Seduction (34 page)

"Utteridge, Varley, and Ormiston," Anne repeated thoughtfully. "I have heard of

them. They all move freely in Society, although their reputations are not the

best. Using your own connections and those of my grandmother, it should not be

difficult to get invitations to the parties and routs where we might expect to

find these three lords."

Sophy nodded, refolding Featherstone's note. "I can see my appointment book is

going to become more crowded than ever."

FOURTEEN

Waycott was making a nuisance of himself and not for the first time. Sophy was

growing increasingly annoyed with him. She frowned slightly over Lord

Utteridge's shoulder as he led her out onto the dance floor and saw with relief

that Waycott was apparently heading out into the gardens.

It was about time he left her alone tonight, Sophy told herself. She had finally

managed an introduction and a dance with the first name on her list—the

once-handsome, but now dissipated-looking, Utteridge—but it had been hard work.

Ever since she had arrived at the party, Waycott had been hovering, just as he

had hovered on several other occasions during the past two weeks.

It had been hard enough to discover Utteridge's likely whereabouts this evening,

Sophy thought, irritated—much more difficult than she and Anne and Jane had

anticipated. She did not need Waycott getting in her way on top of everything

else. Luckily Anne had been able to find out the pertinent information

concerning the guest list at this rout at the last minute. Sophy certainly did

not want to waste the time and effort that had been involved in getting herself

on the same guest list.

The information available on Lord Utteridge had been minimal.

"I'm told he's run through most of his fortune at the gaming tables and has now

begun to look for a rich wife," Anne had explained earlier that afternoon. "At

the moment he's trying to attract the interest of Cordelia Biddle and she's

scheduled to be at the Dallimores' tonight."

"Lady Fanny should be able to get me invited," Sophy had decided and that

assumption had turned out to be quite correct. Lady Fanny had been a bit

startled that Sophy should want to attend a function that promised to be

exceedingly dull, but she had obligingly had a word with the hostess.

"It was not the least bit difficult, my dear," Fanny had said later with a

knowing look in her eye. "You are considered a prize for any hostess these

days."

"The power of Julian's title, I suppose," Sophy had remarked dryly, thinking

that if Anne was right she would be able to use that power to ultimately punish

Amelia's seducer.

"The Ravenwood title certainly helps," Harriett had agreed, looking up from her

book, "but you may as well know, my girl, that it is not entirely because you're

a Countess that you're fast becoming quite the thing this season."

Sophy was momentarily startled by the observation and then she grinned. "You

need not go into detail, Harry. I am well aware that I owe whatever popularity I

am presently enjoying to the simple fact that even the members of the ton suffer

from the headache, digestive problems, and assorted bilious livers. I swear,

whenever I attend a party I end up writing out as many medicinal recipes as an

apothecary."

Harriett had exchanged a smiling glance with Fanny and gone back to her book.

But the plan had worked and Sophy had found herself cordially welcomed that

evening by a delighted hostess who had never dreamed she would be lucky enough

to get the new Countess of Ravenwood to her rout. After that it had been a

simple matter to track down Lord Utteridge. If it were not for Waycott's

persistent petitions for a dance, all would have been going quite well.

"I would venture to say that Ravenwood must be finding you quite a change from

his first wife," Utteridge murmured in a syrupy voice.

Sophy, who had been waiting anxiously for just such an opening, smiled

encouragingly. "Did you know her well, my lord?"

Utteridge's smile was unpleasant. "Let us say I had the pleasure of several

intimate conversations with her. She was a most entrancing woman. Quite dazzling

to the senses. Fascinating, mysterious, captivating. With just a smile she could

leave a man bedeviled for days. She was also, I think, very dangerous."

A succubus. Sophy remembered the strange design on the black ring. More than one

man might have felt the need to protect himself from a woman such as Elizabeth

even as he willingly fell under her spell.

"Did you visit frequently with my husband and his first wife at Ravenwood?"

Sophy asked as casually as possible.

Utteridge chuckled dryly. "Ravenwood seldom entertained with his wife. At least

not after the first few months of their marriage. Ah, those first few months

were quite amusing for the rest of us, I must say."

"Amusing?" Sophy felt a small chill.

"Yes, indeed," Utteridge said with relish. "There were scenes and public

displays aplenty during that first year, which provided endless entertainment

for the ton. But after that Ravenwood and his wife began going their separate

ways. Some say he was on the point of suing for separation and divorce when

Elizabeth died."

Julian must have hated those embarrassing public scenes. No wonder he was so

adamant about his new wife not becoming the focus of gossip. Sophy tried to get

back to her original question. "Have you ever been to Ravenwood Abbey, my lord?"

"Twice, as I recall," Utteridge said casually. "Didn't stay long either time,

although Elizabeth could be quite charming. Don't care for the country, myself.

A man with my constitution does not enjoy ruralizing. I'm much more comfortable

in the city."

"I see." Sophy listened carefully to Utteridge's voice and the rhythms of his

speech, trying to decide if he was the man in the black cape and mask who had

warned her about the ring the night of the masquerade. She did not think so.

And if Utteridge spoke the truth, she did not think he could have been Amelia's

seducer. Whoever that man was he had stayed at Ravenwood on more than two

occasions. Amelia had gone out to meet her lover several times over a

three-month period. Of course, there was always the possibility Utteridge was

lying about the frequency of his visits but Sophy could not think why he should

bother to do so.

This whole business of trying to track down Amelia's seducer was going to be

extremely difficult, she acknowledged.

"Tell me, madam, do you intend to follow in your predecessor's footsteps? If so,

I hope you will include me in your plans. I might even consider another trip

into Hampshire if you were proposing to be my hostess," Utteridge said in a

dangerously smooth voice.

The barely veiled insult snapped Sophy out of her reverie. She stopped in the

middle of the floor, her head tilting angrily. "Exactly what are you implying,

my lord?"

"Why nothing, my dear, I assure you. I was merely asking out of curiosity. You

seemed interested in the activities of the previous Countess so I wondered if,

perhaps, you had, um, aspirations to live the rather reckless life she favored."

"Not at all," Sophy said tightly. "I cannot think where you could have gotten

that impression."

"Calm yourself, madam. I intended no insult. I had heard a few rumors and I must

admit they piqued my curiosity."

"What rumors?" Sophy demanded, suddenly anxious. If word had gotten out about

the attempted duel between herself and Charlotte Featherstone, Julian would be

furious.

"Nothing important, I promise you." Utteridge smiled with cold whimsy and

casually adjusted the dangling artificial flower in Sophy's hair. "Just a little

chatter about the Ravenwood emeralds."

"Oh, those." Sophy hid her relief. "What about them, my lord?"

"A few people have wondered why you've never worn them in public," Utteridge

said silkily, but his eyes were piercing.

"How odd," Sophy said. "Imagine anyone wasting a moment's thought on such a

mundane matter. I believe the dance is finished, my lord."

"I wonder if you will excuse me, then, madam," Utteridge said with a laconic bow

as the dance ended. "I believe I am engaged for the next dance."

"Of course." Sophy inclined her head aloofly and watched as Utteridge moved off

through the crowd toward a young blond, blue-eyed woman dressed in pale blue

silk.

"Cordelia Biddle," Waycott said, materializing just behind Sophy. "Not a brain

in her head, but I'm told her inheritance more than compensates."

"I was never led to believe men particularly valued brains in a woman."

"It's true that some men have not sufficient brains themselves to appreciate

such a commodity in a female." Waycott's eyes were intent on her face. "I would

venture to say that Ravenwood is one of those benighted males."

"You are wrong, my lord," Sophy said bluntly.

"Then I apologize," Waycott said. "It is just that I have seen little evidence

of Ravenwood's appreciation for his charming new wife and it gives a man pause."

"What, pray tell, do you expect him to do to show his appreciation?" Sophy

retorted. "Sprinkle rose petals outside our front door every morning?"

"Rose petals?" Waycott's brows lifted. "I think not. Ravenwood's not the type

for romantic gestures. But I would have expected him to present you with the

Ravenwood emeralds by now."

"I cannot imagine why," Sophy snapped. "My coloring is all wrong for emeralds. I

look infinitely better in diamonds, don't you think?" She moved her hand in a

graceful gesture that drew attention to the bracelet Julian had given her. The

stones glittered on her wrist.

"You are wrong, Sophy," Waycott said. "You would look lovely in emeralds. But I

wonder if Ravenwood will ever trust another woman with them? Those stones must

hold many painful memories for him."

"You must excuse me, my lord. I believe I see Lady Frampton over by the window.

I really should see if my digestive aid helped her."

Sophy swept off, deciding she really had had enough of the Viscount. He seemed

to be at nearly every social function she was attending these days.

As she moved through the crowd it occurred to her that she should not have let

Utteridge go so quickly. Even if he was not the man she wanted, he apparently

knew a great deal about Elizabeth's activities and was willing to talk about

them. It struck her belatedly that he might be able to provide valuable

information on the other two men whose names were on Charlotte's list.

Across the room Cordelia Biddle was declining another dance with Utteridge.

Utteridge, in turn, appeared about to exit into the gardens. Sophy started to

weave a path toward the open doors.

"Forget Utteridge," Waycott drawled from close behind Sophy. "You can do better

than him. Even Elizabeth did not dally long in that direction."

Sophy's head came around very quickly, her eyes narrowing in anger. Waycott had

obviously been following her. "I do not know what you are implying, my lord, nor

do I wish to have you explain your meaning. But I think it would be wise of you

to cease speculating on my associations."

"Why? Because you're afraid that if word gets back to Ravenwood he will drown

you in that damn pond the way he did Elizabeth?"

Sophy stared at Waycott in shock for an instant before she turned her back on

him and swept through the open doorway into the cool night air of the gardens.

* * *

"The next time you drag me off to a gaming hell as miserable as this place, I

trust you will have the decency to see to it that I at least have a chance at

winning." Julian kept his voice to a low, annoyed growl as he turned to follow

Daregate away from the table.

Behind him other players stepped forward with a studied casualness that did

little to conceal the feverish excitement in their eyes. Dice clicked softly and

a new game of hazard was begun. Fortunes would be won and lost tonight. Estates

that had been in families for generations would fall into new hands this evening

because of the luck of the toss. Julian could scarcely conceal his disgust.

Lands and the privileges and responsibilities that went with them were not to be

risked in a stupid dice game. He did not comprehend the mind of a man who could

do such a thing.

"Stop complaining," Daregate chided. "I told you it was easier to get

information out of a cheerful winner than it is from a disgruntled loser. You

got what you wanted, didn't you?"

"Yes, damn it, but it cost me fifteen hundred pounds."

"A pittance compared to what Crandon and Musgrove will lose tonight. The trouble

with you, Ravenwood, is that you begrudge any money not spent directly on your

estates."

"You know your own attitude toward gaming would alter completely tomorrow if you

inherited your uncle's title and the lands that go with it. You're no more a

confirmed gamester than I am." Julian signaled for his carriage as they stepped

out into the chilly evening. It was nearly midnight.

"Don't be too certain of that. At the moment I am rather devoted to the gaming

tables. I fear I am rather dependent on them for my income."