Seduction (20 page)

demireps see it as a business investment."

Sophy leaned forward intently. "Point out some of the other Fashionable Impures,

Julian. I swear, one certainly cannot tell them apart from the ladies of quality

just by looking at them, can one?"

Julian gave her a short, charged glance that was half-amused and half-rueful.

"An interesting observation, Sophy. And in many cases, an accurate one, I fear.

But there are a few exceptions. Some women have an unmistakable air of quality

and it shows regardless of how they are dressed."

Sophy was too busy studying the boxes to notice the intent look he was giving

her. "Which are the exceptions? Point one or two out, will you? I would dearly

love to see if I can tell a demirep from a Duchess at a glance."

"Never mind, Sophy. I have indulged your lamentable curiosity enough for one

evening. I think it's time we changed the subject."

"Julian, have you ever noticed how you always change the subject just as the

conversation is getting particularly interesting?"

"Do I? How ill-mannered of me."

"I do not think you are the least bit sorry about your manners. Oh, look,

there's Anne Silverthorne and her grandmother." Sophy signaled her friend with

her fan and Anne promptly sent back a laughing acknowledgment from a nearby box.

"Can we go and visit in her box, Julian?"

"Between acts, perhaps."

"That will be fun. Anne looks lovely tonight, doesn't she? That yellow dress

looks wonderful with her red hair."

"Some would say the dress is cut a bit too low for a young woman who is not

married," Julian said, slanting a brief, critical glance at Anne's gown.

"If Anne waits until she is married to wear a fashionable gown, she will wait

forever. She has told me she will never wed. She holds the male sex in very low

esteem and the institution of marriage does not attract her at all."

Julian's mouth turned down. "I suppose you met Miss Silverthorne at my aunt's

Wednesday salons?"

"Yes, as a matter of fact, I did."

"Judging by what you have just told me, I am not at all certain she is the sort

of female you should be associating with, my dear."

"You are probably quite right," Sophy said cheerfully. "Anne is a terrible

influence. But I fear the damage is already done. We have become close friends,

you see, and one does not abandon one's friends, does one?"

"Sophy—"

"I am quite certain you would never turn your back on your friends. It would not

be honorable."

Julian gave her a wary look. "Now, Sophy—"

"Do not alarm yourself, Julian. Anne is not my only friend. Jane Morland is

another recent acquaintance of mine and you would no doubt approve of her. She

is very serious-minded. Very much the voice of reason and restraint."

"I am relieved to hear it," Julian said. "But, Sophy, I must advise you to be as

careful in choosing your female friends as you are in selecting your male ones."

"Julian, if I were as cautious in my friendships as you would have me, I would

lead a very solitary existence, indeed. Either that, or I would be bored to

death by some very dull creatures."

"Somehow I cannot imagine such a situation."

"Neither can I." Sophy glanced around, searching for a distraction. "I must say,

Fanny and Harry are very late. I do hope they are all right."

"Now it is you who is changing the subject."

"I learned the technique from you." Sophy was about to continue in that vein

when she became aware that the striking blond courtesan in the green gown was

looking straight at her across the expanse of space that separated the boxes.

For a moment Sophy simply gazed back curiously, intrigued by the other woman's

forthright stare. She started to ask Julian once more what the woman's name was

but a sudden loud commotion in the gallery made it clear the opera was about to

begin. Sophy forgot about the woman in green and gave her attention to the

stage.

The curtain behind Sophy parted during the middle of the first act and she

glanced around, expecting to see Fanny and Harry bustling into the box but the

visitor was Miles Thurgood. Julian casually waved him to a seat. Sophy smiled at

him.

"I say, Catalani is in fine form tonight, isn't she?' Miles leaned forward to

murmur in Sophy's ear. "Heard she had a flaming row with her latest paramour

just before she came on stage. Word has it she dumped a chamber pot over his

head. Poor fellow is due to perform in the next act. One hopes he'll be able to

get cleaned up in time."

Sophy giggled, ignoring Julian's disapproving glare. "How did you hear that?"

she whispered to Miles.

"Catalani's escapades behind the scenes are legendary," Miles explained with a

grin.

"There is no need to regale my wife with such tales," Julian said pointedly.

"Find something else to talk about if you wish to stay in this box."

"Don't pay any attention to him," Sophy admonished. "Julian is excessively

straitlaced in some matters."

"Is that true, Julian?" Miles exclaimed innocently. "Do you know, now that your

Countess makes the observation, I fear she may be right. I had begun to think

you a bit stuffy of late. Must be the affects of marriage."

"No doubt," Julian said coldly.

"Catalani is not the only one causing talk tonight," Miles went on cheerfully.

"One hears that a few more members of the ton have received notes from the Grand

Featherstone. You've got to hand it to the woman. She's got nerve to sit here

tonight surrounded by her victims."

Sophy rounded on him at once. "Charlotte Featherstone is here tonight? Where?"

"That's enough, Thurgood," Julian cut in decisively.

But Miles was nodding toward the box that held the fashionably dressed blond who

had been staring at Sophy only moments earlier. "That's her right over there."

"The lady in the green gown?" Sophy peered through the gloom of the darkened

theater trying to pick out the infamous courtesan.

"Damn it, Thurgood, I said that's enough," Julian snapped.

"Sorry, Ravenwood. Don't mean to say anything out of line. But everyone knows

who Featherstone is. Ain't exactly a secret."

Julian's eyes were grim. "Sophy, would you like some lemonade?"

"Yes, Julian, that would be lovely."

"Excellent. I'm certain Miles would be happy to fetch you a glass, wouldn't you

Thurgood?"

Miles leaped to his feet and swept Sophy a graceful bow. "It would be an honor,

Lady Ravenwood. I shall return shortly." He turned to slip through the curtains

at the back of the box and then paused briefly. "I beg your pardon, Lady

Ravenwood," he said with a wide smile, "but the plume in your hair appears to be

about to fall out. May I be allowed to adjust it for you?"

"Oh, dear." Sophy reached up to push the offending plume back into the depths of

her coiffure just as Miles leaned forward helpfully.

"Go get the lemonade, Thurgood," Julian ordered, reaching for the plume,

himself. "I am perfectly capable of dealing with Sophy's attire." He quickly

shoved the feather back into Sophy's curls as Miles made his escape from the

box.

"Really, Julian, there was no need to send him away just because he pointed out

Charlotte Featherstone." Sophy gave her husband a reproving glance. "As it

happens I have been most curious about the woman."

"I cannot imagine why."

"Why, because I have been reading her Memoirs."

Sophy explained, leaning forward once more in an effort to get a better look at

the lady in green.

"You've been reading what?" Julian's voice sounded half-strangled.

"We're studying the Featherstone Memoirs in Fanny's and Harry's Wednesday

afternoon salons. Fascinating reading, I must say. Such a unique view of

Society. We can hardly wait for the next installment.'

"Damn it, Sophy, if I'd had any notion Fanny would be exposing you to that sort

of rubbish, I would never have permitted you to visit her on Wednesdays. What

the devil is the meaning of this nonsense? You're supposed to be studying

literature and natural philosophy, not some harlot's gossipy scribblings."

"Calm down, Julian, I am a married woman of twenty-three, not a sixteen-year-old

schoolgirl." She smiled at him. "I was right earlier. You really are most

dreadfully straitlaced about some things."

His eyes narrowed as he glowered at her. "Straitlaced is a rather mild term for

the way I feel about this particular subject, Sophy. You are forbidden to read

any more installments of the Memoirs. Do you fully comprehend me?"

Some of Sophy's good humor began to slip. The last thing she wanted to do was

ruin the evening with an argument but she felt she had to take a stand. Last

night she had surrendered on one of the most important counts of the nuptial

agreement. She would not give in on another.

"Julian, ' she said gently, "I must remind you that prior to our marriage we

discussed the matter of my freedom to read what I choose."

"Do not throw that silly agreement in my face, Sophy. It has nothing to do with

this business of the Featherstone Memoirs."

"It was not a silly agreement and it has everything to do with this matter. You

are trying to dictate what I can and cannot read. We distinctly agreed you would

not do that."

"I do not wish to argue with you about this," Julian said through clenched

teeth.

"Excellent." Sophy gave him a relieved smile. "I do not wish to argue with you

about it either, my lord. You see?

We can agree quite easily on some matters. It bodes well, don't you think?"

"Do not misunderstand me," Julian plowed on forcefully, "I will not debate this

with you. I am telling you quite plainly that I do not want you reading any more

installments of the Memoirs. As your husband, I expressly forbid it."

Sophy drew a deep breath knowing she must not allow him to run roughshod over

her like this. "It seems to me I have already made a very large compromise

regarding our wedding agreement, my lord. You cannot expect me to make another.

It is not fair and I believe that, at heart, you are a fair-minded man."

"Not fair." Julian leaned forward and caught one of her hands. "Sophy, look at

me. What happened last night does not come under the heading of compromise. You

simply came to your senses and realized that particular portion of our wedding

agreement was irrational and unnatural."

"Did I really? How very perceptive of me."

"This is not a matter for jest, Sophy. You were wrong to insist upon that

foolish clause in the first place and ultimately you had the sense to

acknowledge it. This business of reading the Memoirs is another matter in which

you are wrong. You must allow me to guide you in this sort of thing."

She looked up at him. "Be reasonable, my lord. If I surrender on this count,

too, what will you demand next? That I no longer control my inheritance?"

"The devil take your inheritance," he stormed tightly. "I do not want your money

and you know it."

"So you say now. But a few weeks ago you were also saying you did not care what

I chose to read. How do I know you will not also soon change your mind about my

inheritance?"

"Sophy, this is outrageous. Why in the name of heaven do you want to read the

Memoirs?"

"I find them quite fascinating, my lord. Charlotte Featherstone is a most

interesting woman. Only think what she has gone through."

"She's gone through a lot of men, that's what she's gone through and I won't

have you reading the particulars about each and every one of her paramours."

"I will take care not to mention the subject again, my lord, since it obviously

offends you."

"You will take care not to read on this subject again," he corrected ominously.

Then his expression softened. "Sophy, my dear, this is not worth a quarrel

between us."

"I could not agree with you more, my lord."

"What I require of you is merely some degree of rational circumspection in your

reading."

"Julian, as fascinating and instructive as the subjects of animal husbandry and

farming are, they do grow a bit tedious now and again. I simply must have some

variety in my reading."

"Surely you do not want to lower yourself to the kind of gossip you will

encounter in the Memoirs?"

"I did warn you the day we agreed to marry that I had a lamentable taste for

entertaining gossip."

"I am not going to allow you to indulge it."

"You seem to know a great deal about the sort of gossip that is in the Memoirs.

Are you by any chance reading them, too? Perhaps we could find a basis for a

discussion."

"No, I am not reading them and I have no intention of doing so. Furthermore—"

Fanny's voice heralded them from the doorway, cutting off Julian's next words.

"Sophy, Julian, good evening. Did you think we would never get here?" Fanny

swept through the curtains, a vision in bronze silk. Harriett Rattenbury was

right behind her, resplendent in her signature purple gown and turban.

"Good evening, everyone. So sorry for the delay." Harriett smiled cheerfully at

Sophy. "My dear, you look lovely tonight. That shade of pale blue is quite

becoming on you. Why the scowl? Is something wrong?"