Taming The Viscountess Read online

  “Are you telling me that Lady Eloise lied about the time because she didn’t want to talk to Loretta? She only wanted her there so the Duke of Lambeth would come to the dinner party?”

  “That’s exactly what I’m saying. She was afraid Loretta would show up early, and if that happened, she might be forced to talk to Loretta without either me or Miss Webb there.”

  “What’s wrong with Loretta?”

  “Everything. She’s boring. She doesn’t have anything interesting to add to the conversation.”

  “I happen to disagree. Loretta’s very interesting to talk to.”

  “Of course, you’d say that. She’s nothing but your shadow. You lead and she follows. She’s repeats everything you say and do. She doesn’t have a mind of her own.”

  “That’s not true. She does have her own mind. There have been times when she disagreed with me.” Celia paused to come up with an example to prove Miss Wilmington wrong. When she got it, she added, “When I thought Lord Durrant was my ideal match, she told me he wasn’t. We even had a fight over it.”

  Miss Wilmington rolled her eyes. “That doesn’t prove anything. Everyone knew Lord Durrant didn’t want to marry you. Well, that was except for you. You were under the delusion he actually fancied you. Lady Eloise used to say the only way you’d get him to marry you was by trapping him into it through a scandal. That would have had you thrown out of the group, though, so we weren’t sure if you would actually go through with it.”

  Celia felt her face warm in embarrassment. They had said that behind her back?

  “Lady Eloise would be lost without you,” Miss Wilmington continued. “She needs you in the group.”

  Surprised, Celia asked, “She does?”

  “Yes. You make her look good. That’s your appeal. It was why she even allowed Loretta into the group in the first place. She knew you would never join if Loretta wasn’t invited.”

  Sure she wasn’t going to like what came next, Celia asked, “How do I make Lady Eloise look good?”

  “Lady Eloise realizes she’s not the easiest person to like. But you’re much worse than she is. No one likes you at all. Everyone calls you a shrew. With you to serve as a reminder that she could be much worse, people look upon her more favorably. ‘At least she’s not Celia,’ they say. Why, even your own husband has trouble with you. I heard about what happened in the market yesterday when he made you return all the expensive items you bought. If I was in charge of the group, you’d be quietly removed from it based on that alone. You are far too spoiled to be trusted with money.”

  Celia frowned. “Lady Eloise spends more than I do.”

  “Yes, but her father can afford to spoil her with everything she wants. Your husband used to be a captain. He’s only a viscount because his brother died and left the title to him. Word is that your husband inherited a lot of debt to go with it.” She shook her head and shot Celia a disapproving look. “I don’t understand you, Celia. Does it bring you pleasure to be so reckless with money? Why, even today, you’re here to find out what kind of gown to buy for Lady Eloise’s next social engagement. Can your husband even afford it?”

  “Do I have a choice? Lady Eloise insists we buy a new gown to each social engagement she has.”

  “If you can’t afford to do that, you shouldn’t be in the group. As I said, her father can afford to spoil her with gowns. You, on the other hand, chose to marry a pauper.”

  “My husband is not a pauper.”

  “He will be if you keep spending the way you do. He’s not an investor like your brother is. He’s only a captain.”

  Unable to take it anymore, Celia bolted to her feet and peered down at Miss Wilmington. “He is not only a captain. He’s lived a lifetime of adventures. Why, he’s been so close to a whale that he saw its eye.”

  Miss Wilmington grimaced. “There’s nothing noteworthy about being married to someone who made a living catching whales.”

  “Really? Whale oil is used in the lamps on the streets, and I bet some of it was in the soap you used this morning. And their teeth can be used for chess pieces and piano keys.” As an afterthought, she added, “I bet that new piano your father bought you has whale teeth in the keys. You get a lot of uses from whales, and if no one went out and caught them, you wouldn’t have some of the luxuries you do.”

  “Your husband is a working man. He is not a real gentleman. You fail to impress me.”

  Celia opened her mouth to further argue but then figured there was no point. Miss Wilmington was going to be contrary, and there was nothing she could do about it. With a grunt, Celia headed for the doorway of the drawing room.

  “You better watch what you say at Lady Eloise’s social engagement,” Miss Wilmington called after her. “You’ll get removed from the group if you insist that your husband is equal to the respectable gentlemen in London.”

  Celia reached the doors, opened one, and spun around to glare at her. “My husband is a respectable gentleman. And what’s more, he’s not boring like the other gentlemen in London are. He doesn’t sit around all day, sipping his brandy, and talking about life. He goes out and lives it.”

  “Lives it?” She laughed. “He can’t live life at all. He’s nothing but a useless cripple.”

  Celia stared at her. She didn’t just say that! Surely, Celia’s ears must be playing tricks on her. But Miss Wilmington shot her a satisfied smile, and Celia was assured that she’d heard her right.

  “He is not a useless cripple,” Celia snapped. Then, just because she didn’t know how else to release her anger, she slammed the door before storming out of the townhouse.

  ***

  “There you go,” Dr. Westward said as he finished strapping the peg leg on. “Are you ready to get up and test it?”

  Sebastian offered a hesitant nod then got up from the chair, and at once, he almost fell back into the chair.

  Dr. Westward helped him stay up then gave him a cane. “This will help you as you adjust to it. Finding the right balance might take you some time, but eventually, you should be able to walk on the peg leg without it.”

  “I never thought I’d say this, but I miss the crutch.” Even if the thing did make his armpit sore.

  With a smile, he said, “It won’t take long for you to get used to the peg leg. Once you do, you’ll be glad you have it.”

  Sebastian hoped so.

  “Walk over to that chair and come back,” Dr. Westward said, gesturing to the chair a few feet from Sebastian.

  Taking a deep breath, Sebastian gripped the cane and then took a tentative step forward. He wobbled for a moment, but the cane steadied him. He took another step forward, again feeling awkward as he did so. The steps following that were easier. He had to concentrate, though, because if he didn’t, then he risked losing his balance.

  As much as he didn’t want to use the cane, he realized he would have to until walking on the peg leg became a natural part of his life. But it would be worth it. Once he got used to this, he could get back on a ship, and he was looking forward to having Celia there with him. It would be fun to have her by his side as he hunted for fish to sell at different cities along the way. He couldn’t see sailing solely for pleasure. He did want to make money while doing it. It just wouldn’t seem like work since he loved doing it. And really, wasn’t that the best kind of work to have?

  When Sebastian had made several trips between the chairs, the doctor asked, “How does it feel?”

  “Awkward,” he admitted. “But I’ll get used to it.”

  “Don’t be surprised if your knee feels sore for a while. There’s suitable padding in the peg leg, but your knee will have to adjust to the pressure.”

  “Given how sore the crutch made my armpit, I expected as much.”

  “Just take it easy. You don’t want to do too much too soon. You’ll need to give your body time to adjust to the peg leg. You’re not ready for strolling through Hyde Park yet.”

  “Strolling through Hyde Park? I plan to go out to sea
.”

  “Well, give it a couple of months before you do. I suspect the ship isn’t as stable as being on land.”

  “Being on a ship isn’t bad, but yes, there are times it sways back and forth, especially when the water isn’t smooth.”

  “That’s all the more reason why you should give it a couple of months. You need to be as comfortable with the peg leg as you were with your real one.”

  Sebastian grinned. “I promise that I won’t run out to sea today.”

  Dr. Westward chuckled. “I’m glad you haven’t given up on the sea. Just because you lost half of your leg, it doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice the things you enjoy.”

  “I know. All it means is that I have to work harder to get what I want.”

  “That’s a good way of looking at it. There’s nothing more difficult for me to watch than someone who gives up just because things are no longer as easy as they used to be. In my line of work, I see that more often than I’d like.”

  Sebastian had no doubt that was true. After he paid the doctor, he left the townhouse and went to his carriage.

  “Shall I take you home?” the coachman asked.

  “Actually, I’d like to pay my brother-in-law a visit,” Sebastian said. “Take me to Lord Worsley’s residence.”

  The coachman nodded while the footman helped him into the carriage. In time, Sebastian hoped he would be able to get into the carriage without help, but since the peg leg was new, he didn’t mind the assistance.

  On the ride to Anthony’s townhouse, Sebastian set the cane aside and leaned forward to inspect the peg leg. It was strapped securely to his thigh. He just hoped he would remember the way Dr. Westward had gotten the thing on him so he could repeat the process tomorrow morning.

  The carriage came to a stop sooner than Sebastian expected, and he almost fell off the seat. He managed to straighten up in time for the footman to open the door.

  “Would you like me to find out if Lord Worsley is available?” the footman asked.

  Considering the fact that he was still getting used to the peg leg, he realized that was a good idea. “Yes.”

  With a nod, the footman turned and went up the steps of the townhouse. Sebastian would never be able to move so quickly again, but maybe he’d be able to move faster than the crutch had allowed. It wasn’t what he was able to do now that mattered. It was what he would be able to do in the future.

  Sebastian watched as the footman knocked on the door. The door opened, and his footman spoke with Anthony’s gentleman for a few seconds. Then Sebastian’s footman turned to the carriage and waved for him to come up to the door.

  Sebastian grabbed the cane and, with the coachman’s help, got down from the carriage.

  “Would you like assistance up the steps?” the footman asked as he returned to them.

  “No,” Sebastian said. “I can do it.” It might take him longer than it would have if he’d used his crutch, but he would manage it.

  As it turned out, it took even longer than he had expected. If there had been a railing, it would have been easier, but he had to take care to balance the peg leg, his good leg, and the cane. By the time he reached the top of the steps, he was out of breath. Even so, he was glad he’d done it himself. It was a small accomplishment, but it was one all the same.

  Wiping the sweat from his brow, he stepped into the entryway. “I hope I didn’t come at a bad time,” he told Anthony’s footman.

  “No, my lord. Lord Worsley asked me to bring you to his den,” the footman replied.

  With a nod, Sebastian followed him, noting that the footman went slower for his sake.

  Once they reached the den, the footman announced his arrival and waved him into the room.

  Sebastian thanked him and went into the room, surprised when he saw Lord Durrant there as well. “Forgive me,” he told Anthony. “I didn’t know you had a visitor. It wasn’t my intention to intrude.”

  “You’re not intruding,” Lord Durrant said as he rose from his chair. “I was just about to leave.”

  Sebastian nodded to the gentleman. He’d only heard rumors of what happened to Lord Durrant after Celia unsuccessfully tried to trap him into marrying her. Word was that he and Lady Hedwrett had had a quick and private wedding ceremony. Beyond that, he had no idea how the two were faring. Whatever agreement they’d made was done quietly. He had no idea how long that would last, given people’s tendency to gossip. But for now, at least, it seemed as if things had been resolved pleasantly enough.

  For the life of him, Sebastian couldn’t understand why Celia was so fascinated with the gentleman. Not that Lord Durrant was a horrible person. He’d been one of the gentlemen who had invested in Sebastian’s whaling expeditions in the past. He’d never said anything that would have upset anyone. But Sebastian didn’t think he had much of a personality. He was just there in the room. It almost seemed as if he faded into the background. Christopher and Ethan were far more interesting to talk to. And given Celia’s enthusiasm for the sea, he couldn’t imagine what Lord Durrant had told her that made her want to marry him.

  Sebastian stopped himself before his thoughts went any further. It was jealousy making him think such unflattering things about Lord Durrant, and that wasn’t fair to a gentleman who’d always been nice to him. It wasn’t Lord Durrant’s fault that Sebastian wondered if Celia was still in love with him.

  After Lord Durrant left, Anthony rose from his chair and said, “I’m not taking her back.”

  Sebastian hesitated then asked, “Pardon me?”

  Anthony hurried to the door and shut it. “I don’t care about that wager at White’s, and I don’t care how much Celia annoys you. I am not going to take her back. If you must get rid of her, rent out a townhouse and have her stay there. You’ll be able to afford it once you win all that money.”

  “I’m not here to get rid of her,” Sebastian replied, baffled that her brother would think that was the only reason he’d come to see him.

  “You’re not?”

  “No. I came to invite you and your wife to our townhouse for dinner. Since marrying Celia, I couldn’t help but notice you two haven’t visited each other. My brother is dead. I might not have always gotten along with him, but sometimes I think it would be nice if I could share a meal with him.”

  Anthony’s eyebrows furrowed. “Does she know you’re here?”

  “No. Is that important?”

  “It is if you don’t want her to behave like she did on her wedding day.”

  “Oh that.” Sebastian chuckled. “She won’t act like that.”

  “I wouldn’t be so sure.”

  “I am. I’ll tell her you’re coming, and she’ll be fine with it.”

  Anthony rolled his eyes. “You have no idea who you’re dealing with. I grew up with her. She’ll either pout all night, ignore me, or tell me everything she hates about me.”

  “It might be uncomfortable for a while, but that will be over before the evening ends.”

  He shook his head. “No, it won’t. It’ll go on for the entire night.”

  Sebastian studied Anthony as he went to pour a glass of brandy. He’d known Anthony longer than he’d known Lord Durrant. In fact, it was Anthony who’d introduced him to Lord Durrant, and in all that time, he hadn’t thought Anthony was afraid of anything.

  Now, however, it occurred to Sebastian that when it came to Celia, Anthony was afraid of her. Yes, when he was angry enough, he could overcome his fear and stand up to her, but otherwise, he was like a whale with a harpoon stuck in his side. And Celia was the one who’d thrown the harpoon. It was no wonder that she had been able to get away with as much as she had.

  “Celia is your sister,” Sebastian said. “You can’t avoid her forever.”

  “I wasn’t planning to avoid her forever.” Anthony gestured to an empty glass. “Would you like some brandy?”

  “No thanks.”

  Anthony put the top on the decanter and took a sip of his drink.

  “It’s j
ust a dinner,” Sebastian said. “I’ll be there. Your wife will be there. I can even have all the knives removed if you fear for your safety.”

  Sebastian added the last part in an attempt at getting Anthony to relax. Celia would have laughed if he’d said that to her, but Anthony seriously seemed to consider the option of removing anything that could be used as a weapon.

  “Celia will be nice,” Sebastian said. “You have my word.”

  “How can you guarantee that?”

  “Because she’s really a very sweet lady.” Then, just in case word reached the gentlemen at White’s about what he’d just said, he continued, “If you mention that to anyone, I’ll deny it. I do have that wager to consider, and I fully intend to win it.”

  Though Anthony didn’t seem convinced that things would go well during the dinner, he finally consented. “All right. Damara and I aren’t doing anything next Wednesday. We’ll come for dinner then.”

  “Good. Celia and I will be looking forward to it.”

  Anthony shook his head as if he didn’t believe him, but Sebastian decided to leave the matter alone and left the townhouse.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Celia didn’t know where to go after she left Miss Wilmington’s residence. She couldn’t visit Loretta because the conversation would inevitably turn to why Lady Eloise had told Loretta to show up late for the dinner party, and she didn’t want to tell her friend what Lady Eloise thought of her. It was bad enough Celia knew Lady Eloise had accepted them both into the group because Celia was so horrible that she made Lady Eloise look good.

  First, the gentlemen at White’s made a wager on whether or not Sebastian would make her live with her brother. Then, she learned the staff didn’t like her. And now this? Besides Loretta and Sebastian, was there anyone in London who actually liked her? Or did everyone hate her?

  She wasn’t sure she felt like going back home any more than she felt like seeing Loretta. She was just as upset with hearing Miss Wilmington call Loretta boring as she was with her saying Sebastian was a useless cripple. There were only two people in London who cared about Celia, and Lady Eloise and those in her group had nothing but contempt for them.