A Hint of Seduction Read online

  A knowing grin lifted one corner of Westerland’s thin lips as he looked down on John. A nasty twinkle sparked in his eyes.

  “What happened?” he asked.

  “His horse threw him,” Phillips answered, though it was clear Westerland had been speaking to John.

  “He was spooked,” Andrew said, speaking up to defend his friend before cutting his eyes around to Phillips and giving him an irritated glare.

  Westerland laughed and brushed a strand of his neatly trimmed blond hair from his forehead. The dandy wore his shirt points so high and his starched-stiff neckcloth so intricately tied that John wondered how the poor man kept from hanging himself.

  “The great General? This magnificent gelding I’ve heard so much about since I returned to London was spooked?” He gave John a mock incredulous stare. “By what, pray tell?”

  “A large bird,” Andrew said. “You want to make something out of it?”

  Westerland sneered at John before looking over at Andrew. “I don’t need to. The horse said it all by tossing his master up in the air like a worthless sack of rubbish. Splendid.” He laughed again. “What kind of bird did it see? A bloody flying bat from hell?”

  John gritted his teeth and held his retort. He couldn’t let Westerland goad him into saying something he’d regret. The least said about this matter the better. He had to change the subject from The General.

  Thinking quickly, John looked up at Westerland and asked, “Did you think I was going to run out on you and not pay my bet?”

  “Not for a moment. You don’t know horseflesh, but I’ve never known you to run out on a wager.”

  John remained quiet but didn’t take his eyes off the Marquis.

  Westerland continued. “I came looking for you because Mallory just swore to me that he saw a lady riding your horse. I thought for certain he had spent too much of the night drowning in a tankard of ale and that he must be seeing things, but now that I see you’re horseless, I’m wondering if I was wrong.”

  John’s stomach tightened, but he made sure his face didn’t show any sign of the struggle inside him. If he ever got his hands on that delectable miss, he would personally strangle her for putting him in this predicament.

  “A lady, riding Lord Chatwin’s horse, you say?” Wilkins questioned and then looked to John and asked, “Do you really think that’s true?”

  “Of course not,” Andrew said.

  “What if she found your horse and just took him?” Phillips asked.

  John forced himself to remain quiet and let his friends do the talking. He was hoping they would muddle the situation enough to confuse everyone.

  “There is no lady on John’s horse,” Andrew insisted calmly. “Mallory is full of horse dung. What woman do either of you know who could ride that beast? Besides, it is too early in the morn for a lady to be out in the park, and even if she was, she wouldn’t be alone and she wouldn’t just happen to get on a stray horse and ride him.” Andrew chuckled. “Can’t you tell that Mallory was just fooling with Westerland?”

  “Maybe. Maybe not,” Westerland said, allowing his stallion to paw the ground menacingly close to John’s feet. “I think there are a number of ladies who could ride Chatwin’s gelding, but I’d like to see the one who could master my stallion.”

  John didn’t flinch but was seething inside that Westerland encouraged his mount’s aggression.

  “Perhaps we should fan out over the park and find the earl’s horse and see if there really is a mysterious lady rider,” Westerland said.

  John knew he should be a man about this and admit what happened, but something inside him wouldn’t let him divulge that a female, no matter how beautiful and intriguing, had outfoxed him. And the last thing he wanted was for these men to be out looking for the lady and The General.

  If he didn’t make light of this now, every one of them would want to ride the entire six hundred acres until they found his horse.

  He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small coin purse. He tossed it to Westerland, who caught it against his chest with his gloved hand.

  “There’s your money,” John said. “You won fair and square. Enjoy it.”

  “Thank you, Lord Chatwin,” he mocked. “I shall enjoy spending every pound.”

  “Here’s my bet, too,” Wilkins said, and he dropped a few coins into Westerland’s outstretched hand.

  “I might as well pay up, too,” Phillips answered and added to the coins.

  John heard every clink of every coin as they puddled in Westerland’s gloved palm.

  Everyone looked at Andrew.

  “Sorry, old chap, my pockets are to let at the moment. I had faith my dear friend of fifteen years wouldn’t let me down. I’ll have to settle with you later in the day.”

  “I’ll be around,” Westerland said, dropping the loose coins into the pocket of his waistcoat. He then looked at John again and patted his horse’s thick neck. “If you have the stomach for a rematch, let me know.”

  A sizzle of impatience assailed John. “You can count on it,” he said tightly. He intended to get back every last ha’penny.

  “Well, if a lady is really riding your horse, I’m not so sure you’ll want one.” He laughed and turned his stallion around but stopped abruptly. Twisting his head back to see John, he said, “Let me know if you ever get him back.”

  Then Westerland galloped off, the stallion kicking up clods of dirt.

  Wilkins spit on the ground, and then said, “He’s such a guttersnipe.”

  “Yes, a real bastard. Too bad The General didn’t beat him,” Phillips added.

  “Don’t worry, fellows,” Andrew said in a more cheerful tone. “John will beat him next time and we’ll get our money back.”

  John appreciated the faith his friends had in him. He hated like hell that he’d let them all down, especially Andrew. They’d all lost a considerable sum because of that lady, and John suspected Andrew didn’t have the money to lose.

  “Do you want us to help you look for your horse?” Wilkins asked.

  “No, thank you,” John said. “He can’t be too far away. You and Phillips head home. Andrew will help me find him.”

  The men bid their farewells and John watched them ride away.

  Andrew glanced down at John as his brows drew together in a frown. “Now, are you going to tell me what the devil happened to The General?”

  “Bloody hell.” John shook his head and chuckled. He didn’t know when he’d been so outdone by anyone. “I might as well. A young lady, no doubt the one we just heard about, stole him right out from under my nose.”

  Andrew gave him a rueful glare. “No. You’re bamming me. Are you sure?”

  “Damnation, Andrew, does this sound like something I’d admit to if it weren’t true?”

  “I guess not. It’s just hard to believe a lady would dare such a thing.”

  “This one did.”

  “How? Where? I mean, how did she get you off The General in order to steal him? Did she hold you up with a gun or a knife like a common highwayman?”

  “No, of course not. Nothing that serious. She simply caught me unaware.”

  John briefly told him what had happened, ending with “When I helped her onto the saddle to walk her out of the park, she grabbed the leather from my hands and took off. You know how fast the General is. There’s no way I could catch him.”

  “I’m surprised she could control him, and I daresay it was rather brazen of her.”

  “In one way, yes, but in another, no,” John told him, unwilling to explain any better what happened between the two of them.

  Andrew rubbed his chin and looked off into the distance as if he were studying something. “You say she was a lady?”

  “Yes, and audacious to be sure. But her manner of dress and her speech were that of quality. She was no doxy from the streets.”

  “Was she young?” Andrew asked.

  “Yes.”

  “Pretty?”

  “Very. Why? Wh
at does any of this have to do with the fact that she took The General?”

  “Nothing, other than the fact that you were, no doubt, paying more attention to how the lady looked than to what she was doing.”

  Yes, he had been too busy enjoying the way his hands felt around her small waist as he lifted her onto the saddle to notice what she was doing with her hands.

  John started to protest but thought better of it. He couldn’t fool Andrew. He’d known him too long.

  He simply said, “Guilty.”

  Andrew threw back his head and laughed. “It serves you right that she took your horse.”

  “Because I noticed what a bright shade of blue her eyes were and how tempting her lips were and how small her waist was?”

  “And I’m sure you were enchanted when she smiled at you and that you wanted to kiss her.”

  Andrew mocked him, but John couldn’t find any anger inside himself against his friend, or what was more surprising, he didn’t feel any anger toward the lady. It was more bemusement.

  “No, you are wrong there.”

  Andrew’s brow wrinkled in a frown. “You didn’t want to kiss her?”

  “Not the kiss. You bet your jacks I wanted to. But she didn’t smile at me. Not once.”

  That was another thing that made this lady different from all the other ladies in his life. He’d never had a woman appear so self-confident in his presence before and that had impressed him. This was the first time he wasn’t completely in control. That was new for him and he wasn’t sure he liked it.

  But it had left him eager to find out more about her.

  “You lie,” Andrew said, still not convinced.

  “It’s true. She didn’t seem the least bit intrigued by my charm.”

  “Good Lord. What’s this? Are you losing your touch with the ladies?”

  “I hope to hell not.”

  “Well, she’s cheeky to be sure, and I’d say she’s one intelligent lady, and I’d like to meet her.”

  John gave Andrew a curious look. “Why?”

  “She knows good horseflesh and she snubbed you.”

  John smiled and shook his head. “That she did, my friend.”

  “And?”

  “And I’m not up for your verbal sparring right now, Andrew.”

  His friend grinned. “I understand. I suppose it was a big blow for you to lose your horse—to a pretty miss. Are you going to report her?”

  “To whom? The Thames police? My uncle? I want to keep anyone from knowing about this if at all possible.”

  “It might be too late if Mallory has already seen her.”

  “That nod cock is probably already spreading it around the clubs.”

  “So now what do we do? Should we head to Bow Street and find a runner to search for her?”

  “If we have to, we will.” John reached his hand out to Andrew. “Give me a lift up behind you. The first thing we’re going to do is scour the park and see if we can find my horse and the lady who rides him.”

  Three

  “A horse! A horse! My kingdom for a horse!” Is that quote from Shakespeare’s work or from our very own Lord Chatwin? It’s been reported that he was seen in Hyde Park on foot, brushing dust from his clothing. While on the other side of the park, a mysterious lady was seen racing down Rotten Row on his horse. Hmm, any guesses about what might have transpired between the earl and the lady?

  Lord Truefitt

  Society’s Daily Column

  CATHERINE TWIRLED UNDER the arm of her dance partner as he led her through the first turn of the quadrille. The tall, blond-haired man was not only handsome, he was a skilled dancer, too. Lord Westerland’s smoothness on his feet easily made allowances for Catherine’s lack of talent on the dance floor.

  The ballroom was on fire with hundreds of brightly burning candles, lighting the magnificent room with a grandeur Catherine had never seen in the small village where she grew up. There was a crush of handsome men dressed in elaborately adorned waistcoats of bright colors, expertly tied neckcloths, and fine coats with tails. Beautiful ladies gowned in silks, satins, jewels, and lace crowded the floor.

  The room was lively with music, chatter, and laughter. The scent of candle wax, perfume, and liquor lingered in the air. Everything in the room seemed to glimmer and sparkle from the dazzling display of candle glow.

  Catherine had spent the first hour of her first party trying to obey Victoria’s strict rule that she not act as if this was the first time she’d attended so grand a party. But she was sure she’d failed miserably even though her dance card was full.

  She had never even been in a room as large as the ballroom that must have held at least a hundred people. And she had certainly never seen such marvelous floral arrangements, brass candlesticks, and gilt-tipped columns decorating a room.

  She’d read about the grand parties given by members of the ton. The articles didn’t begin to do the events justice as far as she was concerned, especially this one. She had not been prepared for such a spectacular evening.

  Catherine felt as if she had been promenaded around the room like she was a lady-in-waiting to the queen. So many gentlemen had begged introductions. Dukes, earls, and viscounts as well as barons and sirs had asked to be presented to Mrs. Goosetree’s charge.

  Victoria was doing her job as chaperone well, staying by Catherine’s side the entire evening, making introduction after introduction until Catherine’s head spun with so many names and titles that she couldn’t possibly connect them to the right faces again.

  Thankfully neither Mills nor her half sister had realized she had a strange horse tied to the back of the carriage when she arrived. After she had seen Mills and Victoria safely home, she and their footman went back out to look for the gentleman to return his horse. They were unable to find the stranger, but they had found her hired hack.

  As the night wore on, Catherine kept hoping to see the man whose mount she’d borrowed in the park that morning, but there hadn’t been a sign of him. His was one face she wouldn’t soon forget. Nor would she forget the way he had made all her senses come alive and awakened those wonderful feelings she’d never experienced before.

  He was far more handsome than most men, and he’d been a perfect gentleman right up to the time she left him. She hadn’t turned back to look at him because she didn’t want to see his reaction to her taking his horse without permission. But she was sure the man was not happy.

  It was unbelievable to her that he would leave the park without his magnificent animal. She was left no choice but to have the footman stable the gelding at a private livery so there would be no questions about to whom the animal belonged.

  Something had told her he wasn’t the kind of man anyone would want to make angry, but Catherine was certain she had.

  Over the hours she’d been at the party she’d danced until her feet hurt. All the young men were charming and lavished courtly compliments upon her, including the tall, blond gentleman who now led her around the crowded dance floor.

  She had enjoyed herself immensely and was continuing to do so as she bowed and then turned under the arm of her partner.

  With her father so ill, she hadn’t been to a dance in over two years. Instead, she had spent her evenings with him reading and playing cards. After her first dance of the night, she realized she was much better at playing cards than she was at dancing.

  Victoria said they had been invited to six different parties for the evening, but this soirée was the only one they would attend. Victoria had explained that this event would be the biggest party of the night, and any person of importance would find their way to the ballroom at some time during the course of the evening. It was best to stay put so they wouldn’t miss anyone whom Victoria considered notable.

  But what her sister didn’t know was that Catherine was only interested in hearing the names of three men: Mr. William Walker Chatsworth, Mr. Robert Beechman, and Mr. George Wickenham-Thickenham-Fines. She kept thinking that surely someone from
one of these families would be present tonight and she would be introduced to them. Once she made contact with someone from each of the families, she would go about finding out which one of the men was her real father.

  It would have been so easy to have just told Victoria about her mother’s journal and have Vickie make all the right introductions into the families, but she wasn’t certain how Vickie would react if she suddenly learned that they were not half sisters after all.

  Would Victoria tell her to throw away the journal and forget she’d ever discovered the truth about her parentage? Or would she throw Catherine out of the house and leave her destitute since they didn’t have the same father?

  Catherine didn’t want either of those things to happen. She wanted to find her father and make him tell her why he abandoned her mother. Was he already promised to another? Was he going away to fight in the war, or was he just a cold-hearted man who didn’t care about the woman he’d ruined?

  Victoria was a widow with a home of her own, and to her nothing was more important than Catherine making a good match, preferably one with a titled gentleman, so she would collect the bonus that had been arranged for her by their father’s will.

  But the evening wore on and Catherine hadn’t heard any of the names. It didn’t help her cause that men with titles were usually introduced only by their title names and not their Christian or surnames.

  It was quite possible that one or more of these men were from the peerage—a group of people Catherine knew very little about since she’d lived far from London all her life. Unless a titled man was a recluse, he spent at least some of the year in London, and since her county was not known for hunting, fishing, or racing, very few had made it to her hometown.

  Maybe it wasn’t rational to want to find her real father. She knew it would be a difficult task. But ever since she’d found out the truth, she’d felt as if a part of her was missing. She had lived a lie through no fault of her own.

  Catherine wanted to know the truth. Who was her father and why hadn’t he married her mother?

  The quadrille had come to an end. Catherine faced her partner and he bowed. She smiled and curtsied, hoping he hadn’t noticed that she had been distracted during the dance. Thankfully the tempo had been quite fast and there hadn’t been much opportunity to talk.