Page 13 of Heart of Decadence

“No, she is not forbidden the tables, Miss Locke, although her losses are her own to pay.” He looked fondly at his sister, who was blushing at all the attention. “But Letitia does not play to excess. Do you, my dear? Moderation is her aim in all things.”

“We will see about that,” Miss Locke muttered just loud enough for Amelia to hear her.

She glanced up at Lord Ainsley, who simply shook his head. “We will see you this evening, then.”

“So nice to make your acquaintance.” Amelia nodded to the occupants of the barouche as Lord Ainsley started his team again.

“There is one hurdle passed.” He touched the ribbons and the horses picked up their pace. “Now we shall drive around the park to be seen together. That will elicit talk, but do not worry. There will be more tonight. We must expect it. But Mrs. Doyle is a woman above reproach so if she allows you entry to her card party, that will speak for your character.”

“Why go to all this trouble, my lord?” The question popped out before she could stop it.

“Because I intend to marry you, Miss Burrowes, and I cannot stand idly by while my wife is given the cut direct when we come to Town.” Again that matter-of-fact tone that spoke of a man who usually got his way.

Amelia’s mouth dropped open and her heart leaped in her chest. He intended to marry her. Why would the words shock her so when she’d presumed as much already? Yet shock her they did. Her whole body buzzed frantically at the thought. So much so she didn’t realize they were slowing again until they’d all but stopped.

“Well, well, the very gentleman I’d expected to find in the park this afternoon.” Lord Ainsley pointed to a man on horseback halted beside a luxurious carriage with a crest on it. He seemed deep in conversation with the occupants.

“Is that…?” Things were about to get rather ugly. Again.

“Mr. Burke. Yes.” Lord Ainsley smiled and Amelia cringed. “Let the games begin.”

* * * *

While Nathan had not wished to find Mr. Burke in the park, he had indeed expected him to be there. After the scene at the Burrowes’s townhouse, the man would undoubtedly try to make trouble for them by any means possible.

Even before he’d at last spoken to Mr. Burrowes, briefly explaining his absence ten years before, and asking for formal permission to court his daughter, he’d suspected Mr. Burke would not bow out gracefully. But when Mr. Burrowes’s surprise at his request had given way to immediate agreement, followed by a statement of the settlement he was prepared to make for his daughter’s dowry, Nathan had known for certain Burke would cause problems. One could not expect a man to lose five thousand pounds and not put up a fight for it. And indeed, Burke had done that, trying to browbeat Mr. Burrowes into saying the settlements had already been reached and that Miss Burrowes had already accepted him.

Fortunately, Burrowes was made of sterner stuff. Quite likely the prospect of a daughter becoming the wife of a peer with a title had made him stand his ground and tell Burke that no such contract existed, and that his daughter had not agreed to marry him. Issuing dire threats about the truth he’d be putting about to the ton, Burke had left with the aid of two footmen.

Now the toad-like little man seemed to be making good on his threat to keep Miss Burrowes’s reputation stained and her unmarriageable. Of course, he’d not tangled with Viscount Ainsley yet; however, that was about to change. As his curricle drew closer, he recognized Lady Chalgrove, alone in Lady Hamilton’s conveyance. Not the most pleasant of women, the lady had not been on the list of close acquaintances to whom he wished to introduce Miss Burrowes. But likely a good ally for Burke’s gossip mongering. Once more into the breach.

“Good afternoon, Lady Chalgrove. How do you do? I see you are taking advantage of the abundant sunshine.” He offered her his most charming smile, although his cheeks seemed ready to cave in. Turning what he hoped was his sourest gaze on Burke, he gave the man a curt nod. “Burke.”

“Ainsley.” The man had the audacity to stare at Miss Burrowes with a hunger Nathan did not like at all.

“Many are doing so this afternoon, my lord.” Lady Chalgrove gave him a nod and a stiff smile. “Those who are accustomed to being here must be enjoying the pleasant day. Although others will try to insert themselves into a Society not meant for them.” She glared at his companion, making it extremely difficult for Nathan not to plant the woman a facer. Not that he’d ever strike a woman, but this one seemed to deserve it most heartily.

“Well, Society has never been very discerning regarding its members.” Nathan raised his quizzing glass to Mr. Burke, peering at him as though he were some new species of insect. “Else many would have been dropped from its ranks long ago.”

“Indeed, my lord. I believe you have one such in your curricle this moment,” Burke piped up, his florid face turning beet red.

“An unfortunate misunderstanding occurred many years ago, as you have been given to understand, Burke. When the truth about that time comes out,” he glared into the carriage to emphasize the point to the lady, “Miss Burrowes will be completely vindicated.”

“Well, I see the lady has a determined champion in you, Lord Ainsley. She will need such to defend her immoral ways.” Lady Chalgrove pursed her lips and settled back into the seat primly.

“As I said, a misunderstanding on the part of the ton long ago that we intend to remedy.” He dared not look at Miss Burrowes. A single indication of distress might cause him to act more rashly than would be wise.

“But what of her more current behavior, my lord?” Burke gave him a knowing smirk.

“Miss Burrowes’s behavior this Season has been exemplary, sir, as I have reason to know.” Warning bells jangled in Nathan’s mind as he attempted to hang onto his civility with both hands.

“Surely the tryst you witnessed in Lady Hamilton’s library could not be deemed moral behavior by a pure young woman?” The man’s evil smile widened. “I was just remarking to Lady Chalgrove that I had no idea how depraved Miss Burrowes actually was until the moment she threw herself at me, thinking we were alone.”

Miss Burrowes gasped behind him, the soft, pain-filled sound snapping his last vestige of self-control. He thrust the ribbons into her hands. “Hold these.”

The startled swoop of her upraised brows was almost comical. “But—”

“You’ll be fine. Trust me.” He jumped down from the curricle and walked to the nose of Burke’s horse. “I will ask you to dismount, sir.”

“Dismount?” The confidence on Burke’s face slipped a notch. “Why would I dismount?”

“Because I would challenge you face to face, sir. It is the correct procedure when initiating a duel.” He stared unblinking into Burke’s eyes as the blood drained from the man’s face. Ignoring gasps from the ladies in both carriages, Nathan stood as still and immoveable as a rock. “Now get down.”

Burke pulled back on the reins and the horse jibbed. “Move away, my lord. You’ve spooked him.”

“Apparently, you can control your horse as little as you can your tongue. Will you accept my challenge, Mr. Burke? Or will you retract your statement about Miss Burrowes? You must choose one or the other, else I will brand you a liar and a coward to all the ton.” Nathan grabbed the bridle and the horse calmed. “You have besmirched a lady’s name and I will have satisfaction of you one way or the other.”

Mouth working, but no sound emerging, Mr. Burke cut a sharp glance toward Lady Chalgrove, whose eyes seemed ready to pop out of her head. “I…I believe I may have misspoken about the lady, my lord. She… I…I was the one who initiated the embrace you walked in on.” His voice turned from apologetic to peevish. “Because I believed us about to become betrothed.”

“And now that you are no longer her suitor, you believe you are entitled to spread false rumors about her, perhaps to discourage my suit? Have a care, Mr. Burke.” If Nathan could’ve reached the man to throttle him, he would have done it without any more compunction than squashing a gnat. “I do not discourage so easily and the next time I hear you spreading lies and filth about Miss Burrowes, I will seek you out and we will meet over pistols at dawn. And make no mistake.” His eyes bored into Burke’s. “I am an excellent shot and I will aim to kill.”

Burke’s face went from red to deathly white and he gasped in breaths as though he’d just made a run for his life.

Nathan turned on his heel and climbed back into the curricle. Miss Burrowes’s visage had also paled considerably. Well, it was best she learn the resolve of the man she was going to marry. True, she’d not consented to the match. Yet.

But by the end of the night, he’d make sure there was absolutely no doubt in anyone’s mind they would marry. Especially in the mind of Miss Amelia Burrowes.