A Season for Treason Read online

  “What brings you out this afternoon?” Arabella asked, cutting straight to the heart of the matter. Rex had always appreciated her forthrightness.

  As they were in the corner of the room, they would be harder to overhear, but Rex still lowered his voice, angling his body away from the crowd to give him what privacy he could.

  “I wanted to ask about your cousin, Miss Wilson.”

  “Mary?” Arabella blinked in surprise. “For you?” To his surprise, she frowned.

  “What is wrong with me?” he asked, a touch irritably. After all, Arabella had consented to him courting her.

  “Nothing is wrong with you.” Arabella gave him a look bordering on exasperation. “It is just… Mary is so quiet and unassuming. I know you were introduced last night, and while she’s a lovely girl and very sweet, I would not have expected her to catch your interest.”

  Oh, how very interesting. After his encounter with Miss Wilson last night, and considering she shared a household with Arabella, he had assumed Arabella would be aware of the other side of herself Miss Wilson had revealed to him last night. But Arabella seemed completely unaware there was another aspect to Miss Wilson’s personality.

  Why was Miss Wilson hiding it from Arabella? Hiding a zest for adventure and brazen behavior from her cousins was one thing, but Arabella would make a perfect partner-in-crime.

  “Well, she is very beautiful,” he said off-handedly, aware Arabella was regarding him with suspicion. “Who are the young ladies beside her?”

  “Miss Lillian Davis, the Duchess of Richmond’s goddaughter, and Miss Josephine Pennyworth, only daughter of Squire Brown of Derbyshire.” A little smile curved Arabella’s lips. “Miss Pennyworth is a cracking rider and is already establishing herself as an Original.” She looked at him expectantly, clearly waiting for him to express interest in the woman she thought would make him a better match than her husband’s cousin.

  Cynthia was also looking at him intently, although there was something different about her gaze. Suddenly, she leaned forward.

  “Is it true you have a secret debauchery club?” she asked.

  Rex nearly choked. He was used to blunt-speaking from Arabella, but there were still certain topics one did not bring up in a drawing-room. Especially when there were so many listening ears only a few feet away, no matter that she had spoken quietly.

  “Excuse me?”

  “I heard you did,” she said airily. “I want to come to one. May I have an invitation?”

  Rex stared at her, nonplussed. Perhaps he should be grateful Spencer had gotten her to the altar before she debuted—how on earth did the man control her?

  “Wesley is going to spank the dickens out of you,” Arabella said, covering her mouth with her hand to cover her laughter. Well, that answered that. Cynthia just smiled serenely, unconcerned by Arabella’s observation. Rex shook his head in bemusement.

  “Your husband has already declined a prior invitation,” he informed her, just to see what her reaction would be. She scowled fiercely.

  “Blast.”

  He choked on another laugh. Perhaps he would have to issue another invitation. If Spencer said yes, the results would surely be entertaining.

  Mary

  Watching Hartford conversing with Arabella and Cynthia was doing odd things to the insides of Mary’s stomach. It flipped and flopped about, churning when he laughed at something Cynthia said. That was the type of woman Hartford was looking for in his bride—someone like Arabella or Cynthia. Someone like Josie.

  Certainly, not someone like her. She could count on one hand the number of sentences she’d said to the visiting gentlemen the entire afternoon, and she had not made a single one of them laugh. They were not there for her, anyway. They had come because Josie and Lily were there, although the vast majority of the attention was going to Josie.

  There were still several suitors focused on Lily—although Lily had already whispered her private summation of them to Mary—brown-nosers looking for a connection to her godparents. Lily was singularly unimpressed.

  It was not that Mary wanted the particular attention of any of the gentlemen in the room. It would just be nice to not feel quite so invisible. She did not mind when she was trying to avoid notice, but it was lowering when she was supposed to be attracting a husband.

  Then Hartford had come in, and every part of her body had seized. Her lips had started tingling again, her heart had begun to race, then he had met her gaze… before breaking off and making a beeline for Arabella and Cynthia. Relief had battled for supremacy with disappointment. She had made herself look away from the conversing trio, reminding herself he was not a marital prospect.

  That afternoon was supposed to be about finding a likely gentleman or two for her to consider. There were several gentlemen on the list of names her family had come up with, and…

  Why was Walter in the doorway? And why was he looking at Hartford in that manner?

  When Hartford bowed to Arabella and Cynthia and began to move toward the doorway, Mary realized Walter had indicated he wished to speak to Hartford—and Hartford was responding. What the devil? How did they know each other?

  As if they were puzzle pieces falling into place—Walter’s secretive behavior, his inordinately late nights, and the bags under his eyes—they put together a picture she had not considered before.

  Walter is part of Hartford’s club.

  Heart beating faster than a galloping horse, Mary turned to Lily, interrupting whatever Lord Walton had been saying about comparing Lily’s eyes to dark ponds in the moonlight. Lily would likely be relieved.

  “Oh, I just remembered… did you want to see the new book I bought?”

  It was one of the worst lies she had ever told, so thrown by her revelations, she could not even think of a convincing title for a book. Lily blinked at her, eyes darting over to see Hartford retreating. Walter was no longer standing in the doorway, but Lily quickly picked up on Mary’s desire to follow Hartford.

  “Oh, yes, please,” Lily said, smiling. “I am so glad you remembered.”

  “I will be back momentarily,” Mary said reassuringly. She might as well not have bothered. The gentlemen who had been conversing with Lily seemed surprised that Mary was speaking to them and to those who were currently trying to impress Josie with their knowledge of horses.

  Aunt Elizabeth was paying attention, and her sharp gaze followed Mary’s path across the room. She smiled at her aunt as innocently as she could, forcing herself to walk as normally as possible, pretending she did not feel Aunt Elizabeth’s watching her all the way out the door.

  Safely out of the room, she looked around and saw a flash of movement at the end of the hall leading to the stairs. Hurrying down the hall, she slowed when she reached the corner, the low murmur of masculine voices confirming Hartford and Walter were just around it. This area of the house would be deserted right now, as Walter knew, so they clearly felt comfortable conversing. She crept forward, pressing against the wall until Walter’s voice became discernible.

  “Roger and I can stay away tonight if it will cause difficulties—”

  “No.” Hartford cut Walter off. “You are both welcome, and I personally guarantee Lucas will not cause another scene.”

  “We do not want to cause you any difficulties.” Walter sounded almost apologetic. “You have made things possible that I never knew…” His voice trailed off, his tone becoming almost embarrassed.

  “You two are not the difficult ones.” Hartford chuckled. “Besides, it is a masquerade. He will not bother you at future events, period, or he will deal with me, but tonight, he will probably not even know who to bother. I will see both you and Roger tonight at Hartford house, yes?”

  Wide-eyed, Mary began backing away before she could hear Walter’s answer, her mind racing.

  Her cousin really was a member of Hartford’s secret society!

  Not only that, but there was going to be a masquerade tonight at Hartford house… this would be her ch
ance.

  But first, she had to get through the afternoon and find an excuse to skip Lady Farthingale’s ball tonight. And find a book to bring back to Lily that would not raise her aunt’s suspicions.

  Fortunately, Mary had purchased three new books recently, although she did not think Lily was going to be particularly impressed with her selections. Mary’s tastes had recently taken a turn for the gothic and supernatural, both of which Lily thought were trite. It was not as though she would actually have to read the book, though.

  Hurrying to her room, Mary snatched up the second book on her nightstand and flew downstairs. She was moving so quickly, she nearly ran into the Marquess of Hartford in the hall. With a little shriek, she managed to come to a halt just in time.

  Looking down at her, a lazy, wicked smile crossed his lips. “Well, hello there, petal. I was wondering where you had disappeared off to.”

  “Are you leaving already?” she asked before she could stop herself and inwardly grimaced at the disappointment evident in her voice. He heard it, too, and his smile grew a touch more wicked. When he took a step toward her, Mary immediately took one back, which ran her right up against the rail of the staircase.

  “Would you like me to stay?”

  Yes.

  That was the answer that sped through her mind, although she dared not say it aloud. Her heart was fluttering madly against the book pressed into her breast, and her mouth felt suddenly dry. The way he looked at her… He leaned in, and her head tilted back automatically, eyes staring back into his golden gaze, trapped by it.

  “Hartford.” Thomas barked out the title, and Mary had never been more relieved for her stuffy cousin’s interruption. Heat bloomed in her cheeks.

  Good lord, she had been about to kiss Hartford in the middle of her aunt and uncle’s hallway!

  Stepping back, a mild mask of an expression descending over his face, Hartford turned his head and nodded.

  “Hood. I was just leaving.”

  “See that you do,” Thomas replied, coming to a halt beside Mary. They both watched as Hartford made his way to and out of the front door. It was not until it shut behind him, she felt like she could truly draw a deep breath again. Thomas frowned down at her. “You should stay away from him, Mary.”

  About to protest that he had not been there to see her but to visit Arabella, she quickly bit her tongue. That would hardly be a helpful argument to make to Thomas.

  “I was making my way back to the drawing-room when I unexpectedly ran into him,” she said honestly. Thomas nodded, but the expression on his face was still dark, as though he was thinking.

  “I will escort you back.” He proffered his arm, and Mary took it, feeling only a little wistfulness over what might have been if Thomas had not interrupted.

  Rex

  His second private encounter with Miss Wilson had only confirmed his thoughts after the first.

  There was a secret side to the young lady, one which Arabella had not been aware of, even though she would have been delighted by it. She seemed close to Miss Wilson. He wondered if Miss Wilson’s friends knew. Regardless, he knew his attention was now fixed.

  In the hall, she had backed away initially, yes, but then she had been waiting for him to kiss her… wanting him to. There was an attraction between them that could not be denied. He had to admit, the mystery of her appealed to him greatly, especially since he had been permitted to see a side of her she did not reveal to most others. Why he had been so singled out, he did not know, but he felt rather chuffed to be so.

  Strolling along the streets of Mayfair, he began plotting his course.

  Tonight, he had the masquerade to host for the Society, but his thoughts were already on tomorrow. He would keep everything aboveboard, just as he had with Arabella. Imagining the look on Hood’s face when he learned Rex had applied to the Viscount to court Miss Wilson nearly made him laugh aloud. He would also have to prepare for the interest in her his courtship would garner.

  After his failed courtship of Arabella last year, many might assume he had decided to pursue her antithesis, but there were other women who would fit that description who were unrelated to Arabella. Some might question his motives in courting the cousin of the man who married the woman he had spent so much time dancing attendance on last year. Either way, attention would be fixed on them for a bit. There was no way around that.

  He would still be the only one who knew of Miss Wilson’s hidden character, which should give him a distinct advantage.

  First, the courtship, then the marriage proposal, and he would be able to finish what he had started at the Richmonds’ ball. The front of his pants tightened as his body reacted. It would be very interesting to tease and seduce that secret side of Miss Wilson to the fore for him to enjoy in the bedroom.

  Head lost in the clouds, he strolled home, plotting and fantasizing.

  Chapter 6

  Rex

  “Rex, there you are—come and play.” The sultry, seductive tones of Mrs. Emilia Huss matched her appearance. She was temptation personified—tall and plumply curved, with a face and body like a Botticelli angel—and they enjoyed the same games in the bedroom. In fact, they had whiled away many an hour together on those games.

  Tonight, he was not tempted at all.

  The translucent material over her breasts hid nothing, and she’d thrown open her domino, so he might have a look at her ripe nipples and the swell of her breasts. The mask over her face hid her identity well enough, but the hood of the domino had slipped, showing off her easily identifiable dark red hair, and she had not bothered to disguise her voice.

  “Perhaps later,” he found himself responding, already knowing later would never come. “I believe you will find an eager partner in the next room over. The blue domino and mask.” He tilted his head, indicating the direction. Emilia brightened with interest, the front of her domino sliding closed again before she hurried away.

  He was fairly certain the gentleman in question was Lord Hartshorn, newly in from the country. Emilia would not have played with him before and would appreciate the novelty and the mystery of his identity.

  That was half the fun of a masquerade, especially for the Society. Like a regular masquerade in the ton, there were those who clung to their chosen partners, but for those who spread their favors around, it added an extra flavor of forbidden fruit to the night. The very anonymity of the encounters created an entirely new kind of excitement.

  Rex did not bother wearing more than a half-mask. With his height and coloring, he was instantly recognizable, regardless, and since he was the host, he preferred it that way.

  There was one guest he was looking to identify, though. He had been looking for Lucas for the past half hour, going room to room to room. After assuring Hood and Perth, Lucas would not interrupt their enjoyment of the evening, Rex was determined to ensure that would be the case. While he had been truthful in saying the masquerade would disguise their identities, he was not the type to take chances. A reminder to Lucas, and perhaps an eye on how much drink he imbibed, would not be amiss.

  It also gave him a convenient excuse for not indulging in the activities. They were not having their usual effect on him. Oh, his body responded, but his mind was not engaged. He was easily distracted and found himself fantasizing rather than diving in.

  Miss Wilson’s face kept sliding across his mind, making its way into every tableau he became a voyeur to. Wondering what kind of wife she would make, whether or not she would enjoy the various scenes laid out around his house, and which ones she would be willing to be a part of. Between his fantasizing about his current marital prospect and his concern about Lucas, he was not in the mood for the kind of play the Society had to offer him.

  Frowning, Rex realized he had come to the front of the house and had not seen Lucas. Was he even here? Determined now, he turned to make his way back through the rooms, closely inspecting every single person. Which was when something caught his eye—something… wrong.

&nbs
p; He paused in the doorway. At first glance, the scene in the room appeared to be common for one of the Society’s gatherings. One of the women was bare to her waist, her domino puddled on the floor around her, hands held above her head by a masked man, while a masked woman and masked man sucked on her nipples. She was moaning and writhing, thrusting her breasts forward. Around the edge of the room, various couples and singles were watching.

  Except not all of them were watching.

  A petite lady, her domino hood still covering her gown and hair completely, was not watching. She was standing close to two of the gentlemen, but she did not seem to be trying to attract their attention, which would have made sense. Her eyes would go to the erotic tableau in the center of the room before she averted her gaze. Sometimes, she tilted her head toward the two gentlemen as if trying to hear what they were saying.

  Rex pressed his lips together. He did not immediately recognize her, which was the whole point of the evening, but he could not think of anyone she might be, either. The only woman as petite in the Society was two rooms back, being roundly spanked by two men whose identities Rex was not entirely sure of, other than they were not Lucas.

  Which meant they had an intruder.

  As pressing as his desire to find Lucas was, this clearly took precedence. The two gentlemen she was standing near turned to each other and began kissing. Even with the domino she was wearing, Rex could see her spine stiffen. She was absolutely someone who did not belong here.

  Protectiveness rose up as he strode forward to deal with the interloper. She would regret trespassing… and he would need to have a word with Cormack about who the man was letting enter the house.