His Reluctant Lady Page 6

  “I never implied you didn’t ride as well as a gentleman.”

  “That’s true,” she relented.

  “Why would you even think I’d say something like that?”

  “Because most gentlemen assume a lady can’t do anything as well as they can.” She looked at him, challenging him to argue this simple fact with her.

  He laughed and shot her a charming smile that made her heartbeat pick up. She hated it when he did that. A gentleman had no right to be so good looking when he smiled that way. “I assure you that I don’t doubt your abilities, my lady. You ride better than some gentlemen I know. You also have sharper wit than most of them.”

  She relaxed. “Oh.”

  “Don’t be so quick to judge me. I know you’re my equal. It’s why you enchant me.”

  She had no idea what was wrong with him. Any other gentleman would have given up on her by now. Why he insisted on pursuing her, she couldn’t understand. “Mister Robinson, would it help if I told you that I have no intention of marrying anyone? My disinterest in you isn’t personal. I’m a very happy widow. I answer to no gentleman, and I prefer it that way.”

  “Now you do me a grave disservice. I don’t want to control you. I want to be your companion, someone you’ll share life’s joys and sorrows with, someone who’ll stand by your side and support you in all your endeavors.”

  Be her companion? Since when did any gentleman want that, unless… “I have no desire to take a lover,” she said in a low voice so the couple ahead wouldn’t overhear her.

  “Me neither. I don’t do anything halfway. I want all of you.”

  She sighed. “What will it take to make you give up this foolish nonsense? Money?”

  He gasped and pressed his hand to his chest. “Surely, my lady, you don’t mean to imply that I am so shallow that I only value you for your money.”

  “It’s no secret I’m wealthier than most widows.”

  “My cousin has plenty of money. If I cared so much about money, I’d do everything I could to make sure my cousin never got married. Without an heir, his title and money will go to me.”

  “But he’s young. The chance of him dying anytime soon is minimal, something that makes marriage to a wealthy widow more appealing.”

  “It’s a shame you think so little of me. I suppose only time will prove my intentions are honorable.”

  Goodness! Did that mean he really wasn’t going to stop vying for her hand? She didn’t know whether to be excited or frustrated. As much as he baffled her, she found his determination intriguing.

  “May I visit you sometime? Say tomorrow afternoon?” he asked.

  “No. I need to do something important.” This wasn’t a lie. She needed to get back to her writing, and she got so little opportunities to do it ever since she agreed to help her sister find a suitable husband.

  “I can help you with whatever pressing matter you have,” he offered.

  “What I need to do has to be done alone.”

  “Lady Richfield,” he began, his eyes pleading with her, “can’t you give me a chance? I won’t disappoint you.”

  “So you will give up your pointless pursuit?”

  “No. I’m just afraid if you keep forcing me out, then I might have to find a less-than-desirable way to marry you. Scandals are easy to arrange if one is creative enough.”

  “Do you take such delight in being a rake?”

  “I don’t mind being one. My cousin does but I don’t let his opinion stop me from doing what I want. I will only delight in taking you as my wife, and I will do whatever it takes to make that happen.”

  “Hmm… That sounds like a threat.”

  He shrugged but shot her a disarming grin. “If you truly minded my company, you’d find a way to join in the conversation up there.” He nodded toward his guardian and her sister. “I can’t help but notice you’ve stuck by my side.”

  “Only to give my sister time to get acquainted with your guardian.”

  “If you insist…”

  She narrowed her eyes at his tone. She shouldn’t be surprised that he didn’t believe her. The gentleman must assume every lady was hoping he’d pay attention to her. Well, she had no need to give into his delusions. She urged the horse to quicken its pace so that she was riding alongside her sister. Offering Sophie and Lord Clement a smile, she asked, “Having a pleasant conversation?”

  “I can’t speak on Miss Garrison’s behalf, but I am,” he replied.

  Agatha glanced at her sister who said, “Yes, it’s pleasant.”

  “Good,” Agatha replied. At least someone was enjoying this afternoon excursion.

  “Well, I’m having a marvelous time,” Mister Robinson called out as he rode up along Agatha’s other side. “I can’t remember when I’ve had so much enjoyment. Maybe it’s the beautiful weather. It’s a gorgeous day. The kind of day where everyone should be outside.”

  “I couldn’t have said it better myself,” Lord Clement agreed. “And it certainly is nice to be in the company of such beautiful ladies.”

  “Yes, that’s true,” Mister Robinson added, winking at Agatha.

  Her hold on the reins tightened, and as much as she wanted to believe it was because he was irritating her, a strange spark of excitement shot through her. The gentleman had the charm of a rake but seemed to possess a hint of innocence as well. She didn’t get the sense he made it a habit of pursuing ladies. At least he never made it in the Tittletattle, and if anyone should know which gentlemen pursued the ladies, she would. Not once did his name pop up in any of the circles she attended when she dressed up as Gerard Addison.

  She needed to submit a piece of gossip to the Tittletattle before the week was up. That meant she had to find a way to slip out of the townhouse again without being caught in her disguise. She groaned. Between helping Sophie find a husband and masquerading as two gentlemen, she had little time to write as of late, and it was starting to annoy her.

  “Something troubling you, my lady?”

  She looked at Mister Robinson who continued to smile in that irritatingly charming way of his. “Actually, there is. Have you done anything worthy of the Tittletattle?”

  “I should hope not,” Lord Clement said with a slight frown at his ward.

  “I’ve been on my best behavior ever since I returned from Lord Roderick’s estate,” he told his guardian, his tone indicating that he was offended by the notion anyone would think otherwise. Turning his gaze back to Agatha, he added, “Truly, I have been a saint.”

  She sighed in disappointment. While she didn’t expect him to come out and admit any scandalous behavior in front of his guardian, she’d hoped his expression would hint at something she could extract from him. Well, she’d have to pay Ethan a visit. Perhaps he heard of something at White’s she could use unless Mister Robinson knew something. He was Ethan’s friend, after all.

  “I’ll let you get back to your conversation,” she told Sophie and Lord Clement then pulled the reins on her horse so it slowed.

  As she hoped, Mister Robinson followed her lead and returned to her side. “I don’t blame you for leaving them,” he told her. “I think they were discussing the weather and horses. Boring topics, if you ask me.”

  “If they enjoy such conversations, then they might be well matched.”

  “If that’s the case, then yes. I, however, prefer something a little more stimulating. When I talk to someone, I want to stay awake, not fall asleep.”

  It was on the tip of her tongue to suggest that he might want to follow his guardian’s example if he expected a reputable lady to take an interest in him. He didn’t have a title or a significant amount of money to his name to get away with some of the topics he enjoyed talking about. But at the moment, she needed him to engage in some of his scandalous talk. “You’re well acquainted with Lord Edon, aren’t you?” she asked, deciding to offer a flirtatious smile his way.

  “Yes. We’re good friends.”

  Excellent. She scooted her horse clos
er to him so she could lower her voice. No sense in anyone overhearing her. “Does he tell you what happens at White’s?”

  “I see no reason why he should. I belong there myself.”

  “You do?”

  His eyebrows rose. “Does that impress you?”

  “Well, I wasn’t aware they let just anyone into the club.”

  “They don’t.”

  She suspected he got in because of his relationship to Lord Clement and his friendship with Ethan but decided not to point it out. “So you wish to have an interesting conversation? Why don’t you tell me something interesting that’s happening at White’s?”

  “A gentleman’s club isn’t suited for a lady, even to discuss what happens there.”

  She resisted the urge to grimace. She’d get nowhere if she tried to force information out of him. Forcing her expression to remain pleasant, she offered a shrug and moved the horse away from him. “All right,” she replied, making sure he detected the disappointment in her voice. “I suppose you’d rather engage in idle chatter just like your guardian and my sister.”

  “Now wait a minute.” He urged his horse closer to her. “I didn’t mean we should talk about the weather and horses. I thought we could talk about you.”

  “I already know everything there is to know about me.” She shrugged but then allowed her eyes to light up. “I don’t know about you.”

  “I didn’t think you were interested.”

  “Prove I should be.”

  “Pardon?”

  “Up to now you’ve been adamant in pursuing me,” she said. “No matter what I’ve done to push you away, you keep chasing me. So I’m going to give you a chance. Prove that you’re interesting enough for me to consider for courtship.”

  He chuckled. “I don’t want to court you. I want to marry you. But you’ve made it no secret that you have no such inclination to marry me.”

  “And yet you’re so certain I will marry you.”

  “Because I excite you and you like to get excited. Beneath your hard exterior, you’re a lady of passion who’s dying to be freed. Society’s restraints haven’t done you any favors. You’re a lady stuck in a gentleman’s world, limited to the rules of the Ton. It must frustrate you to no end to see gentlemen getting away with things you wish you could do.”

  She gripped the reins.

  His gaze lowered to her hands. “I see I struck a nerve.”

  She swallowed and forced her hands to relax.

  “If you marry me, I’ll allow you freedoms other gentlemen wouldn’t. I want to see that fire in you burn bright.” When she didn’t respond, he said, “All right. I’ll concede to your challenge. You want to know something that only the gentlemen in White’s know? I’ll share a confidence with you. Lord Davenport has made a bet with Lord Pennella. The wager? The hand of Miss Giles. Whoever marries her first owes the loser his estate.”

  Her jaw dropped and she made eye contact with him. “An entire estate for a marriage?”

  “Now I don’t seem like such a bad gentleman, do I? I’d never make a wager on you.”

  She couldn’t believe it. Poor Miss Giles. Agatha would hate it if someone made such a bet on her. Posting this in the Tittletattle would be a service to Miss Giles. She needed to know what Lords Davenport and Pennella were up to. Then she could send both earls off in disgust and find one who wouldn’t treat her no better than an object.

  “So, my lady,” Mister Robinson began, bringing her attention back to him, “have I proved myself to you?”

  “As loathe as I am to admit it, I suppose you’re not as boring as most gentlemen I’ve come across,” she replied.

  His eyes twinkling, he said, “Finally, the lady pays me a compliment.”

  Though his comment amused her, she shrugged.

  Lord Clement and Sophie pulled back their reins and Agatha and Mister Robinson stopped beside them. “Well, this is where we started,” Lord Clement said. “It’s been a most enjoyable afternoon.”

  “It certainly has,” Mister Robinson replied, his gaze sending an unexpected thrill straight through Agatha, which she quickly suppressed.

  “I’ll be hosting a dinner party in a week,” Lord Clement added. “Lord and Lady Roderick will be there.”

  “And Lord and Lady Edon?” his ward requested.

  “Since they’re friends of yours, I don’t see the harm in inviting them.”

  “It’s no secret Ladies Roderick and Edon are friends. They’ll have a more pleasant time if they can talk.”

  “Yes, I suppose that’s true.” Lord Clement turned his attention to Agatha and her sister. “Will you be joining us?”

  Even if it meant Agatha would have to spend time with Mister Robinson, she wasn’t about to waste this opportunity for her sister. Lord Clement was definitely interested in Sophie, and her sister couldn’t do much better than him. With a nod, she said, “We’d be honored to attend, my lord.”

  Lord Clement’s smile widened in relief. “Good. We look forward to it.”

  After Agatha and Sophie rode away from Hyde Park, Agatha studied her sister’s face. “Things are going remarkably well for you and Lord Clement.”

  “I suppose…”

  “But what? He’s not Lord Dabney?”

  “I’m no longer pining over Lord Dabney.”

  “That’s good.” And a relief, but she realized her sister was discontent for a different reason. “What’s troubling you?”

  “He’ll never be able to go dancing.”

  “So?”

  “I like dancing.”

  “You can still dance. Married ladies dance with other gentlemen.” Though she nodded, Agatha sensed it wasn’t enough. “Is something else troubling you?”

  “No.”

  She opened her mouth to ask her sister to share her misgivings but decided her sister didn’t want to talk about it. Finally, she said, “If there’s anything you have questions about, regarding marriage or anything, I’ll do what I can to answer them.”

  Sophie nodded and the two continued on in silence.

  Chapter Eight

  Five days later as Christopher entered White’s, he found a group of men roaring with laughter in the center of a room.

  “You’re in trouble now,” a gentleman told Lords Davenport and Pennella. “This is going to be all over the Ton by this evening.”

  Curious, Christopher made his way to Ethan who was sipping some brandy. “What’s going on? Did Miss Giles find out about the wager?”

  Ethan shook his head. “Not yet, but she will before the day is up.”

  “But why? Is someone going to tell her?”

  “They don’t need to. It’s in the Tittletattle.”

  “The Tittletattle? But how did it get in there?”

  Lowering his voice, Ethan said, “Someone from this establishment had to have told someone at the Tittletattle.”

  Christopher considered the ramifications of what he’d just learned. “Who would have told someone from the Tittletattle such a thing?”

  “Your guess is as good as mine,” he replied with a shrug. “Whoever it was, let’s just hope Davenport and Pennella don’t find out…especially Pennella. You know he doesn’t take kindly to betrayals. Fortunately, neither of us have to worry about it.” He gestured to Lord Roderick who was playing chess with Perry. “It was probably him. You know how much he protested the wager, saying it was morally reprehensible to bet on a lady.”

  Somehow he doubted Lord Roderick had anything to do with this, even though he argued at great length about it. He glanced at the paper Davenport was reading, his face as white as a sheet. “I take it he has a copy of the Tittletattle?”

  “Yes, but you can find another one on that table if you wish.”

  He turned and saw the stack of scandalsheets. His eyes widened in surprise. There seemed to be a copy for every member of White’s. He went over to the table and selected a copy, further surprised when he realized the wager made the top headline. Beneath it read, Lord Dave
nport has made a bet with Lord Pennella. The wager? The hand of Miss Giles. Whoever marries her gains the loser’s estate.

  His eyebrows furrowed as he read it again. The wording was much too similar to what he used when he revealed the matter to Lady Richfield at Hyde Park. His gaze went to the name of the person who reported it to the Tittletattle. Gerard Addison. What were the chances that Lady Richfield and Gerard Addison were the same person? Considering how soon the gossip appeared in the Tittletattle and the way it was worded, it was more than a coincidence. He glanced around the room to make sure no one suspected him of telling Lady Richfield about the wager.

  Ethan came over to him. “You want to play some cards?”

  He folded the Tittletattle. “I thought you didn’t gamble anymore since Catherine’s father forbade it.”

  “I don’t but I still like to play cards.”

  “All right,” he replied, tucking the Tittletattle into his pocket.

  ***

  “You have a visitor, my lady.”

  Agatha glanced up from her writing, her eyebrows furrowed. She wasn’t expecting anyone. “Is it my sister?” she asked the butler, setting her writing in her desk drawer then rising to her feet.

  “No. It’s Mister Robinson. He said you were expecting him.”

  “No, I’m not.”

  Before she could tell the butler to send him away, Mister Robinson appeared in the doorway and said, “I have an important message from Mister Addison.”

  Her heart stopped as she glanced at the butler. Her gaze went back to Mister Robinson who stepped halfway into the drawing room and crossed his arms. So he’d seen the tidbit in the Tittletattle and realized she was one of the contributors. She couldn’t tell if he was upset or amused. His expression seemed to be a mixture of both. Tapping her nails on the desk, she debated the best way to proceed. If she wasn’t careful, this wasn’t going to end in her favor.

  “I assured your butler and footman that you’d want to see me,” Mister Robinson added with a penetrating stare, “given the circumstances.”