Page 15 of Only a Mistress Will Do

“She’s gone.” Tris waved her away. His last mistress had been an amusing distraction at best.

“What happened to her?”

“I sent her home with a large settlement last week.” He stared at Duncan, who had his stern face on. “I’d planned to give up my mistresses once I was married and Serena’s family needed her. Her mother had taken ill. It seemed a good time.”

Rubbing a hand over his face, his friend asked, “So what do you intend to do with Miss Carlton? She cannot stay at Weldon Street indefinitely. It will become known no matter how careful you are.”

“After what I did last night I should marry her.” Tris dropped his gaze to his lap.

“Not a good idea, even if it were possible.” An edge had crept into his friend’s voice.

That hadn’t been unexpected. Still, Tris studied his hands, placed carefully on the chair arms, avoiding his friend’s gaze.

“You do see the danger, Tristan.” The tone sharpened. “She could bring all the ugliness of the scandal down on our heads again with only a word or two in the right places.”

“I suppose I see that.” He fixed his stare on the marquess. “You offered to help her, however. Do you have a position somewhere, anywhere we could be assured of her continued welfare? A companion to Juliet, perhaps?” That possibility had lurked in the back of his mind when he’d decided to approach Duncan with the information about Miss Carlton.

“Good God, no.” Duncan shot up and headed to the decanter once more. “You have run mad. We are the last people who should employ her.” He stopped and looked at Tris. “You haven’t told her what happened the day her brother died, have you?”

“It didn’t seem necessary as we were putting our clothes back on.” Tris rose and took the tumbler to the sideboard, waving away Duncan’s offer of another. He needed some wits left for his next interview. “Very well, I’ll find her a position far from London. She’s bright and forthright. She’d make an excellent companion.” To him or to any other gentleman. “Or she could be a governess. She also professed to me that she can sew a fine seam.” He shrugged and prepared to leave. He damn well couldn’t be late.

“As long as she stays far away from us. She still could marry, you know. She’d have no dowry, but there are men who don’t seek marriage just for wealth.” Duncan contemplated the swirling contents of his glass.

“Then I need to somehow get her back into society.” He grimaced. He’d thought those tedious days were done. “Not much going on at the moment, although I suspect there will be a spate of Christmas parties and balls shortly.” His sister always gave one such ball the week before Christmas Day. Perhaps he should confide in Theodora, at least about Miss Carlton, while leaving details of exactly how he met her pleasantly hazy. It might serve.

“Be careful, Tris.” Duncan gripped his shoulder. “Send her as far away as possible.”

The warning sent a frisson of alarm through him and he shrugged off Duncan’s hand. “I’ll keep that in mind.” He gathered the cloak he’d dropped on a chair near the door.

“Off again? I’d thought you were staying to luncheon.” Duncan beamed with one of the few true smiles he’d seen today. “Cook is so ecstatic to have Katarina breeding, she makes twice the quantity we’d ever need. Twice what Morley’s old regiment could eat in a day, much less at a single sitting.”

“Thank you, but I am engaged.” The irony of his words struck him as funny, though he hardly felt like laughing. “Indeed, the very reason I’m rushing off. I’m for Lord Downing’s to sign the settlement agreements for Miss Harper. Adding the estate in northern Yorkshire to my family’s holdings has been an uphill battle, but I will seal the deal at last.” Then why did he feel so despondent at the prospect?

“Miss Harper is an exemplary choice for a wife on many fronts. Young, sweet, likely fertile. You’ll have an heir in your nursery inside a year.” Duncan slapped him on the back. “Even if you haven’t had any practice, I’ll lay a wager you find your mark and introduce Lady Trevor to the pleasures of the bed with little fuss.”

“Is that what has turned your marriage around, Duncan? You and Kat were less than cordial when I first met her. Did you manage to win her in the bedroom after you wed?” Tris fought to keep the despair out of his voice. “For I fear Miss Harper’s charms for me lie in the fertile fields of Yorkshire, not the one I’ll plow and sow on my wedding night.” Try as he might to banish it, Violet’s lovely face and naked body, sprawled and beckoning on the crisp sheets, appeared whenever he thought about a wedding night.

Shaking his head, Duncan steered him to the doorway. “Katarina and I had perhaps the most uncertain first few weeks of married life in the history of England. Yet we weathered it and now are the most content couple in Christendom. I suggest you woo Miss Harper, find something you have in common, and let nature take its course. If it doesn’t,” Duncan gave him a lecherous grin, “you can always return to your mistresses once she gives you an heir.”

Tris gave his farewell automatically and left for Lord Downing’s. That last bit of advice sat ill with him, even though he longed to take it. Trouble was, the mistress he wanted to keep was the woman he’d sworn to protect from such a life.

No one had said rescuing a damsel in distress would be easy.

Chapter 6

After breakfast, Violet let Susan coax her upstairs and into a steaming bath. As she soaked, the tensions of the past days slipped easily away and she let her mind drift as she breathed in the soothing scented steam. At first she assumed the maid had added lavender oil, but the smell was less sweet, more astringent. Unusual. She breathed deeper, trying to puzzle it out.

“Violet.”

She jumped and water sloshed out of the tub.

Susan had entered the room with a pale blue silk comforter. “The scent is violet. A bit different, but it was in my box of oils and I thought you might like it, as it is your namesake.” She smiled and began to make up the bed. “I’ve been known to have a touch of whimsy.”

“Thank you, Susan.” Violet returned the smile and sank lower in the water. It had been so long since she’d had the luxury of a maid. A lifetime ago it seemed. And this woman was good at her job. Apparently, Lord Trevor spared no expense for his paramours.

She’d enjoy her services while they lasted. Once she became a companion or governess or seamstress, she’d have to fend for herself again.

Unless she became Lord Trevor’s mistress in earnest.