and Father would be too busy with his new bride to bother about Fitz, who would go back to his normal life of carefree dissipation.And Caroline would go back to…whatever it was she was so intent upon doing.
Away from England.
Fitz realized he was scowling and attempted to smooth his features.He didn’t wish to confront why the thought of Miss Caroline Quick leaving the country made him want to howl in protest.
Fitz snuck a glance at his father, hoping for a bit of distraction from his troubling thoughts.But having secured, again, the promise that the ladies Quick would also be attending Lady Rosalie’s country house party, Lord Alfred had subsided back to his brooding stare out the window.
The brooding lasted through the final miles of the drive out to Thornecliff, Fitz’s friend’s enormous ancestral estate nestled in the pastoral idyll of one of the prettiest counties in England.When they alighted from the chaise, they were greeted at once by a phalanx of extremely efficient servants who whisked their luggage and their travel-weary selves up to their rooms to rest before dinner.
If Lord Alfred was startled by the discreet perfection of Thorne’s servants, Fitz was not.He knew how well his friend paid them for that discretion, and how much more their perfection was usually tasked.A simple house party without Thorne in residence would be a relatively sedate affair compared to the chaos these worthy individuals were used to.
Avery, Fitz’s valet, appeared on silent feet bearing a washbasin of hot water and a razor.While he shaved two days’ worth of road grit from his master’s face, he related all the choicest tidbits of gossip from belowstairs.
“Most of the guests have arrived for the week.”Avery carefully wiped away the excess soap and cast a critical eye over his work.“It’ll be Lady Rosalie and Lady Lavinia, inseparable as usual.Neither of their husbands appear to have been included in the party.The Honorable Thomas Spottswood, Lord and Lady Kildare and Lord Weatherby, of course.Mrs.Bingham is here, as Lady Kildare’s particular friend.Mr.Francis Mowbray, recently returned from Italy.Sir Anthony brought his latest mistress and is passing her off as his son’s governess, but since since his son is not in attendance and her last job was dancing in the chorus at the Belle Dame, there is every likelihood she will be recognized before the first dinner is over.I took the liberty of placing a small wager on your lordship’s behalf; the odds were such that I felt confident you would not wish to lose the opportunity.”
“You are a marvel, Avery, as always,” Fitz replied absently, pulling on his white dress shirt.“Anyone else?”
Fitz could not understand why his blood was surging in his ears.He felt as he did at the start of a hunt, when the horses were stamping and blowing in the crisp pre-dawn light and every sinew was drawn taut, ready to spring to the chase.
“Lady Gemma Lively was originally invited,” Avery said, gathering up the shaving things and turning his attention to the arranging of Fitz’s cravat.“But after everything that happened after the loss of her father…”
“Oh, quite.Poor Gem.That reminds me, I haven’t heard from her in an age.And…is that the entire party?”
“There are a mother and daughter, sir, who have been living abroad.No one seems to know much about them, or why they are here.I can tell you their maids are from London, from the household of the older lady’s mother, a Lady Agnew.Lady Quick and her daughter seem to have traveled to London from parts unknown, entirely unaccompanied by servants!”
The undisguised horror in Avery’s voice made Fitz laugh.“I vow you are more scandalized by that little detail than by anything else you’ve seen in my employ—and that is saying something.”
“Certainly not, sir,” Avery sniffed, his dignity affronted.“It’s not my place to pass comment, of course.”
“But if a comment were to slip out…”
“I would say that the word belowstairs is that Lady Quick seems all that is amiable and pleasant, while the daughter is a bit odd.She brought an entire trunk full of books.Books!”
“Perhaps she enjoys reading.”
“I certainly hope so.I helped Paul carry the case up to her chamber and nearly broke my back.”
“Ah.Then you know which room is hers?”
Avery’s gaze sharpened.He’d been with Fitz a long time, long enough that it was hard to get anything past him.Fitz had basically stopped trying.“I do, sir.I should mention that the other word on Miss Quick is that she’s young, pretty, and very innocent.”
“As it happens, I knew that already.And you need not look at me like that, Avery, I do not plan to despoil Miss Quick.When have you ever known me to have anything to do with innocents?Miss Quick and I are embroiled in an intrigue, and I may as well tell you all now in case we have need of your particular talents later.”
Avery could be very useful when called upon, and Fitz knew he would be particularly motivated in this case.Being the gentleman’s gentleman to a wealthy, freewheeling bachelor suited Avery very well.There was no guarantee that a new wife chosen by his master’s father, with all that entailed of a new household and new servants and new rules, would be as much to Avery’s taste.
He inclined his head in perfect obedience.“I am at your lordship’s service, as always.”
* * *
“I still don’t understand what we’re doing here,” Mama fretted as they made their way down the massive front staircase and attempted to locate the parlor where the party was gathering before supper.
