Part 4 (1/2)

”Then you will have noticed my Bertie, Corina. Even at his age his b.u.t.tocks remain exceedingly firm. He maintains an excellent seat while in the saddle, or out of it!” She t.i.ttered as she turned towards Olivia who smiled nervously back at her friend.

”Ladies, please. Charlotte is not yet twenty. This sort of conversation is best left to another evening.”

Charlotte hid the sudden desperation that curled around her heart at the turn of the conversation. She smiled a little stiffly as she pretended that there was nothing wrong with the woman's insinuations, but their scandalous gossip and innuendoes on the subject of Geoffrey's various attributes and how he might use them while 'in the saddle or out of it' turned her stomach.

Lady Latham's wrinkling neckline belied the dark colour of her hair and Lady Armitage's golden locks and strikingly beautiful eyes suddenly lost some of their l.u.s.tre. Lady Bowers appeared to be the nearest in age to her, but even she was old enough to be Geoffrey's own mother. Their dialogue disgusted her and she found herself unable to keep quiet on the subject.

”My dear Olivia, if you think that I am under any illusions as to what the ladies are referring then I am afraid that you didn't know my father and brother, though even I confess that neither of them had such a magnificent 'seat' as Mr. Talbot. I swear his is veritably swoon-worthy! I will have to use him as my gauge when selecting a husband this season. I will make all my suitors line up on their mounts and turn about while I examine their riding...er, riding abilities.” She raised a delicate eyebrow while she privately ground her teeth behind her smile and the ladies all giggled behind their fans.

Lady Bowers laughed loudest.

”La! Olivia you have discovered a veritable diamond. She will have the men falling at her feet.” She turned back to Charlotte and whispered from behind her ostrich feather fan. ”If you are selecting a husband, you should also make sure that they like to take daily exercise, my dear. It increases the stamina considerably. Believe me, I should know. My poor departed Alfred never rode.” She sniffed dramatically into a lace square in her hand. ”I can attest to the fact that his stamina was greatly affected. It is what killed him, you know.” She nodded as if agreeing with herself and a curl of her hair slipped down around her ear revealing iron-grey roots at her scalp.

Charlotte concealed her surprise. Perhaps Lady bowers wasn't as young as she had first supposed, but Mr. Michaels appeared to only be in his early thirties. She pondered the age difference and wondered what might attract a young man to a woman of such increased years as she listened to the rest of the matron's story.

”One night of pa.s.sion in ten years and he turned up his toes in our bed. The doctor confirmed that had he taken his exercise daily rather than once a decade, he would never have keeled over under the sudden strain!” She sniffed again but soon recovered and carried on as if she hadn't a care in the world. ”Of course, being only thirty five, Mr. Michaels can ride for hours on end without breaking a sweat and I can vouch for the delights of having such a talented rider as an escort, however if Mr. Talbot is as good as you and Olivia suggest then I doubt that he'll be free man for much longer. Men such as he are snapped up before you can blink.” The other ladies all jumped and then laughed as she clipped her fingers to emphasise her point. ”There are too many fillies and mares to go round. He'll have the pick of the season, but I think that he, as most men, would prefer a mount with a little more spirit and experience rather than one straight from the stables, and I do so like a strong rider. I'll have to see if he'd like to jump some fences with me.” The woman gave a superior smile towards Charlotte, her meaning quite clear as she fluttered her dark eyelashes.

Charlotte pinned a grin on her face as her heart broke inside her chest. The thought that Geoffrey might fall for this woman's faded hair and shallow charms was almost too much for her to bear. She twirled the gla.s.s of pale wine in her fingers but couldn't take a sip, such was the nausea that crept from her stomach to her throat.

Uncomfortable with the lewd conversation, Olivia glanced around the room and, attempting to change the subject, mentioned Lady Latham's forthcoming ball.

”Will your son be in town soon, Celina? Alexander mentioned to me that Charles might be coming to town this season.”

Charlotte shot Lady Latham a glare. She did not want to meet the woman's son again under any circ.u.mstances. He and his disreputable friends had almost ruined her and nearly killed her cousin Giles only the year before.

To her dismay, Lady Latham responded with an eager nod.

”Charles will be arriving soon. He was meant to travel with his friend, Colin Rookwood, but something has clearly gone awry with their plans and Colin has been delayed.” She let huffed out a deep sigh. ”I suspect young Rookwood couldn't resist entangling himself with another paramour. You know how awfully charming he can be.” She looked over to where Charlotte sat on the chaise. ”You have probably been introduced to my son and Lord Rookwood already, Lady Charlotte. I believe they attended the Duke's ball at Ormond some eighteen months ago. I recall meeting Alexander at our country home several times afterwards, and I was pleased that he and Charles seemed to have struck up a friends.h.i.+p. Tis a pity that it seems to have fallen off somewhat, though that might be more to do with the murder that occurred.”

Lady Bowers and Lady Armitage both gasped as one and immediately began chattering between themselves.

”Murder! At a ball? Never! Imagine the scandal! No wonder the Duke doesn't often appear in public anymore.” Lady Bowers' fan wafted back and forth so fast that it became a blur.

Lady Armitage nodded back at her friend.

”How singular! Who was the victim? And more to the point, was the murderer ever caught?”

Charlotte rolled her eyes, beyond annoyed with their silly twittering. It was enough that Lady Latham believed all of Alexander's visits had been in the pursuit of friends.h.i.+p and not in the course of his enquiries into finding the missing Lord Ellesworth. She couldn't let the absurd rumours continue and immediately interrupted.

”Ladies! I was there on the evening of the ball and saw the events unfold, but I have to disappoint you. The rumours of an a.s.sa.s.sination are ill founded. There was no murder, no victim and no perpetrator. The whole affair was exaggerated greatly and blown up out of all proportion.” She spoke firmly but Lady Latham shook her head.

”No, there was definitely a murder. My son reported that there was a hanging not long after.”

Charlotte seethed inwardly but couldn't let it go.

”Yes, there was a hanging, but fortunately my cousin and guardian, Lord Caithwell, was saved by none other than the Mr. Talbot escorting us today. The supposed victim, a friend of your son's, Lord Edward Ellesworth had become lost in Ormond's secret pa.s.sageways and arrived at his home alive and well some three or four weeks later. My cousin was completely absolved of any wrongdoing, but it was only the quick actions of Mr. Talbot that kept him alive when he was hung for the alleged crime. Edward Ellesworth was discovered to be hale and hearty only a day or two later. I believe that your son and Colin Rookwood thought Lord Ellesworth had been devoured by pigs after they discovered his partially eaten coat in the local farmers pig pen.”

There were shocked gasps round the room.

Eaten by pigs!

My goodness, an a.s.sa.s.sin's relative in our midst!

Who would ever have thought of such a thing!

We shall all be murdered in our beds!

The ladies fanned themselves even more furiously and Charlotte wondered if they didn't actually make themselves hotter with the exercise.

Olivia beckoned a footman to pour more wine. She brought the excited chatter to order as the gla.s.ses were filled.

”Ladies, really! You heard Charlotte's explanation and it is one that I can confirm as true. Lord Edward Ellesworth is alive and well. I believe he is on the continent but keeps in regular contact with his sister who happens to be Lord Caithwell's own wife. I beg of you to see that your tongues do not run away with you. The rumour mill will not start turning in my house. I forbid you to ruin this wonderful girl's chances for the price of a piece of false gossip.” Her imperious tone brooked no argument.

Lady Armitage nodded quickly.

”Of course, Olivia. Our lips are sealed. We certainly won't mention her less than favourable connections.”

”Less than favourable?” Olivia drew in a sharp breath. ”Have you not listened to a word we have said. Lord Caithwell was wrongly accused. He is the very best of men. Apart from being my own son's most loyal friend, he is as handsome as sin and twice as charming. He is completely devoted to his wife, Lady Anne. Such a lovely woman, whom I still consider to be my daughter. You will remember that she was married to my darling son Phillip who died so tragically three years ago. Anne captured Lord Caithwell's heart soon after she was out of mourning. They are to arrive in town two to three weeks hence with their baby son, Marcus Geoffrey who was named after the very Mr. Talbot who saved Lord Caithwell's life.”

Lady Bowers' eyes gleamed as she sipped some more of her wine.

”Ah! A handsome, suspected murderer who managed to escape certain death...How delightfully decadent, but such a shame too. Why do all the most interesting men already have wives? I suspect that he rides well too.”

Charlotte drew in a sharp breath. She was already sick of them all. It was bad enough that the appalling woman was after Geoffrey, but Giles as well? If this was a sample of the depth of conversation that she would have to endure over the next few weeks, she could well do without it. She placed her gla.s.s on the side table and stood up.

”Olivia, Ladies, my apologies, but I fear that I am far too tired to engage in more of this scintillating discussion tonight. Will you please make my excuses to the...” She stopped speaking as the door opened unexpectedly and the gentlemen filed through. She bobbed a curtsey to them and quickly bid them goodnight as she slipped out of the room behind them. Geoffrey frowned down at her as she pa.s.sed and, noticing her less than happy expression, stepped back into the hall. He pulled the door half closed behind him so that they couldn't be seen directly. She was already at the bottom of the stairs but he called out quietly. She stopped and turned instantly as he hesitated on the threshold of the door.

”Charlotte, is everything alright? You look a little pale.”

Relieved that he had used her given name for the first time in months, Charlotte shook her head, but tears welled in her eyes at the thought of Lady Bower's words and possible intentions and her words came out rather shakily.

”Thank you for asking, but I am perfectly fine...I am tired from our journey and probably just out of humour with our guests. The subject of their conversation was not one which I could enjoy.” She lifted her chin in the direction of the salon.

Geoffrey's features softened as he saw her obvious distress. He let go of the door and heard it click shut behind him as he strode over to her. A tear glistened in the lamplight before it escaped her lashes and he raised his hand to her cheek, gently wiping the soft skin below her eye with the pad of his thumb.

”Have they been unkind to you, Charlotte? I would hardly think that Olivia would allow...”

She shook her head quickly.

”No, no, nothing of the kind, Olivia has been the kindest person, but that Lady Bowers thinks that she is some kind of wit. She thought that I wouldn't understand her ridiculous innuendoes or her silly expressions. She tried to make a fool of me, but I was up to the task until she went too far. I became too angry to keep hold of my tongue and feared that I was about to embarra.s.s myself and Olivia. I thought retreat the best course of action.” A thrill threaded its way down her spine as she dared a glance into Geoffrey's concerned silver grey eyes. The tenderness glowing back in them nearly overwhelmed her and she caved into a sudden desire as she leaned into his warm palm.

Geoffrey let out a deep sigh and caressed her cheek as he glanced about the hall to make sure that they were alone before he spoke quietly.

”Sounds much the same as the conversation in the dining room. That's why we are joining you early. However, I am not as lucky as you and cannot escape to bed so easily, but rest a.s.sured, I will try and put an end to this evening as soon as possible. I cannot believe that Lady Olivia has invited such shallow people to her table. I feel sure that Alexander and Giles would not be happy if they knew.” His whispered tones soothed Charlotte's fears and she nodded as she gazed at his wide chest. The sight of its broad expanse made her forget the upset Lady Bowers had caused her and she was suddenly aware of the softness of his palm and the faint scent of masculine soap.

She took a breath and a quick step back as she feared that he would hear the sudden thundering of her heart.