The Unlucky Viscount Read online

  "My maid got this while she was getting me the gown. She seemed to think you would like it."

  He was going to have to offer that maid a job in their new home, because she was intuitive. He didn't just like that piece, he was amazed by it. He had to clasp his hands behind his back to keep from reaching for her. He took deep breaths and reminded himself to move slowly.

  "You are beautiful."

  He enjoyed watching her cheeks flush. Even a strong woman like to hear compliments.

  "Are you ready for bed?" He moved so that she could get a good look at the four poster behind him. It could not look like a better night’s rest, but he saw the color drain from her face.

  "I know that it's expected for us to consummate the marriage on the first night, but I’m a little nervous about it.” She spoke in a voice barely above a whisper.

  “Has anyone told you what happens in the bedroom?”

  Alex knew that there were courtesans that worked and lived at The Raven Club. He assumed Rachel would have heard things from them about their clients. Hopefully good things.

  “Not the details. Gerald prohibited the other girls from talking about their business with me.”

  That was going to make things tricky. Alex had no experience with virgins but knew that if he didn’t proceed the right way she might not welcome him in the future.

  “I think we need wine.” he spat out. “Wine helps. It will relax you and get rid of the nerves.”

  “My nerves?”

  “Our nerves.”

  She quickly showed signs of relief, even giving a slight smile. She went around to one side of the bed and climbed in, pulling the blanket up to her chin. She said nothing but lay there, watching him with those big brown eyes.

  “I won’t be long.” He meant that as he left. He was most eager to be back in her company.

  He got a bottle of wine and two glasses from a waiter in the lobby. The man looked like he understood why Alex was so desperate for it. Alex ignored the wink he got and returned to find Rachel hadn’t moved an inch. She was now sitting in the bed with her hands in her lap and her eyes wide. This was going to take some patience on his part.

  “That was quick.”

  “Were you hoping I’d get lost?”

  “No.”

  He could see from across the room that her nose crinkled. Rachel probably didn’t know that she did that when she was lying. That information would be useful.

  “Drink?” he offered her a glass, expecting her to take a sip, but instead, she gulped the contents down.

  “I must have been thirsty.”

  Another nose crinkle. Alex took a small sip from his own glass but didn’t want to feel the effect too strongly.

  He should have extinguished the lamps before removing his clothes, but he hoped seeing him undress might work in his favor. If he enjoyed seeing her body, perhaps she would enjoy seeing his.

  He usually slept naked, but tonight that might be taking it too far, so he decided to keep his smalls on. He slowly and carefully removed the rest of his clothes, folding them neatly on a chair. He hadn't had money for a valet since the mistake, so he was very good at undressing himself.

  He looked back at her. Rachel was watching him with her brown wrinkled and concentration on her face. She realized what she had been doing and looked away.

  "I hope you don't snore. I'm going to need my rest tonight." Alex turned off the lamp and crawled into the bed beside her.

  "Do I look like I snore?" She had a sleepy sound to her voice.

  "People make all kinds of noises in bed. I can't wait to learn all of yours."

  He heard a gasp and smiled in the darkness. Unfortunately, he enjoyed his victory too long; he went to reach for her, she was already asleep. The wine had worked too well and he didn’t have the heart to wake her. Instead, he rolled to his side, pulled her in close, and fell asleep with her warmth against his body. He knew it would lead to the most erotic dreams, but he couldn’t resist.

  CHAPTER 6

  SPENDING THE DAY IN a hotel room with her new husband was starting to ruin Rachel's mood. It seemed like everywhere she turned, he was there, and it was becoming difficult to ignore his presence. He was always smiling and saying something to make her laugh. It was quite unbearable. Thankfully, by that afternoon, they had a home to move into. She hoped the additional space would give her some distance from him.

  The house was not as large as the others on the same street, but she could tell it had been well cared for by the people who had lived there before. It came with quality pieces of furniture and Alex had hired a few servants, including a cook. The only person missing was her maid.

  “I offered her a position, but she declined.” Alex said when he noticed her looking for Charity.

  “Why?”

  “I assume she preferred working for the club.”

  Charity had never expressed a fondness for the place, but it might be possible. Rachel knew she had been trying for years to convince Gerald to let her sing at the club, perhaps she was still pursuing that dream. There was a slight ache in her chest knowing that she had lost her one ally and would now be facing this alone. Alex was watching her, his frown growing.

  "I appreciated her good taste, so she will be missed." Alex added, “I have found a very reliable replacement.”

  It was impossible to find a replacement for a friend. “I’m certain that will be sufficient.”

  Rachel was nervous to meet her sister-in-law and when Alex left to go fetch her from the station, she felt like her stomach was tied in knots. Rachel had never had much experience with other women. The women who worked at the club avoided her since she was the boss’s daughter and she never went out where she could meet any others. The house was small, so if they disliked each other it would be very difficult to avoid her.

  After trying on every dress she owned at least once, she settled on a simple gray muslin with black lace trim at the neckline and sleeves. It hadn't been worn more than a few times in the two years since she had bought it, but it fit nicely and was as demure as could be. She sat in the parlor and waited impatiently for them to return. She closed her eyes, and soon she fell asleep.

  "She normally isn't this quiet." Those words startled Rachel awake.

  Blinking a few times, Rachel was embarrassed to find she had fallen asleep in one of the chairs and had slid into the most unflattering pose. She jumped up and tried to straighten her clothes with her hands. She heard a chuckle and saw Alex and his sister watching her with amusement. Her cheeks grew warm, but she found it hard not to laugh as well.

  "Daphne, this my new wife, Rachel."

  The young woman who approached her with an outstretched hand wasn't what Rachel had expected a lady to be. Daphne was smaller than most women, with a rounded face and big green eyes the color of moss. Alex's eyes were sharper and glinted in the light. She blushed and gave a timid smile, not speaking as they shook hands. She kept looking away, as if she were embarrassed to be the center of attention even for a brief moment. Her gown matched the color of her eyes and had very little adornment. It looked like something an old widow would wear, not a beautiful young woman. Rachel wondered if that had to do with their finances and her working as a companion.

  "I'm so glad to meet you." Rachel said, hoping a little reassurance would help her feel more at ease. "Your brother has said so much about you. He has made you sound too good to believe."

  "He tends to exaggerate."

  "I very much doubt that. You appear just as lovely as he said."

  The girl's cheeks turned a deeper shade of red.

  "I'm afraid I can't stay.” Alex cut in. "I have some things I need to take care of. Will you two be able to manage without me?"

  "I can't see why not. I have managed for years before now."

  Rachel didn't know why she had given such a tart answer, but Daphne found it funny and laughed so hard she had to cover her mouth. Alex shook his head and placed a quick kiss on his sister’s head.


  "You will have to wait for yours since you are being so saucy." He gave Rachel a wink. "I will make sure it's worth it, though."

  Something fluttered inside her stomach when he said that A kiss was just a kiss and hardly worth getting excited about. He left and it was just the ladies, two strangers who were now family.

  “How was the trip? Would you like to rest first?” Rachel wasn’t sure what to say to her new sister. “We have your room ready. The housekeeper said Alex insisted it be yours the first time he saw it.”

  “Lovely.”

  The flat, dead tone didn’t sound excited to see what her brother had done.

  “If you don’t like it, you can change anything you like.”

  “Knowing Alex, it is full of pink fabrics and layers of ruffles. That was the way my room was as a child.”

  That was exactly what was upstairs.

  “What do you prefer?” Rachel knew she wouldn’t want that much salmon around her.

  “More somber colors and shelves for my books. There wasn’t enough time before I left my Aunt’s for me to tell him that.”

  An idea was beginning to form in Rachel’s mind. “What about your clothes? Surely you didn’t pick that gown out.”

  “No, but Aunt Matilda was the one paying for it.”

  “It’s settled. We must go shopping.”

  “I couldn’t.”

  "You are about to have your first season in London. You can’t do that in such plain looking clothes. Do you want to embarrass your brother when he takes you out?"

  "He would be angry that we went out alone."

  "Making him angry is my favorite thing to do."

  Rachel knew where some of the best shops in London were. Shopping was one of the few things her father would allow her to do for. Buying clothes was an indulgence she enjoyed and had become quite good at. The only problem was, she was used to buying clothes for the Raven, and now she would need more suitable attire for a viscount's wife. After making visits to a decorator for the girl’s room, they went to tackle a new wardrobe for them both.

  "It's been ages since I bought anything new that I liked." Daphne confided. "Not since the incident with Mr. Deckland."

  "You brother’s misfortune must have been terrible."

  "It was, but not because we became poor. I didn't mind losing the house or the belongings, they were unimportant. What I hated losing was the man my brother used to be."

  "Has he changed so much?" Rachel looked out the window of the hack and pretended to be less interested than she really was.

  "Yes, he's become much more cynical. He used to be the dreamer in the family, and now he has no dreams anymore."

  Rachel wondered if she would have enjoyed the old Alex. She enjoyed the current one, but perhaps the dreamer might have been too much to resist. There was a desperation in the glint of his eyes when he played that wouldn’t have been there when he was playing for fun.

  "Can you tell me what happened?”

  They had reached one of Rachel’s favorite dress shops. Daphne sighed as they sat down and waited for the owner.

  "He refused to talk about it much. I barely know more than the newspapers. He was supposed to be going into a business agreement with a man named Deckland. He gave Deckland all the money we had but believed he was investing it for our benefit."

  "The man turned out to be false?"

  "Worse. He was a ghost. My brother went to his office one day to ask him some questions about the investment and everything was gone. The entire office was empty and the man himself was gone."

  "He was a thief."

  "Yes, Alex was certainly surprised by it. He tried everything he could to find the crook, but nothing turned up. He realized how deep in trouble we were."

  The assistant came by to offer them tea, and they each took a cup. Daphne closed her eyes and drank it slowly. The young woman looked like she was in heaven as she savored that simple cup of tea.

  "What was it like to work for your aunt these last few years?"

  "Difficult. She can be very demanding, and she made it clear that she held no affection for our mother or us."

  "Sounds awful."

  "It wasn't all bad. I liked living in Scotland. There was ample time for me to read, and I didn't have to worry about the pressures of society." Daphne leaned in closer and spoke in a whisper. "I'm terrified of making my debut."

  “Me as well." Rachel replied as she reached for the girl’s free hand and gave it a squeeze. "I guess we will be facing it together."

  For the first time, Rachel felt like she had a friend. It gave her a strangely warm sensation, and she couldn't stop smiling.

  The owner of the store stepped out from behind a curtain in the back of the shop. "My last customer is getting dressed as we speak. She should be leaving and we can begin on your gowns."

  "I'm not going to be rushed out like a commoner. I will leave when I'm ready, and you will be serving me until I go."

  The shrill voice belonged to a well-dressed woman who stepped out from the back room as well. She was older, Rachel would guess around forty, and had soft brown hair streaked with gray. She was wearing a yellow walking dress with a jacket buttoned a little too tight. It looked like the buttons might break at any moment. She was still thin for a woman her age, and her face only showed wrinkles on her forehead, between her eyebrows. As she glared at both Rachel and Daphne with her beady black eyes, it was no wonder where those had come from. There was a maid with her, attempting to pin her hat back on from behind, and the lady was ignoring the efforts.

  "Of course, I simply meant that we have taken all the needed measurements. I know you have a very busy schedule, and I wouldn't want to keep you from your engagements." The owner looked flushed from the brisk way the lady had spoken to her but was working to keep her happy.

  "I expected you to take longer. I have no other plans today."

  The owner’s expression was crestfallen. She nervously looked at Rachel and Daphne without knowing what to say. The other woman moved closer to them, staring directly in their faces.

  "I think I know you." She pointed at Daphne. "Have you been in London long?"

  "No. I just returned yesterday."

  "Why did you leave?"

  The woman was being very rude to ask such questions of a stranger. Daphne was visibly startled by it, and Rachel saw the redness in her face.

  "I was caring for my aunt." The words came out wobbling and uncertain.

  "I'm certain that I know you. What is your name?"

  Rachel had reached the limit of her patience with this woman. Her behavior was making Daphne uncomfortable, but she gave no heed to that. If Daphne wasn't going to be able to stop her, Rachel would. The woman's eyebrows shot up. "You give yours first."

  "Lady Harris, I believe your coach is waiting." said the shop owner.

  Rachel felt her eyes widen because she had read about Lady Harris in the papers and none of it was flattering. She was known for being harsh, judgmental, and strict about the rules of propriety. Getting on her bad side could ruin a woman’s reputation faster than an affair. The reputation she had didn't give her the right to be rude to Daphne.

  "I have never seen you before." Her eyes narrowed on Rachel. "I know everyone worth mentioning, so you must not be worth much."

  Attempting to enter society was going to be difficult, but Rachel hadn't realized it was going to begin in a dress shop. She wasn't prepared for battle among muslins and silks.

  "I'm Lady Andrews and you will hear of me soon." She stood, so that she was facing the rigid harpy. Rachel was of average height but held herself straight and looked Lady Harris directly in the eye.

  "Lord Andrews married?" She wrinkled her nose. "I didn't think anyone would be foolish enough to have him. This was the second season he tried."

  "Being wrong is nothing to be embarrassed about."

  Lady Harris huffed, making the plumes on her hat bounce. The maid startled in fear of it falling and having to pin it yet again. T
he feathers were ridiculous looking, but Lady Harris ignored them as they fell into her face.

  "That would make you his sister, I assume? I was familiar with your parents when they were alive." Lady Harris spoke to Daphne. "You had to leave London after what your brother did. Since you are here, does this mean you will be attempting to make your debut?"

  Daphne nodded, unable to speak.

  "You are too meek to garner a lot of attention, but you have a pretty enough face. There might be a few suitors willing to overlook your family if you have enough dowry to offer."

  "I don't remember her asking your opinion."

  Rachel trembled with anger, and she was barely able to keep from saying something worse to the woman.

  Lady Harris chuckled.

  "No one has to ask my opinion. I give it freely and everyone listens. You would do well not to anger me; I can make sure you are not welcome anywhere in the city."

  Once she was gone, Rachel turned and Daphne was sitting there with tears rolling down her cheeks. Unfamiliar with how proper ladies handle such emotion, Rachel wasn't sure what she should do to help. She sat next to the young girl and allowed her to lean in for a hug while patting her on the back. Rachel didn’t feel anything more would be appropriate at the moment. Thankfully, the episode didn't last long. She was relived to find Daphne’s face brightened again.

  "She's right, you know." Daphne wiped her now red and blotchy face with the handkerchief. "It doesn't matter what I wear, people are still going to see the sad little wallflower when they look at me."

  “Don’t let what they think bother you. You are young and have plenty of time to find a husband. There is no rush.”

  “It will only get harder as I get older. Men don’t like age on a woman.”

  “How old are you?”

  “I will be nineteen soon.”

  Rachel laughed. “I’m a few years older than that and it doesn’t bother me.”

  “You already have a husband.”