Page 56 of Only Pleasure Will Do

Chapter 24

“Now, Matthews.” Dalbury rose and sauntered toward the sideboard. “Just what is your claim to Madam Vestry? You seem remarkably interested in the woman’s affairs.” The marquess sent him a piercing glare. “I assume you recall that she is the bawd of the most notorious and exclusive brothel in the city?”

Gritting his teeth until his jaw ached, Reginald slowly blew out his breath. Why Dalbury was goading him about Maddy he hadn’t a clue. What did the man care about her? She’d been his mistress, true, a fact Reginald tried not to dwell upon. That relationship had ended years ago, and the marquess had married a woman he professed to love passionately. So why this sudden attentiveness to Maddy?

“I do recall it, Dalbury, and in return might wonder why you are concerning yourself with Madam Vestry’s plight.” He frowned, focusing his gaze pointedly on his host. “I sincerely hope for my cousin’s sake, it is a charitable attraction and not a more…personal one.”

“Be easy, Matthews.” Dalbury laughed and waved away Reginald’s concerns. “My interest is indeed a charitable one.” He lifted the decanter and poured a generous tot of brandy into a cut crystal tumbler. “I could not help Amorina before, but I may be able to now. With Kat’s assistance—or should I say, insistence—we propose to make Madam Vestry disappear from London for good.”

Reginald raised his eyebrows. The marquess seemed to have made definite plans for Maddy. But had she been consulted? And did he himself figure in them? “That would likely be best in any case, given her notoriety and recent events.”

“We will need to come up with a plausible story as to where she has gone, but that is not the current concern.”

“Will she return with Pearl to Pagglesham?” That would likely be the best course for Maddy. If Dalbury were feeling truly charitable, he could settle a reasonable sum on her that would allow her to live in the country and raise her daughter in peace. Of course, that scheme would prevent Reginald from being part of her life. His duties as Magistrate meant he could not leave London. A regret he would bear for her sake, but one which would sadden him in the years to come.

“That is one option, although not the one Katarina wishes to pursue. Gentlemen?” He poured two additional tumblers, so Reginald and Morley joined him at the sideboard. “My wife has argued that Baron Forrester’s daughter deserves to take her place in Society no matter the circumstances of her life these past years.”

Glass in hand, Reginald stopped in the act of raising it to his lips. “And so she wants to do what?”

Dalbury pursed his lips. “She intends to present Miss Forrester to Society, with the sole object of her finding a suitable husband and marrying.”

Reginald’s grip on the tumbler tightened until the intricate cut-glass pattern must be imprinted on his palm. Such a scheme was unthinkable. His cousin must be quite mad. Did they not realize the scandal that would explode when Maddy was recognized as Madam Vestry?

“A noble undertaking, Dalbury.” Morley sipped his brandy solemnly, although a pucker about his mouth suggested the man found something about the suggestion amusing. “I am certain Juliet will wish to assist with the undertaking. She has been most grateful to Madam Vestry ever since she came to our rescue last Christmas.”

“And I suspect Katarina will enlist the aid of Ladies Trevor and Manning as well. She was quite animated during our discussion of it last evening.” Dalbury closed his eyes and shuddered. “I’d wager she’s informing Madam Vestry…rather Miss Forrester right now.” The marquess cut his gaze toward Reginald. “How do you suppose the plan will be received, Matthews?”

Goading him, plain and simple. Reginald had always known Lord Dalbury to be an arrogant devil. Originally, he’d been opposed to his cousin marrying the marquess for this very reason. Well, he wasn’t going to let the man get the better of him. “Quite frankly, I think it’s madness, pure and simple.”

Dalbury’s eyes narrowed to slits. “Indeed. Pray elaborate.”

Reginald blew out an explosive breath. “Does Katarina think no one will recognize Miss Forrester? How could she even propose such a scheme? It’s not as if Amorina Vestry kept her face hidden all these years.”

“Apparently, my wife has taken this into account.” Dalbury sipped his drink, his gaze still resting keenly on Reginald. “I made the same concerns known to her, but she replied that she could manage that problem.” The marquess’s lips twitched. “You, of all people, know what Kat is like.”

Indeed he did. His cousin was quick-witted, but headstrong. It had proved a dangerous combination time and again. Very well, there were other arguments to be made. “Just so. But I should hardly need to point out that while Miss Forrester will certainly be grateful to the marchioness for her attention and care for her and her daughter’s welfare, any scheme that will keep Maddy…” Dammit. “I mean, Miss Forrester from being with her child will not be well received. Neither, I think, will a plan to have her marry a man she hardly knows and put her child under his guardianship.”

“Matthews makes a good point, Dalbury.” Morley seemed to genuinely agree with him, thank God. “You must take the woman’s own wishes into consideration.”

Time to put an end to this nonsense. “You might also want to consider mine.” Reginald set his glass down untasted and stared into the dark eyes of the marquess.

“Your wishes, Matthews? What bearing do they have on the situation?”

“A great deal, Dalbury, although I assume you already surmised that. If Katarina wishes Maddy to marry, I will be more than willing to do so. I can propose to her tonight if that’s convenient. Then there need be no elaborate ruse to bring Miss Forrester into Society and risk the chance of her being recognized.” He’d never been more appalled than when the marquess had suggested such a thing. Scores of aristocratic gentlemen had patronized the House of Pleasure during the past six years. Katarina must be mad to risk Maddy being exposed as Madam Vestry.

“My wife did bring up the possibility that you would be willing to marry Miss Forrester. I can’t say that I didn’t suspect it either, Matthews.” Dalbury shook his head. “You acted rather passionately about her the other day, when you were trying to revive her.”

“So if you both believed I would offer for her, why this scheme to introduce her into Society?” Reginald stopped, a suspicion dawning. “You don’t think my offer is good enough? My own cousin doesn’t think it good enough?”

Dalbury shrugged. “If my plan to retrieve her inheritance tomorrow succeeds, Miss Forrester will be, while not an heiress, possessed of both a comely face and a comfortable dowry. Good enough assets that she might well be able to marry a titled gentleman if she so chooses.”

“I see.” That the marquess and marchioness would dismiss his suit for Maddy’s hand, when they seemed to know he and Maddy had a fondness for one another, was a bitter blow.

“Katarina wishes only for Miss Forrester to have a chance at happiness, Matthews. Surely you must know that?” Dalbury picked up the untouched glass and pushed the cognac back into Reginald’s hand. “I will tell you I tried to dissuade Katarina from this course last evening when she brought the scheme to me. Strenuously. I assured her you would ask for Maddy’s hand, but you also know my wife. A more stubborn woman was never born.”

Reginald nodded and took a gulp of the pungent brandy. His cousin was the most determined woman in England, of that he had no doubt. “So she will not approve my suit?”

“No, she will. You may attend Miss Forrester as she comes out into Society, but you must act as any other suitor for her hand. Court her and allow her to choose of her own free will who she would marry. She should have been given the chance to do so years ago.”