Page 22 of His Wicked Embrace
Chapter Seven
Bloodyballs.
Lawrence despised wearing the obligatory knee breeches required for balls and dancing. He much preferred the cut of a good pair of trousers. He was no foppish dandy, but he did like to look like a gentleman, even if his behavior suggested hewasn’t.
“She knows I don’t want to be here,” Lawrence muttered to his brother, Lucien, who was leaning against the back wall next to him. Side by side they could have been mistaken for twins if one didn’t know they were four years apart inage.
Lucien chuckled. “Noneof us want to be here. But you know how Mother is. The woman knows precisely what to say to get us to do as shewishes.”
“What did she say to make you come?” Lawrence asked. Even at three and thirty, Lucien still bowed to their mother’s dictates, just as they alldid.
“She reminded me that Horatia won’t have the chance to dance during the late summer or fall because of her pregnancy. I have no intention of cloistering my wife away, but Mother’s right that she won’t be able to dance. Ergo, I am accepting any and all social engagements Horatia wishes to attend while she isable.”
He nodded toward a distant figure, a lovely brunette who was dancing with their youngest brother, Linus. She was beaming, her face alight with the sheer pleasure of the dance. Lawrence’s heart gave a little jerk. He wished he could’ve brought Zehra here tonight, but Avery was right. She had no connections, no way to be included in society properly. She would be viewed as his mistress, or worse, and could not be introduced to gentle-bred ladies. All she wished for was to attend a ball, and he couldn’t even give herthat.
Or could he? A plan caught him by surprise. One that made him almost giddy with itspossibilities.
As the dance ended, Horatia and Linus came over tothem.
“Horatia, I wonder if I might speak to you for a moment?” Lawrenceasked.
His sister-in-law’s eyes widened in surprise. The last time Lawrence had been alone with Horatia, he’d tried to kiss her to make Lucien jealous, and his good-faith attempt to bring the lovebirds together had not been welcome. Still, all had been explained and forgiven. Hehoped.
“I suppose so.” Her cheeks were still flushed with color from the dance, and she nodded at Lucien, who narrowed his gaze but reluctantly let hergo.
Lawrence took Horatia over to an alcove in the Raleighs’ ballroom, where they would not be overheard by anyone standing closeby.
“Horatia, I’m afraid I have a very important favor to ask ofyou.”
“Yes?” Her brown eyes were warm and welcoming. She was so opposite his brother in nature. Lucien was a natural brooder, yet it seemed that together theyworked.
As Zehra and I seem to.The dangerous thought floated through his head before he could stopit.
“I…was assisting Avery in his duties the other day. There was an auction at the WhiteHouse.”
He waited to see if she understood what he was hintingat.
“An auction,” she repeated, her face growingredder.
“Yes, and he was hoping to find men who purchase certainwares. I tried to save one of thosewares, which is currently in my house, under myprotection.”
“I think I am following,” she said, her tone as quiet as hisnow.
“Thisitemis very lonely and honestly quite lovely, not just in face and form, but in the mind. And…” He paused, dropping all pretenses and steeling himself for rejection. “Could you help me to please her? She’s not going to be in England long, and she’d love to attend a ball before she leaves. I want to make her happy. After everything she’s been through, she deserves thatmuch.”
“And you want me to help? Howexactly?”
She had not rejected his idea outright. That waspromising.
“Perhaps you, Lucien, and a few others could come to dinner sometime this week and we could have a bit of dancing? I have a decent-sized drawing room. We could push back chairs, and someone can play the pianoforte.” He sounded hopelessly foolish, but still she didn’t reject his idea. “I know it sounds terrible, but I swear to you, she isn’t what you expect, and she is certainly not a…” He swallowed down the wordprostitute. “She was taken from her home against her will. That’s why Avery was involved. I…” He raked a hand through his hair. “Please, I ambeggingyou.” He reached out to grasp her hands, ready to get down on his knees in the middle of the Raleighs’ ball, scandal bedamned.
She smiled. “Lawrence, please. You mustn’t worry. I shall be glad to help. I am merely trying to decide how best to go about it. I ought to speak with Emilyand—”
“No. Not Emily. I could not have her involved,” he cut in. If it ever got out that the Duchess of Essex had come to a private ball with a bought woman… He didn’t want to taint the pretty young lady by association with Zehra’s situation. Not to mention her husband, the Duke of Essex, would beat him to a bloody pulp if Emily’s reputation washarmed.
Horatia’s eyes twinkled. “Lawrence, you should know by now that Emily does as she pleases. Besides, she is no stranger to having been taken and held against her will. If anything, they would have much to talkabout.”
Lawrence relaxed a little, surprising himself by smiling. “If she wishes to help, then I would gladly accept it. But you must explain to her the situation in full. I do not want to be facing Lord Essex on the field at dawn over amisunderstanding.”
