Page 53 of Only Pleasure Will Do

Chapter 23

On the third day after her horrific ordeal, Amorina sat in the downstairs drawing room, attired in a borrowed gown of gray silk, thankfully released from her bed for the first time in what seemed an age.

She’d had the delightful company of Pearl, of course, and Lady Dalbury and Lady Juliet had kindly come to talk to her. As she’d been forbidden to speak, however, the conversations had tended to be rather one sided. Lady Juliet was fun to listen to. Her mind hopped about from topic to topic like a bird pecking for seeds. Lady Dalbury—who’d begged to be called Katarina—kept up a constant stream of adventurous tales from her youth, most featuring a contest of swordsmanship with either her brother or Mr. Morley. The lady was very sweet and kind, but utterly exhausting.

Now both those ladies, plus Lady Trevor and Lady Manning, had joined them for tea. Amorina hadn’t known the other ladies would be present or she might’ve pled fatigue. Now they were here, she couldn’t very well leave the room without seeming rude, and she wouldn’t offend them for the world. They’d all been so kind to her, sending flowers, asking after her health and that of Pearl. What she wasn’t certain of was why.

Each of the ladies knew what her profession was and that a proper lady was expected to shun and revile such women. Amorina had experienced such treatment from ladies of Society before. Lady Dalbury and Lady Trevor, having passed briefly though the doors of the House of Pleasure, knew something firsthand of the life she’d led. That they’d managed to rise above their sojourns in her infamous establishment was a testament to their characters, their fortitude, and a determination to survive. Perhaps they saw those traits in her as well, which might explain their continued interest in her welfare. The other two, however, should by rights condemn her. Of course, she couldn’t imagine the good-natured and kind Lady Juliet doing such a thing to anyone. And since she’d also stayed at the House of Pleasure, albeit as a guest and not an employee, that probably accounted for her kind manner.

Lady Manning, on the other hand, was a mystery. Yet she smiled and spoke as though Amorina was as spotless as a snowdrift. The mystery had partially helped occupy her mind during the previous days’ confinement.

“How is your throat this morning, Madam Vestry?” Lady Juliet dropped an extraordinary amount of sugar into her cup. “Are you able to speak without much pain?”

“Yes, thank you, my lady.” Amorina spoke carefully, but clearly, the hoarseness now a faint raspy sound only. “Dr. Pritchett has deemed me a miracle. He says if I have no further ill effects, he believes I will recover completely, save for a slight scar around my neck. But even that, he said, will fade with time.” Until then, she’d keep her fichu pinned high on her neck.

“You do sound much better, Madam Vestry.” Lady Trevor picked up her cup then put it down. She clutched her skirts, but immediately released them.

Peculiar behavior, to say the least.

“I was wondering if you’d spoken to Sir Reginald since the…the ordeal?” A bright pink infused Lady Trevor’s face.

Wary now, Amorina slowly shook her head. “No, I’ve not had the pleasure, my lady. He has sent me several notes, asking after my health, but I daresay he has many duties he is attending to at Bow Street that require his attention.”

It had hurt her deeply that Reginald had not visited her in three days, but she had come to understand his absence. Even if he had appeared at Dunham House, he’d not have been allowed to see her and obviously knew that. But the crux of the matter as she’d reasoned it out—lying in the comfortable bed upstairs she’d had nothing to do but think—was practicality. They had found themselves embroiled in a dangerous situation during which their emotions had become heightened. The man had become enamored of her charms and in the heat of the moment, not knowing if they would live or die, had succumbed to a passion she’d blatantly orchestrated. She wasn’t sorry. Never would she be sorry to have shared even the briefest of intimacies with Reginald. By rights she should be grateful enough simply for his rescue of her. That she expected more from him was as foolish as a child crying for the moon.

“I believe that’s going to change, Madam Vestry.” Lady Dalbury eased forward on her chair, a wide grin on her face. “Reginald is to dine with us this evening, so you will be able to demonstrate the strides you’ve made in your convalescence.”

“How wonderful.” Amorina’s heart stuttered. She’d fought over the last three days to school herself to relinquish any hopes she had of Reginald, but apparently, she’d done a poor job. “I would like to find out if he’s discovered any additional information on Lord Edgemont or Mr. Redmond.”

As long as both those gentlemen stayed far away from her, she would count herself lucky. But why think of such morbid things when she would actually be seeing Reginald in a matter of hours? Perhaps she should excuse herself and lie down, rest and prepare herself to be close to him once more. The perfect pretext to leave this stressful gathering.

“Ladies, in light of this news, I beg you to excuse me from your excellent company. I fear if I’m to dine in company tonight, I will require more rest.” Clutching her skirts to keep her hands from shaking, she rose.

“Madam Vestry.” Lady Manning rose as well. “Might I have a word with you before you leave?”

“Of course, my lady.” She bowed to the others. “Ladies.”

Lady Manning took her arm as they walked together toward the door, stopping far enough away from the other ladies so as not to be heard.

“What is it, my lady?”

“The day you arrived, after Sir Reginald told that grim story, he spoke to my husband to relay your thanks in the matter of the duel in which Lord Manning killed Sir Peter Fitch.” Clenching her jaw, Lady Manning stopped and seemed to collect herself before continuing. “I wondered, when he spoke of it, if you had cause to hate Sir Peter as much as I had.”

Surprise gripped Amorina so tightly she could not speak. She did nod, however, hoping Lady Manning would continue with her revelation. “Sir Peter…hurt you?”

“Most grievously.” The lady gazed back at the ladies still chattering together. “It was to defend my honor that my husband challenged him to the duel.”

“Then he has defended mine as well, Lady Manning. Even more, he’s freed me from a terrible bondage and for that, I owe him a debt that can never be repaid. When I see him next, I shall thank him on my own behalf, and on my child’s.”

Lady Manning nodded gravely. “I suspected as much. As I discovered after my indiscretion, I wasn’t the first lady the fiend had taken advantage of.”

“At least we can hope you were the last.” Emboldened by the lady’s confidence in her, Amorina grasped her hand and squeezed it. “Thank you for telling me.”

A slight smile turned up the corners of Lady Manning’s mouth then she curtsied and headed back to her friends.

Pensive, Amorina walked slowly down the corridor toward her temporary apartment, her mind whirling with thoughts she could scarcely take in. Lady Manning had been attacked or in some way molested by Sir Peter as well. She put out a hand to the wall, not at all steady on her feet. The fear and disgust she’d fought for so long, every time he’d collected his “rents” from the House of Pleasure, were a thing of the past. As difficult as it was to believe, she truly was a free woman at last.

Perhaps now she understood that lady’s acceptance of her, despite her manner of making a living. Unfortunately, that these ladies accepted her into their circle of friends did not indicate that the rest of Society would treat her thus. If it were, she might fight harder for her happily ever after.