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England's
Perfect Hero Prologue
Rain began tapping harder against the window, as if
trying to be heard over the argument inside Lucinda Barrett=s
drawing room. AWe should write these down,@
Lucinda said, raising her voice to be heard both over the summer shower
and the debate. She and her
rather vocal friends all agreed that most men had no idea how to act as
gentlemen, but realizing that fact obviously caused nothing but
frustration and a great deal of annoyance.
Time, then, to take action. She pulled several sheets of paper from a drawer and
returned to the table, handing one blank page to Georgiana, another to
Evelyn, and keeping one for herself.
AThe
three of us wield a great deal of influence, particularly with the
so-called gentlemen to whom these rules would apply,@ she continued. AAnd we would be doing other ladies a service,@
Georgiana Halley said, her annoyed expression growing more thoughtful. ABut a list won=t do anything for anyone but ourselves,@
Evie Ruddick countered, though she took the pencil Lucinda handed her,
anyway. AIf that.@ AOh, yes, it will B when we put our rules into practice,@
Georgiana returned. AI propose that we each choose some man and teach him
what he needs to know to properly impress a lady.@ Now that made sense. AYes,
by God,@
Lucinda agreed, thumping her fist on the table. Georgiana chuckled as she began writing.
AWe could get our rules published.
>Lessons in Love,= by Three Ladies of Distinction.@ Lucinda=s
List 1.
When speaking to a lady, a man should be attentive, and not gaze
about the room while he=s conversing, as if looking for someone more
interesting to come along. 2.
At a dance, a gentleman should dance, and interact.
Attending an event for the sole purpose of staring or of being seen B
especially when some ladies are left lacking partners B is rude. 3.
A gentleman should look for interests in more than just the
latest popular trend. A fine mind is more interesting than a
well-tied cravat. 4.
Simply because a gentleman is courting a lady, doesn=t
mean he has to agree with everything her father says B though he should
still be respectful, even behind her father=s back. AThis is fun,@ Evelyn said, blowing on her page to remove the
excess pencil lead. AI do have a question, though,@
Lucinda said, examining what she=d
written. AIf we create three perfect men, are we doing Society
a favor, or harming every other man=s chances of finding a mate?@ Georgie chuckled.
AOh,
Luce. The question is
whether or not any man can be taught to behave for the sake of gaining a
lady=s
admiration and respect.@ AYes, but if we do train these hypothetical men, we
should at least have an idea about what we are going to do with them
afterward,@ Lucinda countered. AAfter
all, I have to assume that we=ll
succeed.@ AYou have more confidence than I do, Luce, but then
Georgie and I have brothers.@ Evie
smiled. AWhich isn=t necessarily something to boast about.@ AAnd I have a general for a father.@ AI declare us all equally fit for the challenge.@ Georgiana slid her paper clockwise, taking Lucinda=s
in turn. AThese are good.@ They
all took turns reading each other=s lists, and Lucinda, at least, was struck by how . .
. personal they were. And
how like their authors. ASo who goes first?@ Evelyn asked. All three ladies looked at one another, then burst
out laughing. AWell,
I know one thing,@
Lucinda said. AWe won=t have a shortage of potential students from which to
choose.@ CHAPTER
ONE I never saw a man in so wretched a condition. Fourteen
months later ANo, I don=t think you cheated, Evie, and I wish you=d
stop saying it.@ Lucinda Barrett sent her friend an exasperated look as she
settled deeper into the window seat. AI know,@ Evie replied, Abut I only intended on delivering lessons to a
scoundrel. And now I=ve
ended up married to him.@ With a scowl she rose, striding toward Lucinda=s
refuge and back again. AI mean for heaven=s sake, less than two months ago I was plain old dull
Evie Ruddick, and now I=m the Marchioness of St. Aubyn.
I can=t even believeBA @You were never plain or dull, Evie,@
Georgiana cut in as she glided into the drawing room and signaled her
butler to close the door behind her.
AAnd as for apologizing, firstly I=m
late for my own tea, and secondly I seemed to have married the object of
my lesson, as well.@ Lucinda grinned.
ANeither
of which is an offense for which you need to apologize, Georgie.@ Smiling, Georgiana motioned Evie back to her seat on
the couch and sank carefully down beside her.
APerhaps,
but a little over a year ago I would have shot anyone who even suggested
I would marry Tristan Carroway. And
yet now here I sit, Lady Dare B
and two months away from bringing yet another Carroway into the world.@ Evelyn chuckled.
APerhaps
it=ll
be a girl.@ AThat would only begin to even the odds against me.@ Georgie shifted, plainly uncomfortable. AI=ll
never understand how Tristan=s
mother could be brave enough to produce four more boys after the example
he set. If not for his
aunts, I should be completely outnumbered B
and they=ve
abandoned me to take the waters at Bath.@ ASpeaking of the Carroway brothers,@
Lucinda said, knowing she was deliberately stalling now that she=d finally decided to tell her friends about her own
plans, Adid
I hear you say that Lieutenant Carroway is due back in London?@ AYes. Bradshaw=s
ship should be in Brighton by the end of the week.
He=s
hoping for a new assignment to the West Indies, of all places.@ Georgie
narrowed her eyes. AWhy
do you want to know about Shaw? You=ve
decided on him for your lesson, haven=t
you?@ AGood heavens, no.@ Lucinda=s
cheeks warmed. ACan you imagine my father=s
reaction if I began paying attention to a Navy man?
Not that delivering a lesson means imminent marriage, of course.@ Evie snorted. AThe
odds do seem fixed in that direction.@ Georgie=s gaze was more speculative.
ANor is that possibility something you should ignore.@ She sipped her tea, gazing at Lucinda over the rim of the cup
like some all-seeing blonde-haired gypsy girl.
AYou
have decided on a student.@ AOh, I knew it!@ Evie seconded, applauding.
AWho is the villain?@ Hesitating, Lucinda looked from one successful
lesson-deliverer and happily-married friend to the other.
What would they say, if they knew she=d
watched their maneuverings with a combination of interest and growing
jealousy? Did they realize that since Evie had married St. Aubyn she=d
been on the look-out for a student of her own?
And not so much one in need of a lesson, as one she wanted to
marry. She sighed. Of
course they realized it. They
were her closest friends. AWell, I have narrowed down the search,@
she hedged. Yes, she=d narrowed it down B to one. ATell us,@ Georgiana pressed.
AThis
whole lesson thing was mostly your idea, anyway.
No more delays, my dear.@ AI know, I know.
It=s
justBA @And no excuses,@ Evie interrupted. AFine.@ Lucinda
took a deep breath. AIt=s
Lord Geoffrey Newcombe.@ She closed her mouth to wait and to watch. Lord Geoffrey, the Duke of Fenley=s
fourth son, was quite possibly the most beautiful man she=d ever seen. Other
ladies of the same opinion simply referred to him as Athe
Adonis.@ Curling golden hair, light green eyes, broad shoulders, and a
smile that could charm a cobra B it was no wonder that women threw themselves at him
with nearly calculated regularity. And that was the problem. The choice was so obviously directed more toward matrimony
than lesson-giving. Dozens
of more poorly-behaved single gentlemen practically littered Mayfair,
after all. John Talbott,
for example. What did it
matter if he only had one eyebrow that ran almost ear to ear?
Or there was Phillip RB ALord Geoffrey,@ Georgiana said slowly. AHe=s
a splendid choice.@ AYes,@ Evie seconded with her pixie smile.
AI agree.@ Relief made Lucinda=s shoulders sag.
AThank
you. I really have given
this a great deal of thought. I
mean, he=s
a war hero B
a fact of which my father would certainly approve B and he=s quite handsome, but at the same time he could
definitely use a few lessons. He=s
arrogant and insensitive . . .@ She trailed off. AI=m
being terribly obvious about why I chose him, I=m afraid.@ ANo, you=re not,@ Evelyn countered.
AYou=re
being brilliant, as usual. I
mean, how can you ignore the fact that Georgie and I both fell in love
with and married our students? You
have to take that into consideration.@ Georgie was nodding. ANor
can you ignore the fact that you and your father are quite close, and
that General Barrett would have to have some fondness for whomever you
decided to take on as a student, whether you thought anything beyond
your lessons might occur, or not.@ AExactly,@ Lucinda said, smiling at the effort her friends were
willing to go through to justify her choice. AAs
far as I can tell, the General thinks highly of Lord Geoffrey socially,
and I know he worries that I=ll
be left all alone when he hops the twig, as he puts it.@ Rising awkwardly to bring the tea pot to Lucinda,
Georgiana chuckled. AI=ve
never seen you make a false step, Luce.
How can we help?@ AOh, I think I can manBA Tea overflowed her cup and splashed onto the saucer
and the front of her gown. AGeorgie!@ The viscountess jumped, righting the tea pot and
tearing her gaze from the window. AOh!
I=m so sorry! It=s
just B
look!@ Out on the front drive Georgiana=s
youngest brother-in-law, ten-year-old Edward, was climbing onto the seat
of a high-perch racing phaeton. Helping
him was Evie=s
new husband, the Marquis of St. Aubyn. ASaint,@ Evie gasped, sprinting for the door.
AThat blasted team will pull Edward=s
arms off! Saint!@ Georgie was close on her heels.
AEdward! Don=t
you dareBA Chuckling, Lucinda carefully set aside her
overflowing tea cup. ADon=t
mind me,@
she muttered, standing. AI=ve
only a gallon of hot tea spilled down my front.@ Over the last year she=d come to know Carroway House almost as well as her
own, and with a last glance to make certain no one was killing anyone on
the front drive, she made her way upstairs to one of the spare bed
chambers. She didn=t know how Georgiana coped with Dare, his four
younger brothers, and his two aunts, but her friend seemed to thrive on
the chaos -- as did Evie in the face of Saint=s continuing devilry. Of course since Lucinda had been five, Barrett House had
meant just her and her father, General Augustus Barrett. She was far more used to quiet than to the continual uproar
Georgie faced. Dipping a cloth into a wash bowl, she dabbed at the
tea stain running down her front. ABlast,
blast, blast,@
she muttered, frowning into the mirror at the darkening splotch across
the bosom of her green muslin walking dress. A slight movement in the mirror=s
reflection caught her attention. Blue
eyes, as deep as the bottomless northern lakes in summertime, gazed at
her. With a start she
turned around. AOh, my goodness!
I=m
so sorry. I didn=t mean to . . .@ He was a Carroway brother, of course.
The Carroway, as far as the rumor-mongers were concerned.
He sat in a chair by the window, an open book in one hand. Robert. The
middle brother. The one who=d
been wounded at Waterloo. The
one the wags said wasn=t
quite Aright.@ She could count on one hand the number of times she=d
seen him in public since he=d
returned from the war. And
she=d
barely spoken a word to him since then, even at Georgie and Tristan=s wedding. Slowly he closed the book and stood.
AMy fault,@ he said in a low, ill-used voice.
AExcuse me.@ ADon=t go,@ she said, blushing as she belatedly lowered the
cloth from her bosom. AI=m
just making repairs. I=m
afraid your brother Edward is determined to learn to drive a racing
phaeton, despite Georgiana=s
objections.@ He paused halfway to the door.
AHe threw tea on you?@ AOh, heavens no.
Georgie saw him through the window conspiring with St. Aubyn and
spilled on me.@ Chuckling, she made another dab in a more dignified spot.
AApparently I should have ducked.@ How had he known it was tea?
She remembered the whispers that said those blue eyes could see
right through you. Nonsense.
He=d smelled it, or something. Dark azure assessed her for another moment. The
gauntness in his face had faded in the three years he=d
been home, but he was still lean and wary B like a wolf, she thought abruptly.
And rumor or not, that gaze was most . . . unsettling. His jaw clenched, then with a visible effort he
lowered the straight line of his shoulders.
AHave
you chosen yet?@ She looked at him blankly. AChosen
what?@ With what looked like a wince, the cobalt gaze broke
from hers. ANothing.
Good afternoon.@ With a few steps of his long, slightly limping stride he was
gone out the door. Lucinda looked at the empty doorway for a moment,
then glanced at the book he=d left on the window sill. Frankenstein, or the Modern Prometheus, by Mary
Shelley. The edges of the
pages were worn, and the back broken as though he B or someone B had read it almost completely into ruin. ALuce?@ AI=m in here,@ she returned. A moment later Georgie entered the room.
ADid I drown you?
Is the tea coming out?@ She shook herself and went back to dabbing.
ANo, you didn=t drown me. How=s
Edward?@ Lady Dare sighed.
ACareening
down the street with St. Aubyn holding the reins.
I=m
so sorry I spilled on you.@ ANo harm done.@ Lucinda
hesitated. AGeorgie,
have you told anyone about our lessons?@ The viscountess frowned. AJust
Tristan, and only about me. Why?@ Why, indeed? Had
that been what Robert Carroway had been asking her about? Hm. Not unless
he truly could read minds. ANo
reason. I was just
wondering. There.
That=s
about as good as it=ll
get.@ Lucinda followed Georgiana back down the hallway.
As they started downstairs she glanced behind her -- just in time
to see a pair of broad shoulders vanish back into the bed chamber. AGeorgiana,@ she continued in a low voice as they reached the
bottom of the stairs, Ahow is Tristan=s brother these days? Robert, I mean.@ ABit?@ The
viscountess shrugged. AHe
seems to be feeling well. His
limp=s
nearly gone. Why?@ AOh, nothing. I
just . . . spotted him upstairs. HeBA @He makes an impression, I know,@
Lady Dare said softly. AI hope he didn=t frightBA @No! Of
course not. He just
surprised me.@ Still, as they entered the drawing room again, she couldn=t
help looking back up the stairs. What
had he asked her? And if it
was regarding what she suspected, then how had he known? Robert Carroway moved to the head of the stairs as
Georgiana and Miss Barrett returned to their friend Evelyn and the
drawing room. Georgie made
excuses for him. He=d heard her do it before, but that was the closest he=d
heard her come to apologizing. He
knew Tristan, Georgie, Shaw, Andrew, the aunties B they all had an answer ready if someone happened to
ask about him, or more likely, about his absence. At least Tristan had asked whether he wanted to go to
Tattersall=s
this morning; Tristan always asked if he wanted to join them, and if he
didn=t,
Georgiana did. He wondered
how long it would be before his continued refusals discouraged them from
asking at all. Sometimes he
only agreed so they wouldn=t
give up completely. His own family might not understand, but they let him sit quietly when he wanted to, and they let him leave when he felt the walls closing in. Guests, though, or crowds, meant polite conversation about the weather and fashion and any other meaningless idiocy they could conjure to waste time with. He shuddered just thinking about it. Gripping his book, he limped back down the hallway to
the guest bed chamber. His
own room left him more comfortable, but he liked the sunshine and the
cool afternoon breeze. And
besides, he could hear the three ladies down in the drawing room when
they laughed. He could hear
Lucinda when she laughed. He
wondered what she would say if she realized he made a point of being
close by whenever she came to call on Georgiana. AAnd what the hell does that matter?@
he muttered aloud, automatically glancing toward the open door as he
spoke. Stop it. He was home, in England.
In London. No one
was going to withhold food and water or beat him bloody for daring to
speak. No one had done that
for three years. He was
free; he was safe. AStop it,@ he said, forcing his gaze to remain on the book,
refusing to acknowledge that he was glad it was still light outside, or
that he desperately wanted to disappear into his own room and lock the
door. AStop it. StopBA @Have I chosen what?@ He flinched, whipping his head up and around to face
the doorway again. Just as
quickly he lurched to his feet, before his mind even registered that he
was going to do so. AMiss Barrett.@ He=d always thought her hair brown, until she walked
forward into the late afternoon sunlight pouring across the floor.
Red highlights glinted through the swooping riot of curls piled
atop her head. A curling
strand had escaped to caress a high-boned cheek.
Her skin looked smooth and soft as cream. AI=m sorry,@ she said, her fair skin darkening to rose as she
blushed. AI didn=t mean to startle you.@ Several seconds passed before Robert realized both
that he was staring again and that she expected him to respond.
AI should have heard you coming.@ Soft hazel eyes studied him, while he waited for the
inevitable comment on the weather.
Usually this far into a conversation B if he stayed for this long B
he saw discomfort, or contempt, or fear, or worst of all, pity.
Lucinda Guinevere Barrett, though, gave a small smile. AFor the past week the General=s
been reading a study on the tactics of American Indians C the Iroquois, specifically.
He greatly admires their stealth, so I=ve
been practicing sneaking up on him.
Apparently I=m
better at it than I realized.@ General Augustus Barrett B
another of the reasons he rarely attended social events.
With effort Robert wrenched his mind away from the abrupt haze of
blazing muskets and smoke and screaming, back to the tall, slender woman
who still stood in the doorway and had the misfortune to be Barrett=s daughter. Say
something. AYour
student,@
he blurted, then clenched his teeth together just too late to stop his
idiocy from escaping into the air. She blinked. ABeg
pardon?@ Clarify, he shouted at himself. For God=s sake, you know how to put a sentence together.
AI meant, have you chosen your student yet?@ Her fine blush paled. AHow
B
what B
how did you know about that?@ Lucinda=s aghast expression actually left him feeling a
little more at ease. It was
a look he=d
become familiar with over the past three years B though usually it also signaled the moment he=d
said something rude and direct and then turned on his heel and vanished. This afternoon she blocked the doorway, and he seemed to be
staying. Part of him
actually wanted to stay, so long as she remained.
Robert shrugged. AI
pay attention. Georgiana
chose Tristan, and your friend Miss Ruddick decided on St. Aubyn B which worried you and my sister-in-law.@ AWe . . . we weren=t that obvious, were we?@ He liked that she didn=t try to deny their scheme.
ANo. You
weren=t.@ AYou . . .@ She
cleared her throat. AYou
haven=t
said anything about this to anyone else, have you?@ Robert felt his mouth curve upward in a motion that
felt stiff and not quite natural. AI
generally don=t
say anything to anyone, Miss Barrett.@ Her expression softened into another smile that must
have far surpassed his in elegance and attractiveness.
AThank you. It
would be . . . embarrassing for all of us if the gossips were to find
out that we=ve
been making lists and taking on students.@ Lists. He
hadn=t
known about lists. Robert
wondered what hers said. With
the ease of long practice he hid a frown.
She probably required a good conversationalist B or at least someone who could put two sentences end to end.
AYour secret is safe.@ He
waited a beat. ABut have you?@ AHave I?@ she repeated, then ducked her head in obvious
chagrin. AOh. Chosen
a student, you mean. Yes, I
have.@ He hesitated again.
Did he sound as inept, as distant and desperate as he felt,
trying to carry on a civil conversation?
This used to be so easy. AMay
I ask who it is?@ Even as he was congratulating himself on being polite
and proper and gramatically correct, Lucinda=s
face shuttered and she backed away a step.
Damnation. After
three years back in England he should have realized that he had no idea
how to behave in a civilized manner, any more than he had an inclination
to do so. Usually.
Until this afternoon B
when Lucinda Barrett had sought him out to continue a conversation. AI=m sorrBA @Lord Geoffrey Newcombe,@
she said, over his apology. AYou want to marry Geoffrey Newcombe?@
he returned, surprised at her choice.
AWhy,
in God=s
name?@ She flushed again, not quite as prettily.
AWe decided on lessons in order to teach a man to be a
gentleman. The idea is to
see whether I can convince or persuade him to conform to the items on my
list. That=s all.@ ASo the ultimate outcome isn=t
supposed to be marriBA @No! I
hope you don=t
think I would ever attempt to trick someone into marrying me.@ AIBA @I have no need to stoop to such a low level, sir.
And I do not appreciate the implication.@ Turning on her heel, she stalked out again.
A moment later her feet clomped down the stairs.
Evidently she wasn=t
trying to be stealthy, any longer. Robert stood where he was for a moment, then squatted
to retrieve the book he hadn=t even realized he=d dropped. Bloody
hell. Obviously he wasn=t
any more ready to make a return to Society than he=d been three years ago. And until five minutes ago, except for a few fleeting
daydreams which had involved the woman he=d just insulted, he wouldn=t
have cared. Robert reopened his book, gazing sightlessly at the
page. He=d felt almost . . . human when Lucinda had smiled.
It was a sensation he could grow used to.
Sitting back, he lifted his gaze to the window.
If he ever expected her to smile in his presence again, logically
he needed to apologize. And
soon, when it would still make a difference. |
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