Page 82 of One Night with a Rake

After an awkward moment, the Member of Parliament lowered his hand, his smile hardening. “I take it this is not a social call. No matter. Among men of good conscience, disagreements sometimes arise. However, there is no reason we cannot conduct ourselves in a civil manner. Please have a seat.”

Nathaniel didn’t know how Alcock could describe himself as a “man of good conscience” without risking lightning strikes from the Almighty. Lord knew, Nate didn’t consider himself one. “I’ll stand.”

“Very well.” Mr. Alcock returned to his chair and steepled his long fingers before him. “I suppose you want what’s been promised to you.”

Nate frowned at him in puzzlement. Of course, he wanted the proof that would clear him, but he knew Alcock wouldn’t give it up for the asking.

“I’ve been informed that congratulations are in order,” Alcock said. When Nate continued in silence, he went on. “My operative tells me you have succeeded in deflowering Lady Georgette.”

Anger burned a hot trail through his insides. “He lies.”

Alcock picked up a piece of foolscap and read the spidery script aloud.

“The subject carried a hooded, bound woman into a Cheapside flat, whereupon the two of them remained there for the better part of two hours by St. Paul’s bells. I begged for a bite at the kitchen of the house in question and was accommodated. Cook was voluble about her employer, Lord Nathaniel Colton. Thinks the sun rises and sets on his noble arse.”

Mr. Alcock peered at him over the top of the paper. “Forgive my agent’s editorializing. He sometimes brings more to the report than strictly necessary. But I digress.” He returned to reading aloud.

“Cook blushed when I mentioned seeing a woman carried in against her will, but she assured me his lordship was engaged in a bit of tomfoolery with his ‘light-o-love.’ When Lord Nathaniel and the woman emerged, the lady was no longer hooded and no longer struggling to get away from his lordship. I recognized her as Lady Georgette Yorkingham.”

Alcock let the report drop to his desk to find a place among the reams of other papers and ledgers. “If you didn’t manage to bed her in two hours, I have serious doubts about your manhood.”

The backs of Nate’s eyes burned. “You will not use this information.”

“Of course I will,” Alcock said with a smarmy grin. “This is exactly what’s wanted to keep Cambridge from taking her as his bride. The old bugger will have to start fresh with a new virgin now and I needn’t remind you, time is the ultimate enemy of the royal dukes.”

Nathaniel reached across the desk and snatched Alcock by his snowy-white neckcloth. He pulled him forward to glare at him, nose to nose.

“I am your ultimate enemy,” Nathaniel said through clenched teeth. “If so much as a breath of scandal touches Lady Georgette, I will call you out.”

“A duel? Surely you don’t mean…” The whites showed all the way around Alcock’s eyes. And well they should. Whether Alcock chose pistols or swords, it wouldn’t make a particle of difference. Nathaniel was an acknowledged master of both. “How very…”

“Murderous? That’s the word you’re looking for. Because it’s apt. It would be murder and you and I know it. Socially sanctioned murder, but murder all the same. If we meet on a field of honor, I promise I will kill you.”

Alcock’s complexion paled to the color of week-old porridge. His Adam’s apple bobbed in a hard swallow.

“I scarcely think you’re one to talk of honor,” the man said. “Have you forgotten that if I decide not to clear you, I can just as easily lay the full weight of failure for Maubeuge at your feet?”

“I don’t care what you do about that. My sins are my own and I’ll answer for them.” He gave the man a rough shake before releasing him with enough force to send him sprawling back into his chair. “But you will not harm Lady Georgette. Is that understood?”

“You’re going to regret this.”

“I regret many things, sir. But I’ll never regret this.” Nate glared at him. If Alcock had discovered information that cleared him and his friends, it stood to reason that Nathaniel could uncover it too. “Do your worst to me. I don’t care. Do the slightest discourtesy to Lady Georgette and you’ll answer for it.”

Mr. Alcock adjusted his neckcloth and jutted his chin forward, obviously feeling a little braver now that Nate had released him. “I believe you’ll see things in a different light shortly. The tinge of scandal you’ve suffered up to this point was merely living under a cloud. If you insist on thwarting me in this, Colton, I will rain down the full storm of public censure on you, including criminal charges.” Alcock smoothed down his waistcoat. “Consider, sir, what your complete disgrace will mean to your family.”

“My family knows what I am,” Nate said woodenly. Even when he was languishing in an opium den in Whitechapel, his family hadn’t abandoned him. Somehow, he’d find another way to protect them from Alcock’s venom besides ruining Georgette. “Lady Georgette does not. If you besmirch her reputation in any way, you may expect me to demand immediate satisfaction. Do you understand me, sir?”

“Yes.” Mr. Alcock narrowed his eyes to glittering slits. “I believe I do. But trust me when I say you will wish I did not by the time I am finished with you.”

***

“Come, daughter,” Lady Yorkingham said as she made her umpteenth circuit of Georgette’s chambers. “I haven’t all day.”

Georgette drew a deep breath, straightened to her full height, and stepped from behind the chinoiserie dressing screen in the pink gown, leaving Mercy to tidy up her discarded clothing.

No matter what her mother said, the pale silk was divine. The clean lines were undisturbed by a single ruffle or furbelow. A deep magenta sash snugged under her breasts, delineating the high waist and allowing the slender skirt to fall in a foamy column to the floor. The fit was perfect.

Lady Yorkingham stared at her for a good half minute. “What is this? Did I or did I not specify red?”