Page 14 of My Lady Rake
No, she couldn’t think about her feelings.
Lady Covington, or Lady Sylvan, were the first people who came to mind. They were members of a sort of league of widows, a group of women who’d lost their husbands but not their excitement for life. Lady Wyndom might also be of help in sorting out her thoughts, but since her grandson was considered one of the most eligible young men about Town, Verity didn’t know if she could discuss the matters of her body’s needs with a woman her age.
Deciding to call on Lady Covington first, Verity caught a hackney cab on the next street over. Luckily, Lady Covington was at home to callers, and she joined Verity in the drawing room of her home.
“How delightful of you to call, Verity. I haven’t seen you since…well, I imagine it was last fall at Almack’s.” Amelia, Lady Covington, breezed into the room, her pale blonde hair swept up in a fashionable knot.
“I haven’t been very social of late,” Verity said, hedging at the truth. She’d been spending her time at home or in Tantalus since the past summer when she’d discovered the men who own the club were not averse to ladies renting rooms by the hour.
“Please do sit. I shall call for some tea.”
“Oh, don’t go to any trouble, Amelia. I…I won’t keep you long, but I am in need of advice.”
Amelia leaned forward as if eager to hear the problem.
Verity decided to be as succinct as possible. She knew her widowed friends had affairs, so none should be truly shocked to have confirmation of the number of men Verity had slept with lately. “I’m sure it won’t surprise you to know Lord St. Ervan stayed in my bed last night.”
Amelia’s jaw lowered, but she kept from letting her lips part in surprise. “I see.”
“Oh, I’m making too much out of nothing, aren’t I? You see, he made a threat to me a short time ago that I would agree to marry him—”
“A threat?” Amelia laughed at that choice of words.
“Well, he called it a wager. Everyone knows I won’t marry again after losing my Levi. I don’t need a husband. I have one, even if he’s gone now. He left me financially settled so I have no need for an income.”
“Yes, we’re lucky in that way, aren’t we? Our lives are our own now.”
A bit of tension left Verity and she sat back in her little, upholstered chair. “Yes, that’s it exactly. Well, as it happened, I was at St. Ervan’s home with a small group of his friends, one of whom was a young man I fancied. I don’t think I should mention his name, although I know you won’t tittle-tattle my tale about Town. I allowed, nay, encouraged, this young man, and enjoyed what he had to offer, but he didn’t understand that I needed nothing more of him once we were finished.”
“Ah, I believe I understand. Is he quite young?” Amelia asked.
“One-and-twenty, perhaps? Young enough to believe himself in love rather than in lust. I had none of my lady friends there with me, so I sought ought Dainsfield and Abingdon, who were playing cards with St. Ervan at the time. I quickly decided St. Ervan was best suited to dissuading my young beau. I told him I wished to discuss our wager.”
“You had a wager with the earl? I didn’t know you gambled, Verity.”
Verity smiled. The fact she was close friends with the owners of a gaming hell didn’t surprise Amelia, but believing she might place a bet now and again did? Yet her friend had said nothing about her other behavior, so Verity continued with her story. “I had no wager, but it was the first thing I thought of that would require a private conversation with St. Ervan. Intelligent man that he is, he took me away from Mile—my beau and told the boy to find something else to occupy himself.”
“Excellent. And are you still having problems with the young man?”
“No. St. Ervan is my problem now. As I said, he made a wager with me that I would agree to marry him.”
Laughing lightly, Amelia said, “La, how many young ladies would wish to have such a problem! He’s a very fine gentleman. He’s never shown an interest in marrying. Are you certain you wish to turn him away?”
“Yes! But, no. Oh, that’s the entire matter right there. I have no wish to marry anyone, but after last night, I don’t want to send him on his way.”
“He’s that good, is he?” Her knowing smile said Amelia was imagining many ways he could please her.
Verity felt a sudden wave of jealousy at the idea another woman wanted a tryst with him. What on earth was happening to her? “You see, I made a promise to Levi before he died that I would never marry again. And, I made a promise to myself that I’d never fall in love again.”
Amelia’s shoulders slumped. “Oh, dear. It’s like that, is it?”
“It can’t be. I barely know the man. He’s a kind sort of person, generous, and he enjoys reading the same sort of books I do. That’s not enough to beget love, is it?”
“I believe I’ll have some tea brought, after all.” Amelia quickly stepped into the hallway, and after a quiet exchange of voices, she returned. “Now. Is it enough? I’ve known women to fall in love over the size of an allowance or his grand country seat.”
Unable to stop the giggle and warm flush that erupted, Verity said, “Lord St. Ervan has a very nice seat, and a grand estate, too.”
Amelia laughed. They continued with silly talk until the tea had been brought and the drawing room doors closed. After handing Verity a cup, Amelia asked, “What is it that has you so troubled? St. Ervan seems to be the sort of gentleman who would stop calling if you asked it of him.”