Page 54 of Dare to be Wicked

“What the devil is going on here?”

Lottie let out a sigh of relief as her father and Lord St Clair appeared, emerging from the earl’s study, clearly drawn by the woman’s forceful voice. Madame Lafitte took a step back, but did not quail in front of the duke, for which Lottie had to give her credit.

“Who are you, madam, to come in here and speak to my daughter so?” he demanded, drawing Eliza and Lottie behind him.

Madame Lafitte sank into a deep and lavish curtsey, lowering her lashes and glancing up shyly at their papa. Lottie knew he was still a handsome man and could hardly blame her for trying, but the lady was all about in her head if she thought any manner of coquetries would influence him.

“Monsieur le duc,” she murmured, putting a trembling hand to her forehead. “Forgive me. I am fatigued and I forget my manners, but this one… ’e and ’is brother, they treat me very bad, so cruel. I come only to warn la pauvre demoiselle, to ’ave a care for zhey are wicked and false.”

The earl looked at Louis César with a frown of consternation. Lottie was not surprised. The comte’s brother had already caused a scene with his son, and now this. She wished Cassius was here, for she felt sure he could smooth things over.

“Monsieur le Comte?” the earl said, his tone polite but clearly displeased. “Do you know this woman? Does she speak the truth?”

Louis turned a scathing look upon Madame Lafitte. “Yes, I know her, Lord St Clair, and I remain convinced that Madame would not know the truth if it sat in her lap, let alone understand the concept of honour. However, I fear I have caused a disagreeable scene and I have no desire to outstay my welcome. I will order my carriage. If you will be so good as to have my valet follow on with my belongings.”

“Of course,” the earl said, obviously relieved. “Madame Lafitte?”

Madame Lafitte shot Louis César a look of such volcanic fury Lottie half-expected it to singe his immaculate cravat, but he only met it with one of glacial coldness.

“You will regret this, Louis, and you may tell your brother your downfall will be on ’is conscience.”

With this, she swept out of the hallway in an angry swish of heavy skirts: a dramatic exit fit for any wronged heroine in an overblown theatrical.

“My word,” Lottie breathed, once the woman had disappeared and Louis César was hurrying up the stairs to ready himself to leave. Eliza watched him go, a little frown puckering the smooth skin between her eyebrows.

“Oh, Eliza, I am so sorry.”

Eliza waved this away. “It is of no matter. I refuse to listen to anything the dreadful creature has to say. Imagine, chasing a man to a private party and embarrassing him so dreadfully. No matter how angry one is, a lady never behaves in such a vulgar fashion.”

“That was no lady, my dear,” their father said, his anger apparent.

“No,” Eliza replied, her tone thoughtful. “That was done to cause the maximum damage to the comte and his brother. I shall set no store by it.”

“Still,” said the duke, his countenance hiding none of his displeasure at the unpleasant scene. “I shall make it my business to discover more about these brothers, and until then you are to stay well away from them. Is that clear?”

To her astonishment, rather than meekly agreeing with her father’s command, Eliza bristled.

“No, Papa. It is doubtful I shall see either of them again until the season, but I will not avoid them. The comte has been kind and charming, and most considerate, and I shall not repay that by listening to gossip and cutting his or his brother’s acquaintance, and if you thought about it above a moment, you would realise Mama should be very cross with you for suggesting it.”

She flounced away in a manner Madame Lafitte could not have bettered and left her astonished papa and Lottie gazing after her.

“Mercy,” her father muttered. “This more spirited version of your sister might please your mama, but I predict she’s going to be dashed uncomfortable to live with.”

“There, there, Papa,” Lottie soothed, taking his arm. “If you can handle Mama, I’m sure Eliza is nothing to trouble yourself about.”

“Hmph,” her father grumbled as she led him away to find her mother.

Chapter 17

Dear Phoebe,

I do not know if you have yet heard of all the drama of the past few days but I am about to enlighten you.

In case the gossip has not yet reached your ears, I shall inform you that I am not to marry Cassius. Lottie, however, is. I admit it was something of a shock to my system, but I think perhaps it is as it ought to be. They are clearly very much in love, which Cassius and I never were. I cannot pretend otherwise.

I admit I am still all at sea, but I shall rally soon enough, no doubt.

However, far more interestingly your mysterious Comte Louis César and his brother are at the heart of the latest scandal at Holbrook, not that anyone outside of the family knows. So, in return for my giving you every minute detail of what happened, I must insist that you reply to this letter at once and tell me everything you know!