Scandalous Redemption (Ladies and Scoundrels #3) (9 page)

Grosvenor Square? His pulse raced. Had he misjudged her sincerity earlier? There were plenty of more suitable properties in Mayfair. Why would she wish to reside so close to Julian if she truly harbored no hope for continuing their relationship? Either the duchess was mistaken or Claudia had deceived him. He could not get away from here or from Claudia soon enough.

SCANDALOUS REDEMPTION

CHAPTER NINE

“You cannot stay
away from society much longer. Tongues are already wagging. They say she broke your heart.” Jane took a bite from her biscuit.

Henry adored his sister, but her constant nagging on this particular subject drove him mad. He had returned to London little more than a fortnight ago, and had no doubt Claudia followed close behind.

Jane informed him several days ago that Claudia had purchased a home in Mayfair. Much to his delight, her new residence was safely away on Berkeley Square. Now, he wished to limit the likelihood he would encounter her. He dropped his biscuit onto his plate, no longer hungry.

“Let them talk. It is not as if I courted her. Anyone with a working brain can see I am quite fine.”

“Indeed. Because people who are
quite fine
sequester themselves away from their peers.” Jane rolled her eyes in an unladylike fashion she reserved only for her brothers.

“I have not withdrawn. I still attend my clubs and take my evening ride in the park. It ought not to matter if I avoid balls and soirees.” He was not suffering a broken heart. The whole idea was poppycock. He would simply rather avoid Claudia’s company for the time being. He did not trust himself around her and had no wish to become the subject of the latest
on dit
. Other than his incessant longing for her, no damage had been done. He would like to keep it as such.

“It does matter and you know it.” Jane pinned him beneath her stare. “Furthermore, as you are my chaperone, I too am missing from society. Is it your wish that I never marry?”

“Of course not.” He sat his cup down with a clank. Seeing Jane wed was a top priority for him.

“Wonderful, then you will escort me to tomorrow night’s ball at Almack’s.” She smiled with triumph.

He drew a deep breath. “I can escort you to hundreds of balls and it will not improve your marriage prospects if you do not pull yourself away from the wall.” It grated on him that the task of chaperoning Jane rested on him when they had two capable brothers and a set of healthy parents.

“I am not a wallflower.” She notched her chin.

“I dare say you are. Even among friends at Lord and Lady Wexil’s, you spent all of your time squirreled away in the library or hiding along the fringes of the activity. The only time you made an effort to interact outside of your circle was when I discovered you walking with Lord Keery.” His ire rose at the mere mention of that particular incident. “A completely unacceptable companion, I might add.”

She had no idea how fortunate she was no one else had discovered her alone with the rake. As it happened, her lady’s maid had stopped to help an injured creature and fell a shocking distance behind in the process. Jane could have been ruined. Would have been if anyone other than him had discovered her.

“Far better than you keeping time with Lady Akford. You chased her skirts around the house party. And now, you are hiding from her, all the while mooning over her. You are making a fool of yourself.” She reached for another biscuit.

“You, dear sister, are delirious. I am not mooning over anyone.” He feigned disinterest as he picked up his porcelain cup. In truth, his heart ached for Claudia.

“I dare say it would be better if you went after her. Leastwise the gossip would be entertaining.”

“Enough!” He scowled at her. “I will escort you to the ball, but I dare say, not one more word about Lady Akford shall cross your lips.” His jaw ticked as he fought to suppress his anger.

“As you please. I will be ready by nine. Do not be late fetching me.” Jane offered a bright smile, not at all off put by his outburst.

Henry lifted
The
Times
but only pretended to read the words on the pages. In truth, his insides were fraught with turmoil. Jane had the right of it. Not that nonsense about his broken heart, but he did spend much of his time with Claudia occupying his thoughts.

She haunted his dreams every night and he could not go through a day without recalling the tender moments they’d shared. On more than one occasion, he had given over to the memories, reliving their kiss in all of its burning passion. It was not love, but rather an infatuation he would continue to fight. Seeing her now would prove too much and he could not risk his heart. What if she were at Almack’s?

His pulse raced at the mere idea of it. Foolishness, of course. With Almack’s exclusivity, the chances of Claudia being there were nonexistent. He had no reason to fret. The patronesses would never approve her, let alone offer her a voucher. For her sake, he wished it were not so. For his own, he was grateful. This one outing would not harm him. Perhaps it would even please Jane enough to put an end to her constant badgering.

“I am off to the modiste. Be sure to have your own wardrobe in order.” Jane stood, moved to his side, and dropped a kiss in the air near his cheek. “It will do you good to get back out in society, Henry. You’ll see.”

Do him good indeed.
He watched as she left the room, a slight bounce in her step. She certainly seemed proud of herself, the little minx. He dropped the paper on the table, resigned to his lot.

With his repast finished and Jane gone, he donned his hat and gloves and set off for Tattersall’s. He was not in need of another horse so much as he longed for the distraction that purchasing one would bring. Once he made his way to Hyde Park corner, he wandered through the crush of gentlemen at Tattersall’s to inspect the horses up for auction that day.

A large black thoroughbred caught his eye and he moved closer to gain a better look. The animal tossed its head and nickered as he drew closer still. Henry studied the stallion’s powerful build, then reached out to stroke his hand down its neck.

“You will not easily win that one, Shillington.”

He turned to find Keery fast approaching. “I imagine not. He appears to be a fine piece of horse flesh.”

“I checked him over myself a little while ago. The beast is sound and well-conditioned for both speed and endurance, not to mention his breeding potential. He may be the finest horse to come through this year.”

Henry dropped his hand from the stallion’s head. “Do you intend to bid on him?”

“I have yet to decide, but you can be sure several others will even if I do not.”

Henry turned back to the horse. A good natured bidding war and the adrenaline that came with it would be a grand distraction. “They can bid all they want, I intend to win.”

Keery chuckled and clapped his hand on the back of Henry’s shoulder. “I have no doubt you will give it your best.”

Henry walked with Keery to the central yard in preparation for the auction to start. The air fairly crackled with excitement as gentlemen crowded in for their opportunity to be a part of the action. He looked around, taking note of a great many of his peers in the crowd. “Who else intends to bid on the stallion?”

“Lord Garret and Lord Ruxhall, along with many others I assume.” Kerry leaned against the wall in a casual manner not befitting his station. “Forgive me for asking, but are you still pursuing Lady Akford?”

Henry nearly choked at the question. His stomach soured at the very idea that the rake had set his sights on Claudia. She deserved better than a man who would use her then cast her away once he had his fill. “No.” Henry spoke the words from between clenched teeth.

“No, you have lost interest, or no, she is not available?”

“It is not for me to decide. She does not belong to me.” Henry fisted his hands at his sides as he fought to control his rising emotions. He desperately wished to tell Keery to stay the hell away from Claudia, but he had no right to interfere in her life.

“Very well.” Keery straightened his stance as the first horse was brought out.

When the black stallion was presented, Henry threw himself into the bidding with a frenzied need to focus on anything other than Claudia and Keery.

* * * *

With the help of Duchess Abernathy and Vivian, Claudia had settled into her Berkeley Square home rather nicely. She glanced around her drawing room, pleased at the outcome. Green velvet drapes hung from the windows, a matching green carpet covered the floor, and cream and gold furniture with green accents filled the space. Every room had her personal touch on it and the house was fully staffed. This was home.

Her stoic butler stepped across the threshold, filling the space. “Her Grace, the Duchess Abernathy,” he announced before stepping out of the way.

Claudia stood to curtsey as the duchess swept into the room.

“I have an invitation you simply cannot refuse.” Duchess Abernathy positioned herself on a wingback chair.

Claudia followed suit, lowering herself back into her seat. She truly adored the duchess and was ever grateful for her, but she wished Her Grace would stop securing invitations for her.

The duchess had been inviting her to one event after the other since the day she settled into her Berkeley Square residence. She insisted Claudia needed to show herself in order to regain acceptance.

No doubt, Duchess Abernathy was correct, but all the same, Claudia could not summon the courage to accept any of them. The very idea of coming upon Lord and Lady Luvington, or worse, Henry, made her head spin. Between the
ton
gossips and the possibility of crossing paths with any of them, she would very much prefer to stay home.

She frowned. “It is wonderful of you to go to so much trouble on my behalf, and I will not soon forget how gracious you have been, but I simply am not ready to rejoin society.”

The duchess tilted her head to one side as if taking Claudia’s measure. “This is Almack’s, dear. One is always ready for Almack’s.” She held out a small card with
Ladies Voucher Almack’s
scrolled across the top. “I am sure I do not have to explain to you how important this is. Merely being seen there will launch you back into society.”

Claudia’s heart fluttered. She well knew the implications of an invitation to one of Almack’s exclusive balls. What she could not fathom was why the patronesses would approve her. “How is it possible?”

The duchess flicked the corner of the card with her glove-covered finger. “That is not important. The
ton
will not care what brought you there, only that you were there. This is your chance to redeem yourself.” She held out the voucher. “Do say you will attend?”

Claudia glanced at the floor. This was a wonderful opportunity, but how could she accept? Her reputation was in tatters. Her name was whispered in every drawing room in London and all of the
ton’s
doors remained barred to her. Had they approved her only so they could put her on display? How mortifying would that be? She looked back at the duchess. “I do not see how I can. Surely, this is a mistake. I have never met the patronesses to earn her approval.”

“Not at all, dear. I secured your invitation myself. As it happens, you were introduced to some of the patronesses at Lady Wexil’s house party. The only mistake would be declining this chance. You simply must stop fretting and agree to accompany me.” She studied Claudia with warm brown eyes. “I will be there by your side the entire night.”