Tisha scanned the invitation, wanting nothing more than to burn it. Aidan had handed it to her, saying she and Da were also invited to the marchioness’s ball this Saturday. He’d also told her a big surprise was in store, an announcement he didn’t want her to miss out on. She had a strong feeling what the announcement would be. And if things did go according to his plan, Abbie would be devastated.
Would Lucy be there? She tapped the paper on her chin, recalling the lady who had been so responsive in her arms. She wouldn’t mind another go at the woman. If only Lucy contacted her, which she’d been expecting since she told the lady that ominous message about her father and brother, as well as holding her shawl hostage. She was sick of waiting and would have to take matters into her own hands regarding Mrs. Lucy Endcott.
Speaking of taking matters into her own hands, she marched up to the third level and down the hall to her father’s rooms. The door to his sitting area was open, and voices came from within. She stopped in the doorway, disgruntled by the cozy sight. He stood in front of a long mirror as a tailor measured his arms and back. There was a mention of the color of coat he wanted to wear for the ball. In front of the windows, as Abbie fed Aidan grapes. He nipped her fingers, and she giggled. Their love for one another shone in both their eyes.
She fisted the invitation, ready to crumple it into a ball. Her anger toward her brother swelled. One word from her, and Abbie would walk out of his life forever.
Da glanced in her direction, and a wide grin broke across his face. “There’s my darlin’ daughter!”
“Yes, your darlin’ daughter who can’t believe you’re seriously thinking of attending this ball hosted by that horrid woman.” She waved the invitation and stomped toward Aidan, who made calf eyes at Abbie. She flicked the paper at him, and it landed on his lap. Abbie read the paper, her happy face losing some of its sparkle.
“You’ve been invited to the marchioness’s ball? I never knew you and her were friends.” She shifted out from under Aidan’s arm.
He popped a grape into his mouth. “I was friends with her husband before he was killed. Irena and I became close after his death.”
“Close?” She shook her head, showing her bewilderment.
Tisha crossed her arms and tapped her foot, waiting for him to explain. When he stroked Abbie’s hand, she slapped him away.
“What’s wrong?” He chewed his grapes slowly.
“I don’t like how that woman hangs all over you.” She hugged her arms around her waist.
The air in the room grew thick, and Tisha looked at her father for assistance. He stared in the mirror as the tailor bent and measured his leg.
“You can take Abbie as your guest,” she offered. With Abbie by Aidan’s side, he wouldn’t dally with the widowed marchioness.
Aidan tapped his fingers on his knee and gave her an annoyed glare. “As much as I would like to take Abbie, I can’t. She wouldn’t be welcome at such a gathering, and Irena won’t let me anywhere near her if I have another woman with me.”
A strangled cry rose from Abbie, and she flew up from her seat. “I can’t believe you would say such a thing!” She backed away when he stood, pleading with her to calm down.
Da snapped his fingers, and the tailor rose, gathering his things. Aidan approached Abbie. She backed away. Tisha waited for Aidan to justify what he had said.
Abbie ran from the room. Aidan rushed after her, yelling her name. The tailor wisely kept quiet and left.
“Jaysus.” Tisha sat on the couch. Da sat next to her and stared at her in disappointment.
“What?” She selected a grape from the bowl and took a bite.
“Antagonizing your brother is wrong.” He lifted his finger when she started to argue. “And don’t tell me you didn’t mean to. The moment you came in here, talkin’ about the marchioness’s ball, you knew it would cause a problem between those two.”
“Problem? Aidan’s going to have a world of problems with Abbie when she finds out his arrangement with the marchioness, which I assume will be announced at the ball?”
“Yes, the arrangement will not only benefit Aidan, but us.”
She stood and paced in front of Da, who crossed one leg over the other and took a cigar from his pocket.
“Da, how can you sit here like this? The marchioness isn’t what Aidan needs. What about Abbie? She thinks Aidan and she are to be married!”
He lit his cigar and puffed. “Aidan can keep Abbie on the side, and they can continue as they are. Abbie will understand. She’s turned a blind eye to his indiscretions in the past.”
“Aidan’s indiscretions?” Disgust rolled through her at the idea of her brother betraying Abbie in such a way, especially after she’d been so devoted to him for so long. “But this isn’t one of his indiscretions. This is marriage to a woman surrounded by speculations and rumors regarding her husband’s death and her extracurricular activities, most of which occur within these walls. I have a bad feeling about the entire thing.”
Da sighed and stood. “You have a big heart like your ma. She would probably be upset also, but you’re not seeing the benefits of having the marchioness as part of this family. Aidan needs her to become a well-respected member of society and to infiltrate the upper crust. His revenge against his father will then be complete. With the marchioness by his side, he can concentrate on becoming a better man.”
“And what does the marchioness get out of the bargain, other than Aidan?” She shuddered to think what intimacies had been shared between the two, and what their marriage bed would be like. Also the idea he would procreate with such an abhorrent woman made her stomach churn.
“The marchioness would gain more power and money to add to her coffers with my full support. She’ll also open doors for me, and, with her introduction, I can become a more respected businessman.” He cupped her cheek. “We won’t have to remain in the shadows any longer.”
“You’re just as bad as Aidan, obsessed with respect from those snobbish hoity-toity types who have no problem enjoying what Pythos and your other clubs have to offer, but if they passed you on the street or you dined in the same restaurant, they would turn their noses up at you. That’s really so important to you? We have a pretty nice life now.”
She went to the window and pushed aside the curtains to reveal the view of brick buildings covered with soot from the chimneys above. Beyond that was a cloudy sky, the familiar sight most days in London. In the West End, there weren’t as many buildings so close together, and more space with trees and vast lawns. Once she had wanted what the upper crust had, but she knew her place and was perfectly fine with it, unlike Da and Aidan, who always wanted more.
“Darlin’, it will all work out for the best. Trust me.”
She faced her father, who puffed on his cigar behind his desk. She had always trusted him in the past, but his and Aidan’s plan to infiltrate London society with Aidan’s marriage to the marchioness didn’t sit well with her at all. It was going to end in disaster, and she refused to stand by and not do anything to stop it.
A shadow crossed the doorway, and Benji popped his head out, waving her over.
“Da, be careful,” she warned.
“I’m always careful.” He winked and turned his attention to the papers lying on his desk.
She left the room, tugging Benji away. She took him down the stairs to the second level and to one of the vacant water closets.
Closing the door, she leaned against it and faced the young lad, who rocked on his heels. For once, he had taken off his cap and held it to his chest.
She took out a small pile of bills and slipped it inside his shirt pocket. “You have news about the lady I told you to keep an eye on?”
“I did like you said. I watched the missus yesterday. She went inside a fancy hat shop with two ladies but didn’t leave with them. She came out with the pretty woman with the black hair who always comes here. You know, the one Aidan is always laughin’ and smilin’ with?”
She held back a chuckle when he cupped his chest to indicate the marchioness’s generous bosom then traced the air to show her curves. When she finally registered what he had said, she stood up straighter.
“The lady and Aidan’s pretty friend met at the shop? They left together?”
He nodded. “They got in a big black carriage. I followed them, and they went inside a huge house with a lot of windows but didn’t come out for a long time. Finally, the lady came out. She ran down the sidewalk and sat on a bench and cried.”
Lucy crying? She didn’t seem to be the type to grow emotional, and in public, unless—the marchioness was responsible?
“How long did the lady cry?” she asked, concerned for Lucy’s emotional state.
Benji’s tongue poked through the corner of his mouth. “It started raining, so not long.”
She tapped her cheek, more than curious as to why Lucy went with the marchioness to her house and what they talked about. What made her cry? What if there had been little talk between the two women and something more intimate had been shared? Not liking where her thoughts were headed, she opened the door and stuck her head out. Seeing the hallway was empty, she motioned for Benji to exit the room.
“You did a good job, Benji. Before you find Abbie and leave for the day, check with Cook to see if she has any sugar cookies left.” She’d rather Benji wait a bit before seeing his sister. If Abbie and Aidan were arguing, she didn’t want him to witness it.
He dropped his cap on his head and, with a bow, hurried out of the water closet and down the hall.
She left soon after and went up to her rooms where she planned to send a note to Lucy. They had to meet soon. She had to stop Aidan and his arrangement with the marchioness before it was too late. Lucy would be able to help her even though the woman might truly hate her when all was said and done and the past was revealed to all.