Lavinia may have been beautiful. But her beauty was frail and cold, like moonlight. Whereas Joanna was as vibrant as the sun.
And he knew which he preferred.
“What are you doing here, Lavinia?” he asked shortly. “You’re a long way from Grosvenor Square.”
“I came to do some shopping.” She patted the box she’d tucked into the crook of her arm. “And to see how an old friend is doing. Howareyou doing, darling? I hope you don’t mind me saying so, but you look a little tired. Work keeping you up late?”
He gritted his teeth. “We are not friends. And my work is none of your concern.”
She gave a cluck of her tongue. “I suppose you’re right…except a tiny bird told me that you’ve been hired by an American to find a family heirloom that was stolen, and I thought I might be able to offer some assistance.”
Kincaid shuttered his surprise behind a bland stare. As far as he’d been aware, no one had known about Joanna except for Sterling. And his friend certainly wouldn’t have repeated the details of the case toLavinia, of all people. So how the hell had she learned about the ring?
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He went to move past her, but she stepped directly into his path. The rat bared its teeth.
“Now, now, no need to pretend, darling. You can trust me.”
“No,” he said, glaring down at her. “I really can’t.”
She sighed loudly. “Are we back to this? I told you it was all a terrible misunderstanding. I feel awful about what happened. Simplyawful. Which is why I’ve come to make amends. I do not expect you to forgive me. But my dearest hope is that one day we reallycanbe friends again.” Reaching out, she trailed a gloved fingertip down the middle of his chest, then gazed up at her him beneath her lashes. “Don’t you miss what we had, darling? I do.”
Repulsed where he once would have felt aroused, Kincaid grabbed her wrist right before she reached the waistband of his trousers. “I don’t miss a single thing about you, Lavinia.”
Her plump lips pursed in a pout. “Regardless, I’d still like to help you. Which is why I am going to help you.”
“I do not want, or need, your help,” he said, dropping her hand as if it were a hot coal.
“But of course you do. Or rather, that delightful American that you’ve placed under your wing does. She must be beside herself with excitement to have learned that she is the Duke of Caldwell’s granddaughter. Even given her illegitimacy, it isquitethe coup.”
“How the hell do you know that?” he snapped.
Lavinia gave a tittering laugh. “If you wanted to keep the girl a secret, then you should have been more careful before you went digging for answers into her past. Lady Ellinwood’s closest acquaintance, Mrs. Goshen, is anotoriousgossip. Cannot keep her mouth closed, the poor thing.”
Kincaid had never intended to keep Joanna a secret. But he sure as hell had wanted to tell her the truth about her birth father before Lavinia Townsend found out, or the rest of theton, for that matter. Because if this many people knew already, it was only a matter of days—if not hours—before the news spread like wildfire.
Damn Lady Ellinwood.
Damnher.
She may not have had any interest in meeting her great-nieces, but she certainly had no issues with talking about them. Did she not understand what a tenuous position Joanna was in? And what might befall her if word of her mother’s affair with the Marquess of Dorchester became public fodder?
“What do you think will happen when everyone finds out?” Lavinia asked, echoing Kincaid’s exact thoughts. “A scandal of this magnitude will shake thetonto its core. And just in time for the Countess of Beresford’s birthday celebration. How delightful!”
His gaze slid to Lavinia’s mouth and the sly smile that resided there. Lady Ellinwood might not have recognized the potential harm she was causing by recklessly sharing information that was not hers to share.
But Lady Townsend certainly did.
“What do you want?” he asked bluntly.
Lavinia splayed her fingers across the top of her breasts. “Why, only to help you, as I said. And your American. Joanna Thorncroft, isn’t it? Lady Ellinwood implied you werequiteprotective of her when you two met. Then there was that little scuffle at the pleasure gardens with the Duke of Telford. If I didn’t know any better, I’d start to believe you were sweet on your client, darling.” Her smile grew razor sharp. “You’ve certainly a type, haven’t you?”
His hands curled into fists. “You and Joanna arenothingalike.”
Lavinia’s nose wrinkled. “Goodness, I should hope not. She’s an American, for heaven’s sake. They’re practically heathens. Still, I wish her no ill-will. Which is why I am going to tell you that the ring you are looking for is in the possession of her brother, Lord Weston, the Earl of Hawkridge.” Lavinia’s head tipped. “Or rather, should I sayhalf-brother. Words has it he intends to use the ring to propose to the lady he has been courting. Some mouse of a girl, I cannot even remember her name. But they will both be attending the ball.”
It was valuable information.
But Kincaid was not so naïve to believe that it came without a cost.
