Page 79 of Scandalous Heiress
Chapter 12
Victor donned his top hat as he left his cab.Theater patrons in their formal attire milled about the entry and among them, he searched for the Setons and Ada.The catastrophe of yesterday’s scene with Richard had eroded much of his euphoria since returning from Brighton.But he tugged at his gloves, determined not to let that affect his evening near Ada.
“The Setons’ box?”he asked an usher and was shown the way up the stairs to the grand circle.The man opened the private door for him and he was happy to see that Julian, Lily and Ada had already arrived.
“Good evening,” he bid them all and bowed to Lily, then smiled at Ada.
Julian offered polite greetings, and in an aside said, “I thank you for yesterday.”
“I wish I might’ve done more, Your Grace.”
“In those circumstances, quick action is best.Discretion with the perpetrator is not necessary.We can talk more.Later.For now, know I am grateful.”
“Lord Victor, how good of you to come.”Lily went up on her toes to kiss his cheek.The extraordinary greeting mellowed him.
Ada stepped forward, grasped his hand and held tightly to him.“How are you?”
“Recovered as best as can be.”He noted the faint blue around her eyes and wondered if she’d slept last night.He hadn’t.“And you, I hope, have had time to forgive me my behavior yesterday.”
She put a gloved hand to her throat.“Oh, dear, no.You have nothing to regret.You saved us.”
“Not one lady.”All through the night, he had ridiculed himself that he’d not been able to remove Richard from the premises before he did such hideous damage to the Countess of Carbury.
“Come sit.We will enjoy this and forget yesterday.”
The countess and earl of Ware arrived with Jessica and Lord Billings just as the curtain rose.
The play—thank god, a comedy—gave him a few blithe moments.But he fretted, replaying the scene of last night when Richard pounded on his front door and demanded entry.
Victor’s portly butler who knew Richard by sight had let him in, but had scurried upstairs behind him as Richard ran from one room to another to find him.
Victor shot to his feet just as Richard burst in the library door.“What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
Richard lunged forward.His clothes were wrinkled.He wore no frockcoat.His hands shook.His eyes did not focus.They were dilated, red-rimmed.Was he taking opium?“Warning you!”
“Of what?”The fact that Victor was taller than his older brother by at least three inches had agitated Richard since they were at Eton.He glared down at him as they stood toe-to-toe.“That you’ll never act like an idiot again?”
Richard spread his thin lips in a sneer.“That you’ll not marry her, dear boy.She deserves better than you.Cuckold.Outcast the you are.”
“And you?Philanderer.Adulterer.Drunk.Do you think she deserves you?”
“Why not?Her sister caught a duke, why don’t I eat this little plum myself?”
Victor suppressed the urge to gag.“You could not shine her shoes.”
“Dear boy.I’d do other things to her that would make her shine mine.”
“Get out.Never return.Never!”
How he’d left, Victor did not remember.Through his red rage, he saw only that he must somehow marry Ada very soon.To rush them both into marriage was not ideal, there was so much yet to settle.His assurances for political support.Even the analysis of his company’s current finances.But he questioned his brother’s mental state.His acuity.If he was an addict, he’d not be the only one.Many in Britain took the poppy.Victor had seen what it did to the poor Chinese who smoked it and the rich Chinese who thought they could control their consumption.All failed.He knew first hand.He’d spent years weaning himself of the desire for it.The physical, aching, repulsive need.
“Will you come?”Ada pressed her hand to his sleeve.
“I’m sorry.”The play had ended and the others were standing, the gentlemen going to the cloakroom at the rear of the box to acquire the ladies’ coats.“What did you ask?”
She gave him an understanding smile.“You will accept my sister’s invitation to join the rest of us at the house for a small supper?”
“I will.Thank you.”
