Ava Stone - A Scandalous Charade

A Scandalous Charade

Ava Stone

The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.

A Scandalous Charade

Copyright 2011 by Ava Stone

Cover Design by Lily Smith

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form by any electronic or mechanical meansexcept in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviewswithout written permission.

For more information: www.avastoneauthor.com

Dedication

For Brandt, my inspiration for Edmund St. Claire, the nine-year-old Duke of Prestwick.

One

Rakes and the suffering of ennui

February 1812 - London

Something in his life was most definitely missing. Unfortunately that same thought seemed to creep into his mind at the most inopportune times over the last month or so. Not that he should complain. Many men would love to be in his positionespecially the one he found himself in right now. But somewhere along the line, this had become mundane for him. After many years of cheerful sinning in one capacity or another, hed started to tire of this existence that was his life. Fast-paced hazard tables, fast-paced whores, and a never ending supply of money and whiskey. No, most men wouldnt complain.

Yet, he wasnt satisfied. So, there had to be something he was missing. Somethingmore.

The woman in his arms stirred and he took the opportunity to shift her to a pillow beside him. However, the one draped across his middle didnt seem likely to move for quite some time, and he hated to wake her. She had been quite accommodating.

Luke! came a panicked voice on the other side of the door.

What the devil? He sat up with a start, waking the poor girl that had been atop him. Sorry, love. He smiled at her.

The panicked voice continued, Luke! Then the interloper banged wildly on the door.

For Gods sakes! he growled. What in Lucifers name was the problem? Luke wrenched the door open, not a stitch on him, and glared at the intruder. His glower lightened a bit when he recognized his young friend William, Lord Haywood, standing in the corridor, a horrified expression plastered on his boyish face. Will knew better than to interrupt a man here . Something truly terrible must have happened.

Will pushed his way into the room and noticed the two girls now scrambling for clothes. He grinned bashfully at the younger of the two. Oh, Sarah.

Lord Haywood. The girl blushed, which was strange in Lukes mind, as he didnt remember ever seeing a whore do so before.

After he pulled his trousers up over his hips and started to button himself in, Luke glanced up and was annoyed that Haywood was still making moon eyes at the girl. Sweet Lucifer, Will, what are you doing here?

Will tore his eyes away from Sarah. You have to help me, Luke. I dont know what else to do. Ive tried everything I can think of, but nothings worked. And tonight she told me I was a featherbrained dolt whose thoughts wouldnt fill a thimble.

At the moment, Luke was inclined to agree with whoever she was. He had a hard time believing that the young baron had tracked him down here in the middle of the night to discuss some female. Certainly this could wait until morningor afternoon, or whenever Luke chose to finally wake up. Who are we speaking about, Will?

Haywood looked exasperated and frowned at him. The Ice Princess, LukeLady Juliet. That damned haughty chit.

Lukes head began to ache. This was hardly the sort of thing a man wanted to think about athe checked his pocket watchthree-thirty in the morning. Then he pulled on his shirt and waived the girls out of the room.

Will smiled at the pretty young whore one last time. Bye, Sarah.

To her credit, Sarah quietly nodded and shut the door behind her. Luke scowled at his friend. Sarah? he asked incredulously.

What? Will shrugged.

Just surprised you know her name, Will. Calling a whore by her first name was not something Luke had ever done. In fact, he didnt know any of their first names and planned to keep it that way.

Oh, well, Will began as he sank into a high-backed velvet chair, shes a real sweetheart. Wants to be an actress.

Luke couldnt care less, and his gaze darkened on his friend. Perhaps instead of chatting up career goals with Madam Palmers girls you could be charming Lady Juliet.

Will snorted and let his head fall into his hands. I could spend all day trying to charm her and it wouldnt do a damn bit of good. Honestly, Luke, a more frigid woman doesnt exist. Then his head shot upward. Thats why I need your help.

Luke didnt like the sound of that and he shook his head slowly. If shes so prickly, Will, then just pick someone else. Its not as if shes the only heiress in England.

No, shes just the wealthiest. If I have to sell my soul in marriage, I want to get the most out of it.

Luke pulled on his Hessians and chuckled. It was no wonder the Ice Princess wasnt charmed by Haywood. What a romantic notion, he remarked sardonically.

Thats just the problem. I dont have a clue what to say around her. Youve got to go with me to the Ridgemonts tomorrower, technically I suppose its tonight.

No! Luke barked emphatically. Hed successfully avoided Louisa Ridgemont for the last fortnight and he wasnt about to go traipsing into the she-devils den.

Please, Will begged. Youve got to watch me interact with her, tell me what Im doing wrong.

Luke was bone tired and he shook his head at his pitiful friend. Not even to save your pathetic life, Haywood. Do you know how long it took me to end things with Louisa?

Haywood actually blanched. Oh, sorry. I hadnt thought about that. The thing is, Luke, Lady Juliets unpredictable, and avoids functions for the most part. But I know shell be at the Ridgemont ball, and I desperately need your sage advice.

Luke cursed under his breath. If it had been anyone else that was asking this of him, hed have told them to go jump in the ThamesBut he felt responsible for Haywood. He always had. I ought to be checked into Bedlam for agreeing to this, and youll owe me for the rest of your life.

Wills solemn face broke into a wide grin. Youre the best.

Yes, yes. Luke frowned, opened the door of the small bedroom, and stepped into the corridordirectly into the path of Alexander Everett, the Duke of Kelfield.

An amused grin tugged at the corners of the wicked dukes mouth. Very interesting. I had no idea, he smirked as he glanced inside the empty bedroom, then back at Luke and Will.

Luke scowled at Kelfield, as he pushed past him. Bugger off. Then as an afterthought he added, Your Grace.

***

Dear God, shes here. Will gulped nervously, his boyish face drawn up tight. He quickly downed the remainder of the wine in his goblet.

Theyd been waiting for nearly an hour at the Ridgemonts and Luke had been certain the Ice Princess wouldnt show up. Shed leave him to flounder in Louisas ballroom, paying a penance he had no desire to pay. But, apparently, hed been wrong.

Will raked his free hand through his dark hair, as if the process would help him think of the right thing to say this time. Luke had never seen the lad so anxious. This was serious indeed.

Courage, Will, he drawled next to his anguished friend. Then Luke lazily pushed himself away from the large, white pillar hed spent the last half hour leaning against, to focus his attention on the Ridgemonts newest arrival.