Page 14 of Her Wicked Longing
“Do you need anything else, my lady?” Gillianasked.
“Not at the moment. Oh, and remember, tonight we will be going to thathellfireclub.”
Her maid stiffened, and the paper she held crinkled. “My lady, I really don’t think weshould—”
Audrey tapped her foot and crossed her arms. “Gillian, you know that awful Gerald Langley belongs to that club. What was it called?” She searched her memory. “Sinners and Sadists, no… Wait!” She lifted a finger in the air. “The Unholy SinnersofHell.”
Gillian openly flinched. “Must we go tonight? The men could bedangerous.”
Dangerous? Lord, she hoped so. Life could be so tedious as a gently-bred lady. She craved the same freedom as men did to run about doing whatever theypleased.
“Nonsense. We should be perfectly fine. They allow ladies to attend their unholy festivities, and if we bring along Charles and his valet as escorts, we shall bequitesafe.”
Gillian stared at her. “Lord Lonsdale? He’s not exactly a man of sterling reputation. You remember the swans. Everyone was soscandalized.”
Audrey couldn’t resist giggling. The swans. Everyone loved the swan story. “Of course I do. I was there. Charles isn’t so bad. I had a bloody hard time trying to kiss him, you remember. He’s more of a gentleman than heletson.”
Her maid gave a little huff and walked toward the door, but Audrey suddenly remembered one more thing she needed Gillian to do, which would keep her safely occupied while Audrey ran off this afternoon to pursue her training as a spy. She knew Gillian would disapprove, but Audrey had to do something, had to have someadventures.
“The dresses! I completely forgot. You must go to Madame Ella’s and retrieve the gowns. Try them on to make sure they fit,” Audrey said. She trusted the dressmaker’s skill, but sometimes she wanted to give Gillian a taste of the life the other woman would never have the chance to experience. She was the daughter of an earl and would have been above Audrey under different circumstances, yet she had been forced into domestic service to keep her mother in decent living conditions. But Gillian was all alone now, except for Audrey, and she would not let Gillian fade away. Women needed to help oneanother.
Gillian sighed, her shoulders drooping as shenodded.
“Thank you.” She escorted her maid to the door and gave her an encouraging little push. Audrey stood at the top of the stairs, watching her frienddepart.
“Have fun today. You deserve it,” she whispered, hoping that Gillian would use the day to be free of her role as a servant, just as Audrey would be free this afternoon of her own bondage as a highborn lady. When she was positive her watchful maid was gone, she returned to her room and checked her appearance once more, then removed the letter hidden in her dress pocket. She slipped out and read itagain.
MissSheridan,
I will be happy to give you lessons in the arts of which we spoke, but you must be sure to come alone to the Midnight Garden. I cannot meet you at my residence. Be sure to arrive at half past one o’clock. Hire a coach and have it drop you off by the mews. A servant will be waiting to bring youinside.
EvangelineMirabeau
Audrey carefully torethe letter into tiny pieces and tucked them into a drawer to dispose of later. She collected her reticule and checked the clock on the mantle. It was almost one o’clock now. She ought to leave before the League arrived for tea. If she had to explain why she was running off, her brother might suspect she was up to something… which she mostcertainlywas.
As she exited her room again and started down the stairs, her sister-in-law Anne came out of the library, beamingather.
“Audrey! I’m so glad I found you. Cedric and I would like to speak with you before everyonearrives.”
Anne was positively glowing, and Audrey suspected the news her brother wanted to share involved a little Sheridan on the way. But she wouldn’t spoil their moment of joy by letting them know she’d guessed. For the past week she’d watched her brother and Anne whisper to each other over breakfast and share secretsmiles.
Audrey attempted to ignore a little prickle of envy. She wanted to be married to a man and love him the way Anne loved her brother. But Jonathan did not want her, and no other man had moved her the way he did. Therefore, she resolved to go it alone and become the proverbial spinster, but secretly live a life of spying and intrigue, assuming that Evangeline Mirabeau could help her learn the craft properly. Audrey knew she had to possess some skills to have uncovered society’s secrets and go undetected as Lady Society forsolong.
Anne slipped her arm through Audrey’s, and they walked into her brother’s study. Cedric was seated at his desk, the midday sun illuminating him as he read through a stack ofletters.
“Cedric, I found Audrey.” Anne flashed her warm smile, let go of Audrey’s arm, and then walked over to her husband and kissed his cheek. Her brother grinned as he pushed his letters aside and stood. He curled one arm around Anne’s waist, his brown eyestwinkling.
“Ah, good. I suppose Anne said we had news to sharewithyou?”
“Yes.” Audrey waited, letting them enjoy their news. She was so happy for them. Cedric had been blinded last Christmas and had all but lost his will to live. Marriage had saved him in more ways than one. His sight had returned and his spirits too. They both deserved great joy in theirlives.
“We are expecting. It’s still early yet, but we are quitehopeful.”
Audrey’s eyes filled with tears as she looked at her brother and his wife. They were both radiant with their love and the promise of their firstchild.
“Oh, Cedric, that is the most wonderful news!” She rushed over to him and embraced them both. Her brother let go of Anne to hug Audreyfiercely.
“I hope you don’t mind being the doting aunt to our little one when the babearrives?”
