Page 34 of Wicked By Design

“Is there anything you have not been accused of, my lord?” Mrs Chalmers asked, making the question seem innocuous by laughing with delight. “You are lucky you have such a fat dowry, my dear. Poor Miss Bradford did not fare so well, but then she was a nobody, and you are a duke’s daughter. It makes such a difference.”

The temperature suddenly plummeted and Damian glanced at Celia. Her expression remained placid, but murder blazed in her eyes.

“You are mistaken, Mrs Chalmers. The difference is that I am not a spiteful child just out of the schoolroom who wishes to trap Damian in order to punish him. I wish to be married to him because I like and appreciate him and believe we shall do splendidly together. Now, if you would excuse us, I believe the viewing it about to begin. Come, my dear.”

Damian followed her, but if not for her hand guiding him, he might have remained rooted to the spot. He told himself she was playing a part, that her words were no more genuine than anything else she had told the horrid woman, yet she had sounded so sincere, and the fury in her eyes had seemed so authentic.

Well, she truly was adept at moving in society, just as she had promised him, and if she could lie with such aplomb, maybe she really could make him acceptable to society once more.

Only time would tell.

The Earl of Sheringham made his way down the grand staircase, heading toward the parlour where the painting was being displayed. He always enjoyed spending time with Hawkney, who was wonderfully easy to irritate, and the dowager duchess was a splendid grande dame who put him in his place as rudely as he could wish for.

He cared little for the drama playing out under their noses which, fascinating as it was, was nothing more than a scandal followed by a prudently swift marriage. No, Justin preferred his intrigues to be more complex, more tantalising, more—

“Good morning, Miss Halfpenny, I am so glad to see you. Miss Foxworthy was rather anxious you would not arrive before the unveiling.”

Justin paused on the stairs, watching Howard greet the young lady with remarkable familiarity and… fondness? How interesting.

“In truth, I am not entirely certain I shall go in,” the young woman admitted, her voice little more than a whisper.

Justin continued his leisurely stroll down the stairs. The woman he had been so curious to meet for so long, the author of those fascinating and ill-advised letters to the duke, was before him. Yet her back was turned and he could not get a good look at her.

“Oh, miss.” Howard sounded a little disappointed. “If I might be so bold, the duke believes the portrait to be a triumph, for you as well as Miss Foxworthy. Do you not—”

“Might I escort the young lady in, Howard?”

Both parties jumped guiltily, as they had not heard his approach. The young woman turned around, her candid green eyes gazing at him with interest. Heavens, she was a plain little dab of a thing, yet those surprisingly intriguing eyes brimmed with intelligence, and he had the strangest notion that she was summing him up quite nicely as she darted a quick glance before lowering her gaze.

“Make the introductions, if you please, Howard,” he demanded.

Howard dithered for a moment, looking uneasy, and Justin quirked an eyebrow at him. “My, my, Howard. I am not that disreputable, surely?”

Howard blanched. “No! No, indeed. My Lord Sheringham, I have the pleasure to present Miss Clara Halfpenny. Miss Halfpenny, the Earl of Sheringham.”

Justin gave her a lazy smile as she met his gaze once more. “But all my friends call me Sherry, and I offer you the liberty, as I am certain we shall be fast friends. Shall we go in?”

He held out his arm to her, wondering what she would do.

She didn’t move. “Your certainty is misplaced, I’m sure,” she said, her expression one of mingled curiosity and suspicion. Oh, she was not a silly creature at all. “And I have not yet decided—”

“Yes, Miss Halfpenny, you have, else you would not be here. You are just waiting for someone to give you a little push.” He grinned at her. “You are welcome.”

For a moment she looked rather vexed, and then she laughed.

To his surprise, Justin felt rather pleased with himself. “I know, and this is why poor Howard looked so appalled at my forcing an introduction. Take heart, however, Miss Halfpenny, I am not in the least tender hearted and if you wish to call me a despicable villain or box my ears, I will take it in stride without the slightest offence.”

She stared at him, amused now, though still wary. “Is that so? I may hold you to that, my lord.”

“I beg that you will. Now then. Are you ready to face your public, or do you need a little glass of something to fortify your spirits? I shall not object.”

She drew in a breath, and he proffered his arm a little more insistently.

“I am ready.”

“Excellent. I knew at first glance that you were a courageous young woman.”

She made a little snorting noise, which made him smile. “You thought nothing of the sort. I suspect it ran more along the lines of ‘my what an unprepossessing creature she is, I believe I shall have a little fun tormenting her.’”