“I’ve had many requests from Hawke over the years. Never one involving a woman. May I ask how you’re acquainted?”
Daphne took a fortifying sip of sherry. “He came to Lord Templeton’s ball to ruin me, so my father would have cause to call him out.”
The evening had not gone entirely to plan.
Lady Soanes’ gaze dipped to her lips. “Did he succeed?”
She told the story from the beginning. Soon, all of London would be able to recite it verbatim. “A dance was all he intended.”
“Dance with a devil and you’ll burn on a pyre.”
“I confess, I did more than stir the embers.”
“You did? How intriguing.”
She explained her father’s devious plan to see her wed. “I let myself stumble into Mr Hawke’s arms as the waltz ended, then kissed him.”
The lady tightened her grip on her glass. “You kissed Dominic Hawke? Before a room full of people? Without his permission?”
“What else could I do? I need Mr Irving to withdraw his suit.”
Lady Soanes shook her head. “It will take a little more than a kiss in a ballroom. My dear, your father needs money. Desperately so, from what I hear. Mr Irving needs heirs to prevent his brother from taking control of the family business. He won’t care about gossip. He means to emigrate to India.”
Yes, and he intended to secure an heir before the ink on the register dried.
“Could I not pretend to carry Mr Hawke’s child?” Desperate times called for desperate measures. And things were already spiralling out of control. “After tonight, no one would doubt it.”
Lady Soanes’s eyes widened in alarm. “Good God, no.Have the ton believe he left you with child and turned his back on it? Hawke would never allow it.”
“But everyone believes he’s a rotten scoundrel.”
“And he is. Ruthless to the core. But he has principles.”
“Forgive me if I fail to see them.”
Lady Soanes glanced at the scrap of paper in Daphne’s hand. “You have the proof of it there. May I see the note Hawke left?”
“Of course. That’s why I came.” She handed Lady Soanes the letter, written in the intimate tone of a lover.
The lady read it, glanced up and arched a brow. “Angel?”
“That’s what Mr Hawke called me when we danced. Andmouse. Though I imagine he thinks me a tiger after the way I pounced.”
Lady Soanes laughed, her green eyes bright with wicked delight. “What an interesting creature you are, Miss Harland.”
“I’m glad you think so, my lady.”
Interesting was better than useless or ungrateful.
“Yes, you’re wasted on the men of the ton.”
It was said Lady Soanes had once ruled the ton without a title or a husband. If anyone could teach her how to wield ruin as a weapon, it was her.
Scandal or no, she had no intention of marrying.
“My options are rather limited.” She hated how calmly she could say it now. “The wax had scarcely cooled on the note when Lord Templeton made me a scandalous offer.”
Lady Soanes muttered something decidedly unladylike under her breath. “I trust you refused him. The man hasn’t a shred of decency. Does Hawke know?”
