The Earl That Overruled My Destiny Read online

  “Oh, yes!” Florence shook her head. “I wondered if she would make an appearance this season. I have heard that she insists on treating her baby, illegitimate or no, as her own heir. And the baby’s father still works in her stables.”

  Gwendoline shook her head. Her father had spent weeks lamenting Lady Weithorn’s sudden fall from grace. “That’s admirable of her,” Gwendoline muttered, “that she cares so much.”

  “Perhaps. But I imagine it will severely limit her opportunities for a good match,” Florence replied, furrowing her brow.

  It will.

  It’s so easy for a woman to lose her reputation. Lady Weithorn never committed any wrong before instigating that affair, and now, she’s ostracized from polite society. And even if she chooses to return, I doubt the ton would treat her with as much respect as they did before she left.

  The music halted, more dancers retiring to the walls of the ballroom. Gwendoline’s nemesis, included. Lord Caspian left his partner and joined his brother. Gwendoline’s lips twitched into a frown.

  Lord Caspian and his brother had been away for several seasons. The Farradays owned several properties in Spain, and the brothers had been there. They only returned to England a few months before the start of the current season.

  Gwendoline had seen the two before but she couldn’t remember hating the sight of Lord Caspian’s face quite so much. And as Gwendoline watched, Lord Caspian looked directly at her. A broad smirk split his face. Gwendoline’s blood boiled. She refused to drop her gaze from his. She was not a coward, after all, and Lord Caspian’s arrogant expression was clearly meant to distress her.

  As if his smile and stare weren’t insulting enough, Lord Caspian took a step forward. Then, another. And then, with his brother and two friends following, Lord Caspian began a slow, leisurely walk toward her.

  Chapter 2

  Lady Gwendoline Lockwood was as beautiful as a rose in bloom. Her thick hair was impossibly dark and sleek, and her eyes shined like a deep pool of water. Presently, the lady’s cheeks were a pleasant shade of pink, which complimented well the silk of her green dress. Even Caspian had to admit that she was an attractive woman, but that lovely face and curvaceous body held a viper’s venom. Lady Gwendoline had a temper, too. And although Caspian was a gentleman, the thought of teasing the spawn of his family’s greatest nemesis turned over in his mind.

  “Must we do this?” Caspian’s brother Noah whispered.

  “Why shouldn’t we?” Caspian asked. “She’s a Lockwood.”

  “That doesn’t mean you should seek out trouble,” Noah replied.

  Perhaps, Noah didn’t. But the thought of tormenting Lady Gwendoline was just too enticing to pass on, and Caspian knew that it would take so little to vex the woman. Even the least little acknowledgement of her presence would do it. As he approached, Lady Gwendoline’s eyes narrowed. Her cheeks reddened, and her posture grew tense. She drew herself up like a cobra about to strike. Her nostrils flared as if she’d smelled something unpleasant.

  Beside Lady Gwendoline, Lady Florence looked anxious. Her eyes darted between her friend and Caspian. Lady Florence’s lips twitched, like she wasn’t sure whether to frown or smile. A few of the ton who stood nearby brightened with interest, clearly eager to see the confrontation between London high society’s two greatest enemies.

  Noah quickened his pace and swept around him. He smiled, flashing his brilliant, white teeth. “Good evening, Lady Gwendoline. Lady Florence.”

  “Good evening,” Lady Florence said. “How are you gentlemen?”

  Lady Gwendoline’s frown deepened, and although her eyes were dark, Caspian swore that he saw sparks of fire in their depths. The Lady did not take kindly to his appearance, but her lips twitched awkwardly upward and made a strained smile.

  “We’re well,” Noah said quickly. “It’s wonderful to be back in London. Life is so dreary and slow in Spain.”

  James and Alexander, Caspian’s companions since his early boyhood, remained with him. The pair had been Caspian’s co-conspirators in countless schemes, which often failed and resulted in some scolding. Although as he’d gotten older, Caspian had become quite adept in avoiding those. Whether his charms would likewise work on Lady Gwendoline’s sharp tongue remained to be seen, but Caspian suspected not.

  “How unfortunate,” Lady Gwendoline replied.

  James hardly seemed to notice Lady Gwendoline. Already, he’d fixed his attention on Lady Florence’s pretty face. James was a good man but liked to portray a roguish personality, which he expressed with his crooked grins and shining, brown eyes.

  Alexander, tall and fair-haired, remained by Caspian’s side, looking quite bored.

  But we’ll see how long he remains bored!

  “It really is,” Noah said. “I had anticipated Spain being more exciting. I thought surely it could not be so dull as I remembered, but alas, it was.”

  “Perhaps, your properties have the misfortune of being in an exceptionally poor part of the country. I have always enjoyed myself in Spain,” Lady Gwendoline replied.

  “Have you considered, My Lady, that you like Spain so much because you’re equally as dull and dreary?” Caspian asked.

  He hadn’t thought it possible for Lady Gwendoline’s face to become any redder than it already was, but it did. Her cheeks were flushed with such heat that it looked as if her whole head was a blazing inferno, edged with dark tendrils of night-dark hair.

  “You clearly lack a refined aesthetic if you think that either I or Spain are dreary,” Lady Gwendoline said, her tone overflowing with false sweetness.

  “I should imagine we all have a fine taste of aesthetics,” Noah said, with a nervous laugh. “We couldn’t be a part of the ton if we were heathens.”

  “Agreed,” replied James, his attention still on Lady Florence.

  “It is entirely possibly to be a part of the ton and lack any sense of good taste,” Caspian replied. “The evidence stands before me.”

  “Did you come over here only to insult me?” Lady Gwendoline asked. “If either of us lacks any aspect of gentility, it is clearly you.”

  Ah, that fiery tongue! Caspian’s grin broadened. Although Lady Gwendoline’s voice remained even, her expression and stance betrayed her. All the years of disdain for Caspian’s family seemed to radiate off Lady Gwendoline in waves, so palpable that Caspian felt as though he could see it.

  “How unladylike it is to insult a gentleman,” Caspian replied.

  “I am not insulting a gentleman,” she said.

  James cleared his throat. “Lady Florence, would you feel inclined to dance?”

  Lady Florence’s eyes darted to her friend’s face. “No, I think I must decline, but thank you very kindly for the offer, My Lord.”

  Whatever else might be said about her, it was clear that Lady Florence was a loyal woman, who refused to abandon her friend.

  A pity she’s decided to declare her allegiance for such an awful family, Caspian thought.

  “Yes, Florence and I were just talking,” Lady Gwendoline said. “It was quite a pleasant conversation until it was interrupted.”

  “Apologies,” Noah replied.

  Caspian grimaced at how his brother clearly made an effort to sound as if he truly cared about inconveniencing either of the ladies. But despite growing up in the same household and the same family, Noah never had cared too much for the feud between the Lockwood and Farraday families. As far as Caspian’s younger brother was concerned, the feud happened so long ago that it hardly mattered anymore.

  “I won’t apologize,” Caspian interrupted.

  Noah gave him a long-suffering look, which Caspian met with a hasty grin.

  James straightened his back and drew his attention away from Lady Florence, seemingly abandoning his pursuit for the night. “I have never heard you apologize for anything,” he said.

  Caspian shrugged. “I’m seldom wrong, so there is little need to apologize.”

  “Only a fool thinks he is sel
dom wrong,” Lady Gwendoline replied.

  “Did you borrow that witticism from a poorly written novel?” Caspian asked.

  “I wouldn’t even call it a witticism,” Alexander said.

  Lady Gwendoline’s slender fingers curled inwards, her hands forming small fists. “Do you gentlemen have nothing better to do with your evening than to torment us?”

  “Torment you?” Caspian asked, adding a mock gasp. “Perish the thought, My Lady! We merely came to engage in a delightful conversation, during the course of which you have clearly insulted me.”

  “I only gave you what you earned,” Lady Gwendoline said, her voice beginning to tremble just slightly.

  Just how far could Caspian push before that woman lost her composure? And did she even realize that his goal was to irritate her? Surely, she did, and yet she was so easily led to vexation.

  “And I wonder what you have earned,” Caspian replied.

  Noah’s eyes were warning, nearly pleading. Alexander looked suddenly interested, eager even, for what might come. Caspian felt as though his friends and Lady Florence suddenly grew quieter and stiller, as if waiting for some terrible calamity to befall.

  “Excuse me?” Lady Gwendoline’s voice was icy.

  “You know very well what I’m implying.”

  For a moment, the Lady stared at him in silence, her eyes wide. She knew of the feud as well as Caspian did, but she seemed stunned that he’d had the gall to mention it in polite company. The Lord arched an eyebrow, waiting to see if the Lady would attempt to defend herself.

  Lady Gwendoline took an audible breath of air and let it out slowly. “Oh, I know what you’re implying, and it’s quite the implication considering your family’s crimes.”

  And there is was, the perfect opportunity to ruffle the feathers of the lovely young Lady. Caspian had admittedly never particularly understood his family’s need for perpetuating a feud that happened so long ago. But seeing Lady Gwendoline unsettled made it well worth pretending that the offense bothered him.

  “My family has not participated in any crimes,” Caspian said. “We—”

  “Please, don’t,” Noah said. “Surely, we don’t need to dredge the past up tonight, do we? Here, at the first ball of the season?”

  “No,” Lady Florence quickly agreed.

  “Oh, I think there’s no time like the present,” Alexander said, grinning.

  James said nothing but glanced morosely in Lady Florence’s direction.

  “No, I think we ought to discuss it,” Lady Gwendoline asked, crossing her arms. “After all, you have some gall, My Lord, in choosing to come here and speak to me tonight. And I know you mean to draw my ire. Is spreading heinous lies about my noble family insufficient for you?”

  “Lies? Your family is the one which has spread lies all these years. Directly after your uncle abducted my beloved Aunt Helena, your family should have—”

  “My uncle abducted no one!” Lady Gwendoline snapped. “It is apparent to everyone that your aunt was a scheming seductress, who—”

  “My aunt was a noble and genteel woman,” Caspian argued.

  “And perhaps, there was fault on both sides?” Noah offered weakly.

  Caspian shook his head. “No, it’s quite clear with whom the fault lies.”

  Lady Florence curled an arm around Lady Gwendoline’s. “Don’t you fancy some fresh air, Gwen?” she asked.

  Lady Gwendoline’s face darkened. “I’ll not leave while I’m being insulted. My poor family was devastated by that harlot’s actions—”

  “She was not a harlot. You have no right to make that kind of judgment about her. I realize that it’s difficult for you to believe that your own family might be capable of any wrongs, but—”

  “My uncle abducted no one, and clearly, the only reason your family feels the need to say so is because you refuse to admit that moral failings of your own aunt!” Lady Gwendoline retorted, her voice slowly rising in volume.

  “Not so loud,” Lady Florence whispered.

  But from the venom in her eyes, Caspian doubted Lady Gwendoline would heed her friend’s words.

  “There’s no need—” Noah began.

  “Moral failings?” Caspian asked. “Why, I doubt your family would recognize moral failings in anyone. After all, it’s quite apparent that you do not recognize them in your own family. My aunt was the most loving, compassionate woman ever to grace the world. It was your uncle, a rake and a scoundrel, who took her from us.”

  Lady Gwendoline laughed, the sound high-pitched and haughty.

  “And not only did your uncle take our beloved Helena from us, but he also left us to contend with the wrathful Earl of Woodmore. My poor aunt could have married the good Lord Woodmore and lived a happy, peaceful life had if not been for—”

  “Oh, please!” Lady Gwendoline snapped.

  The Lady’s raised voice drew a few curious looks from those standing closest, but to Caspian’s delight, she didn’t seem to notice the attention.

  “Your aunt wasn’t satisfied with the Earl of Woodmore. Instead, she hoped to ensnare my uncle for his wealth and title and—let’s be entirely honest—his handsome face. My uncle was quite a dashing man, much more than your aunt’s intended. Lady Helena was a woman with all the moral fiber of a lady of the night!”

  Whispers hissed around them, but Lady Gwendoline seemed utterly oblivious to them. Her anger was like a physical force, transforming her from a beautiful, well-bred woman and into a fierce, angry creature. The woman’s face was red, her eyes brilliant, and her hair wild about her. There were the thorns that Caspian associated with Lockwood’s only child.

  “Yes,” Caspian said, keeping his voice even and soft, “I can see quite clearly the sort of genteel cloth that you are cut from. You’re making quite a theatrical impression on the Lord and Lady Hartford’s guests.”

  The Lady’s shoulders stiffened. Beside her, Lady Gwendoline’s dark eyes anxiously darted about the room. When Lady Gwendoline turned her attention to Caspian once more, his pulse quickened. He grinned and waited to see how she would react. With so much attention now on them, it would be difficult to leave the situation with any grace intact. Would Lady Gwendoline storm away? Or return the insult?

  “You did this on purpose!” she hissed.

  “He would never!” Alexander cut in.

  Caspian gasped and painted an expression of mock innocence on his face. “All I did was try and wish you a pleasant evening! Why, you’re the one who decided to insult my beloved aunt’s honor!”

  Lady Gwendoline’s lips pulled into a tight smile. She was pulled up tall and taut, like a predator preparing to pounce.

  “If this is how you’re going to treat me, I think I’d best spend my evening elsewhere,” Caspian said, shaking his head.

  Noah sighed quietly in relief. James offered Lady Florence an apologetic smile. So maybe the two of them weren’t exactly happy with him, but Noah and James would forgive him. They always did. As Caspian turned away, he exchanged a grin with Alexander, whose green eyes were bright with amusement.

  “Wait.” Lady Gwendoline’s voice was like a battle flag.

  Caspian looked over his shoulder, feigning polite curiosity. It wouldn’t do for him to be an embarrassment, too. After all, the game was only enjoyable if one of them was in the wrong.

  Across the room, Caspian’s mother Joanne Farraday, Countess of Elderdale, met his gaze. It was unclear how much of the exchange she’d witnessed, but her green eyes, so like Caspian’s own, narrowed in warning. Looking at her, Caspian felt a sharp spark of guilt. She wouldn’t approve of his behavior; he knew that.

  And past his own mother, Caspian saw the Earl of Newhost, his fingers curled around his wineglass like a vice. The man was clearly furious, and Caspian realized quite suddenly who the man would blame for this.

  Maybe I shouldn’t have done this, Caspian thought. Maybe I have gone too far.

  But it was far too late for him to back away from the matter.
/>   Lady Gwendoline stormed forward, standing so close that Caspian could practically feel the heat shimmering from her body. “How dare you?” she hissed. “You may play everyone else at this ball like a prized instrument. You may convince everyone in your household, all your peers, and all your business partners that you are a decent man from good stock. But your behavior toward me speaks volumes about your true nature!”

  Caspian stared at her, as guilt coiled in his belly. He’d caused this, and he had no idea how to fix it now.

  “And what is my nature?” Caspian’s tone was flawless. Gentlemanly and concerned.