Page 7 of Twelfth Night Sorcery (The Cambion Club #2)

Valance woke up far too early. Judging from the position of the sun in the winter sky, it was not yet noon.

But at least he had slept away the last of last night’s headache.

Since he left the masquerade before he had too much to drink, he was not the least bit hungover.

On the contrary, everything looked much clearer by the light of day.

Yesterday, helping a woman who wanted to escape an unwanted marriage had seemed like the chivalrous thing to do.

Today, Valance wondered what could have possessed him to take Miss Grantly home with him.

His intentions might have been for the best, but in bringing her to Carrington House without a chaperone, he had thoroughly compromised her, and ruined his own good name—a possession of which he had always been proud.

Maybe he ought to have taken Miss Grantly to a respectable hotel.

Last night, he had decided against that, because he was afraid his disguise spell wouldn’t last long enough to protect her.

If people realized she was a young lady rather than a gentleman, they would think it scandalous for her to arrive at a hotel at four in the morning, without any luggage nor a maid to accompany her.

Still, that might have been better than letting her spend the night in a house with two young bachelors and no chaperone.

Failing that, he could have deposited her at the home of one of his few married friends.

That might have been the least damaging option.

Unfortunately, he did not think any of them were in London at the moment.

Sir Roderick Carrington rarely left his country estate, and Lord Markham’s first child was only a few months old.

If the Markhams came to London at all this spring, it would be later in the Season.

In any case, Valance hadn’t thought of that option last night.

Instead, Valance had made the worst choice possible, with no better excuse than that he had been too exhausted to approach the problem logically.

He could only see one way to mend the damage, and it was a step he would rather not take.

But it was early yet. Maybe he would think of a better solution once he woke up more thoroughly.

He rang for Preston, who brought him a hot cup of coffee and rolls that had long since gone cold. “The dining room is unusable at the moment, my lord, so I thought you had best eat in here.”

Preston’s face looked pained, as it often did since Valance moved into Carrington House.

Preston approved neither of Russell Square nor of the eccentricities of Valance’s housemates.

Valance, on the other hand, much preferred living with his friends to living alone in a bachelor flat.

He liked having people on hand for a spontaneous game of chess or cards, or to use as a sounding board for talking through the latest problem with his magical research.

Peregrine understood magical theory better than anyone Valance knew, including most of his Oxford professors.

“My lord,” Preston continued, “May I ask why you did not sleep in your bedchamber last night?”

Valance spoke around a mouthful of stale bread. “You should not ask.” It was not for a servant to question his employer. “But since you have asked, I might as well explain that my bedchamber is currently occupied by a young lady.”

“A young lady?” Preston’s carefully cultivated wooden expression slipped, revealing how startled he was. More than startled: dismayed.

“A respectable young lady,” Valance qualified, wanting there to be no misunderstanding about Miss Grantly’s status.

The servants would not treat her well if they thought she was a member of the demi-monde.

“Miss Honora Grantly, daughter of the late Sir Isaac Grantly. I am afraid the reason for her visit must remain secret.” Mostly because he could not think of any plausible explanation.

“I . . . see,” Preston said slowly. “How long will she be staying?”

“I do not know,” Valance admitted. That depended on whether Miss Grantly would see reason. And on whether he could think of a way to preserve her reputation. “Do you happen to know where Mr. Carrington is?”

“I believe he is still asleep,” Preston said. “I have yet to see him this morning.”

Valance found Peregrine in his own chamber on the first story.

There were as many books in his bedroom as in Valance’s, but Peregrine, being a wizard, also kept a mortar and pestle, boxes of chalk, and other materia magica on his shelves.

This made his room seem more cluttered than Valance’s, despite being larger.

It was also more tastefully decorated, because unlike Cosmo, Peregrine had let his older sister choose the wallpaper and drapery for him. Abigail had excellent taste.

Peregrine had fallen asleep still fully dressed in yesterday’s clothes, but at least this time he’d made it to the bed. He had been known to doze off at his desk while working out a formula.

“Peregrine!” After years of friendship, Valance knew better than to shake his friend awake—Peregrine did not like unexpected physical contact. Valance waited for him to stir and open his eyes before speaking further. “I’m sorry to bother you, but I need your advice.”

“Hmm?” Peregrine mumbled sleepily. “You don’t usually want my advice.” He sat up, yawned, and stretched.

“I know.” Valance was more likely to approach Abigail with his problems. He had grown up thinking of her as being wiser than himself, though she was only two years his senior. “But I’m in a bind and I need to talk to someone.”

“Yes?” Peregrine swung his legs over the edge of the bed and rolled his head from side to side to stretch his neck. “What’s the problem?”

Valance took a deep breath. “What on earth am I going to do about Miss Grantly?”

“Oh, is she still here?” He sounded surprised.

“So far as I know.” Valance had not thought to check, but it seemed unlikely that she had gone anywhere. Did she even have somewhere to go? “She spent the night in a house with two bachelors and no chaperone. She will be ruined.”

“I suppose that’s true,” Peregrine agreed. “You are going to have to marry her.”

Valance groaned. That was precisely the outcome he wanted to avoid.

If Miss Grantly was willing to ruin herself to avoid one unwanted engagement, she probably would not want to jump into a different unwanted marriage.

And Valance had certainly not planned to marry anyone at all yet.

He was only four-and-twenty, and he intended to enjoy his liberty a little longer.

Being a bachelor meant endless possibilities for bedmates.

In fact, he’d already started making a list of courtesans he might approach after he dismissed Cherie.

“Can’t you think of any other solution?” he begged.

“No, I can’t.” Peregrine yawned until his jaw cracked. “I may think of something after breakfast. I will let you know.”

Valance did not feel particularly optimistic, but he distracted himself by bringing his valise to an empty bedroom and ringing for Preston to shave him and dress him.

After having worn that ridiculous mythological costume for so long, it was a relief to change into his normal, comfortable morning clothes.

Since Miss Grantly was asleep in his room, he had to make do with the clothes in his bag.

He had packed his things hastily last night, so his clothes were considerably rumpled, but he still felt much better once his cravat had been neatly tied.

He went looking for Peregrine again, finding him the process of tying his own cravat. Peregrine did not employ a valet, as he did not particularly care about the tie of his neckcloth or the shine of his boots. He still contrived to look perfectly respectable when he wanted to do so.

“Did you think of any better solution?” Valance asked, though he did not have much hope.

“I did think of one alternative, but I don’t think you’ll like it.” Peregrine darted an uncertain glance at him out of the corners of his eyes.

“Oh?” Valance suspected Peregrine was right, but he could not help being curious about this alternative solution.

“If you don’t want to marry Miss Grantly, you could set her up as your mistress.” Peregrine peered at his reflection in the mirror rather than looking Valance in the face as he made this suggestion.

“Peregrine!” Valance was horrified. “How would that help? I am trying to avoid ruining her!” Besides, he already had a mistress, though things had been rather rocky between them for the last few months.

“I know you are trying to avoid ruining Miss Grantly,” Peregrine said patiently, “but I think it is probably too late for that. If you don’t want to marry her, setting her up as a mistress would at least give her a chance to gain valuable skills she could use in her future career.”

“In what future career? As a courtesan?” Peregrine always did tend to think outside the lines, but this idea was worse than anything Valance could have imagined.

Peregrine shrugged. “I’ve heard such work pays well for women who are attractive and agreeable. And Miss Grantly seems to be both, don’t you think?”

“Attractive, yes,” Valance agreed. There had, after all, been a reason why he followed Aphrodite out of the ballroom.

He had wanted her even when half her face was hidden by a mask.

Valance would not admit to Miss Grantly being agreeable, though.

A truly agreeable woman would not upend his life this way.

But all of that was beside the point. “Peregrine, you cannot propose that a respectable young lady become someone’s mistress merely because she wants to avoid an uncomfortable marriage.”

“I suppose not,” Peregrine agreed. “In that case, you will have to marry her. I don’t really see any way around it.” He met Valance’s eyes and twisted his mouth into a rueful smile.