Angel's Devil (10 page)

"All
right," Niston sighed, and lifted Helen to the ground. "One thousand
pounds?" Angel repeated, falling into step beside James.

He smiled and leaned closer. Other members of the
ton
had noted
his companion and were muttering among themselves. The engagement might be a
secret, but everyone knew Simon Talbott was courting Angel Graham. It was an
annoyance, but his name could take the additional scuffing Simon had
envisioned. He did wonder, though, if his cousin had realized that Lady
Angelique's reputation might be at risk. "Haven't I told you I'm
fabulously wealthy?"

She grinned at
him. "Not for long, if you keep this up."

"Would you
rather I spent it on you?"

Angelique
glanced over at her father and the twins. "I haven't asked you for
anything, my lord," she replied, lifting her chin.

"Why don't you?" he challenged. "Ask me for anything."
He was abruptly surprised to realize he would happily grant any request she
might have. "A wedding present, perhaps? Might I recommend real jewels to
match the
faux
ones I purchased for Brutus?"

She looked over
at him. "Five pennies," she said after a moment.

"Beg
pardon?" he queried, not expecting her to answer at all. A lady wasn't
supposed to acknowledge even the offer of a gift from a rake such as himself,
yet she'd already accepted the mastiff's collar. Perhaps she wasn't aware of
the convention.

Angelique held
out her hand. "Five pennies, if you please."

Grinning and
again baffled by what she might do next, James reached into his pocket and
handed her the coins.

"Thank
you," she smiled hazel eyes twinkling, and with a flick of her skirts took
Helen's hand to lead her sister over to a confectioner selling strawberry ices.

James looked
after her, chuckling, until Niston stepped up and blocked his view.
"That's a fine animal," he said stiffly. "Will you keep him in
town?"

James shook his
head. "No. I'll take him with me to Abbonley when I return."

"So you
will be leaving London soon?"

That was hardly
subtle, but not unexpected. Annoying the parents with his attentions to the
daughter was the plan, after all. "I should be getting back," he
agreed, then deliberately glanced over at Angelique. "But I've decided to
stay in town through the end of the Season."

He left his
note with the auctioneer's assistant and received the tether of the hunter.
"Do you approve my purchase?" he asked Henry.

"Oh,
yes," the boy gushed. Abruptly he sobered. "And I still have old
Ajax," he said dejectedly, and kicked at a clod ofdirt.

James smiled,
unexpectedly remembering a stodgy old pony he'd had in his youth. "You
know, Master Henry, I may have a steed that would suit your needs in my stables
at Abbonley.”

"You
do?" Henry whispered, brown eyes going round. James nodded. "I
believe so." He glanced again at Angel and took a breath. "And I
would be pleased to invite your family to come holiday with me after the
Season. Perhaps a belated engagement party for Lady Angelique and my
cousin?"

"Oh, Papa,
could we? Please, could we? Oh, to ride a horse from the Marquis of Abbonley's
stables. Please?"

Angelique was
watching him, her green parasol dragging in the dirt and her eyes sparkling in
the sunlight. "It would be my pleasure," he cajoled.

"Please,
Papa?" both twins pleaded in unison.

The earl
glanced for a moment at his daughter as well, then frowned. "There is
officially no engagement," he returned shortly, "so there is no need
for a party. And I have business at Niston. Thank you for your invitation, my
lord, but I must refuse."

James inclined
his head, hiding his anger at the insult in a smile. "Of course. I
understand," he returned. When he glanced at Angel she appeared
disappointed, but then they'd just missed out on a fine opportunity to raise
Simon in her parents' eyes by showing the Devil off in his own scandalous
element at Abbonley. He was disappointed as well, but for a different set of
reasons entirely.

6

A
ngelique rose late, having spent a restless night
with horses, splendidly garish dog collars, and emerald eyes haunting her
sleep. That last bit was odd, for Simon's eyes were blue.

She and some
friends were to go picnicking at midmorning, and Tess helped her into her
peach-colored sprig muslin before she and Brutus hurried downstairs. "Good
morning, Angel," her mother smiled, motioning her to take a seat at the
breakfast table.
    
.

"I
can't," she replied, kissing each of her parents on the cheek. "Simon
will be here at any moment." She dipped her forefinger into a bowl of
strawberry jam and lifted it to her lips.

"You
certain you don't want a piece of toast to go with that?" her father
asked, pausing with his teacup halfway to his mouth.

She licked the
sweet, sticky jam off her finger, then accepted the napkin he held out.
"If I can't have bad manners here, where can I have them?"

"Nowhere,"
her mother answered.

"Oh, that
reminds me," Angel said, seeing a chance to aid their cause. "The
Marquis of Abbonley has invited us to share his box at the opera Thursday
night.
Don Giovanni.
He said he wanted to become better acquainted with
us; since we're to be part of the family. It will be splendid, don't you
think?"

"Angel,"
her father began frowning, as Pimroy pulled open the front door.

"I mustn't
be late," she said with a smile.

"That dog
is not going with you," her mother stated. "Oh, Mama," Angel
grumbled. "All right. Brutus, stay." The dog sighed and padded
upstairs to find the twins, as Simon entered the hall and took her hand. She
hoped there was no jam left on her finger.

"Good
morning," she smiled, grateful that she and Lily had overheard what was
being performed at the opera. All that remained was to get word to the marquis
that they were to go.

It was an
easier task than she expected. Shortly after they arrived at St. James Park
they were joined by Lily, Louisa and Mary, the Alcotts, and Richard Forbes and
his cousin, Sophia. As they all sat on the spread of blankets they were
approached by a rider on a magnificent black stallion.

"Good
day," the marquis said, leaning down to shake Simon's hand as his cousin
rose to greet him. "I didn't expect to find all of you here."

His glance at
Simon was less than pleased, and as he dismounted Angel wondered if his cousin
hadn't tricked Abbonley into joining them. He glanced about the group,
inclining his head at Lily and giving a slight nod to the Alcotts. As his gaze
found Angel, he gave a smile and stepped forward to bend over her raised hand.
"Lady Angelique," he greeted her.

"James, do
you stay?" Simon asked, apparently sensing his cousin's misgivings at the
rather dull composition of the gathering. If not for Simon and Lily, Angel
would have been looking for a way out, herself.

The marquis shook
his head. "I have an appoint—" Fearing he would leave before she had
a chance to speak to him, Angelique hammered her fist against the ankle of his
boot.

"—ment
with my secretary, but I believe I have a few moments," Abbonley finished
smoothly. His limp more pronounced than it had been a moment earlier, he
seated himself beside her. "Why do you insist on bashing me, my
lady?" he murmured, accepting a glass of madeira from Mr. Forbes.

"We need
to talk," she returned, noting that he set the glass aside without
drinking. That surprised her, for with his reputation she had expected him to
down it at one go and ask for another.

"I'm
listening."

"I told my parents you'd invited us to share your box at the opera
on Thursday," she continued, ignoring the others as Louisa Delon began one
of her tiresome
on dits
about someone or other's scandalous behavior.

He squinted one
eye. "That was bold of me," he commented, "considering I don't
have a box—at the opera."

She hadn't
thought of that. "But—"

"My
grandmother does, however," he interrupted with a short grin. "I
believe I can persuade her to have us all there on Thursday." He handed
her half of his peach.

"I hope
so," Angel muttered. "If we can't accomplish something before the
Season ends and we go our separate ways, my parents will have no reason to
change any plans at all." She grinned. "That was a grand idea you
had, to invite us to Abbonley. I suppose Simon's plan is working a bit too
well, and Papa didn't want me around you." She glanced over at Simon, who
was laughing as he refilled Lily's glass.

The marquis
smiled, lifting his glass of madeira and eyeing the liquid before he set it
down again. "And the Season's not over yet, Lady Angelique."

"All
right, Jamie, what's on your mind?"

James selected
another card from the pile, grimaced, and discarded it. "Beg pardon?"
he queried, glancing across the table at his grandmother.

"You heard
me. Why have you been sitting here for the past. . . " she glanced up at
the clock on her mantel, "hour, purposely losing at piquet?"

Her grandson
raised an eyebrow. "I admit that my play has been deplorable, but I assure
you that I'm not—"

"Point, I
win. Out with it, boy."

The problem
with Grandmama Elizabeth, James reflected as he sighed and dropped his cards on
the table, was that she always knew when something was going on. "I need a
small favor."

"It
being?"

"I'd like
you to ask the Grahams to your box at the opera on Thursday night."

His grandmother
narrowed her light green eyes. “ And what will you be doing on Thursday night?
A little larceny?"

"Please.
I'm respectable now, remember? I'll be at the opera with you and the Grahams,
of course."

She looked at
him for a moment. "Why?"

James shrugged
and gathered the cards together to shuffle them. "Does there have to be a
reason? They're practically part of the family. after all." He glanced up
to find she was frowning at him. "Won't do, hm?"

Grandmama
Elizabeth shook her head. "For Simon, perhaps. Not you."

"All
right, but don't bite my head off. It wasn't my idea."

"I'm
listening."

"Simon
asked if I'd pretend to fall in love with Angelique so that her parents would
become nervous and agree to move up the wedding date." James sat back and
crossed his arms.

The dowager
viscountess blinked "He what?" The marquis started to answer, but
she waved a hand at him, apparently not expecting a response. "Simon
asked you, and you agreed to this?"

"Well,
against my better judgment. He rather convinced me that I owed him a
favor."

"But
Angelique?"

James gave a
short grin, enjoying seeing Elizabeth Talbott nonplussed for a change.
"Oh, she knows all about it."

"She
does," his grandmother repeated faintly.

"Yes. But
the Season's nearly over, and they haven't much time left. So An—Lady Angelique—informed
her parents that I'd invited them to the opera on Thursday. So will you second
the invitation for me?"

"And what
of Simon?"

"I'm
certain Lady Angelique has informed him all about it. But the Grahams will have
to accept the invitation only if it comes from you."

"And then
what?"

James shrugged.
"They are the schemers. I exist only to do their bidding." He
grimaced. "The one independent thing I attempted was to invite Niston to
have his family holiday with us at Abbonley, and he turned me down flat."

Grandmama
Elizabeth raised an eyebrow. "You invited guests to Abbonley?" She
looked truly surprised, and considering that since parting from Desiree he had
never once even invited his nearest neighbors for tea, he could understand her
amazement.