Page 42 of The Art of Sinning
Deliberately, she turned her back on him. “What are you doing here, Warren? You can’t be visiting your aunt and cousin.” The estate of Warren’s aunt lay quite close to Stoke Towers. “They’re wintering in Bath.”
“Theywere, but as of last night they’re home. My aunt got bored and decided she and Clarissa would be better off in the country after all. So I was charged with accompanying them back.” As guardian to his cousin Clarissa, he was often charged with such tasks. He sometimes even did them.
“You poor dear,” she teased. “But that doesn’t explain why you came right over to visit us the minute you arrived.”
“Actually, Clarissa sent me to fetch you. She’s still unpacking, but she hoped you might come help her and her mother pick her costume for tomorrow night’s masquerade ball at the Keanes’ in London. I assume you’re going?”
“Of course! We all are.” She cocked her head. “I didn’t realize that you knew Lady Zoe.”
“I don’t, but my aunt went to school with Lady Zoe’s aunt.”
“You mean, Zoe’s Aunt Floria?” Jeremy put in.
As if Warren’s coronet of rank had suddenly dropped onto his head from on high, the marquess stiffened and turned to stare coldly at Jeremy. “I don’t believe we’ve been introduced, sir.”
A light glittered in Jeremy’s eyes. “No. I don’t believe we have.”
“Forgive my bad manners.” Edwin swiftly performed introductions, adding, by way of explanation, “Keane is painting Yvette’s portrait.”
“Is he?” Warren said in a surprisingly testy voice. “Did you know that he is often seen out and about in Covent Garden?”
“So are you,” Jeremy countered. “I’ve seen you myself.”
A flush crept up Warren’s neck. “I happen to enjoy attending the theater.”
“Among other... establishments.” Jeremy shot Yvette a veiled glance.
How odd. Why was he was being so vulgar? Wait—did he think Warren had something to do with her trip to the bawdy house?
Oh, for pity’s sake. She lifted an eyebrow at Warren. “As it happens, Edwin and I are quite aware of Mr. Keane’s love of nunneries.” She frowned at Jeremy. “We’re equally aware of his lordship’s preference for them. So why don’t the two of you stop accusing each other of habits you’d probably congratulate each other for if I weren’t around?”
Warren blinked. Edwin gave a choked sound that sounded something like a laugh. But Jeremy just watched Warren with a challenging gaze, as if ready to protect her should Warren assault her honor.
It was rather sweet. And utterly unexpected, given the way he’d been behaving lately.
“Now,” she went on, “if you gentlemen will excuse me, I’m going upstairs to change into something more suitable for strolling over to Clarissa’s with Warren. I shan’t be long.”
“What about your portrait?” Jeremy called as she walked away.
“Oh, let her have a few hours off,” Edwin put in. “She’s been a good sort about posing. I confess I didn’t expect her to lastthislong.”
She paused to look back at Jeremy with a blithe smile. “Why don’t you work on the background? Or on one of those other paintings Mr. Damber says you work on at night?”
At her reminder that he owed her for doing him a favor, Jeremy stiffened, then gave her one of his mocking bows. “Whatever her ladyship wishes.”
Edwin’s chuckle followed her up the stairs.
Let Jeremy retreat into his cold fortress. If she didn’t escape him for a few hours, she might do something reckless.
Like remind him she was a woman he supposedly desired. And that wouldn’t be remotely wise.
Ten
It took all of Jeremy’s will to hold his tongue after Yvette left the manor with the marquess. Not that she wasn’t behaving entirely respectably; she didhave her maid with her.
Still, she was wearing a fetching brown walking dress that accentuated her lush shape. While she’d paired it with an enormous pink-and-brown bonnet that would poke a man’s eye out if he tried to kiss her, bonnets could be removed. Even a maid’s presence might not prevent that if Knightford were the devious sort.
And he was bound to be. Jeremy didn’t like the marquess. Or how the fellow looked at Yvette. Or the fact that the two had apparently known each other forever. She called him by his Christian name, for God’s sake!
