Page 12 of Her Wicked Longing
“Yes. Apparently it’s not only the Duchess of Essex and the Marchioness of Rochester who areexpecting.”
“What?” Gillian sat up, her aching head momentarily forgotten as her friend grinned. “Tell me, Sean, whatisit?”
“Well, it seems…” The Irishman drew out the suspense until she couldn’t stand it. “That Sheridan House will be hearing the cry of a babe in six or seven months. The League take making babes as seriously as they doweddings.”
Gillian giggled, pure joy filling her. Lady Sheridan and Lord Sheridan were expecting. Whatwonderfulnews!
“So, you can imagine, none of the League are focused on Miss Audrey or Mr. St. Laurent at the moment. In fact, Essex and Rochester were placing bets on which babe would be the stronger chap once the little ones grow up. None of the lords seem to think their firstborns might be wee lassies.” Sean put a kettle of water on the stove, ignoring the harrumph of the cook, who liked her kitchen to be free of meddling footmen when she was working hard to prepare dinner. Gillian smiled faintly at the thought of those powerful lords all discussing children. She’d seen those men with their wives, and if they way they acted around the women they loved was any indication, those lords would be wrapped around the delicate fingers of their children once they were born. It was wonderful, simply wonderful to think of children growing up in households full of love and laughter. Not like her own house, which had been quiet and empty save for her mother and a handful of servants. Her thoughts strayed back to James and what Letty had said about his father dying and his mother becoming ill. He too had had a trying life, despite a title and money. It was one more thing they had in common, yet she would never see that man again, no matter how much she mightwishto.
“Now, are you ready to tell me what happened today?” Sean leaned down and gently cupped her cheek, turning her face so he could get a better look. “What happened to your face? Did LordPembroke—?”
“No.” She cut him off before he could assume the worst about the man who had been her champion. “I was hit by a man in an alley, and Lord Pembroke came to my rescue. I’m afraid my head hurts somethingfierce.”
Sean was still scowling. “You’re going to tell me everything that happened.” He stole a few biscuits, poured her cup of tea, and sat beside her, listening to her tale of the letter. He was the only one they could trust about Audrey’s double life. She left out the glorious kisses from the earl and the fact that she’d spent the afternoon masquerading as a lady. Sean would have disapproved of her deception. When she was finished, the footman was up on his feet, pacing the kitchen, much to the frustration of the cook, who had to keep dodging him as she prepared theeveningmeal.
“We must find Miss Sheridanatonce.”
Gillian agreed. Audrey could be in danger. Whoever had attacked her in the alley had wanted the letter, most likely because he was involved in the scheme to track down and harm Lady Society. But Gillian had read the note and knew of the threat. As long as she could find Audrey and warn her in time, they might yetsaveher.
She followed Sean back up the steps into the main entryway just as the front door flew open. Audrey strode in, her hair down in wild tangles, her cheeks flushed, and her skirtsrumpled.
“My lady!” Gillian gasped. Had something happened to her? She’d never seen her mistress so ruffled before except…the night she and Charles had faked a rather rough seduction to pressure Cedric into letting Audrey marry someone and soon. Had Audrey actually been kissing someone to look so…mussed?
“Gillian?” Audrey seemed distracted and a little surprised toseeher.
“Yes, my lady.” Gillian and Sean both bowed their heads, but Seanspokeup.
“My lady, we must speak with you. I’m afraid it’s a matter ofurgency.”
“Oh?” Audrey waited for them to follow her upstairs to her privatestudy.
Once they were inside with the door closed, Audrey took a seat and looked at themexpectantly.
“My lady, you received a warning from Mr. Worthing. You must not go through withtonight’splan.”
Audrey’s brow furrowed. “But why not? You know those men are monsters. I cannot let them continue their awfulmeetings.”
Gillian’s head ached, and she shared a glance with Sean. “My lady, there was a man. He attacked me to get that letter given to me by Mr.Worthing.”
“Attacked! Heavens, Gillian, are you all right?” Audrey was on her feet in an instant, rushing to Gillian’s side and tugging her into a chair. “Please, sit. I hadnoidea.”
For the first time, Gillian saw genuine concern in hermistress’seyes.
“I’m all right. Lord Pembroke assisted me and escortedmehome.”
“He did? James is such a dear,” Audreymurmured.
A sudden flash of envy shot through Gillian at hearing Audrey speak James’s name with open and easy familiarity. It only reminded her of the gulf thatseparatedthem.
“I should thank him,” Audreyadded.
“No!” Gillian gasped. Sean and Audrey stared at her, and she knew she would have to explain, at least in part, the rest ofherday.
“I…that is, the Earl of Pembroke mistook me for a lady, and I did…that is, I did not exactlycorrecthim.”
When she had confessed all, Audrey was silent. Sean looked at herdisapprovingly.
“Am I to be dismissed?” Gillian asked. It would not be uncalled for, given her outrageous behavior anddeception.
